Things To Do In Switzerland

1. Canton Valais


Switzerland’s regions or counties are called ‘Cantons’ and by far the prettiest and most rugged is Canton Valais. The whole region has no cities to speak of, just wide open spaces, mountains, mountain villages and ski resorts. It also has the longest glacier in Europe, the Aletsch Glacier which is 23 kms long. See it before global warming gets it! The region also has the Matterhorn, a world famous mountain with an instantly recognizable silhouette!


2. Luzern (Lucerne)

My favourite place in Switzerland and home to a beautiful medieval bridge, the oldest wooden one in Europe, called Chapel Bridge. It’s nearly 800 years old and despite nearly being destroyed by fire in 1993 it’s stunning. Several TV shows showed the restoration work in progress and it looks almost new now. The Museum of Transport is fascinating with examples of all the forms of transport that Switzerland has used. You can climb on board many of them to experience life in the passenger seat from centuries ago. Whilst here, a trip by boat on the lake is a great way to idle away a day!


3. Swiss Chocolate


I don’t care what they say, after English chocolate, nothing else beats Swiss chocolate. You can buy it anywhere and I’d recommend trying as much as you can from Lindt to Toblerone to many smaller companies’ offerings. I went into a department store only to find bars of Toblerone a metre long and with chunks 20 cm high – get one of those in your mouth!! I particularly liked the green boxed variety which is a bittersweet plain chocolate.


4. The Reichenbach Falls 

There’ll not be many detective novel fans that don’t recognize the name of these waterfalls. The Reichenbach Falls are the setting for the death of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. Here Holmes tussled with his arch enemy Professor Moriarty and fell to his death. I don’t suggest you tussle with anyone here but leaving aside the literary interest the falls are spectacular. Be warned that sometimes the flow lessens as water is drawn off upstream to power hydroelectric installations.


5. The Rhine Falls 

Sorry, another set of waterfalls. This time the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfalls in Europe. If you get bored of watching the spectacular water plunging down then retire to nearby Schloss Laufen, an ancient castle where an engrossing exhibition tells you all about life in the region in the Middle Ages. If you are in Switzerland near or on Swiss National Day, August 1, then there’s a spectacular firework display on the falls that attracts thousands of visitors each year.


6. The International Olympics Committee

About 50 km away from Geneva but still on Lac Leman Lake, Lausanne is home of the International Olympic Committee. The Olympic Museum, which is right on the lake’s shore has a permanent collection tracing back the whole history of the Olympic Games. You won’t find more information anywhere else on the world’s biggest competitive event. If you want to explore the rest of the city, you’ll have to be fit as it’s very hilly.


7. Chateau de Chillon, Montreux

The town of Montreux, host of the world famous film festival is located in the heart of the Swiss Riviera on the shores of Lake Geneva. Here you can walk by the lakeside and explore the Chateau de Chillon or take a tour of the tower, courtyards, dungeons, and rooms of this 11th century castle which is the most frequently visited historical building in Switzerland. The numerous rooms house weaponry, frescoes and furniture. An alternative way to reach the castle is by taking the train or trolley bus.


8. Lac Leman

For a very relaxing, yet breathtaking activity in Switzerland, board a steamboat and roam all around the lake. You can spend all day on the boat on the lake visiting such places as Vevey which was the home of Charlie Chaplin towards the end of his life or again it’s another fine way of getting to Montreux. In the heat of a summer day, with the haze over the water there’s no better place from which to see Switzerland.


9. Swiss National Park, Zernez

Any visitor to Switzerland would imagine that the whole country was a National Park and there’d be no need to specify one however near Zernez you’ll find the Swiss Natural Park.169 square kilometres of mountains and woodland. It is home to a variety of wildlife such as large red deer, chamois, ibex and marmots. Walk or mountain bike around its trails then stop and take in its breathtaking views.


10. St. Moritz

Since the fifties, the winter playground of the wealthy and famous, St. Moritz is a resort which offers skiing but in summer also keeps the visitor happy with sports as well as mud and mineral baths and mud therapies at the Health Spa Centre. The resort’s fine restaurants are well known for their menu of caviar and truffles and also for star spotting. When the nights really kick in the active and very expensive nightlife takes over.