Switzerland—famed as the Land of Cheese and Chocolate—is a truly charming country full of breathtaking sceneries you think you would only see in movies. It has a diverse natural landscape, ranging from the snow-capped peaks of the Alps to the rolling hills and picturesque villages of the Swiss Plateau. It is also home to Lake Geneva, the largest lake in Central Europe.
Aside from its innate idyllic beauty that allures tourists, Switzerland is also a popular family-friendly destination where you and your family can bond over sampling delicious Swiss cuisine, going on exciting adventures to historic and culturally significant cities, and enjoying various outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and snowboarding. Not to mention, Switzerland is among the safest and most peaceful countries in the world, and the Swiss are naturally friendly and welcoming people. If you are ready to relax and make unforgettable travel memories, go on a Switzerland guided tour now!
Switzerland’s Top Tourist Attractions
Switzerland is a landlocked mountainous country, with the Alps covering about two-thirds of its lands. It is also riddled with mesmerizing waterfalls, fairytale-like castles, and lakes with crystal-clear turquoise waters. Every corner you turn to, you will be surrounded by nature’s beauty. In fact, there are so many natural wonders that you can explore in Switzerland to the point that it is actually challenging to decide which ones you should visit first. In this guide, we will help you narrow down the list of the top tourist attractions you should visit with your family.
The Matterhorn
The Matterhorn is the highest and one of the most iconic mountains in the world. It is renowned for its distinctive pyramidal form, which makes it one of the most photographed mountains in the world. In fact, it even became the inspiration for the characteristic triangular shape of the famous chocolate brand Toblerone. We even see the Matterhorn in the packaging of this chocolate.
You can find the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Many tourists visit the Matterhorn to hike, climb, and go mountaineering to attempt to reach the summit standing at an impressive 4,478 meters. But for moms traveling with children, conquering this mountain will be a challenging activity. Instead, it will be a better activity to ride cable cars to get unparalleled panoramic views of the mountain peak and beyond. After all, the mountain is home to the highest cable car station in the Alps.
Jungfrau
The idyllic Jungfrau region enchants tourists with its sky-high peaks, snow-capped glaciers, and mesmerizing falls. One of the best things to do when exploring Jungfrau is to ride the everlasting snow at Jungfraujoch—Europe’s highest train station, with a height of 3454m (11,332ft). Here, you’ll get to see stunning views of the Alps and the Aletsch Glacier.
You can also hike, ski, sled, zip line across the mountains, and admire the waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen. There are also options to engage in extreme outdoor sports in Interlaken, such as skydiving, ice climbing, and even glacial bungee jumping. The Jungfrau region is the great outdoors on a blockbuster scale.
Lake Geneva
If you and your family like to swim, fish, and ride on boats, don’t miss the chance to visit the largest lake in Switzerland. Lake Geneva can be found on the border between Switzerland and France. It is a beautiful and serene place with relaxing scenery surrounded by mountains as a backdrop. Its shoreline is also lined with quaint small towns with fairytale-like castles. You can also spend the day exploring museums and galleries, or you can visit its botanical gardens for a leisurely stroll. There are also plenty of Old Town cafes where you can relax while enjoying various refreshments.
Lucerne
A quick boat or train hop from Lake Geneva will take you to Lausanne, a beautiful medieval city in central Switzerland located on Lake Lucerne at the foot of Mount Pilatus. It is a popular tourist destination for those who enjoy the sight of the lovely terraced vineyards of Lavaux, the picture-perfect Château de Chillon, as well as the flower-draped Montreux. This is also where they host the world-famous jazz festivals. Not only that, Lucerne is also home to the Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument, and the Musegg Wall.
When you visit, don’t forget to snap some photos of the iconic medieval Kapellbrücke bridge across the Reuss River. Then, if you have some time to kill, explore the Jean Nouvel–designed KKL arts center and the Sammlung Rosengart, where you can find a collection of Picasso’s masterpieces.
Bern
Bern, the capital of Switzerland, is a stunning city filled to the brim with culture and history. It is in the western region of Switzerland, situated near the Aare River. Strolling Bern’s cobblestoned medieval streets is an activity that all family members will surely enjoy. Take delight in feasting your eyes with wonderful sights as you come across covered arcades, cellar shops, lively bars, 16th-century fountains topped with mythical folk figures, and the ever-famous Zytglogge clock tower. This tower is famed for its outstanding features, including the astrolabium—an astronomical calendar clock—as well as its musical mechanism installed way back in 1530. Be sure to take a look right before the clock strikes the hour to see the crowing rooster announcing the start of an entertaining spectacle.
Bern is also home to several museums, including the Einstein House museum—where the genius Einstein developed the theory of relativity—the Kunsthaus with all its fine arts collection, and the Bern Historical Museum. If you visit during the summer months, you and the kids can have lots of fun in the water as you can go swimming, tubing, rafting, and paddleboarding along the Aare River.
The Best Time to Visit Switzerland
One of the best things about Switzerland is that it is breathtakingly beautiful all year round. But if you have a preferred set of activities, it is better to keep the seasons in mind.
In winter, the world-famous Alps and Alpine villages are blanketed by piles of soft, powdery white snow. This means that those who fancy snow sports like skiing and sled riding will have a blast having fun outdoors. During the warm summer months, it is those who love outdoor sports such as hiking, zip-lining, swimming, and cycling who will enjoy Switzerland the most. There are also many vivacious festivals in Swiss cities like Bern, Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva Lugano, and Basel.
Regardless of the season, though, it is always a good idea to travel to Switzerland!