Switzerland

Switzerland is the country many people picture when they think of mountain travel. Its trains run on time and climb to remarkable heights, its lakes are clean enough to swim in, and the landscape changes from vineyards to glaciers within an hour. It is not cheap, but the quality of transport, hotels and scenery makes it one of the most rewarding countries in Europe for a well-planned journey.

The Bernese Oberland is the heart of most itineraries. Interlaken, between two lakes, is the base for Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfrau region. Lucerne, with its covered wooden bridge, is close to Mount Pilatus, Rigi and the resort of Engelberg below Mount Titlis. Zermatt sits beneath the Matterhorn. Zürich and Geneva are the main gateways, while Montreux on Lake Geneva, the capital Bern and Italian-speaking Lugano each add their own character. In winter, St. Moritz and Davos draw skiers. Smaller places reward slower travel too: the Lavaux vineyards above Lake Geneva, the medieval town of Gruyères with its cheese dairy, and the car-free village of Wengen above the Lauterbrunnen valley.

Swiss food is comfort food: cheese fondue and raclette, rösti, Zürich-style veal in cream sauce, and in Ticino, risotto and polenta. Chocolate is everywhere, and local wines from the Lavaux terraces above Lake Geneva are rarely exported, so drink them here.

Switzerland is one of our largest destinations. We offer many Swiss rail tours, private van tours (some including the Glacier Express on certain itineraries), city breaks, guided walks, Christmas market tours in Geneva and Zürich, day tours and a self-drive itinerary from Zürich. A Swiss Travel Pass can cover most trains, boats and buses, and we can advise whether it suits your route. Private van tours work well for families who prefer not to manage luggage on and off trains.