Holidays in Switzerland, 5 places to visit between lakes and mountains

Mountains, lakes, forests, modern cities and fairytale castles. Welcome to Switzerland - between pastures, modernity and chocolate.

In the collective imagination, Switzerland appears as a land of tranquility and forest walks, mountain huts and bucolic life. This certainly characterizes it, but it is certainly not the main thing.

Switzerland is a lively country, full of attractions, attracting more and more youth tourism, not neglecting five-star reception in all its main centers, small and large.

Switzerland does not lack the sea at all.

A multitude of lakes, often bathing, impeccable service, diverse and modern tourist offer - these are the strengths of this small, sparkling paradise, nestled in the Alps.

Lovers of nature and relaxation can choose an Alpine destination, those attracted by music and events can check out the program of the main Swiss cities.

Snow and winter sports enthusiasts will be spoiled for choice.

From Zurich to Geneva, past the lakes of the same name, from Lugano to St. Moritz, those who like a more exclusive tourism can plan a vacation in Switzerland.

Zurich

Culture, art, entertainment and plenty of shopping. Zurich is the main economic center of Switzerland and the most densely populated city. The entire metropolitan area has more than one million inhabitants.

Since 1992 it has been a permanent venue for the largest electronic music festival Street Parade, which takes place annually in August along the main streets of the city center and along the lake.

Energetic, cosmopolitan, bustling Zurich, along with the nearby city of Lucerne, characterized by a lively nightlife, is definitely the Swiss city for young people.

Despite the fact that Zurich is an electric city, it is at the same time a center with a rich history and culture, is interesting from an architectural point of view and is among the top ten most livable cities in the world.

It develops around the lake of the same name, which mitigates its climate, characterized by cold but tolerable winters and quite livable summers.

The city has six museums and three theaters.

For shoppers, Zurich is a city with plenty of opportunities: the Bahnhofstrasse, which runs along the train station, is full of stores and boutiques of the most famous international fashion houses.

For those more interested in art and history, Zurich has at least four must-see attractions: the Romanesque Grossm'ster Cathedral, the Fraum'ster Basilica with its separating bridge, St. Peter's Church and the City Hall. 

For sports enthusiasts, walking or running along the lakeshore are also among the activities that Zurich residents engage in on a daily basis.

Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva is Europe's largest mountain lake. Its shores are 40% French territory and 60% Swiss territory.

Thanks to its water flow, it is a real natural boiler, providing the main cities located on its shores with a microclimate much more moderate than in other parts of Switzerland.

On its shores, in addition to the main center - Geneva, there are many interesting places for tourists. In addition, Lake Geneva is itself a natural venue for numerous events, both sporting and natural.

More than 20,000 vessels ply its waters, many of them tourist vessels, with excursions and navigation to major centers.

Characteristic is the service of steam boats moving with an external wheel, thanks to which it is possible to visit the main centers located on the lake. In addition to steam boats, it is possible to take a trip on a traditional boat "Savoie".

The most popular tourist centers on Lake Geneva are Montreux, known for its connection with the world of show business, where a statue of Freddie Mercury, frontman of the band Queen, is installed. Montreux hosts several important festivals such as the annual Montreux Jazz Festival in July, Sundance in Montreux in May and Freddie Mercury Memorial Day.

Not far from the lake is the Chillon Castle in the canton of Vaud, made famous by Rousseau and Lord Byron, which is a must-see.

The fortified village of Yvoire is also worth a visit.

Lucerne

Lucerne, overlooked by the picturesque Mount Pilatus, is a beautiful but bustling city in Switzerland and a must-visit.

Lucerne is crossed by the Roiss River and lies on the shores of Lake Lucerne. Lucerne is characterized by being divided into two parts and connected by no less than seven bridges.

Notable among them are the Kappelbrücke, a 14th century wooden bridge, the octagonal water tower, which is known to have once been a prison, and Kappelplatz, where you can visit the city's oldest church.

For lovers of breathtaking scenery, we recommend a visit to the Ice Garden (Giardino del Ghiaccio), the bed of an ancient glacier, where you can walk through caves that have been discovered and have become a tourist attraction of international importance.

Lugano

Switzerland's most "Italian" city, with over 150,000 Italian-speaking people, Lugano has the largest Italian-speaking community in the world outside of the peninsula.

Located on the lake of the same name, it is an important tourist center and economic hub.

Situated between the mountains of Bre and San Salvatore, which can be climbed by cable car, the center of Lugano is a natural amphitheater between the mountains. Among the most interesting monuments are the cathedral of San Lorenzo and the church of Santa Maria degli Angioli.

It is also considered a city of villas, many of which are decorated with lush vegetation and are characterized by an elegant and refined architectural style.

Battered by a variety of tourist flows, it is the object of both mass and exclusive tourism.

St. Moritz

St. Moritz is perhaps the most exclusive tourist resort in Switzerland. Unanimously considered one of the most exclusive and elegant winter destinations, St. Moritz is more than just snow, luxury and VIP tourism.

It is famous for the "sun of St. Moritz", which is special due to its exposure. Located at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters, in the middle of the Upper Engadine lake landscape, it enjoys more sunny days than usual. So much so that the sun has been a symbol of the town for almost 100 years.

Known today as a ski resort, it actually began as a bathing and spa resort. It still retains this characteristic today, thanks to its numerous bathing lakes.

Thus, the strength of St. Moritz is its incomparable combination of nature, culture, wellness, sport and tranquility.

Peace in winter, quiet in summer. St. Moritz boasts an unprecedented density of accommodation facilities, including hotels, holiday homes and tourist lodges, employing more than two-thirds of the local population in the tourist accommodation sector.

Sparkling not only because of its climate, which is particularly harsh in winter, it is one of Switzerland's most popular destinations.