Switzerland is a country of beautiful alpine scenery, green meadows, crystal clear lakes, medieval towns and fabulous villages, where you can taste surprisingly delicious cuisine including the famous chocolate and cheeses and, in addition to that, you can enjoy nature, visit Swiss castles and palaces and practice winter and summer sports.
Saint Moritz
St.Moritz, located in the centre of the picturesque Upper Engadine valley in the canton of Grisons, on the shores of the lake of the same name, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
The most exclusive hotels, shops and clubs where you can easily meet celebrities and VIPs are located uptown. It is next to Piazza della Posta Veglia and a short distance from the municipality of Rathaus, in front of which shows off the fountain of St. Moritz, the protector of the city and of a Protestant church. Two main museums of the city and the Engadine region as well as the Segantini Museum are also located nearby.
In the first museum you can get to know the style of dwellings and simple interiors that are found in the Engadine Valley, fantastic traditional stoves and archaeological finds, while the second museum contains works by the nineteenth-century artist Giovanni Segantini (1858-99), maestro of mountain scenery.
The downtown is famous for its thermal springs Kurhaus that are unusually rich in iron.
St. Moritz is one the most prestigious skiing destinations owing to its refinement and luxury. This amazing location is embraced by majestic mountains that are caressed by the rays of the sun all year round; here is a dry and pleasant climate. Even in the summertime, St. Moritz can offer the best holiday for you thanks to wonderful paths surrounded by gorgeous nature.
Verbier
Ski resort Verbier, located on a sunny plateau, is the most cosmopolitan in this region. It has a unique panoramic view of the Grand Combin and Mont Blanc massifs.
From the very first snowfall, Verbier turns into a paradise for those who are interested in winter sports. Les 4 Vall’es ski resort offers 410 km of pistes and more than 89 ski-lifts with stations in Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon and La Tzoumaz.
Using the aerial lift, you will be able to reach the Mont Fort summits at an altitude of 3330 metres and then go down one of the most beautiful black piste in the Alps.
For tourists who don’t ski, there is also a number of entertainments, such as hiking tours surrounded by extraordinary winter scenery or even sledding along the 10 km long piste, the longest in French-speaking Switzerland.
In summer, tourists can explore the heights of Verbier and Val de Bagnes thanks to 500 km of signposted routes. More experienced tourists will be able to discover the “classics” of hikes such as the Tour della Val de Bagnes or the Tour des Combins. Mountain bikers can try their hand at 826 km of routes or in the bike park. The region also offers other activities: two golf courses, climbing routes, an adventure park, paragliding and many other activities. Finally, you can go to Mont Fort with an impressive view from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.
Gstaad
Gstaad resort can boast of its variety of guests: besides VIPs who stay at Gstaad, the town with a large selection of chalets, there are many options for family holidays with children in the neighbouring small villages. In the recent years, the centre of Gstaad has been transformed into a small shopping paradise in Switzerland.
A small fully pedestrian centre of the town of Gstaad with luxury hotels, stylish restaurants, cosy chalets, a nearby airport and Saanen helicopter pad, is a popular resort destination for the international public.
The nearby villages of Saanen, Schönried, Saanenmöser, Zweisimmen, Gsteig, Lauenen, Feutersoey, Turbach and Abländschen complement Saanenland’s tourist offer: Lake Lauenen nature reserve with waterfalls, narrow streets in the historic centre of Saanen, ideal Schanried and Saanenm’ser resorts for winter sports… and these are just some of the aspects of the diversity of this region.
200 km of pistes at an altitude of about 3000 m await skiers and snowboarders in winter. There are several snow parks and numerous hiking trails and routes for sledding.
Gstaad is also a summer resort. The vast landscape of Saanenland offers a wide range of sports such as hiking (a network of trails that extends over 300 km), mountain biking, paragliding or golf, and kayaking. And finally, Gstaad is a true gourmet paradise as here you can find a wide choice of over 100 restaurants, from the traditional Raclette-St-Bli to the finest gourmet restaurants.
Zermatt
Zermatt extends over the sides of the Matterhorn and its tourist development is closely linked to the most famous mountain in the world. The resort is completely pedestrian, it has retained all its original features and is an excellent location for unlimited walks and excursions.
In winter, the ski resort ensures the constant presence of snow and offers over 300 km of pistes in four ski regions: Sunnegga-Rothorn, Gornergrat-Stockhorn, Schwarzsee and Matterhorn. Snowboarders and freestylers choose Zermatt Snowpark, where Olympic athletes train throughout the year.
Lovers of extreme sensations can practice Heli Skiing accompanied by an experienced mountain instructor, try a dogsled ride or paragliding.
At the same time, hiking tours, cycling and mountain climbing are favourite activities during the summer and autumn seasons.
The rack-railway runs from Zermatt to Gornergrat at an altitude of 3.089 metres, offering beautiful views of the Matterhorn, the glacier and the Monte Rosa massif. Zermatt is especially suitable for families with children. In winter, children under 9 have free access to the entire ski area.
Geneva
Geneva is a French-speaking city located between the nearby mountain ranges of the Alps and Jura, in the bay where the Rhone flows from Lake Geneva. The city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere is widely regarded as the “capital of the world”, as the European headquarters of the United Nations and the headquarters of the Red Cross are here.
The symbol of the “smallest metropolitan city in the world” is the jet d’eau, a fascinating fountain on Lake Lemano, whose jet creates a 140-metre water column. A majority of famous hotels and numerous restaurants are located on the right bank of the lake.
On the left bank is the Historic City Centre, the heart of Geneva, where the commercial and business districts are located. St-Pierre Cathedral is located here, although the real centre of the historic city is the Bourg-de-Four, the oldest square in the city.
In addition to hosting important congresses, a famous centre for culture and history, fairs and exhibitions is in Geneva. The Horloge Fleuri flower clock in the English Garden is a well-known symbol of the Swiss watch industry.
The city in the western part of Switzerland offers many cultural points of interest. Opera Grand Theatre is the home of world-famous performers and people of art.
It is also worth visiting a variety of museums such as, for example, the International Museum of Watchmaking that boasts a rich collection of chiming clock and jewellery watches, or the International Museum of the Red Cross that allows you to learn more about the work of this humanitarian organization.
Another must in a tourist itinerary is Mount Salève that is located in neighbouring France. In under five minutes, the aerial lift will take tourists to an altitude of 1.100 metres, from where fantastic views of Geneva, Lake Lemano, the Alps, Giura and Mont Blanc can be observed.