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Introducing Switzerland

Get to the heart of Switzerland.
Switzerland is all about quintessential Alpine scenery, perfectly preserved medieval towns, and international cities that run on a famously precise schedule. This central European nation is small but surprisingly diverse—shared borders with France, Italy, and Germany have produced distinct regional cultures. One unifying factor is the Alps: the mountain range takes up a whopping 65% of Switzerland’s total area, making this an ideal destination for active fun (and iconic views) all year. 

When is the best time to visit?
Snowy Switzerland is a skier's paradise, and it's no surprise that January and February are peak tourist months. This goes for the Alps of course, but applies to the cities too—Bern, for example, looks great under a layer of winter white, and its Christmas markets are a must-visit (for the delectable Swiss chocolates alone).

The country is also idyllic in summer, as travelers trade ski lifts for hiking boots and hit the Alpine trails. You can enjoy great outdoor excursions during the slower spring and fall seasons, too—September is a particularly great “off” month to visit, as the summer crowds are gone yet the weather is still pleasant, and the scenery ever-wonderful.

Where should you go?
Certainly, you’ll want to visit Switzerland’s picture-perfect capital of Bern, whose medieval Old Town is home to the towering Zytglogge clock tower. And of course, you’ll want to experience the Alps. There are many hiking trails in these world-famous mountains, all signposted and easy to follow. Head to St. Moritz and Zermatt for some of the best skiing in Europe.

Zurich is a beautifully kept city, and this is where serious shoppers will want to spend time. It's also a nice stop on your way to or from Germany by train. See much of the Swiss countryside in a short time on the GoldenPass railway line from Montreux to Lucerne and takes about 5.5 hours (switching trains at Interlaken). It runs through three mountain passes with spectacular views of lakes, waterfalls, and Swiss chalets. 

How many days do you need?
If you simply want to travel through the Swiss countryside and visit a few postcard-worthy cities and towns, you can do so in well under a week. To properly take advantage of Switzerland’s winter sports and excursions, two weeks is ideal. In this timeframe, you could embark on a number of great day-long or even multi-day hikes—or ski at multiple resorts—with time to relax at a few chalets along the way.

Switzerland Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Lauterbrunnen valley
Map of Best of Bernese Oberland - 5 days
Best of Bernese Oberland - 5 days

Hike from hut to hut under the snowy facades of some of the most famous peaks in the Swiss Alps with this five-day itinerary. As you hike past the iconic peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, you'll make your way through Alpine pastures, glacial lakes, and rushing waterfalls, with stops on mountaintop tramways and charming villages in between.

Lauterbrunnental
Map of Bernese Oberland Traverse - 7 Days
Bernese Oberland Traverse - 7 Days

Take a classic Swiss hut-to-hut hike through the Bernese Oberland mountains on this week-long trek. You'll go from scenic valley to scenic valley as you traverse past the bases of some of the best-known mountains in the Alps, such as Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau, making your way through waterfalls, cliff faces, and dairy pastures.

Vineyards of the Lavaux region by Lake Geneva
Map of Exploring the Wine Regions of Mont Blanc - 6 Days
Exploring the Wine Regions of Mont Blanc - 6 Days

Sample some of the world's best wines as you circle around Mont Blanc from Switzerland to Italy to France. Visit vineyards nestled in the idyllic countryside in the foothills of the Alps, where ancient grape varieties still produce rare and high-quality wines. Taste local wines in the terraced hills of Lavaux, Switzerland, and toast to the breathtaking views from Pointe Helbronner in France with a glass of Cuvée des Guides — moments and wines to be remembered!

Lac de Moiry
Map of Chamonix to Zermatt Walker's Haute Route - 10 Days
Chamonix to Zermatt Walker's Haute Route - 10 Days

Visit traditional Swiss villages, explore high-elevation alpine lakes, and cross high rocky passes as you trek through the Alps on this 10-day itinerary from Chamonix to Zermatt. Head east across the mountain range as you traverse mountainsides, hike along glacier foothills and look for wildlife (like ibex and marmots). Spend your nights in lakeside mountain huts and cozy towns, falling asleep to the sound of the wind and water. 

Lake Moiry as seen from Corne de Sorebois
Map of Chamonix to Zermatt Walker's Haute Route - 7 Days
Chamonix to Zermatt Walker's Haute Route - 7 Days

Hike through thick pine forests, visit traditional Swiss villages, and look for wildlife (like ibex and marmots) on this 7-day trekking itinerary through the Swiss Alps. Cross the high-elevation Col de Riedmatten Pass, traverse mountainside, and hike along glacier foothills as you make your way east towards Zermatt, which sits at the base of the Matterhorn. At night, cozy up in huts and small villages that retain an authentic alpine feel.

Crossing Col de Balme
Map of Chamonix to Zermatt Walker's Haute Route - 12 Days
Chamonix to Zermatt Walker's Haute Route - 12 Days

You'll explore high alpine passes, pass through thick pine forests, hike along the base of glaciated peaks, and much more on this 12-day trekking itinerary. Start your trip in Chamonix—the French 'Capital of Alpinism'—then head east into Switzerland, arriving 10 days later in Zermatt at the base of the Matterhorn. As you hike through the Alps, you'll spend your time looking for wildlife, breathing in the fresh alpine air, and taking in the views, ending each day with comfortable stays in villages and mountain huts.

Switzerland Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip
The spectacular Landwasser Viaduct (photo courtesy of Scaliger
Switzerland's Best Train Rides

Switzerland's rail network is one of the world's best, defying steep mountain gradients, threading through dramatic valleys and around beautiful lakes to showcase the country's...

Our Latest Switzerland Content

Luxury alpine resort town of St. Moritz
Switzerland in December: Travel Tips, Weather & More

Snow starts to fall in earnest in Switzerland in December, and with it are the tourists that flock to the mountain ski resorts. There are also charming markets held in various cities in the lead-up to Christmas. Whether you're interested in outdoor or city attractions, December's a great time to visit Switzerland. Read on to learn more.

Zürich city center with Fraumunster and Grossmunster Churches and River Limmat
Switzerland in November: Travel Tips, Weather & More

November is the final month of fall in Switzerland, and temperatures are generally cold. Conditions are not yet ripe for skiing, but this month is still an excellent time to visit Switzerland's cities for cultural attractions and to make the most of their proximity to the mountains if the weather's fine. Find out more about where to go and what to do in Switzerland in November.

Admire the changing leaves in the Swiss capital of Bern
Switzerland in October: Travel Tips, Weather & More

October is fall in Switzerland and the low season for travel, between the peaks of summer and winter. The weather may be pleasant and sunny or damp and dull, so it makes sense to base yourself in one of Switzerland's beautiful cities if you're visiting in October. Read on for more about traveling to Switzerland in October.

Switzerland Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Switzerland map: Best of Bernese Oberland - 5 days
Best of Bernese Oberland - 5 days
View article
Switzerland map: Bernese Oberland Traverse - 7 Days
Bernese Oberland Traverse - 7 Days
View article
Switzerland map: Exploring the Wine Regions of Mont Blanc - 6 Days
Exploring the Wine Regions of Mont Blanc - 6 Days
View article

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Trip Reviews for Switzerland

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

13 days in Alsace and Switzerland
Switzerland | May 12 - May 25, 2023

Jennifer
Jennifer S.
Wooster, OH | Reviewed on Jun 02, 2023

My mother, sister and I reached out to Kimkim late summer 2022 for help with planning a trip to the Alsace region of France. I knew I wanted to fly into Zurich and that we had 2 weeks. Valentine reached out to us and put together some iternaries. We choose to spend 4 nights in Colmar France, 4 nights in Interlaken Switzerland and 4 nights in Lucerne Switzerland. There were different tours planned throughout but mostly in France. Then Valentine quit the company and Nathalie joined as our... read more

My mother, sister and I reached out to Kimkim late summer 2022 for help with planning a trip to the Alsace region of France. I knew I wanted to fly into Zurich and that we had 2 weeks. Valentine reached out to us and put together some iternaries. We choose to spend 4 nights in Colmar France, 4 nights in Interlaken Switzerland and 4 nights in Lucerne Switzerland. There were different tours planned throughout but mostly in France. Then Valentine quit the company and Nathalie joined as our guide. My main criticism was before we left we were sent a lot of information that was a bit unorganized. There were 6 different individual guides and then our vouchers. It would've been much easier on us had it all been streamlined into the Roadbook as we could've referenced day by day as we have had with other tours through kimkim. Keeping the vouchers separate was helpful. Previous tours had included public parking garages that were centrally located, knowing we were driving. Things to stop and see as well as scenic drives would've been a welcome addition. More information and ideas on Lucerne would have been nice.

Tours:
Walking tour of Colmar was fine. It wasn't the best way for us to start our trip because we wanted to explore all the shops and things that caught our fancy. She was trying to inform us of the history of the town and moving us onto museums and we weren't wanting that at that time.

We loved our tours with Alsace Safari, especially the Munster Valley tour. Anna and Eric were very friendly and informative guides. Highly recommend!

Our guided bike ride with Louie was great, even while raining. Highly recommend!
There was unnecessary repetition with these tours. They could have been coordinated better. We visited Eguisheim twice when we could have spent our time visiting another village.
Our walking tour of Strasbourg was on a cold and wet day so 3 hours was already going to be too long to stand outside listening to someone talk but to make it over 4 hours was too much. Our guide was very passionate and informed but long-winded.
Kayaking with Ben in Interlaken was very enjoyable. He was very patient and a wealth of knowledge. Couldn't have been better. Highly recommend!
Our day at the Burgenstock Spa and Resort was unbeatable! What a treat! From the boat ride across the lake to the funicular ride to the top, let alone the spa! It would have been easier if we were told where to meet the boat and the times it left to plan our stay. Highly recommend!

Stays:
Hotel Adler Zurich were able to let us in our room early, which was great as we got into Zurich in the early morning. Breakfast the next day was very good.
The Serenity Colmar apartments were beautiful! Great location and the apartment couldn't have been nicer! The owners were great and very helpful. With driving, it would have been helpful to have a clearer meeting point but otherwise outstanding. Highly recommend!
Aparthotel Goldey in Interlaken- can't beat the location and the views!! The apartment was a bit tired but very clean. Owners were available to ask questions and help with issues. (Mom’s bathroom experienced ceiling water leaks when the tenants above showered without closing their shower door.  Owners dried things up once notified and gave us a bottle of wine for the 2 days of inconvenience.)
Appartements Hofquartier were clean and well-located. The owners were very helpful with issues that arose.

We had a great trip, all feedback is just to clear up some organizational issues and questions we had along the way.

Hotel Reviews
Serenity Colmar apartments
Colmar

We loved this apartment! Very clean and modern. Excellent location!

Authenticity & Character
Location
In the town, walking distance to everything
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
Aparthotel Goldey
Unterseen/Interlaken

can't beat the location and the views!! The apartment was a bit tired but very clean. Owners were available to ask questions and help with issues. (Mom’s bathroom experienced ceiling water leaks when the tenants above showered without closing their shower door.  Owners dried things up once notified and gave us a bottle of wine for the 2 days of inconvenience.)

Authenticity & Character
Location
Perfect location! The VIEWS are amazing. Just outside the craziness of Interlaken but close enough to walk to everything
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean
Hotel Adler Zürich
Zürich

Great location, friendly and helpful staff. Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
In the center of old town
Staff
Very helpful! Notified us when our room was ready
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Munster Valley Full-day-Tour
Colmar

Anna and Eric were very friendly and informative guides. Highly recommend! The lunch was fabulous and visiting the goat farm was a treat

Quality of Experience
Worth it
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Anna and Eric are great
Transport
Van was clean and comfortable
Guided gourmet bike tour in Alsace
Colmar

Louie was great! Very informative and good natured. Even in the rain it was a good time

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bikes were great
Rejuvenation day at Bürgenstock Alpine Spa
Luzern

Expensive but worth it

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat was beautiful
Summer kayak tour on Lake Brienz
Interlaken

Ben was a very patient and knowledgeable guide. Great experience

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Valentine Julien

Planning and booking our Switzerland trip on kimkim was the best experience!
Switzerland | May 9 - May 16, 2023

V
Vanessa D.
Santa Monica, CA | Reviewed on May 19, 2023

Planning and booking our trip on kimkim was seamless. I had never used, or even heard of the platform before, but I will forever now use kimkim when planning our vacations. Our Switzerland expert, Valentine, was amazing and put together the perfect trip for my mother and me. Valentine was thoughtful to tailoring our trip to our needs and was always responsive to my many questions. :) In addition, the final itinerary we received was extremely organized which made things very easy once we... read more

Planning and booking our trip on kimkim was seamless. I had never used, or even heard of the platform before, but I will forever now use kimkim when planning our vacations. Our Switzerland expert, Valentine, was amazing and put together the perfect trip for my mother and me. Valentine was thoughtful to tailoring our trip to our needs and was always responsive to my many questions. :) In addition, the final itinerary we received was extremely organized which made things very easy once we got to Switzerland. I would highly recommend Valentine and kimkim to anyone that is looking to travel abroad, and specifically, to Switzerland.

Hotel Reviews
Grand Hotel National Luzern
Luzern

Amazing hotel right on the water. Gorgeous rooms and amenities. Would highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lindner Grand Hotel Beau Rivage
Interlaken

lovely hotel, great location at the beginning of the main strip. Very close to the train station which was ideal for us.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Autograph Collection
Montreux

Loved this hotel and it's views of the lake. Right in the middle of town and again, very close to the train station which was ideal for us. The hotel restaurant was lovely and the daily continental breakfast was divine.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Boutique Hotel Helmhaus
Zürich

This was a charming small boutique hotel. The rooms did not have any views, and it was a bit tucked away from the road, but the location was perfect for what we were looking to do -- be in the center of zurich close to the shops. We were only in Zurich for one night and this was a nice well-priced option for our one night,

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on May 20, 2023

Hello Vanessa,
Thank you so much for your review! We are always happy to read your feedbacks, and your comments help us to improve our future services.
We hope that you came back home with a lot of memories in mind!
See you soon in Switzerland or maybe France or Germany,
Valentine

Fuss free trip
Switzerland | Jan 29 - Feb 9, 2023

N
Norica N.
Singapore | Reviewed on Feb 16, 2023

I want to say a big thanks to Tomaz's time and effort in planning my Switzerland trip. The trip was what we wanted and you made it possible while we work and not able to plan an itinerary. Tomaz has made very good recommendations to my hotel and activities. He attended to all my requests and patient with my constant adjustment to the itinerary. Thank you once again! read more

I want to say a big thanks to Tomaz's time and effort in planning my Switzerland trip. The trip was what we wanted and you made it possible while we work and not able to plan an itinerary. Tomaz has made very good recommendations to my hotel and activities. He attended to all my requests and patient with my constant adjustment to the itinerary. Thank you once again!

Activity Review
Paragliding
Switzerland

The staff were early for the appointment and extremely thoughtful. They knew we were not dressed warm enough for the activity and readily loan us shoe and bottom. This was the highlight of my entire trip! Highly recommended!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Tomaz Martinek
Tomaz
Tomaz Martinek
Local specialist in Slovenia | Replied on Feb 20, 2023

Hi Norica, thank you for your nice words! I look forward to seeing you travelling with us on your next travel adventure. Kind regards, Tomaz