Travel to Switzerland

1.) The Matterhorn, Zermatt

The most famous peak in the Alps, the Matterhorn in Zermatt stands 4,478 meters high. Mountaineers flock to this town to conquer this technically difficult peak, and Zermatt also offers skiing and beautiful views. There are also non-skiing activities, best restaurants and lots of energetic nightlife for visitors to enjoy.

2.) St. Moritz

A famous playground of the wealthy, St. Moritz is a winter resort which offers skiing and a variety of summer and winter sports as well as mud and mineral baths and mud therapies. Savor caviar and truffles in some of the resorts' fine restaurants or spa treatment at the Health Spa Centre. This town is also known for its active and expensive nightlife.

3.) Mt. Pilatus

Near the lakeside city of Lucerne stands Mt. Pilatus, a 2,120-meter-tall mountain. Tourists can take a cable car to reach its top and enjoy the thrilling view. It is also a great venue for walking with numerous trails, and the visitors here can witness the spectacular scenery of the Swiss Alps.

4.) St. Gallen

An Irish monk founded St. Gallen in 612 AD. What was once a medieval center has now grown into the seventh largest city in Switzerland, and this old town has a lot of picturesque buildings, with carved balconies, colorful murals, and relief statues. The large twin-towered cathedral has remarkable ceiling frescoes and stucco designs.

5.) The Rhine Falls

Situated near the town of Schaffhausen, Europe's largest waterfalls, is a magnificent natural wonder. Near the falls is the medieval castle, Schoss Laufen, which houses a restaurant, a youth hostel, and shops. On Swiss National Day, August 1, the Rhine Falls is host to fantastic display of fireworks which attracts thousands of tourists.

Because Switzerland is a just a small country, its attractions are near each other and can be reached quite easily. Mountain resorts, lakes, forests, castles, museums, and ancient and modern architecture make this federal republic an excellent tourist destination. With its low crime rate, it is also very safe for tourists.

1.) The Jungfrau Region

The Jungfrau Region offers spectacular scenery to bewitch the eye. The white peaks of three towering mountains-the Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger-contrast with the green valleys and meadows in this Alpine wonderland. Enjoy the fresh mountain air while visiting this place.

2.) Chateau de Chillon, Montreux

The town of Montreux is located in the heart of the Swiss Riviera on the shores of Lake Geneva. Walk by the lakeside and explore the Chillon Castle, or take a tour of the tower, courtyards, dungeons, and rooms of this eleventh-century castle, the most frequently visited historical building in Switzerland where its numerous rooms house weaponry, frescoes, and furniture. The castle can be reached by walking along the lakefront or taking the train or trolley bus.

3.) Fasnacht Spring Carnival, Basel

Be sure to visit Basel, Switzerland's second largest city for the Fasnacht Spring carnival. Its world-famous three-day carnival features participants in colorful costumes and masks parading in the streets. The carnival starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, and cafes and bars are open all night as confetti, sweets, and flowers are thrown to the crowd.

4.) Swiss National Park, Zernez

The Swiss Natural Park is 169 square kilometers of mountains and woodland. It is home to a variety of wildlife such as large red deer, chamois, ibexes, and marmots. Walk around its trails and admire its breathtaking views.

5.) Geneva

Hugging the shores of lovely Lake Geneva, this city is the third biggest in the country. You can find the world's tallest fountain, enchanting museums, and fine restaurants here. For those with a turn towards alternative arts, Geneva is a place not to be missed.

Although a pretty small country, Switzerland is a very famous one. The strange thing is that for the different people, Switzerland is famous with different things. When it comes to this country, some of us think of the wide variety of world-known cheeses it makes. Others think of the unbreakable swiss watches made there or the popular Swiss banks. But for myself, I have found another great side of the country its gorgeous nature. That is why, as a nature-lover, I will try to present here the most beautiful places you can visit for a walk or drive.

For those of you who want to explore on foot and are not afraid of walking a bit more, here are some perfect places for doing so. A place that offers great views is Mount Santis at 2 502 meters above the sea level. It is perhaps the most impressive mount in the Alps and you can start your hike from the Wasserrauen village nearby. To Wasserrauen can get by train from another village - Appenzell. From Wasserrauen you can cross the 8,9 kilometer distance to Schwagalp, which is around 5 hours walk. From the Schwagalp village by cable car you will get to the platform, from where you can see the mount itself.

Another pretty famous walk is called The Great Watershed (Grosse Scheidegg). It is located in the Jungfrau region (central Switzerland) and can offer breathtaking views of glaciers and mountains. You can also see the massive rocks of the Wetterhorn. You can begin walking from the Meiringen village and finish in the Grindelwald resort, 21 kilometers farther. And there are also bust stops along the road.

Another hiking path is the Burgenstock Felsenweg, located in the area of Lake Lucerne. The landscape there will probably leave you breathless as it is one of the greatest in Switzerland. You can start from the Burgenstock resort and finish in Ennetburgen. The distance is around 7 kilometers and passes through gorgeous views of Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne.

I would also suggest visiting the lakes in the Upper Engadine. They are four in total and are located 1 771 meters above the sea level, but the hiking path is not steep at all. The distance is 14 kilometers and offers views of lakes and mountain ranges. You can begin from Maloja, pass through the gorgeous village Segl-Maria and finish on the banks of the lake in the Silvaplana resort (around 3 hours).

And finally I will just mention the most famous and beautiful drives. Perhaps the most popular is the road above the Great St. Bernard Pass, beginning from Zurich or Basel and ending in Italy. The road over the Furka Pass offers some amazing views of the nearby glacier. St. Gotthard Pass Road and the road over the Bernina Pass are also marvelous and popular but especially the last one can be dangerous if the winding road is icy. While the above mentioned may be surrounded by some bridges, the Simplon Pass Road fully uncovers the unspoilt beauty of the mountainous landscape.

There are many other places one can write about, but the most important thing is that if you want to get away from the big city traffic, you should try discovering the nature beauty of Switzerland.

Switzerland is one of the most famous destinations for all people in the world. The country has a lot of wonderful features that the people want to keep visiting. If you are looking to visit this beautiful place, the first thing you will have to take care of before actually leaving would be the visa. You can easily find the details on the USA visa information guide which can be found online. With this guide, you will be able to gather all the information on the different processes that you might have to go through.

It will also be a good idea to check into the USA embassy Switzerland as it will help you out in case of any emergency. Things will be more enjoyable and safer in a foreign country if you know for sure that you have someone to help you out if at all you need any help. Many tourists are often conned out of their money and their papers in foreign countries and in such circumstances, they find that they are completely helpless. So, it is always best to know how to contact united states embassy Switzerland.

All the details are simply available in most websites for tourists which will give you a detailed account on everything. One of the most important things that you should take a look into would be the prior booking of the accommodations. It will be advisable to find accommodations closer to the embassy so that you can reach the officials with no hassles. Taking a look at the guides for the visa application earlier will also be a very good idea as you might not have time at the last minute. Keeping in mind that safety has more priority over everything else, you should take care to not give your personal information out to any stranger you meet on your holidays.

Is it possible to see the best of this beautiful country in the heart of Europe, in 4 days? If you're adventurous and have a reasonable level of fitness, it can be done. Read on to discover how.

Your time in Europe is limited and there's so much to see. However to miss this tiny country would be a great pity. The people are courteous and friendly, the lakes breathtaking and the mountain scenery the most spectacular in Europe.

The booking clerk at the Zurich Bahnhoff looked at me with surprise when I presented him with my 4 day Swiss Pass and told him of my travel plans.
"I hope you are fit ", he said. Fortunately Switzerland is compact and its travel system is smooth, punctual and efficient.
Zurich is an ideal starting point because of its transport access to the rest of Europe. Most international airlines fly to Zurich and travelers from London can go by Eurostar to Paris and then by express from Paris to Zurich. Lausanne, just east of the border with France, is a convenient finishing point with its TGV high speed rail connection with Paris. I chose a Swiss pass (which must be purchased before you leave) because it offers cheap unlimited travel on all trains, buses and ferries and discounts on most mountain railways and cable cars.

DAY ONE. ZURICH TO SPIETZ.
An early morning departure (7.30AM) from the Zurich Bahnhoff was followed by a short ride south through undulating countryside to Lucerne and the first change of trains. Because of the regularity of trains, it is worthwhile taking a 2 hour stop at this beautiful little city on Lake Lucerne. If you have time, four optional excursions spaced over 2 days are worthwhile.

A steamer trip to the eastern end of Lake Lucerne alighting at Fluelen is recommended. The mountain scenery on the south side of the lake is breathtaking. A quick train journey back to Lucerne completes this half-day excursion.
Two mountain trips are within easy reach of Lucerne. The closest is Mt Pilatus, and my suggestion is to take the cog railway up the south face and return on the cable car as you descend the north face. The views north to Lucerne are some of the finest in Europe. Further afield is Mt Titlis. This requires a bus journey to Engelburg, then a series of cable car rides to the summit with its permanent snow cover. Spectacular views of the main mountain peaks in Switzerland await you. The fourth major attraction in Lucerne is the transport museum: reputed to be the finest in Europe.

The next part of the journey is over the top of the Brunig pass. A cog railway is necessary because of the steep gradients ascending and descending these mountain passes. It is worth taking an hour's stop at the pretty village of Brienz on the north shore of Lake Brienz, before continuing on to Interlaken and the next change of trains.
Interlaken is an ideal base to explore the magnificent mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland including Jungfrau, one of the highest peaks in Switzerland. A rapid train journey to Thun is followed by a walk down to the harbour to join the ferry for a 1-hour voyage to Spietz, the overnight stop. I would strongly recommend this late afternoon ferry journey on one of the prettiest lakes in Europe.

DAY TWO. BRIENZ to LOCARNO.
This spectacular journey includes 2 of Europe's major tunnels: Lotschberg and Simplon and travels south through high alpine scenery to Ticino, the southernmost and warmest canton in Switzerland. The descent to Brig with views of the Rhone Valley on the right is particularly spectacular. At Brig, following another train change, we travel through the Simplon tunnel into Italy.

Leaving the train at Domodossola, the journey continues on a quaint little privately owned railway to the overnight stop at Locarno. This journey on the Centovalli railway is strongly recommended because of the spectacular gorges and ravines en route. Sit on the right side of the train for the best views.
Locarno has a beautiful location at the top end of Lake Maggiore and a visit to the Madonna Del Sasso church, a short funicular journey from the heart of town, will reward you with magnificent views over the lake.

DAY THREE. LOCARNO to St MORITZ.
An early morning train journey to Lugano will be necessary for a connection to the Palm Express: a bus trip over the Majola pass to St Moritz. These Swiss postal buses negotiate terrain which is too steep for trains and the winding journey to the top of the pass is breathtaking. To my surprise, particularly as I was told that bookings were essential, I was the only passenger. The joys of off season traveling resulted in the driver stopping at my whims. He even asked where I wanted to stop for coffee!

St Moritz is the starting point for two of the most outstanding train journeys in Europe: the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express. Most overseas travelers board the Bernina Express and travel to Tirano in Italy but as my time was short and acting on advice from the station master at St Moritz, I left the train at Alp Grum (the top of the Bernina Pass), enjoyed a coffee and the spectacular Alpine views at the summit, before boarding another train an hour later for the return trip to St Moritz.
The Bernina Express journey is on the highest non cog railway in Europe and the high alpine glaciers and snow-capped peaks viewed on both sides of the train completed a memorable day.

DAY FOUR. St MORITZ to LAUSANNE.
The final day of my Swiss pass took me on a 7 hour journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe. The Glacier Express journey from St Moritz to Zermatt is one of the most popular in Europe and is almost always fully booked. For the first time, I did not have to change trains, enabling me to sit back and enjoy the high alpine scenery of rural Switzerland with its meadows, tiny villages, the sound of cowbells, the distant sound of church bells and the brilliant clear bracing mountain air. Every bend and every tunnel exit presented different vistas, but probably the most spectacular was the descent from Oberalp Pass to Andermatt. The views were unforgettable. The Glacier Express arrived in Zermatt in the late afternoon and unfortunately the Matterhorn was covered in cloud. I reluctantly had to cancel a cog railway ascent to Gornergrat, a high plateau just below the summit of this spectacular mountain. It was here that I wished I had more time. The mountain walks around Zermatt are some of the finest in Europe. Another day perhaps!

So it was down the mountain to Visp to join a mainline express through the Rhone Valley for an overnight stop at Lausanne. Sadly most of this journey was at night. It did however give me peace of mind knowing that I would not miss my early morning TGV connection from Lausanne to Paris. Maybe next time, I'll take the 8-day pass!

A Swiss Pass for 4 consecutive days first class costs US$278. Longer travel days are available. If you wish to combine travel in Switzerland with a number of other countries, a Eurail Pass gives you a number of flexible options.