Explore this map, I made as the ultimate Switzerland guide, to get inspired and discover the places that will become the highlight of your next trip. Many of the places in this map will have helpful booking links and/or links to social media posts with more inside information.
I see all my Guide Maps as perpetual works in progress and will do my best to add to and update them as my knowledge expands.
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The Bernese Oberland, sometimes also known as the Bernese Highlands, is the highest and southernmost part of the canton of Bern. It is one of the canton's five administrative regions.
Lauterbrunnen is a municipality in the Swiss Alps. It encompasses the village of Lauterbrunnen, set in a valley featuring rocky cliffs and the roaring, 300m-high Staubbach Falls. Nearby, the glacial waters of Trümmelbach Falls gush through mountain crevices past viewing platforms. A cable car runs from Stechelberg village to Schilthorn mountain, for views over the Bernese Alps.
Grindelwald, a village in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps, is a popular gateway for the Jungfrau Region, with skiing in winter and hiking in summer. It's also a base for mountain-climbing ascents up the iconic north face of Eiger Mountain. Gletscherschlucht, a glacial gorge just outside Grindelwald, features paths with interpretive signage, waterfalls and striated limestone walls.
$$ This unassuming bakery is known for its sourdough, made with local spring water, salt, wheat & rye.
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Lucerne
Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland known for its preserved medieval architecture, sits amid snowcapped mountains on Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Altstadt (Old Town) is bordered on the north by 870m Museggmauer (Musegg Wall), a 14-century rampart. The covered Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), built in 1333, links the Aldstadt to the Reuss River's right bank.
$$ Sausages, fondue & other classics served in a warm ambiance with a patio & water views.
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Zürich
The city of Zurich, a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus (town hall).
In a grand 1900s building opposite Lake Zurich, this premium hotel by renowned designer Philippe Starck is a 5-minute walk from Zürich Opera House and 12 km from Zurich Airport.
Set in a stately building dating from 1899, this posh hotel offers views of the Alps and Lake Zurich. It's a 4-minute walk from the nearest funicular stop and 2.3 km from the Kunsthaus Zürich art museum.
Lively Niederdorf, part of the old town, is known for its medieval streets and squares, cathedrals like the Romanesque Grossmünster, and Limmatquai promenade, with views of Lake Zurich. Musée Visionnaire shows Art Brut paintings, while Cabaret Voltaire is an offbeat arts center for events and installations. Upscale boutiques and fine-dining restaurants dot the area, alongside cocktail bars and a few nightclubs.
Stein am Rhein is a small town west of Lake Constance (Bodensee), in northeastern Switzerland. It’s known for its preserved, half-timbered medieval houses with painted facades, clustered around Rathausplatz in the old town. On the banks of the Rhine River, St. George’s Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery complex with a museum. On a hilltop overlooking the town, Hohenklingen Castle dates back to the Middle Ages.
Geneva is a city in Switzerland that lies at the southern tip of expansive Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, the city has views of dramatic Mont Blanc. Headquarters of Europe’s United Nations and the Red Cross, it’s a global hub for diplomacy and banking. French influence is widespread, from the language to gastronomy and bohemian districts like Carouge.
An 8-minute walk from Geneva train station, this 19th-century grand dame hotel overlooking Lake Geneva is a 16-minute walk from the historic Grand Théâtre de Genève. https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/alexandria-ugarte
A 5-minute walk from the St. Pierre Cathedral, this elegant hotel in downtown Genève is a 6-minute walk from the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire and 1 km from the Geneva Water Fountain. https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/alexandria-ugarte
"A culinary landmark in Geneva, this indoor market has rows of artisan food stalls. Stroll the aisles for fresh mozzarella, handmade breads, pastries and more." -OOO
"Excellent chocolate shop in Geneva. This landmark chocolatier has been family owned for decades and server the best hot chocolate, plus truffles, amandes princesse (chocolate-covered almonds) and chocolate macarons." -OOO
$ "Geneva's version of fast food, this casual cafe has multiple locations that all serve the same dish: premium quality roast chicken and fries. It's juicy and delectable every time, plus affordable." -OOO
"A Michelin Bib Gourmand, this casual bistro has a vintage warmth and inventive French cuisine. The menu is well-edited, the food is top notch and the wine list is varied and interesting." -OOO
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Neuchâtel
The city of Neuchâtel, the French-speaking capital of the Swiss canton Neuchâtel, lies on the northern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. Its medieval old town spreads beneath the Château de Neuchâtel, a castle begun in the 12th century. The adjacent Collégiale is a Gothic church from the same period. In the Jura Mountains west of the city, Creux du Van is an amphitheaterlike canyon with hiking trails and panoramic views.
Hilltop castle dating back to the 11th century featuring interior tours, exhibits & sweeping vistas.
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Basel
Basel is a city on the Rhine River in northwest Switzerland, close to the country’s borders with France and Germany. Its medieval old town centers around Marktplatz, dominated by the 16th-century, red-sandstone Town Hall. Its 12th-century Gothic cathedral has city views, and contains the tomb of the 16th-century Dutch scholar, Erasmus. The city’s university houses some of Erasmus’ works.
Basel is a city on the Rhine River in northwest Switzerland, close to the country’s borders with France and Germany. Its medieval old town centers around Marktplatz, dominated by the 16th-century, red-sandstone Town Hall. Its 12th-century Gothic cathedral has city views, and contains the tomb of the 16th-century Dutch scholar, Erasmus. The city’s university houses some of Erasmus’ works.
Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, is built around a crook in the Aare River. It traces its origins back to the 12th century, with medieval architecture preserved in the Altstadt (Old Town). The Swiss Parliament and diplomats meet in the Neo-Renaissance Bundeshaus (Federal Palace). The Französische Kirche (French Church) and the nearby medieval tower known as the Zytglogge both date to the 13th century.