Six reasons to travel to Switzerland. A landlocked country, this is a place of fairy tale beauty and breathtaking views. A postcard by itself, Switzerland is a magical hiking destination; it offers world-class ski resorts and the best Christmas markets in the Old World.
As if that wouldn’t be enough, Switzerland is one of the safest countries; its transportation system is one of the most efficient; they are ahead on being green and protecting the environment, and everything Swiss is synonymous with quality, precision, and excellence.
Is Switzerland open to travel?
A few weeks ago, I had lunch with the team of Switzerland Tourism in the US. They came to Miami as part of their Best of Switzerland Media Tour 2022. It was its first post-pandemic tour.
They came on a mission: to let travelers know that Switzerland is open and ready to receive American tourists any time of the year, with no Covid 19-related restrictions.
For me, this was also my first post-pandemic event. It meant a lot to me. Switzerland has been in my heart since I had the privilege of spending six beautiful months living in my beloved Geneva in my early 30s.
Having lunch with the public relations team of cosmopolitan Basel, multicultural Geneva & Vaud; breathtaking, iconic Zermatt-Matterhorn; enchanting Ticino region, and vibrant Zurich was like going down memory lane. The meeting brought memories of one of my life’s happiest, most beautiful times.
What’s the best time of the year to travel to Switzerland?
Switzerland is the perfect travel destination and has something to offer for every kind of traveler, any season of the year. It all depends on your personal preferences.
Six reasons to travel to Switzerland
1. The artsy enchantment of Basel
Basel is home to the premier international art fair, Art Basel. Plus, it has 40 museums spread throughout the city. No doubt, Basel is one of Europe’s most important cultural centers (considering its size and population.)
But Basel is more than the artsiest Swiss city. It’s nested on the Rhine River rive droit and enjoys at least 300 days of sunshine a year. This means river cruises and a summertime tradition: Rhine swimming!
Basel is the third-largest Swiss city after Zurich and Geneva. The city is close to where the Swiss, French, and German borders meet. Basel has suburbs in France and Germany. Home to the Bank for International Settlements (a bank for central banks), its Basler Fasnacht is the biggest carnival celebration in Switzerland.
2. The many appeals of multicultural Geneva
Geneva is known as the capital of peace. It serves as the headquarters of the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Trade Organization, among other global institutions. Undoubtedly, Geneva is the most multicultural of the Swiss cities. Did you know that in Geneva-located CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), the internet was created in 1989? Cool place, don’t you think so?
French-speaking Geneva has a charming Old Town with cobblestone streets and equally charming boutiques. The city’s natural landscape: the Rhône River, Lake Geneva, and the impressive Alps, including snow-capped Mont-Blanc, knows no parallel. Lake Geneva is the largest Alpine lake and one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe. Its iconic Jet d’Eau rises 140 meters.
3. The wonders of the Lake Geneva Region
Stretching from the thriving international metropolis of Geneva through the Lausanne & Montreux Riviera, the Lake Geneva Region offers everything: lakes, mountains, stunning rural countryside, and it is home to the world-renowned Montreaux Jazz Festival, among other attractions.
You can stroll Laussane’s medieval Old Town in the Vaud canton, explore its charming cafés and boutiques, and admire its staggering Gothic cathedral.
Montreux is home to the Chateau de Chillon. Once the Counts of Savoy’s residence, Lord Byron found the inspiration to write his poem The Prisoner of Chillon in this building, one of the most known Swiss castles.
The Lavaux vineyard terraces are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. They stretch for about 18 miles along the shores of Lake Geneva from the Chateau de Chillon to the eastern outskirts of Lausanne in the Vaud region.
4. The charming Mediterranean soul of the Ticino Region
Mediterranean? Yes, you read well. Ticino, Switzerland’s southernmost canton, shares its border with Italy and its official language is Italian. Besides, it enjoys a milder climate with subtropical flora (including palm trees all over the place) and has plenty of baroque architecture.
Elegant Lugano at the shores of Lake Lugano, bellisima Bellinzona with its three UNESCO World Heritage Site castles (Castelgrande, Castello Sasso Corbaro, and Castello Montebello), sundrenched Locarno at Lake Maggiore, and breathtaking Ascona, are some of the most charming places you don’t want to miss when in Switzerland.
If Heaven were on this Earth, I’m pretty sure it would be somewhere in the Ticino area.
5. The sempiternal beauty of Zermatt – Matterhorn
Zermatt is the ultimate mountain village. The destination at the foot of the Matterhorn boasts many records. Europe’s highest cable car station is on the Klein Matterhorn at 3,882 meters above sea level. Zermatt is also home to the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the Alps (almost 500 meters long.) As if those records weren’t enough, Zermatt also hosts the highest density of gourmet restaurants in the Alps!
The Zermatt – Matterhorn destination is an idyllic oasis. The village of Zermatt has always been car-free. And various places in the village provide a perfect view of the most photographed mountain in the world: the Matterhorn. Majestically and with magical effect, the 4,478 meters high mountain towers above all other mountains.
6. The vibrant spirit of trendsetter Zurich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and a major transportation hub that is a top starting point for travelers. With its 50 museums and 100 art galleries, Zurich is also a cultural emporium.
Its high-end shopping mile-long Bahnhofstrasse is one of Europe’s finest shopping strands. Zurich offers a unique contrast between 2,000 years of history and its modern and super trendy Zurich-West n-district. Europaallee and the newest Zollhaus are the newly developing areas that nobody wants to miss.
Depending on the time of the year you visit, Zurich is the place for outdoor swimming, bike riding, and sunset cruises at Lake Zurich.
What are your best reasons to travel to Switzerland?
