Switzerland

W hile Switzerland isn’t all just cuckoo clocks and fondue, many of the other clichés about the country are true. Things pretty much do run on time, the country is easy to get around and the scenery is breathtaking.

Mountainous scenery makes up almost a third of Switzerland and just one area, the imposing St. Gotthard Massif, gives birth to two of the great rivers of Europe, the Rhine and the Rhône. These mountains, of course, also provide plenty of photographic fodder for the tourist – colorful meadows, chic ski resorts, flowers cascading from window boxes of old wooden homes – and help bring travelers back again and again.

Also playing a big part in bringing travelers back to Switzerland are the four distinct personalities of the country that were created by its quartet of official languages (Swiss-German, Italian, French and Romansch). In Ticino, the Italian-speaking region closest to Italy, you could be eating pasta for dinner one day, dining on fondue outside French-speaking Geneva the next and enjoying sauerbraten in German-speaking Zurich not long afterwards. Better yet, you’ll have little trouble ordering anything in English on any menu almost everywhere.

Whatever your interest, the country pretty much has something to interest everyone: centuries-old architecture, magnificent cathedrals, wonderful art, delicious food, great hotels and sports in every season.

And, of course, there’s that incredible Alpine scenery.

Top Experiences

Zurich
Jungfrau Region
Zermatt / the Matterhorn
Lausanne
Lucerne
Geneva

Good to Know

A Swiss Secret, Tucked Away in the Alps
Imagine a mountain landscape speckled with rustic villages whose residents speak an ancient, isolated language. Centuries-old stone dwellings with mysterious renderings of wild men and mountain goats are etched into white facades. Panoramic views are so clear and stunning you have to rub your eyes to make sure you’re not in a Hollywood epic. This isn’t Middle Earth says The New York Times. It’s Switzerland’s Lower Engadine, a remote, rugged, near-forgotten valley in the country’s easternmost corner. (photo: jhannon1)

Great Swiss Train Rides
For many foreigners, as well as the Swiss themselves, train travel is one of the most popular was of getting about the country.

Transportation

There are nonstop flights from North America and other European countries to several cities in Switzerland. Travel by train or bus is excellent, as is car travel on the country’s excellent roads, although it may take longer due to the terrain.

Hotels

Swiss hoteliers are legendary for their attention to detail and the excellence of their service. There are a variety of accommodations available all over the country.

Food

Although fondue is the best-known Swiss dish among Americans, there is no “national” cuisine due to the four different regions of the country. Each region has its own specialties although international dishes are widely available.

Quality of Medical Care (Good/Fair/Poor)

Good