Switzerland Things to Do

From luxury mountain chalets to lakeside beaches tucked in the foothills of the towering Swiss Alps, Switzerland has a host of sights to enchant visitors and with one of the best transport networks in Europe, it’s easy to cram multiple destinations into a week-long trip. Don’t be tempted to squeeze too much into your itinerary though – Switzerland is one country where the journey is always as spectacular as the destination, so take the time to travel by land and you’ll be rewarded with some of Europe’s most breathtaking vistas.

Set on the banks of the vast Lake Geneva with a backdrop of the majestic Mount Blanc and the French border less an hour away, Geneva offers a prime location for those hoping to explore the enchanting Swiss Riviera. To make the most of your trip, here are some of the best day trips from Geneva.

With some of the most jaw-dropping views in all of Europe and one of the world’s best rail networks, chugging through the countryside by train is the perfect way to take in Switzerland’s alpine wilderness. Here’s our pick of the best routes.

It’s difficult to imagine a more rewarding historical museum-going excursion than a visit to the collection of castles in northern Switzerland that make up the prestigious Museum Aargau. The castles in question include some of the finest examples of historical architecture in Switzerland. First among these is Hallwyl Castle, one of the most important moated castles in the country. It is located on two islands in the River Aabach, at the northern end of Lake Hallwil.

The base of Switzerland’s highest waterfall is a fascinating place. Situated on the northern edge of Lake Walen, Seerenbach Falls pours down a vertical cliff and spills into the overflow of the mysterious Rin Spring, which bubbles up from an underground river out of a deep, extensive cave system.

Situated in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, the small village of Bever is a wonderfully well-preserved example of a largely bygone era of village life in the Swiss countryside. Peace and tranquility reign in this lovely assemblage of holiday apartments, hotels, and pensions surrounded by larch and pine forests, meadows, fields and farms, and a tributary of the Danube (the Inn River).