Switzerland Things to Do

Covering an area greater than 230 square miles, Parc Ela is a privately managed consortium of 21 different municipalities working in consort with conservationists to fund and organize efforts to protect the pristine state of the region as a whole. This is not to say that Ela is heavily populated. Fully one third of the park is completely uninhabited. [...]

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.

Straddling the border between France and Switzerland, the glittering expanse of Lake Geneva is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe, fed by the Rhone River and surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Swiss and French Alps. The lakeside region, often dubbed the Swiss Riviera is renowned as one of the most idyllic destinations in Switzerland, and the hillside retreats have gathered a number of famous fans over the years – icons like Audrey Hepburn, Charlie Chaplin and Sophia Loren are all one-time residents.

Switzerland‘s most iconic vineyards, tiered along the banks of the shimmering Lake Geneva and boasting 830 hectares of vines basking in the Mediterranean climate, Lavaux makes an idyllic location for wine tasting. The famous terraced vineyards of Lavaux are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; as celebrated for their unique beauty as they are for the world-renowned Chasselas grapes produced in the region.

An alpine paradise for lovers of the outdoors and home to some of Europe’s glitziest ski resorts, Switzerland is like an all-natural adventure playground for children and the perfect destination for an action packed family holiday. Here are some of the best places to go with kids in Switzerland.

1. Interlaken
If you’ve got energetic children in tow, few places provide more opportunities than Interlaken, renowned as one of Europe’s premier adventure sport hotspots. Swimming, rowing, wakeboarding and windsurfing are all on offer at the region’s lakes, or else hiking and mountain biking are great family-friendly ways to explore. Teenage daredevils will find plenty to keep them amused too, with horse riding, canyoning, bungee jumping, hand gliding and skydiving providing thrills for all adrenaline levels. Wintertime offers plenty of alternatives to skiing, too – ice skating, snowshoeing, tobogganing and night sledding all make fun family activities.