Choose from 99 Fun Things to Do in Switzerland
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
Exhibits tell the story through text, video, sound, interactive displays, as well as an archive of some seven million index cards documenting prisoners of war, a testament to the ideals of the Geneva Convention. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, also known as the Musée International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge, is a monument to humanity’s best impulses in the face of its worst.
Practical Info
Lindt & Sprungli Chocolate Factory Outlet
- The Lindt & Sprungli Chocolate Factory Outlet is closed on Sundays and many holidays.
- Plan to spend about 30 minutes at the shop.
- Be sure to discuss any food allergies with staff before tasting chocolate.
- Don’t miss the movie explaining the Lindt factory’s chocolate production process.
St Peter Church (St. Peterskirche)
St Peter's is the oldest church in Zurich. It stands in a small square surrounded by houses and shops but its impressive spire dominates the city. St Peter's Church, also known as St Peterskirche, is so tall that from the Middle Ages until the early 20th century it was used by the night-watch keeping an eye out for fires breaking out in the city. On this spire is the largest church clockface in Europe with a diameter of 28.5 ft (8.7 m). The minute hand is 12 ft (4 m) long!
The Peterskirche was first built in the 9th century, but was altered in the 13th century and again in the 17th century. The interior is plain, white with wooden columns and pews but in the choir the remains of a medieval mural can be seen.
Practical Info
The nearest tram is 4 or 15, stopping at Rathaus, then walk across the bridge over the river Limmat.
Rosengart Collection (Picasso Museum)
Practical Info
Lion Monument
Hewn out of the natural rock on-site, the monument was the handiwork of stonemason Lucas Ahorn, to the design of Danish classicist sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsenwhilst and commemorates the Swiss Guards that lost their lives in the 1792 French Revolution. Look closely and you’ll see that the lion’s paws rest on the symbolic Fleur-de-Lis (Lilies of France), while a broken spear juts from his back. The poignant inscription reads ‘Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti’ – ‘To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss’.
Lucerne Old Town
- Lucerne Old Town is a must for sightseers, with its charming historical streets providing ample photo opportunities.
- Wear comfortable shoes; the streets can be uneven and walking is the only means of transport.
- Much of Lucerne Old Town is accessible to wheelchair users.
Lucerne
Chapel Bridge is 670 feet (204 meters) long and was built in 1333 to protect Lucerne from attacks. It’s the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. Seventeenth-century paintings line the interior, and the bridge leads to an eight-sided water tower, which has had a history as a prison, torture chamber, watchtower and treasury.
The half-timbered medieval buildings of Lucerne’s Old Town are surrounded by rampart walls and watchtowers. The town’s poignant sculpture of a dying lion is unforgettable, and its Picasso Museum is another must-see.
International Museum of the Reformation
Practical Info
Rousseau Island (Ile Rousseau)
Where the River Rhône meets Lake Geneva, where the city’s north and south shores face each other, you’ll find Ile Rousseau, the green, serene heart of Geneva. Four centuries ago this was a highly strategic position, and the island owes its unusual “arrowhead” shape to its original function as a fortress.
Things are much calmer now; with Italian poplars, weeping willows and stunning views of the city, this is a place for rest and contemplation, and a pavilion restaurant is on hand to provide food for thought. Appropriate, then, that the island should be named for local boy Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the great 18th century philosopher whose statue has been standing guard here since 1835.
Practical Info
Ile Rousseau is best reached on foot and is connected to both shores of Geneva by the Pont des Bergues. The head of the island faces the Pont du Mont-Blanc, one of the main crossing points of the city.
Mt. Pilatus
- Mt. Pitalus is a must-visit for train buffs, scenery seekers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
- Drink lots of water to stave off the effects of altitude sickness.
- Book tickets or tours in advance to save yourself lining up for the cable car or cogwheel train.
- The cogwheel railway, panoramic gondola, and aerial cableway are all wheelchair-accessible.
Mount Rigi
- Visitor facilities at the Mount Rigi summit include a hotel, restaurant, and a wellness center.
- Wrap up warm—the high altitude means it will be chilly on the mountaintop even in the summer months.
- The cable car, cogwheel railways, and some of Mount Rigi’s hiking trails are wheelchair accessible.
Mt. Titlis
- Air can be thin atop Mt. Titlis. Anyone with respiratory problems should check with a doctor before ascending.
- Wear hiking boots and dress warmly. Snow and ice are present at the summit station year-round.
- Most organized tours include free time at the summit station.
Liechtenstein
Practical Info
Stanserhorn CabriO
Practical Info
Parade Square (Paradeplatz)
Practical Info
Lindenhof
Practical Info
Limmatquai
Limmatquai is the street along the right side of the river Limmat in central Zurich. On one side is the Rathaus, Zurich's Baroque parliament building.
Limmatquai is a vibrant shopping, dining and hotel area with many interesting buildings dating from the days of the rich Guilds which governed Zurich until 1789. It is the perfect place to start your exploration of the narrow, charming streets of the Old Town.
Practical Info
Limmatquai is not only easy to find, it is difficult to avoid. Many trams pass through the area or it's a short walk from the centre of town, or along the Limmat river.
Museum of Art and History (Musee d'Art et d'Histoire)
Practical Info
Lavaux Vineyard Terraces
While the Swiss wine industry doesn’t rival that of its neighbors in Italy and France, this area has remained in continuous, productive use, and its historic buildings, footpaths and vines have been well maintained and preserved. While there is clear evidence that the vines were cultivated by Benedictine and Cistercian monks, traces of Roman settlements here and in nearby Lausanne, a city which historically owes some of its wealth to the Lavaux wine industry, has led many to believe that ancient Romans also used the terraces for growing wine grapes.
Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)
Opened in 1910, the Kunsthaus, or Museum of Art, in Zurich is Switzerland's premier art gallery. It has a strong collection of modern art, including over 4,000 pieces of sculpture, paintings and installations. It has a particular emphasis on Swiss art, important for the rise of such movements as Dada which began in Zurich in 1916.
The collection includes work by Picasso, Chagall, Munch, Mondrian and Matisse as well as many more. The gallery has an extensive art education program and a library focusing on modern art.
Practical Info
From the main train station, Zurich Hauptbahnhof, take tram 3, or bus 31, to stop Kunsthaus.