Basel
Home to 40 museums, the city of culture for connoisseurs has the highest concentration of museums in the country. Basel also has a beautiful Old Town, modern architecture, and the Rhine – an inviting spot to rest a while.
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Bern
Not many cities have managed to retain their historic features quite as successfully as Bern, the capital of Switzerland. The old town of Bern is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and thanks to its 6 kilometres of arcades - the locals refer to them as 'Lauben' - boasts on of the longest weather-sheltered shopping promenades in Europe.
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Geneva
Geneva is Switzerland’s most cosmopolitan city. Here is where the United Nations European headquarters and the Red Cross are based. The city on Lake Geneva is also the cradle of watchmaking and home to many chocolatiers. Geneva has many sights, including the Jet d’Eau fountain, the flower clock L’horloge fleurie, the old town with the St. Pierre Cathedral and the Place du Bourg-de-Four.
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Lausanne
Lausanne, the second-largest city on Lake Geneva, combines a dynamic commercial town with the locality of a holiday resort. The capital of the canton of Vaud is also a lively university and convention town. Sports and culture are given a high profile in the Olympic capital.
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Lugano
Lugano, the largest town in the holiday region of Ticino, is not only Switzerland's third most important financial centre and a conference, banking and business centre, but also a town of parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. With Mediterranean flair, Lugano offers all the advantages of a world-class city, combined with the cachet of a small town.
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Lucerne
Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, sited on Lake Lucerne, is embedded within an impressive mountainous panorama. Thanks to its attractions, its attractive shopping offer, the beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, the town is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland.
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St. Gallen
The compact metropolis of eastern Switzerland between Lake Constance and Appenzellerland has a charming, traffic-free old town. Colourfully-painted oriel windows are a town feature. The Abbey precinct with the cathedral and Abbey Library has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage listing.
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Winterthur
Winterthur is a treasure trove of art, history and nature. The medieval heart of the city is full of life no matter what the time of day. Shops, restaurants, markets and festivals bring the charming Old Town to life and provide a meeting place for locals, visitors and businesspeople alike. Being a city small enough to get around conveniently while also having a big-city atmosphere makes Winterthur a popular destination.
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Zurich
The city by the water combines urban living with nature. Zurich is abuzz with activity day and night with its countless events, many museums and diverse gastronomic scene, as well as Switzerland’s most vibrant nightlife. And if you’re after rest and relaxation, you can be in the Swiss mountains in less than an hour.
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Aarau
Aarau, the capital of the Canton of Aargau in the Swiss Mittelland, is located on the River Aare to which the town and canton owe their name. The charming old town boasts the most beautiful eaves, the so-called «Dachhimmel», in Switzerland.
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Baden
The small town of Baden is a cultural and spa town, wellness destination, conference venue, and shopping paradise all in one. Hardly any other place offers such a wide range of tourism and leisure activities as the city at the Limmat - a town of contrasts.
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Bellinzona
In Bellinzona – probably the most Italian city in Switzerland – you’ll find a real mix of grandeur and coziness. This is where the St. Gotthard and San Bernardino alpine passes come together, and it is also an ideal starting point for excursions into the surrounding mountains and valleys.
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Biel / Bienne
The town of Biel, the metropolis of Swiss watchmaking, lies at the eastern end of Lake Biel, at the foot of the Jura in the delightful Lake Region. The charm of bilingualism, the intact old town and its location as the gateway to the three peripheral Jura lakes (Lakes Biel, Neuchâtel and Murten) make the town an attractive starting point, but also a destination for excursions.
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Chur
Switzerland’s oldest city charms visitors with its fine mountain setting, twisting alleys and historic buildings. Numerous boutiques, restaurants, bars, museums and galleries in the largely traffic-free Old Town create a Mediterranean-style atmosphere.
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Delémont
Delémont (German: Delsberg) is the capital of the canton of Jura and lies between the cities of Basel and Biel/Bienne in the north-west of Switzerland, close to the border with France. The small historic town lies within the densely forested and hilly Jurassic landscape. Medieval buildings, picturesque house facades, beautiful fountains and inviting terraces form the townscape of the old town.
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Fribourg / Freiburg
Drinking a cup of coffee in a leisurely fashion, admiring the old facades and beautiful fountains, listening to two local languages or gazing from the 74-meter spire of the Cathedral far into the countryside - this is an experience enjoyed in Fribourg.
Learn more about: Fribourg / Freiburg
La Chaux-de-Fonds
La Chaux-de-Fonds is not just known for its model chequerboard layout and watch industry, but is also the home of Le Corbusier and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Locarno
2,300 hours of sunshine per year and a church established ater an appearance of the Virgin Mary - this is Locarno, the town with the warmest climate in Switzerland. It is located on the northern shore of Lago Maggiore.
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Montreux
Montreux: a destination that offers pure enjoyment. This town on the shores of Lake Geneva boasts a magnificent Alpine backdrop, the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival and sights such as Chillon Castle. Just a few reasons why it is often referred to as the “Pearl of Lake Geneva”.
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Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel, called Neuenburg in German, has a rich cultural and architectural past. The Castle and the Collegiate Church (built in the Gothic style in the Middle Ages, a Reformed Church), which can both be seen from afar, are the city's landmarks.
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Olten
Olten is located at the southern foot of the Jura on the river Aare. Due to its central location in the Swiss Mittelland, the small town is a popular venue for congresses and conferences. Likewise, the small town is known for the Swiss Writers' Trail and the old town.
Learn more about: Olten
Rheinfelden
Just by Basel, at the start of the navigable Rhine, lies the charming little "Zähringer" town of Rheinfelden. The historic town centre with its typical wide market street and delightful side lanes is an inviting area in which to wander, explore and do some shopping.
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Schaffhausen
Over the mediaeval Old Town of Schaffhausen looms the imposing Munot fortress. The houses of the Old Town are richly decorated with oriel windows and lavishly painted facades. The town, located on the High Rhine between the Black Forest and Lake Constance, and surrounded by vineyards, is a popular destination for holidays and day-trips.
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Solothurn
Solothurn is regarded as the finest Baroque town in Switzerland, where Italian grandeur is combined with French charm and German practicality. The so-called «ambassador’s town» is at the southern end of the Jura by the River Aare, about 30 km east of Biel/Bienne.
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Thun
With its historic buildings, towering raised promenades steeped in history, the white castle on the Schlossberg and the fantastic views over the lake set against the backdrop of the imposing Bernese Alps – Thun’s charm enchants locals and tourists alike.
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Zug
Even the residents of Zug never tire of looking at it: when the sun sets over the lake, the horizon lights up ruby-red and all eyes are drawn to the romantic kaleidoscope of colours on the water. But even this is rivalled by the historic old town, where you can stroll through the labyrinthine narrow streets, saunter along the lakeside, or watch the colourful comings and goings from one of the many pavement cafés.
Learn more about: Zug
