It is impossible to imagine Switzerland without its mountains. Geographically the mountains account for a third of Switzerland, historically they played an important role and economically they are crucial nowadays, as the biggest part of the Swiss tourism takes place in the alpine regions.

There is no other region in the whole of Europe, where you find more 4.000 meter high mountain peaks – more than the 48 peaks in Switzerland. World famous are the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch in the Berner Oberland with its popular travel destinations Grindelwald, Wengen or Mürren.

In Valoir, in southern Switzerland, the Matterhorn is world famous for its spectacular backdrop and Zermatt is the renowned ski-resort profiting most from its popularity. We also recommend other top regions as Crans Montana, Verbier or family-friendly Villars in the Waadtland Alps at lake Geneva, and if you prefer scenic Graubünden then brows our portfolio for accommodation in St.Moritz, Sam Naun or the Flims-Laax-Falera region.

Switzerland´s perfect infrastructure covers all regions, and it is convenient and easy to drive to your dream destination. The railroad system is also very well structured and organized.

Beyond the après-ski chic, edelweiss and Heidi lies a complex country of cohabiting cultures. It not only has 4 languages (Swiss German, French, Italian and Romansch), but the cultural and culinary variety to match. The Swiss currency is the Swiss Franc. 

The diversity of Switzerland is reflected in its climate, despite its small size. The Alps are an important factor here. They act as a barrier, so the weather in the north is often quite different from that in the south. It is noticeably milder in winter in the south than in the north. There are also significant differences in the amount of rainfall.

The seasons are clearly defined. In spring (March to May) the trees blossom and the meadows become green. In summer the temperature rises to 25-30 degrees (77-86 degrees Fahrenheit). In autumn (September to November) the fruits ripen, then the leaves turn brown and fall. In winter the snow changes the landscape.

Graubünden

Graubünden is characterized by countless valleys that slice up the rugged landscape and scattered villages that retain a rough-diamond rural edge in the picture-perfect scenery. From the little explored western valleys to the picturesque Engadine untamed beauty and village charm awaits discovery. Beyond the ancient capital, Chur, the canton is a little short on high culture but boasts more than 11.000 km of walking trails, 1.500 km of downhill ski slopes and more than 600 lakes. Graubünden is also home to the country´s only national park, the Swiss National Park.

But Graubünden is also special in another way. If many country villages still get by on small-scale farming, others have been propelled to wealth by the dazzling winter-sports industry. Indeed, half the population is involved in tourism. Ultra-chic ski resorts of St. Moritz, Davos and Klosters attract the international jetset and celebrities – the buzz-words like Flims/Laax or Sam Naun delight ski fans. The thermal baths are also a great attraction. Several are scattered across the canton, led by those of Vals and Scuol.

Valois

With the 10 highest mountains in Switzerland – all over 4.000m – this scenic canton offers pinnacles of pleasure for those who enjoy the high life. A guaranteed supply of snow plus challenging slopes makes the Valais region one of the most popular in the world for skiing. A series of mountain valleys cuts into the Alps from the Rhone valley, which slices east to west through the canton, leading to ski resorts as varied in scenery and challenges as they are culturally mixed. Verbier, Crans Montana and Zermatt are internationally acclaimed ski-paradises and depending on your choice of ski resort, you can ski from Francophone Switzerland into France or from German Switzerland into Italy.  

The Alps are as stunning in summer, offering limitless hiking possibilities for all levels, including the classic Mont Blanc circuit through Switzerland, France and Italy. The canton is dotted with delightful high mountain villages and down in the Rhone valley vineyards that provide some of the country´s best wines, best savored with Raclette, a local cheese specialty. The thermal bathing centers, notably those of Leukerbad are a fabulous destination to sooth nerves and tired muscles.

Berner Oberland

The Berner Oberland is a canton so perfect you´ll think you are dreaming. You can spend mesmerizing hours staring at the sheer, outrageous beauty of the snow-white, jagged, craggy, majestic mountains found everywhere and you can also join thousands of international guests indulging in all kind of outdoor activities.

In recent years the region experienced a dynamic economic development, but it is also deeply steeped in traditions and customs. The comprehensive cultural and leisure options, the unsurpassed natural beauty and diversity and the warm hospitality and cordiality of the locals, all contribute to the cantons´ success with regard to tourism.

Exceptionally popular is the region encompassing the famous mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau with its renowned destinations Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren and Lauterbrunnen. 213 km of ski-slopes, 100 km of hiking and walking trails, 50 km of sledge slopes attract tourists from all over the world. High-tech cable cars and rack railways allow for unlimited alpine fun sports in summer and winter.

Waadtländer Alps

To spend your winter holiday in the canton of Lake Geneva means to experience new exiting things everyday. Within a range of shortest distances unique indulgences wait to be discovered: cultural towns, snow-covered alps, the magic Jura mountain range and traditional country life. The Jura mountains with silent valleys and far reaching plains reminds of the far North and is popular among winter trekker and cross-country skiers.

The Waadtland Alps on the other hand cater for families and adopt to lower budgets with regard to skiing and accommodation, at many places children under 9 go for free. Traditional mountain villages, eternal snow at Glacier 3000 and endless free-ride slopes high above Lake Geneva – the options couldn´t be more divers.

In the valleys the cities provide for fun, entertainment and cultural adventures. Shopping in Lausanne, cultural experiences in Morges, strolling about in Montreux – there is always something going on in the Lake Geneva area – and the next temptation is just a stone´s throw away. Colourful hot air balloons, enormous half-pipes or gentle family slopes, in the Waadtland Alps individual needs will find their match.

Winter Sports

Known as a summer and winter sports paradise, Switzerland is where people first skied for fun. Illustrious names evoke all the romance and glamorous drama of the mountain high life: Zermatt, St Moritz, Interlaken, Gstaad, the Jungfrau, Verbier and more. Cities like Geneva, Zürich, Basel and Lausanne heave with heady artistic activities and sometimes incendiary nightlife.

But sport never stands still, and in recent years there has been an explosion in new sports and in new ways to practise traditional ones. One popular development is carving, which makes use of new materials and a radical new design. A variant of carving is snowblading, where the skis are curved at each end.

More controversial is heliskiing or heliboarding, where visitors are flown to inaccessible high mountain regions from where they can ski down glaciers. But there are moves to ban the sport - already forbidden in several European countries - on the grounds that nature should be left undisturbed.

Although skiing is regarded as the prime winter sport tobogganing and skating have an even longer history in Switzerland and are widely practiced. Snowshoes have become more and more popular in recent years, with many resorts organizing trekking tours and races. They offer an ideal opportunity to non-skiers to enjoy the winter landscape. Here too the designers have been busy, finding ways to make the shoes equally good for going uphill, downhill or on the flat.

Not all sports are to be taken seriously. The Swiss have developed a range of fun ways of getting around on the snow which are unlikely ever to make it to the Winter Olympics. Snowtubing involves sliding down a slope sitting in a large inner tube; variations on the bike theme include the snow-scoot (a cross between a bike and a snowboard), the snowbike (with spiked tyres), and the velogemel (a bike on blades.)  And what could be more Swiss than the skibock: a one-legged milking stool fixed to a ski?

Hiking

A dense network of 60,000 footpaths covers the country. Hiking is popular, especially among the German speaking Swiss, and among older people. According to a poll published in 2001 more than 60% of the Swiss had been for at least one hike in the previous year.

The footpaths are well signposted and well-kept. The yellow signs are everywhere, with information about destinations or the name of the route, and often also with walking times, distances and altitudes.

There are also a number of learning trails, covering a wide range of subjects, with information boards every so often along the way.

Water sports

The shores of many of Switzerland's lakes fill up with bathers and sun-worshippers on warm summer days - some areas are endowed with small sandy beaches, others have grassy patches on which people spread out their towels. Often, there are wooden jetties leading out to slightly deeper parts of the lake; sometimes there are installations complete with diving boards.

People even go swimming in the Swiss capital, Bern, allowing themselves to be carried along by the river Aare - but making sure to get out before it flows over a weir. 

Adrenalin Sports

Switzerland, with its mountains, bridges and dams is an ideal country for those to whom recreation means letting go - literally - of their everyday lives and trying out new sensations and new challenges.

Some visitors like to try out bungee jumping, which entails jumping from a bridge, platform or suchlike structure, attached only by a rubber rope. One popular spot for this is the Verzasca dam in Canton Ticino, made famous by the James Bond film "Golden Eye", where the hero's jump has been voted the "best film stunt of all times."

A considerably more dangerous activity which has gained in popularity in recent years is base jumping: jumping from a cliff or tall building using a parachute. Some of the valleys of Switzerland lend themselves to this activity and attract jumpers from home and abroad.