Switzerland is a landlocked country to the west of France with Germany to it's north, Italy to it's south and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is dominated by the Alps, the highest mountain range in Europe with Bern as it's capital city. The largest city in Switzerland is Zurich which together with Geneva are considered to be amongst the top cities in the world for quality of life.
The Alps extend from France in the east to Austria in the west and into Italy in the South. North of the Alps ia a relative lowland area called the Mittelland which contains many of the spectacular lakes and the major cities in Switzerland.
The most famous mountain in Switzerland is the Matterhorn, located near the skiing resort of Zermatt. Whether you are visiting in the winter to take advantage of the excellent downhill slopes, or in the summer to simply enjoy the scenery, there is a lot to do and see in this area. There are two ways to get up close to the imposing Matterhorn mountain; the funicular railway from the town to Sunnegga or the gondola-style cable car to Schwarzsee. Both offer breathtaking views throughout the journey, and spectacular photo opportunities when you reach your destination. If you don’t have much time in Zermatt, there are several places in and around the town where you have a great view of the peak, while there is also a museum dedicated to the mountain and those who have tried to climb it over the decades. The nearby mountaineer’s cemetery, with its monuments to those who died on the Matterhorn is also worth visiting.
The town of Lucerne on the lake of the same name is one of Switzerland's favourite places for the tourist for as well as being a charming town also makes a great base to explore the surrounding lakes and mountains.
The Italian influence is very strong in the south of Switzerland and the towns of Locarno and Lugano have a Mediterranean atmosphere.
Some of the most famous winter sport destinations are to the east of country including St. Moritz and Davos.
Looking for culture then look no further than Zurich with it's famous art galleries and museums. The Tonhalle concert hall and the Opera House attract stars from around the world. Zurich is also Switzerland's financial and commercial center with most of the counties financial institutions having offices there.
Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse or the Station street is one of the world's most exclusive shopping centres with many boutiques, jewelers, restaurants and cafes including Sprungli, the world famous chocolate shop and Hermes, Vuitton, Armani and Zegna along it's tree lined length.
To the west of Switzerland is Lake Geneva, Europe's largest lake, with Geneva, Montreux and Lausanne on its shores. This area has been popular since Roman times as a tourist destination due to its great natural beauty with many famous people residing on its shores.
Spa resorts have been popular with visitors to Switzerland for many years, from those along the banks of Lake Geneva in the south to the more remote hotels and villages tucked away in the mountains. Leukerbad or Loeche-les-Bains is located close to Lake Geneva and claims to be home to of the largest hot water spas in the whole Alps. There are several outdoor and indoor pools in and around the town, but the most popular, especially with families, is the Burgerbad. As well as offering spa treatments and adult-only hot pools and Jacuzzis there are water slides, whirlpools and play areas to keep the kids amused. The pools are open all year round, so you can enjoy the novel experience of relaxing in a searing hot spa pool while snow is falling!
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Switzerland? Then below is a selection of holiday villas in Switzerland and holiday apartments in Switzerland that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
