For a small country, Switzerland makes an impressive impact. It’s an amalgamation of cultures and cuisines borrowed from France, Italy, and Germany, depending on which canton, or territorial division, you find yourself in. From the Swiss Alps and ski culture to incredible summer hiking and adventure activities, plus ample Michelin-starred dining and fabulous Swiss wine, we’ve rounded up the best cities and hotels to stay at during your next Switzerland jaunt. Luckily, the train system is easy and efficient, allowing you to visit a few cities in one trip.
Zürich
Destination:
Not just a mecca for bankers, Zürich is a burgeoning metropolis that pairs world-class architecture, art, and culture with an impeccably serene lakeside setting. Over the last few years, Zürich has welcomed an onslaught of young denizens that are transforming the city’s music, art, and design scene.
Where to Stay:
Oone of the city’s newest luxury hotels, La Réserve Eden au Lac is Philippe Starck’s nautical reimagination of a 110-year-old hotel perched along the lakefront. There are 40 rooms with yacht club-esque interiors and two restaurants, including a rooftop terrace and bar that simply cannot be missed.
What to Do:
Lake life is embedded in Swiss culture, and even in cities, it’s no different. La Réserve guests have complimentary access to the bathing pavilion Badi Utoqai across the street, a wooden “bathing palace” perched above Lake Zürich that provides direct water access via rafts, diving boards, or ladders. Be sure to walk around Altstadt (Old Town), which straddles the Limmat River. Here you can see sites like the Zürich landmark Grossmünster Church or pop into Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland’s largest art museum.
Where to Eat and Drink:
Zürich has a fabulous bar and terrace scene, but few come close to Primitivo, Barfussbar, or Rimini, where you can jump in the lake or listen to DJs as the sun sets. As for cuisine, get a traditional Swiss experience at Kronenhalle, a Zürich institution since 1924, or the two-Michelin-starred Widder, helmed by rockstar chefs.
Can’t-Miss Neighborhood:
Kreis 4, Zürich’s former red light district, is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in the city thanks to a creative revitalization in the mid-2000s. It is home to cool cafés and restaurants (like a bike-through restaurant), creative concept stores, and underground clubs.
Geneva
Destination:
The predominantly French-speaking city of Geneva might be known for diplomacy and banking, but the pristine city is filled with world-class music, fine dining, and designer shopping.
Where to Stay:
Opened earlier this year, The Woodward is Geneva’s first all-suite hotel (there are just 26 rooms) dating back to 1901 with extraordinary views of the lake and Mont Blanc. This stylish sanctuary also has two restaurants, a tearoom, and an ultra-cool cigar room located within a former vault that honors the building’s history as a bank.
What to Do:
There’s something remarkable about seeing the Palace of Nations, the United Nations Office, where history has been made. Take a tour and walk around Ariana Park afterwards. For a dose of art and culture, pay a visit to the Musée des Arts d’Extrême Orient, filled with 9,000 art objects, like ceramics, porcelain, and vases, from China and Japan.
Where to Eat and Drink:
Chez Philippe is a meat-centric restaurant serving the finest cuts from Switzerland and beyond. If you’re after something lighter, The Woodward’s Le Jardinier, which has one other outpost in New York, is a vegetable-forward restaurant with great views over the lake. Request to sit on the terrace.
Can’t-Miss Neighborhood:
Considered the Greenwich Village of Geneva, Carouge is full of bohemian artists and craftsmen, as well as great antique shopping, that makes it one of the hippest neighborhoods in the city.
Lucerne
Destination:
To call Lucerne, or Luzern as the Germans refer to it, the most picturesque area in Switzerland feels unfair. But there really are few destinations with vistas quite like this. Lucerne borders the lake of the same name, and while the town has much to offer in terms of sights, much of the excitement and adventure can be found at various points around the lake.
Where to Stay:
Getting to Bürgenstock Resort is almost as exciting as the hotel itself. After arriving by boat to the private dock, you’re whisked up a steep mountain in a funicular—simultaneously exhilarating and jaw-droppingly beautiful—that leads you to the hotel’s entrance. Views from the room or the many terraces over the lake extend over all of Lake Lucerne and truly make it seem like you’re floating in the sky. The hotel is one of four in the resort complex so rest assured you’ll never run out of spa treatments, restaurants, or views.
What to Do:
Lucerne begs you outside, and there’s no better outdoor adventure here than a hike to the Hammetschwand Lift, the highest exterior elevator in Europe. The rocket-like lift takes you more than 500-feet up a cliffside. History buffs should pay a visit to the Musegg Wall, a 2,600-foot wall from the 13th century that once protected the city.
Where to Eat and Drink:
Bürgenstock’s Spices Kitchen & Terrace has some of the best Asian cuisine in the region and serves aromatic and authentic dishes from Japan, China, India, and Thailand. Stiefels, on Lucerne’s Michelin Guide, is known for its hyper-local, sustainable ingredients plated like art. For a cocktail with a view, head to Hotel Château Gütsch’s American Bar for the trendy vibe and unusual concoctions. Then there is Gardist, a wine bar with more than 120 bottles from around Europe.
Interlaken
Destination:
Don’t be deterred by study abroad travelers and adventure junkies, Interlaken’s impossibly blue lakes and hiking excursions are worth the trip alone. However, adventures on offer include skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, and canyoning, to name a few.
Where to Stay:
Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa is the Swiss grande dame hotel with newly designed rooms, a massive spa, tennis courts, and three restaurants (with more to come). It’s quite elegant, and those who stay come for its sumptuous suites, delightful terraces, and extensive wellness offerings.
What to Do:
If you’re a thrill-seeker, or even if you’re not, Interlaken is the place to overcome your fears. Consider paragliding above the mountainous Bernese Oberland region to get a bird’s eye view of the town, lakes, glaciers, forests, and beyond. The best part? You land right in the center of town just steps from your hotel. For the less risky, Harder Kulm is a great compromise. A funicular takes you to the top of Harder Kulm mountain, where you can continue on a hike or simply enjoy the panoramic vistas.
Where to Eat and Drink:
Classic brasserie cuisine can be found at La Terrasse Brasserie, within Victoria-Jungfrau hotel. There’s something for everyone here, from locally sourced fish to Swiss-style sausage plates, as well as a lovely wine menu.
Basel
Destination:
Known for Art Basel, watch trade shows, and the birthplace of tennis legend Roger Federer, Basel also has the largest concentrations of museums in Switzerland. At first glance, Basel might not appear to have the same old-world charm of other Swiss towns, but if you know where to look, you’ll discover unique architecture and galleries, as well as a strong French influence.
Where to Stay:
Design lovers should opt for the 33-room Arthouse Basel Hotel, a contemporary, design-forward hotel filled with art, eye-catching interior architecture, and an invigorating cosmopolitan feel. Every space in the hotel feels curated for a fashionable crowd, from the rooftop bar and lounge to the music room.
What to Do:
You can’t visit Basel without experiencing the iconic Les Trois Rois hotel. Stop by for a tour or even spend an afternoon at the sleek Salon du Cigare. With so many museums to see, prioritize art museums including the Fine Arts Museum, Kunsthalle, and Museum Tinguely, to name a few.
Where to Eat and Drink:
Make a reservation at three-Michelin-starred Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl, for culinary delights and fantastic views over the Rhine River. Roter Bären, part of the Michelin Guide, is a welcome departure from the well-mannered Swiss establishments; it’s known for its lively atmosphere and even better crowd.
Bern
Destination:
Surprisingly enough, Bern is the capital city of Switzerland and its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 12th century. It’s built around the roaring, blue-green Aare River that flows rapidly through the historic city.
Where to Stay:
The Bristol Switzerland has its fair share of grande dame hotels, and Bern is no different. For a more laid-back, contemporary experience, opt for The Bristol, part of Swiss Design Hotels, with polished accommodations, an energetic bar, and a playful spirit.
What to Do:
Bern’s picturesque Old Town, with its wooden, colorful buildings, is perched on a cliffside overlooking the river with 12th-century medieval structures that are incredibly well-preserved. Visit in the summer and book a rafting trip down the Aare. A relaxed rafting route—with the help of a guide—goes from Thun Schwäbis to Bern and takes you through the iconic Uttigen rapids. Famous Swiss chocolate Toblerone also has their factory in Bern.
Where to Eat and Drink:
There are more than 200 breweries and microbreweries in Bern alone, and we suggest a visit to the circa 1881 brewery Felsenau and Au Trappiste. Ask the beer sommeliers at Au Trappiste about the unique connection to 17th-century monks.
Lugano
Destination:
Some feel as though they’ve been transported to Italy when visiting Lugano, located in Switzerland’s southernmost region. There’s a distinct Mediterranean influence here as it is near Italy’s Lombardy region, from the Swiss-Italian-style restaurants to the neoclassical architecture.
Where to Stay:
Perched on the shores of Lake Ceresio, you’d be forgiven if you thought you were in Lake Como. Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano is a 19th-century Belle Epoque palace, once a residential villa, with sumptuous rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a spa.
What to Do:
Take a funicular to the top of Monte Brè for immaculate lake views. Eat at Restaurant Vetta once you get to the top or embark on a hike. Visit Italy—no, really. Campione d’Italia is an Italian commune completely surrounded by Switzerland and is accessible by boat or car.
Where to Eat and Drink:
I Due Sud at Hotel Splendide is a must, with its Swiss-meets-Italy cuisine and five-star service. Seven Lugano serves up great views alongside Mediterranean cuisine in a trendy atmosphere. You can even visit the casino on the first floor after dinner if you’re feeling lucky.
Verbier
Destination:
This chic alpine village in the Valais canton is best known for its great skiing, charming chalets, and après ski destinations—some of the liveliest DJs and clubs in all of Europe. In the summer, there is plenty of picturesque hiking and biking.
Where to Stay:
Experimental Chalet is a 39-room boutique chalet-style hotel with something for everyone. Wellness seekers can enjoy the spa, plus the hammam and solarium, while upbeat travelers can enjoy the convivial bar and restaurant—said to be of the best in town. Come here if you’re seeking high-octane fun mixed with superb service and a posh crowd.
Another idea: Designed for large groups and hoisted high in the Swiss Alps, The Lodge, Sir Richard Branson’s luxury mountain retreat in Verbier is a luxe stay that outclasses. For example, there’s a dedicated team of 15 to help you enjoy your trip, from a personal spa therapist to Michelin-star trained chefs preparing superlative meals, and a 24-hour service driver to help you live your best après ski life.
What to Do:
Ski, of course. It’s one of the largest in the world with six villages, four valleys, and more than 255 miles of slopes. Catch the sunrise on Mont Fort to get a panoramic view of Switzerland’s most stunning peaks, like the Matterhorn and Mont-Blanc. It’s a trek (plenty of hiking, a drive, and a few cable cars) but absolutely worth it.
Where to Eat and Drink:
Chez Dany makes you work for your food, whether you’re skiing or hiking in for lunch, hiking, or by car. The restaurant serves up traditional Swiss cuisine (be sure to order the fondue in the winter) in an authentic chalet setting. In the winter, you can’t miss Le Rouge for a lively après-ski moment.
