Switzerland Travel Guide: The Best Cities To Stay In This Summer 2022

Dubbed as the "heart of Europe", Switzerland - home of many famous watch brands is always in the top 5 of the most livable countries in the world. Indeed, Switzerland possesses unique paradises in the world, so many people consider this place is "must visit once in a lifetime!". The best cities of Switzerland are year-round travel destinations, with each season having its unique charm that attracts different travelers. We will suggest you the top 5 cities to stay in Switzerland below:

1. Zurich

Zurich is famous for owning many of the most beautiful and unique old towns in Europe. Therefore, the city of Zurich is always an ideal destination for tourists and one of the best cities in Switzerland.

Coming to Zurich in spring, you will admire the vibrant beauty of nature because this is the time when the weather becomes warmer, and trees sprout after a cold winter. Spring bloomed with brilliant colors. If you are a lover of romantic and sweet beauty, then visiting Zurich in the fall is a great choice. In winter, the water surface freezes, suitable for outdoor sports activities in winter such as skiing, ice skating... for those who love adventure and adventure. However, in the summer, there are often storms in Zurich.

An extremely interesting point when it comes to Zurich is that this city is surrounded by the Limmat river, so when traveling to Zurich you will see water everywhere, countless rivers, lakes, canals, and rivers. Fountains appear throughout the city. Most especially, the lake and water here are extremely clean, even some fountains can provide potable water.

Coming here, visitors will discover the picturesque old town of Alstadt, visit the Fraumunster with stained glass windows, or the national museum with unique artifacts. The Old Town is a famous destination in Zurich, loved by many tourists. When coming here, you can admire the unique historical works, ancient buildings, old hotels, and museums. Experiencing many ups and downs of time, this place has become ancient, mossy, and filled with the breath of the times. The winding cobblestone streets, the brightly painted pastel brick houses, and the lovely outdoor cafes will make you feel extremely in love with this place.

Visiting Zurich, do not forget to visit famous landmarks such as Fraumünster church, St Peter's church, Swiss national museum, Fine Arts museum, Lindenhof castle, etc to discover unique Roman architecture.

One of Zurich's most iconic tourist attractions, the Kunsthaus is home to an impressive art collection. Visiting the Kunsthaus, you will surely feel great when admiring famous works of art by legendary artists of the world such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, Matisse, etc.

Mount Uetliberg is located in the southwest, with an altitude of 868 meters above the water, this is the best place to see Zurich from above. Standing from here, looking down at the scenery below, you will see an extremely special, magnificent city, calm river, and far away is the majestic Apl mountains appear in front of your eyes extremely beautiful. In addition, on the top of the mountain, there are two towers, one for receiving television signals and one for sightseeing.

Opernhaus is known as one of the world's most prestigious Opera performance venues, with a capacity of up to 1000 people, with an impressive sound system and stage, where you can immerse yourself in the immortal Opera music. of famous artists.

Besides, the theater is also a place to store precious documents about the chamber music treasure. Opernhaus is a work of art, a precious gem that needs to be preserved and promoted in the city.

2. Bern

Traveling to Switzerland without visiting Bern city is a pity on your trip. Bern is an extremely romantic and peaceful city. Arriving in this city, visitors will be impressed by the ancient architecture, castles, monuments, ancient streets paved with unique hand-crafted stone, etc. The medieval city of Bern has been recognized by UNESCO as one of the world's cultural heritage. If you are a person who likes peace, the city of Bern is a great destination for you to feel it.

Not as busy as Zurich nor as a political and diplomatic center like Geneva, the peaceful capital of Bern in the middle of the Aare river flowing gently all year round is a distinct highlight for Switzerland.

The Swiss capital, Bern also owns a very special watch, although the age has exceeded 800, this watch is still accurate and durable. It's the Zytglogge Clock Tower. Over 50 meters high, the clock tower stands tall on Marktgasse street. Built around the same time as Bern, the clock tower was originally used to protect the citadel of Bern. Before returning to its original purpose as a clock tower, this place used to be a prison for prisoners.

Another attraction of Bern lies in the fountains. The most typical is the Zahringer fountain built in the 16th century with the main material being wood. Although it has been around for a long time, this building still retains the original architecture.

Visitors to the Swiss capital Bern can spend all day walking the cobblestone streets of this place. Then, when the sunset appears, remember to stop on the Unterforbrucke bridge. Crossing the Aare River, connecting the two banks of the city, visitors can feel a bit of peace at the end of the day, take in the grandeur of the Alps, catch the cool afternoon breezes and watch the river. soft underfoot.

The Old Town of Bern was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1983 because of its well-preserved medieval city center. It is also home to the first Lindt chocolate factory, the legend of the bear, and Einstein's most famous published work.

There are also subterranean shops with small wooden plank doors opening onto the street for those who want to venture into the neat cave-like houses, which include all the shops, bars, and cafes.

One of the interesting travel experiences in Bern is watching the old city from above from the Rose Garden. A verdant oasis high above, with over 200 varieties of roses, the area is an idyllic setting of the city. You can also climb Bern Münster's 222 steps for a 360-degree panoramic view.

When you visit Bern, you will immediately notice why it is called the 'City of Bears'. Bear symbols can be found all over the city on murals, flags, fountain decorations, and even on the Zytglogge clock tower. It originates from the legend that a bear was the first animal killed by the city's founder. From there, the tradition of always having a bear symbol in the city was formed. There is a large Bear park on the waterfront bordering the historic old town - the first park built in history was in 1441.

3. Geneva

Geneva – the most peaceful city in the world, home to the treaties, is one of those places worth visiting at least once. It is one of the best cities to stay in Switzerland.

Surrounded by mountains, rivers, and lakes, Geneva's climate is mild all year round, green and blue, and the landscape is as beautiful as a picture, so many people call this paradise on earth, the most livable place in the world. gender.

The climate in Geneva is like most places in Europe, you will experience warm summers and cold winters. Summer is sunny, and the sky is clear. Winter has snowfall, even rain, gray sky.

Traveling to Switzerland in general or Geneva in particular, going in the fall is the most beautiful, around July to September, in addition, if you come to Geneva in winter, skiing is also very interesting.

The Jet D'Eau Fountain with the highest elevation in the world is a tourist symbol of the Swiss city of Geneva. At night, the fountain is illuminated by 12 colored lights, bringing a shimmering, fanciful beauty.

Old Town Geneva possesses beautiful landscapes. Some of the highlights to visit are Cathedrale St-Pierre, La Place du Bourg-de-Four, Maison Tavel, and Old Arsenal.

Geneva is a shopping paradise, you can walk around the main streets, and encounter many famous brands on the street. Geneva is also home to world-famous luxury watches.

Of course, it would be a pity to go to Geneva without visiting the United Nations Office. Do you remember the 1954 Geneva agreement learned in history books? This is where the signing of this agreement took place. To enter the tour, you must verify your identity and must have a passport, and there are different time frames, please note.

The waters of the rivers come in two different colors (brown and green), and when they come together at the junction, their waters blend in a beautiful and mesmerizing way.

This is a very enjoyable experience when you can admire the beautiful panorama of Geneva from the air in 5 minutes. Ticket price: CHF 6 adults, CHF 3 children, and free for children under 1-year-old. Open from noon until evening every day.

Admire the immense Lake Leman (also known as Lake Geneva). Taking a cruise on the lake is sure to be a wonderful experience.

Plainpalais Farmers Market in South Geneva. Come here every Sunday, you'll find dried fruit, nuts, cheese, jam, and more. And if you come on Wednesdays and Saturdays, you'll find everything from books, clothes, decorations, tools, etc.

Geneva is home to many unique Swiss festivals. One of the biggest festivals is the Fete de la Musique, held at the end of June every year, with musicians from all over the world attending. In winter, the festival of giants is held in memory of the Geneva people's fight against the armies of the Duke of Savoy, held in December.

4. Zermatt

Zermatt is just a small town but is one of the best and the most famous cities in Switzerland. It has the towering Matterhorn peak in the Alps. It can be said that Zermatt is an ideal place for those who love mountaineering and skiing. Besides, when coming to this town, visitors will enjoy the fresh air because the town strictly prohibits the operation of motor vehicles n order to protect the environment. The locals all walk, bike or bus. Arriving in Zermatt, visitors will feel like they are lost in a fairyland with a quiet space, surrounded by snowy mountains, and clear blue streams, and along the slopes are lovely wooden houses.

At Sunnegga in Zermatt, you can take a four-seat cable car that takes you to the pretty village of Findeln perched on a hill. The slopes of Findeln overlooking the majestic mountains and quaint cottages are something you should not miss. The quaint village of Findeln is a foodie's paradise with restaurants Chez Vrony, Findlerhof, and Enzian, all worth a stop for lunch. Fresh gourmet menus, amazing mountain views, and a stellar reputation mean it depends on the season, time of day, and size of the meal.

 

 

There are plenty of great things to do in Zermatt in winter for non-skiers including visiting the town's relaxing spas, hiking for stunning photos, and visiting other sites. spots like Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, etc.

The train from Zermatt to Gornergrat is considered one of the most scenic trains in the world. The ride takes about thirty minutes, stopping at several places along the way and you can enjoy some incredible views of the Matterhorn illuminated by the sun.

One of the best attractions in Zermatt for non-skiers is the Matterhorn glacier paradise. Also part of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is the Glacier Palace. Take the elevator down inside the glacier and you'll see a magical passage carved through the ice and filled with ice sculptures.

There's one thing to do in Zermatt in winter that you can't find any other time of year: Sleep in the Igloo. In the winter in Zermatt, they build an igloo village where you can stay overnight. Does it sound cold? But it's not like that. It's basically like a luxury hotel inside an igloo built of snow. If you like adventure then this is a great choice for you!

This is the perfect spot for skiing and snowboarding. Although the price is quite high, the offer you get is also great and winter is the perfect time to try it! If you're traveling to Zermatt for a couple of days, just try skiing there, you'll see some magical views over the Matterhorn while sledding down the slopes.

Ideally, take a stroll around the beautiful mountain lakes of Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grunsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee. These are the 5 most famous lakes in the town of Zermatt due to various reasons. The first reason is that at Lake Grindjisee you'll find some of the most beautiful flowers you'll never see anywhere else. The Matterhorn lake stands out because of its ability to reflect light most clearly compared to the other three lakes, Stellisee, Grindjisee, and Leisee. It can be said that at an altitude of about 2000 - 2500 meters, walking around this beautiful natural form is an unforgettable experience.

Different from the above pure natural destinations in the town of Zermatt, the Matterhorn museum is a place to visit for those who want to learn and follow the historical process of forming this land. Here you will find data and detailed information about the first historical event or subsequent tragedy on the mountain in 1865.

5. Basel

Switzerland's Basel is a city of gentle and peaceful beauty, however, if you take a closer look, you will discover that Basel is also a very multicultural and creative place. And it is the blend of gentle beauty mixed with a bit of personality that makes Basel an interesting place for visitors to explore and admire.

Basel is sometimes called the flower on the poetic Rhine, this is Europe's second-longest river originating in the Alps. The Rhine River divides the city into two parts, one side is the old town area - a long-standing commercial center, and the other side focuses on modern architecture, restaurants, bars, and exhibition areas. There are four bridges across the land across the Rhine, the most famous of which is the oldest Mittlere Brucke bridge in Basel (800 years old), which plays the role of connecting the two parts of the city.

The city of Basel also has a very special location when it is located right at the junction of the Swiss, French, and German borders. From Basel, you can walk to Germany, or take the river train to reach France or vice versa. So during their European trip, some tourists often arrange a schedule to be able to visit these three beautiful countries together.

The Rhine River plays a particularly important role in the lives of the people of Basel. Strolling on the riverbank, look away from the distance to see this peaceful river, the ships running slowly on the river, and the houses on both sides are close together. Watching the sunset on the banks of the Rhine is an extremely romantic and sweet thing that you should try once in your life.

The old town of Basel is located on the west side of the Rhine and has beautiful street corners with poetic cobbled streets that you will want to spend time wandering on. Admire the houses with distinctive Gothic and Renaissance architecture.

What you need to do is not be too surprised by what you will see here. Take a hike or join a guided tour to learn about the history of this old town.

Visit the Rathaus town hall right in the central square, built to symbolize the event Basel joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501. The inside of the building is decorated with many iconic drawings of the law, the city, with elaborately carved statues

If the old town is the soul of Basel, then the old church of Basel is the soul of the old town. The church is located close to the banks of the Rhine, visitors who want to get to the church will go through the paved streets at the foot, and past the hundreds of years old old houses.

The city of Basel is famous for its many museums or galleries about history, art, and architecture.

You can visit some museums when traveling to Basel such as Tinguely Museum (Art museum), Swiss Architecture Museum (Architecture museum), Museum of Cultures in Basel (Cultural museum), Basel Paper Mill Museum (Paper museum, etc.

The Fasnacht Street Festival in Basel is one of the most iconic Swedish festivals. Street Parade Festival is held annually from February to March in Basel, the parade team can be up to 10,000 people, they wear colorful costumes, wear funny masks and go around the streets. the street in the sound of drums and trumpets.

Conclusion

Switzerland is considered the most livable country in the world because of its civilization and development. Therefore, Switzerland has become an ideal tourist destination for many tourists. Switzerland is landlocked, but it still attracts tourists with its beautiful natural landscapes, green savannas, and majestic glaciers. If you are intending to travel to Switzerland, the above recommendation on the 8 best cities to stay in Switzerland and Swiss travel experiences will help make your trip more complete and convenient.