Switzerland your way
Wengen, Switzerland
- Wengen
With its pristine Alpine mountainscapes, bucolic dairy villages and glittering international cities, Switzerland combines broad cultural influences with a deeply independent attitude. Surrounded by other European countries yet protected by its forbidding mountain range, Switzerland is a nation of many regions, languages and landscapes. Our specialists have visited the whole country, from French-speaking Genevain the west, where the UN has its headquarters, to the glitzy mountain retreat St. Moritz in the east, where Swiss-German is the main language.
We can help you visit a wine region during a jazz festival in Montreux, walk through an intact medieval town in Swiss-German Bern, see the world’s longest glacier from a mountain summit in the Swiss Alpsand learn to make risotto in a lakeside grotto in Italian-speaking Ticino. Whether you want to shop Zürich’s fashionable streets, hear alphorn players in the Emmental Valley or see the Matterhorn mirrored in a glassy lake, we’ll tailor your vacation in Switzerland to your interests.
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Suggested tours for Switzerland
These tours give you a starting point for what your vacation to Switzerland could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
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Switzerland, Italy
11 days from $8,155pp
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Grand tour of Switzerland
Switzerland
13 days from $7,655pp
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Highlights of Switzerland
Switzerland
11 days from $5,895pp
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Switzerland
8 days from $4,500pp
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The Rhône-Alpes in depth
Switzerland and France
11 days from $8,195pp
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Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and France
12 days from $11,495pp
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Suggested activities for Switzerland
Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Switzerland.
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Lavaux wine tour Lavaux wine tour
Montreux
Lavaux wine tour
You can enjoy a visit to Switzerland’s sunny Lavaux wine country, where red and white wines are created to be enjoyed almost entirely within Switzerland. Terraced lakeside vineyards, wine tastings and lunch with a local wine producer round out your day.
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Glacier Express train journey Glacier Express train journey
St. Moritz
Glacier Express train journey
The Glacier Express panoramic train meanders through the pine-covered valleys and barren mountain passes of the Swiss Alps between St. Moritz and Zermatt, and you can see it all while enjoying exceptional service on this day-long railway journey.
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Day trip to Pilatus Kulm Day trip to Pilatus Kulm
Lucerne
Day trip to Pilatus Kulm
Take a boat ride, a steep tramway, a mountaintop walk and a gondola in this day-long trip to Mount Pilatus, which soars to several peaks above Lake Lucerne. You can revel in 360-degree views from the top of the tallest peak, Tomlishorn.
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Why travel with Audley?
- 100% tailor-made tours
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- Established for over 25 years
- 98% of our clients would recommend us
Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Switzerland, including information about climate, events and festivals.
Best time to visit Switzerland
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Useful information for planning your vacation in Switzerland
about
What languages are spoken in Switzerland?
Switzerland has four national languages: Swiss-German, French, Italian, and Romansh. The most widely spoken is Swiss-German, but you’ll hear French in the western regions, Italian in the south and, in the southeast, a tiny percentage of the population still speaks Romansh. However, English is widely spoken, making travel and conversation simple.
What's the currency of Switzerland?
Swiss Francs (CHF) are Switzerland’s national currency, but many places accept euros as well. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but in some small, remote towns, you may still be asked to pay cash.
How much should I tip in Switzerland?
Tips in Switzerland’s restaurants are generally included in the final cost, but it’s common to round up the total. The same holds true for taxis, but tips for housekeeping are not common.
Where can I find the latest travel advice for Switzerland?
For the latest travel advice for Switzerland, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the State Department website.
What food and drink should I try in Switzerland?
Cheese features heavily on the national menu and one classic dish you should try in Switzerland is fondue, a rich, creamy pot of warmed Gruyère, Emmental, and white wine, which serves as a dipping sauce for crusty bread. Other local dishes include raclette, which is made from cheese of the same name melted and served with potatoes, and rösti, pan-fried grated potatoes which often accompany eggs, cheese, meat, or vegetables.
Swiss chocolate is well-known around the world, and you’ll find tempting chocolate shops in almost every town. We’d also suggest trying some of Switzerland’s spirits — often enjoyed as a digestif — such as the once-banned absinthe, kirsch, a cherry brandy, or Goldschläger, a cinnamon schnapps.
What can I experience in Switzerland?
With snow-capped peaks, glittering lakes, and historic towns and cities, Switzerland offers a wide range of experiences for the visitor. The weathered mountains and steep valleys cradle deep-blue lakes every bit as beautiful as photographs suggest and with a web of walking trails and an extensive rail network, it’s easy to access the great outdoors.
You can see the sun set over the Matterhorn and spend time in the most indulgent mountain resorts on a tour of the lakes and mountains of Switzerland. Ride the steepest cog wheel train in the world at Pilatus Kulm, visit cheesemakers and chocolatiers, or wander along cobbled streets flanked by half-timbered buildings in Zürich and Bern on a Highlights of Switzerland trip.From cosmopolitan cities offering art galleries, fine dining restaurants and varied nightlife to traditional mountain villages and bustling ski resorts, Switzerland promises majestic landscapes, outdoor adventures, and urban sophistication.
Where should I go in Switzerland?
Switzerland offers a wide variety of places to go depending on what you’d most like to see. Cosmopolitan Geneva with its medieval old town, stately architecture, and striking Jet d’Eau — a fountain shooting water high into the crisp mountain air — is a good place to start.
You could then head to a traditional Swiss resort town such as Montreux on the edge of Lake Geneva to relax, plan to go hiking, or climbing in the Bernese Oberland, or see the Matterhorn from Zermatt.
Set between soaring peaks, Lugano is a beautiful historic town on the shore of a glacial lake, waterfront Lausanne has a 12th-century cathedral and a Florentine-Renaissance-style museum, while compact Lucerne is best known for its handsome medieval streets.
Where can I stay in Switzerland?
From chic mountain resorts to intimate villas and slick boutique hotels, you can pick and choose where to stay in Switzerland from a wide variety of options. For old-world charm, art and antique-filled rooms, and a Michelin-starred restaurant, the Villa Castagnola on the shores of Lake Lugano is an excellent choice.
In Zürich, stay in the heart of the old town at the Marktgasse Hotel which blends crisp, modern design with historic features. Experience traditional Swiss style and hospitality at the Hotel Daniela in Zermatt, or stay at the century-old Hotel Belvedere in Grindelwald at the foot of the Eiger.
How long does it take to fly to Switzerland from the US mainland?
A direct flight from New York City to Zürich takes around eight hours, while a flight from Los Angeles to Zürich will take around 12 hours.
What's the time zone in Switzerland?
Switzerland uses Central European Time which is UTC+1 hour (EST-6 hours). Daylight Savings Time is observed from late-March to late-October.
What's the best way of getting around in Switzerland?
The Swiss rail network is extensive and highly efficient and makes a great way to get around the country. Trains will take you right up into the mountains and offer access to remote areas where driving conditions can be challenging.
If you choose to drive, the roads are well maintained but often involve lots of hairpin bends with limited visibility and the concentration needed to drive means you can’t enjoy the scenery quite so much.
Do I need vaccinations to visit Switzerland?
You don’t need to get any specific vaccinations for Switzerland, but it’s always a good idea to be up to date on vaccinations that would normally be advised at home. For further information on travel health in Switzerland, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Do I need a visa to visit Switzerland?
American citizens do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days in Switzerland or other countries in the Schengen Area. If you’re visiting other parts of Europe too, or are a frequent visitor to Europe, please note that the 90-day limit is for time spent across the whole visa-free zone.
What do I need to check with my passport for travel to Switzerland?
It’s worth checking in advance that your passport is valid for at least the six months after your departure from Switzerland and has at least one blank page remaining.
Switzerland in pictures
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The Eiger, Bernese Oberland
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Traditional cheese fondue
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Parco Ciani, Lugano
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Jet d'Eau, Lake Geneva
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Zürich's old town
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Limmat River, Zürich
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The Matterhorn, Zermatt
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Vineyards of Lavaux, Lake Geneva
Our expert guides to traveling in Switzerland
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Switzerland. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Switzerland at its best.
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Highlights of Switzerland Highlights of Switzerland
Highlights of Switzerland
Switzerland is a small country, but you’ll find much to see and do within its compact borders. Our guide offers a sampling of the country’s charms, from glacier hikes in the Alps to a privately guided tour of Switzerland’s small, storied wine region.
8 min read
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Top 10 Christmas markets across Europe Top 10 Christmas markets across Europe
Top 10 Christmas markets across Europe
Each winter, Europe’s towns and cities sprout Christmas markets, sparkling with spangled trees, twinkling lights, spiced wine, and wooden pavilions selling treats and trinkets. We asked our specialists which ones they like best, from Croatia to Oslo to Edinburgh.
9 min read
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