Switzerland is pretty darn close to being perfect.
Most of the country is covered in the Alps, and the landscapes and towns look like they were dreamt up by a child. Glacier-capped peaks, crash-bang waterfalls, turreted castles of the fairytale kind and lakes in the most bizarre shade of turquoise blue are some of the things we are talking about. You can skip down the mountain with the clanging cowbells and red trains.
Get the inside scoop on the latest cultural happenings all over the world delivered weekly to your inbox with our email newsletter.The mountains are never more than a whisper away, and even Switzerland's culture-filled cities have a beautiful backdrop of vineyards, lakes or rivers. Switzerland is off the charts.
The real wonder of this country is how easy it is to get around. If you want to get around Switzerland, you can either take a scenic road trip or use the train.
There are a lot of places to visit in Switzerland.
The Jungfrau Region is part of the Bernese Oberland. There are thundering falls, glaciers, and sky-high peaks. Switzerland's "big three" are Eiger, Mnch and Jungfrau, and they are considered to be the best mountaineers in the world.
Europe's highest train station, 3454m (11,332ft) Jungfraujoch, is the place to go for a once-in-a-lifetime ride. The Jungfrau region is a great place to spend time outside.
Don't rush this region, you'll regret it. You should be able to dive in deep for at least a week.
Bern gets a lot of attention in those I-can-t-believe-it's-the-capital questions. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site with 6 km of covered arcades, cellar shops and bars. The city is framed by wooded hills and split in two by the Aare River. There is a giant who eats on children and resident bears.
You will be drawn to big-hitters like the Einstein-Haus, where the genius developed his theory of relativity, and the Kunsthaus, with its outstanding fine arts collection. In the summer, the action is on the water with swimming, tubing, rafting, and paddleboarding.
LakeGeneva is a joy to behold, with its mountain backdrop, spirit lifting views, vineyards and shoreline necklaced with handsome cities and castle-crowned towns.
The Jet d'Eau fountain is visible from the lake's southern shore. The worldly city is an excellent starting point for exploring, with big-hitting museums and galleries to absorb, botanical gardens to stroll, lidos to swim at, Old Town cafes to hang out in and bright yellow mouettes ferrying locals across the water.
Don't stop at that point. It is possible to hop on a boat or train to Lausanne, which can give it a run for its money, especially with its Plateforme 10 arts district, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The 4478m (14,692ft) Matterhorn is the most powerful peak in the world and it is located above the seductive, timber chalet-filled Alpine resort of Zermatt. The mountain is so beloved by the nation that it inspired the shape of Toblerone chocolate.
It is more than a single mountain. Climbers have been climbing here since the mid-19th century, and it is still a great place for challenging summits. Hike, ski and look over a sea of glaciers at Paradise Glacier.
There is only one national park in Switzerland. We know it is a shock, but we think it is a good one. The Swiss National Park is located in a remote corner of the country on the border with Italy.
It's a good idea to start off on the right foot by taking a guided hike at the visitor center.
Bellinzona is a place where you can find the best of Italy's best food and culture in Switzerland. There is a generous splash of Italian flair in its historic center, woven with flower-draped alleys, Renaissance churches and cafe-rimmed piazzas that are filled with life, laughter, clinking glasses and the out-of- tune toll of countless campaniles.
The top of any wish list is seeing the castles, which can be drawn out into a full day's activity.
The Jura Mountains are located along the French-Swiss border. This peaceful region has a lot to offer, from ancient forests and rocky outcrops overlooking lakes to slow paced villages and valleys.
You should start with a road trip. Hikes at the Jura Vaudois Nature Park will give you a view of Lake Geneva and Gruyre cheese. The villages of Le Sentier and Vallorbe are surrounded by Switzerland's biggest limestone caves.
You can bathe in the thermal waters of Yverdon-les-Bains if you tag on to Lac de Neuchtel. The finale of Cultured Neuchtel is a turreted chteau.
Northeastern Switzerland doesn't have the drama of the Alps, but it still delights in its own tranquil, deeply rural way, with dairy country unraveling to meet the mountains and half-timbered, gailyled mural towns all fit for a postcard. This pocket-sized region is perfect for a family vacation.
The Abbey Library is a literary wonder and a feast of rococo art and architecture. Appenzell popped into the Schaukserei to sample cheese.
Muscling further south into the Alps, you can see six countries and then go to Werdenberg, a tiny speck of a medieval hamlet.
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and is located on the banks of the Rhine.
The medieval dream of a city that has a magic you can't quite put your finger on is what Lucerne is. As the sun sets in a blaze of gold and pinks or as you cruise across its waters to mountains of myth, it will grab you.
The Kapellbrcke bridge spans the Reuss River and the KKL arts center is designed by Jean Nouvel. The same views that attracted Goethe, Queen Victoria and Wagner in the 19th century will hold you in your thrall.
If you have more time on your hands, you can go out on the lake. You can take a cruise across the fjord-like lake. The birthplace of the Swiss nation is Rtli.
Poor old Basel doesn't get a lot of attention. That's a mistake. The city has world-class art in some of the country's best galleries, a hot food scene, avant-garde buildings and an upbeat cafe culture.
The Renzo Piano–designed Fondation Beyeler is one of the must-sees in the center.
If you want to see more than the trophy sights, plan to go to the Rhine or sundown drinks by the river. You can rent a fish-shaped waterproof bag at the tourist office if you want to go with the flow.
Zrich is regularly landing at the top in quality-of-living surveys, from cool waterside bars on the banks of the Limmat River to its alley-woven Old Town. The edgily post-industrial Zri-West neighborhood and Le Corbusier's architectural creations have earned Zrich's culture cred up even further.
The techno-pumping Street Parade is held in Zrich in August.
About 16 hours ago, this article was updated.
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