Our guide to the best things to do from around Switzerland that will make you happy
Switzerland consistently finds its way into various annual lists ranking the happiest countries in the world. So, what is it about living here that makes everyone so happy?
We’ve got an answer – 40 answers, to be precise, covering just some of the unique sights, stunning scenery, great things to do, fun events and special experiences from across the country. And while it’s not possible to do everything on our list quite yet, it shouldn’t be too long before things start to open up again, giving everyone the chance to experience all those amazing things they’ve been missing out on.
Don't just stand there on the promenade admiring the lake, get out and enjoy it – and use some pedal power while you're at it, as it can turn a leisurely activity into a decent workout, if that's your flex. Then again, you could just sit back and enjoy the city's lakeside scenery. The choice is yours...
Spring is the perfect time to start exploring Basel’s impressive collection of galleries and museums, many boasting world-class exhibitions. Get ahead of the game with our guide to five of the best shows.
Sometimes, all you really need to make your day is a sun-kissed terrace, where you can relax and do as little as possible. Luckily, Lausanne has some gems in this field. Enjoy premium views of Lake Geneva’s endless blue expanse from the show-stopping terrace at Le Deck or plant yourself amongst the buzzy atmosphere of popular local hotspot Jetée de la Compagnie – just two of the city’s many treasured terraces, and there are plenty more waiting to be discovered on your visit.
Those seeking cultural enlightenment should head straight to Plateforme 10, Lausanne’s new arts district. This new area is an amalgamation of Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA), the Photo Elysée photography museum, and the mudac (museum of contemporary design and applied arts). Visitors to this lively new district can look forward to a joint exhibition from all three museums on the subject of railways until September 25, as well as MCBA’s extensive permanent collection and an exhibition on nature and environmental issues at the mudac.
Lace up those shoes and sprint over to The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, where visitors can re-live the greatest moments in sporting history across 3,000m2 of exhibition space and more than 1,500 exhibits.
If you’re looking to raise your brunch game to a new level, try eating it at 2,970 metres high, looking out across some of Switzerland’s most spectacular mountains. This is what you’ll encounter at Piz Gloria, the renowned revolving restaurant attached to the famous Schilthorn mountain peak.
Making the most of its position on one of Europe’s largest lakes, Lausanne’s ferry port at Ouchy offers cruises to many destinations around the lake in Switzerland. Enjoy the ride down to Montreux, or float further afield to Geneva and the medieval French village of Yvoire, a tourist’s favourite.
Go bungee jumping off the 220 metre tall Contra Dam in Ticino, as seen in the Bond film GoldenEye.
Tucked within the steeply raked Lavaux vineyards between Lausanne and Montreux, Le Deck enjoys an impossibly scenic position overlooking Lake Geneva and the mountains on the French side opposite.
Fun and ecology – what’s not to like? This no-snow-required bobsled in leafy Langenbruck outside Basel incorporates one kilometre of hair-raising slide, a 540-degree helter-skelter and a solar-powered lift to carry visitors back to the top.
In summer it’s a lovely place to swim, lounge about in the sun and have a cheapish lunch on the large terrace of the Buvette.
On-site swim coaches, yoga classes, ving-tsun (a martial art), stand-up paddleboarding and relaxation techniques, plus a beautician and a sauna that’s open all year round – you get it all at Badi Enge.
Ouchy sports one of the many PubliBike hire points in Switzerland which allow you to rent a low-cost bicycle and drop it off at any other ‘velostation’ in the country. Though you’re unlikely to go far, it’s a cheap and accessible scheme that’s ideal for short hops along the Swiss Riviera.
An antidote to big-name chain cafés and a pocket of calm amid the bustle of Rue de Carouge, Les Recyclables is a delight. Half café, half secondhand bookshop, it lures you in for a drink or lunch and tempts you with a selection of new reading material. The café itself is friendly and cheerful, and the food is imaginative and well-presented – plus, there’s a well-priced dish of the day every lunchtime. On selected evenings you’ll be serenaded as you eat by genuinely talented musicians playing jazz, bossa nova and Brazilian ‘choro’.
Leave a CHF 20 deposit at one of the Züri rollt containers and enjoy the city on two wheels. You might want to cycle down part of either side of the lake or just use the bike to get around Zurich a bit quicker.
Switzerland's popular e-bikes or pedelecs have a bit of extra va-va-voom.
Discover Lugano's architectural masterpieces and beautiful scenery with this bus ride through Switzerland's Ticino region.
At 858-metres-above-sea-level, the Gurten sports fabulous views over Bern on a clear day, and makes for a welcome getaway from the city.
The university town of St Gallen was founded by a monk in the 7th century and its focal point remains the abbey district, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a landmark of the city. The highlight is the monastery’s incredible Rococo library – the Abbey Library of Saint Gall – a museum piece in itself. Over 170,000 books and documents, some a thousand years old, are displayed around the walls on wooden bookcases which stretch from the floor to the ornate painted ceiling. Afterwards, wander through the pretty pedestrian streets of St Gallen’s Old Town, which bustles with restaurants and cafés.
With over 1,000 square metres of space, this indoor freestyle base allows you to hone your skills in snowboarding, freeskiing, skating, climbing, freerunning and biking, whatever the weather outside.
Don’t fight it: as possibly the most recognisable image of Geneva (you can even see it from the plane), it’s practically the law to get your photo taken in front of the city’s giant water fountain.
The place to hang out in summer, this 1930s outdoor leisure centre is eternally popular when the sun comes out.
Featuring traditional crafts, alphorn players and dancers, artisan produce and – best of all – copious wine tasting stalls set up by local winegrowers, a visit to the folk market is a real experience.
The view over the city from its rooftop pool is simply amazing, and that alone is worth the entrance.
The outdoor baths at Marzili, in the shadow of the grand Parliament Building, are among the oldest in the country and free to use.
When it comes to a pool-party venue, Rimini is a bar that excels in chilled-backed atmosphere.
Lounge around on the wooden panels of the right bank, play a game of beach volley or enjoy a cocktail from the container bar.
Hawaii’s love of stand-up paddleboarding has transported itself over to Lake Geneva. The idea is to stand upright on a long surfboard and use a paddle to propel yourself across the water. It's a fun way to travel, as long as you're prepared to fall in once in a while, and it’s also a good upper-body workout. There are also plenty of other watersports on the lake, such as windsurfing and wakeboarding. Book lessons at Tropical Corner and reward yourself afterwards with a drink on the palm-fringed beach, a more secluded location than the main yacht-crammed marina.
Among the most famous monuments of Ticino are the impressive collection of medieval castles at Bellinzona, the capital of the canton, just north of Lugano.
The mighty Rhine river is the heart of Basel, so why not enjoy a cruise as you glide past the picturesque Swiss scenery, perhaps treating yourself to some onboard entertainment along the way
There are plenty of fantastic creatures to see, but don’t miss the elephant park with its modern outside spaces and large indoor area.
This park less than half an hour away from the city of Zurich consists of two parts: the Sihlwald forest and Langenberg, Switzerland’s oldest wildlife park.
The huge Lac de Joux in the Jura valley of the same name is a draw for outdoor enthusiasts at any time of year. In summer it’s a magnet for swimmers, sailors and windsurfers.
A lovely spot to go for a drink, a light lunch or an apéro as the sun goes down.
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