With snow-capped Alps, forested hills, fairytale castles, Renaissance cathedrals, shimmering lakes, stylish spas and luxury ski resorts - it's easy to see why Switzerland has been one of the world's top tourist destinations and travel getaways for the past two centuries.
It is the country that fashioned tourism, so it's no surprise that Switzerland is popular among various travel getaways and caters to visitors all year round. In spring and summer, it offers lakeside chalets, mountain trails and spa resorts. In the sunny southern region of Ticino, near the Italian border, visitors will find palm-fringed Riviera-style resorts offering a host of water sports. Those keen on hiking and mountaineering will find over 31,000 miles or 50,000 kilometers of mountain and forest trails throughout the country.
In November the country's ski resorts begin opening, and visitors pour in throughout the Christmas season and until the snow begins to melt with the onset of spring. With the highest pistes in Europe travel getaways, Switzerland's ski runs offer reliable snow and breathtaking views. Most travel getaways and resorts also have plenty to do for those not so keen on skiing, making Switzerland the perfect destination for a winter fantasy of log fires, fondues and glistening snow.
Switzerland's cities are pristine and beautifully laid out with famous Swiss precision. Zurich, the top of Switzerland's travel getaways, is widely held to be the intellectual and artistic centre of the country, sporting incredible architecture and more than a thousand fountains, with many museums and galleries. Geneva is the principal city for the international community, and is home to hundreds of world organizations. Its setting on the shores of Lake Geneva give it a romantic atmosphere, and the city has an exciting, if rather expensive, nightlife.
Zurich is the world's banking capital, but as well as being a city of fat cats parading in pin-stripes, glued to their mobile phones and swinging patent leather briefcases, you'll also discover that this is the city that gave birth to the avant-garde Dadaist movement, and where James Joyce wrote Ulysses. The city's Museum of Fine Arts houses one of Europe's most extensive collections from 15th century religious iconography to the modern art works of Dali, Hockney, Cezanne, Monet, Gaugin, Munch and Picasso.
Visitors can spend days exploring Zurich's cobbled streets, wandering through its museums, exploring its flea markets or walking away with free gifts from its chocolate factories. The quays, with their promenades, are made for walking, especially along the shores of the lake. With an active cafe culture, it's ideal for people-watching, and Zurich has a lively, multi-ethnic population to rival any other major European city. You may explore Zurich walking on foot or you may rent a getaway car to see the countryside with its crystal lakes, green parks and forests, offering a possibility to fish, play outdoor games, breathe fresh air and relax.