Things to Do in Switzerland

The 13th-century Church of our Lady, or Fraumunster, has an elegant blue spire which soars above the Zurich skyline. Situated right next to the lake, it is one of Zurich's key sights. Founded in 853 as a Benedictine convent, around the 11th century it was responsible for minting coins and collecting tolls making the then Abbess a powerful women indeed.

Inside the church are the famous stained-glass windows of 1967 by the famous artist Marc Chagall. The three main windows are: the blue Jacob window, with a ladder to heaven, the green Christ window, featuring Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, and the yellow Zion window depicting King David and Bathsheba being trumpeted into New Jerusalem. To the sides there are windows depicting the Prophets and Moses. Near the main exit is a window by another famous artist, Giacometti. 

Legend has it that some 2,000 years ago, the St. Beatus caves were inhabited by a troublesome dragon, who terrified local villagers for decades until the Irish monk Beatus (hence the name) finally succeeded in driving him away. Thankfully, the caves are 100% dragon-free today and although much of the vast cavern is still unexplored, a good portion is now open to the public. Whether or not you believe in dragons, the location is certainly dramatic enough "“ eerily lit stalagmites, dripping stalactites and ghostly underground lakes and waterfalls. A 1.5-hour walk or short boat ride from Interlaken and close by Lake Thun, the caves make a popular way to spend an afternoon and with walkways running 1,000 meters through the towering Niederhorn Massif, it's easy for the whole family to explore. A small yet informative cave museum and restaurant lie at the entrance to the grotto, and inside the cell of St. Beatus can also be viewed.

With freshwater swimming, waterfront beaches and a snowcapped mountain backdrop so striking it’s become the poster child for alpine getaways, it’s easy to see why Lake Thun (Thunersee), the region’s largest lake, draws a steady stream of visitors to its shores year round.
Active types will be in their element here, with the St. Jacob’s hiking trail running from the northern side towards the St. Beatus Caves, and walking tracks to Hünibach and Spiez passing by the lake. Speed-boat trips, wakeboarding, water skiing and windsurfing are all on offer for thrill-seekers, while the less adventurous will be content hiring a pedalo or rowing boat and taking a gentle cruise along the lake.

Visit in July and you’ll get a chance to witness the unique Lake Thun Festival, where popular musicals are performed on a dazzling floating stage, constructed specially for the event and anchored on the lake itself.

Embrace the past with a trip up to the Schynige Platte on the historic 100-year-old cogwheel railway, taking just under an hour to chug along the 7km track from Wilderswil. The plateau, lying in the Swiss Alps at 1,970 meters, is blanketed in colorful wildflowers come the summer months and offers incredible views over the surrounding peaks of Jungfrau, Eiger and Silberhorn, the glistening Thun and Brienz lakes in the valleys below and nearby Interlaken.

A popular starting point for long distance hiking routes, as well as harboring a number of popular short circuit walks and a 500-plant strong alpine garden, there’s plenty to keep nature enthusiasts amused. Alternatively, pull up a chair and relax at the Berg hotel and restaurant, where the panoramic terrace seating adds a touch of luxury to the already-impressive vistas.

If you’ve seen a panoramic view of Geneva you’ve most likely seen the huge lake Water Fountains, or Jet d’Eau, with its commanding position at the point where the River Rhône empties into Lake Geneva. It started life in the 19th century as a humble safety valve for a hydraulic installation, but is now the city’s foremost symbol.

With every second, some 130 gallons of water are propelled at 125 miles an hour to a maximum height of 150 yards (that's 500 liters at 200 km/h reaching 140 meters). The water shoots into the air before descending in a graceful fan shape back down to the lake, but its exact destination is determined by the strength and direction of the wind. In the warmer months, the fountain is lit during the evening until 11 o’clock.

As the principal venue for the Zurich Opera since it opened its doors in 1891, the Zurich Opera House has garnered worldwide acclaim for its outstanding acoustics and wide variety of international performances. Originally called the ‘Stadttheater’, the venue was built on the site of the Actientheater, which burned down just a few years earlier, and staged its opening to a dramatic performance of Richard Wagner’s ‘Lohengrin’. Despite changing its name to the Zurich Opera House in 1964, the concert hall maintains its original Neo-classical façade, designed by Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer and held up by 1,800 oak pillars. Equally impressive is the Rococo style entrance foyer and auditorium, which seats 1,200 people and is notable for its intricate ceiling paintings that represent love, tragedy, comedy, music and poetry.

In a city with almost 150 museums and galleries, the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) beats off some pretty stiff competition to take its place as one of Zurich’s top museums. The largest of its kind in the country, the museum is devoted to preserving the cultural heritage  and history of Switzerland, chronicling the birth and evolution of the nation.

Almost 1 million artifacts make up the permanent collection, which takes the visitor on a journey from ancient Switzerland, through the Middle Ages and into the 20th century. Personal items, handicrafts, artworks, furnishings and household items are among the many relics, bringing the past back to life through a series of evocative displays. Highlights include artifacts from as far back as the 4th millennium B.C; a significant collection of 9th century Carolingian art; a Swiss warfare exhibit of weaponry and armor; and an exhibit devoted to the traditional art of Swiss clock making. A regular series of temporary exhibitions supplement the permanent galleries, with recent showcases including themes like Swiss fashion and design and Roman history.

St Peter's is the oldest church in Zurich. It stands in a small square surrounded by houses and shops but its impressive spire dominates the city. St Peter's Church, also known as St Peterskirche, is so tall that from the Middle Ages until the early 20th century it was used by the night-watch keeping an eye out for fires breaking out in the city. On this spire is the largest church clockface in Europe with a diameter of 28.5 ft (8.7 m). The minute hand is 12 ft (4 m) long!

The Peterskirche was first built in the 9th century, but was altered in the 13th century and again in the 17th century. The interior is plain, white with wooden columns and pews but in the choir the remains of a medieval mural can be seen.