Before You Go
- Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
- Check whether a tourist visa is required.
- Keep digital copies of important documents.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance.
Bern
Swiss Franc (CHF)
German, French, Italian, Romansh
May–Sep
CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)
Welcome to Switzerland, a country where snow-capped Alps, pristine lakes, and charming villages create postcard-perfect scenery at every turn. The Matterhorn's iconic pyramid peak rises dramatically above the resort town of Zermatt. Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne offer stunning alpine backdrops alongside charming lakeside towns. Switzerland's extensive train network, including scenic routes like the Glacier Express, offers effortless access to dramatic mountain scenery. Zurich and Geneva blend cosmopolitan sophistication with easy access to nature just beyond the city limits. Traditional Swiss villages showcase wooden chalets, dairy farms, and centuries-old alpine traditions. World-class skiing and hiking make Switzerland a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Switzerland invites travelers to experience alpine beauty at its most refined and pristine.
Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.
Discover some of Switzerland's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.
Cheese Fondue is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Raclette is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Rösti is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Zürcher Geschnetzeltes is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Älplermagronen is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Bircher Müesli is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Basler Läckerli is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Nusstorte is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Swiss Chocolate is a well-known part of Switzerland's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Switzerland is famous for its long-standing policy of political neutrality, having avoided involvement in major international armed conflicts for centuries, including both World Wars, and it maintains this neutrality so thoroughly that it only joined the United Nations in 2002, one of the last countries in the world to do so. The country is home to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, whose Large Hadron Collider, straddling the border with France, is the largest and most powerful particle accelerator ever built.
Switzerland has four official national languages, German, French, Italian, and Romansh, reflecting its unique position bridging several major European cultural and linguistic regions within a relatively small mountainous territory. The country is also home to the Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016, which at over 35 miles long is the longest and deepest railway tunnel in the world, cutting straight through the Alps.
Switzerland maintains mandatory military service for male citizens and requires many households to keep government-issued rifles at home as part of its unique militia-based defense system, a practice tied closely to its historical neutrality and emphasis on civilian preparedness.
