Roavina

Country guide

Switzerland

A photograph of Switzerland
Photograph · Sam Ferrara · CC0 1.0

The Alps cover most of Switzerland's 41,291 km², which is why almost all of its 9,154,242 people live on the plateau — a band of low ground carrying Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lausanne, Geneva, Lucerne and Winterthur within a few hours of one another. Cross a ridge and it is the language that changes: German is spoken by 62 per cent of the country, French by 23, Italian by 8, Romansh by half a per cent. Twenty-six cantons write their own rules on top of that. A trip here is usually a choice between the flat line of cities and the valleys branching off it.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
German, French, Italian and Romansh
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+41
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112 · 117 police · 144 ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and J · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public drinking water is controlled under Swiss food-safety rules

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

Filter the list

30 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 5 Museums 20 Places of worship 14 Nature sites 30 Viewpoints 12 Food and drink 5 Markets and shopping 2 Entertainment 3 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 7 Art and culture 2 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 29 1 to 2 hours 1

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Lake Zurich Lake Zurich
    01 2 hours

    Lake Zurich

    Zürichsee

    Lake Zurich is not an attraction the city contains but the body of water the city was built at the end of.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  2. Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich
    02 1 hour

    Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich

    Botanischer Garten der Universität Zürich

    The Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich is a living plant collection serving research, teaching and public education.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  3. Chinese Garden Chinese Garden
    03 1 hour

    Chinese Garden

    Chinagarten Zürich

    Chinese Garden Zürich is a traditional Chinese garden given to the city by its Chinese partner town, Kunming.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  4. Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich
    04 1 hour

    Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich

    Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich is a specialist botanical collection devoted to succulent plants in Zurich. It brings together cacti and other water-storing species from dry regions around the world.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  5. Villa Belvoir Villa Belvoir
    05 1 hour

    Villa Belvoir

    Belvoirpark

    Villa Belvoir stands within Belvoirpark in Zurich’s Enge district, combining historic architecture with landscaped parkland.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  6. Irchelpark Irchelpark
    06 1 hour

    Irchelpark

    Irchelpark is a public green space beside the University of Zurich’s Irchel Campus. Its lawns, trees, paths, and sloping ground serve residents, students, and visitors looking for outdoor time away from the busiest central streets.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  7. Josefwiese Josefwiese
    07 1 hour

    Josefwiese

    Josefwiese is an urban public park in Zurich, centred on an open meadow where visitors can pause, relax, and enjoy outdoor space within the city.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  8. Alter Botanischer Garten Alter Botanischer Garten
    08 1 hour

    Alter Botanischer Garten

    Alter Botanischer Garten is a historic botanical garden in Zurich, located near the main railway station in the city center. It served as Zurich's primary botanical garden before the establishment of the newer Botanischer Garten der Universität Zürich.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  9. Arboretum Zürich Arboretum Zürich
    09 1 hour

    Arboretum Zürich

    Arboretum

    Arboretum Zürich is a public park and botanical collection on the western shore of Lake Zurich. It combines a lakeside promenade setting with trees and shrubs gathered from different climate regions.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  10. Katzensee Katzensee
    10 1 hour

    Katzensee

    Chatzesee, Chräenriet

    Katzensee is a lake in northern Zurich, also known locally as Chatzesee or Chräenriet. It offers an informal outdoor escape within the city’s administrative area, with water, shoreline, meadows and nearby woodland.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  11. Oerliker Park Oerliker Park
    11 1 hour

    Oerliker Park

    Oerlikerpark

    Oerliker Park is a public green space in Zurich's Oerlikon district, serving as recreational grounds for residents and visitors. The park forms part of the city's northern urban landscape, positioned within a formerly industrial area that has undergone significant transformation.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  12. Pestalozziwiese Pestalozziwiese
    12 1 hour

    Pestalozziwiese

    Pestalozzianlage

    Pestalozziwiese, also known locally as Pestalozzianlage, is a green public space in Zurich. Its name recalls Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, the Swiss educational reformer.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  13. Platzspitz park Platzspitz park
    13 1 hour

    Platzspitz park

    Platzpromenade

    Platzspitz park, also known as Platzpromenade, is a riverside public park in central Zurich. It stands where the Limmat and Sihl meet, giving the site a distinctive setting shaped by two waterways and the city’s main railway district nearby.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  14. Rieterpark Rieterpark
    14 1 hour

    Rieterpark

    Rieterpark is a landscaped public park in Zurich’s Enge district, on the western shore of Lake Zurich. Its historic character is connected with Villa Wesendonck and with nineteenth-century landscape design.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  15. Stadelhoferplatz Stadelhoferplatz
    15 1 hour

    Stadelhoferplatz

    Stadelhoferplatz is a central Zurich square beside Stadelhofen railway station. It functions as both a public urban space and a busy transport interchange, linking railway passengers, tram users, pedestrians, and nearby streets.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  16. Wipkingerpark Wipkingerpark
    16 1 hour

    Wipkingerpark

    Wipkingerpark is a public green space in Zurich’s Wipkingen district. It gives residents and travellers a place to pause away from the busiest central streets while remaining within the city.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  17. Bäckeranlage Bäckeranlage
    17 1 hour

    Bäckeranlage

    Bäckeranlage is a public park and green space in Zurich, Switzerland. The park brings open outdoor space into the city’s urban fabric and provides a place for walking, pausing and everyday recreation.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  18. Basteiplatz Basteiplatz
    18 1 hour

    Basteiplatz

    Basteiplatz is a public square in Zürich, Switzerland. It belongs to the city’s network of open civic spaces and provides an urban setting for passing through, orienting yourself, or pausing during a walk.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  19. Gustav-Ammann-Park Gustav-Ammann-Park
    19 1 hour

    Gustav-Ammann-Park

    Gustav-Ammann-Park is a public green space in Zurich named after Gustav Ammann, a Swiss landscape architect. The park offers an urban pause for residents and visitors who want open air and greenery within the city.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  20. Hardaupark Hardaupark
    20 1 hour

    Hardaupark

    Hardaupark is an urban public park in Zurich that gives residents and travellers a place to walk, pause and spend time outdoors. It belongs to the city’s network of green spaces woven through developed neighbourhoods.

    • High
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  21. Leutschenpark Leutschenpark
    21 1 hour

    Leutschenpark

    Leutschenpark is a public park in Zurich and part of the city’s network of urban green spaces.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  22. MFO-Park MFO-Park
    22 1 hour

    MFO-Park

    MFO-Park is a public green space in Zurich’s Oerlikon district, created on the former grounds of Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  23. Rieterplatz
    23 1 hour

    Rieterplatz

    Rieterplatz is a public square in Zurich, Switzerland, forming part of the city’s everyday urban fabric. It is best understood as an open civic space rather than a single-purpose museum, monument, or ticketed attraction.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  24. Sagentobelbach Sagentobelbach
    24 1 hour

    Sagentobelbach

    Sagentobelbachfall

    Sagentobelbach is a small watercourse in the Zurich area, and the local name Sagentobelbachfall identifies a waterfall or cascade along its course.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  25. Wahlenpark Wahlenpark
    25 1 hour

    Wahlenpark

    Wahlenpark is a public green space in Zurich, offering an outdoor pause within the city. It suits travellers who want a simple break from streets, museums and built-up neighbourhoods.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  26. Andreaspark Andreaspark
    26 1 hour

    Andreaspark

    Andreaspark is an urban green space in Zurich, Switzerland, suited to a quiet pause within the city. Its character is that of a neighbourhood park rather than a major landmark, making it useful between visits to busier attractions.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  27. Alpengarten Alpengarten
    27 1 hour

    Alpengarten

    Alpengarten is a distinct Zurich garden place mapped as OpenStreetMap way/263478530. Its name gives the stop an alpine-garden identity, making cultivated planting, paths, rockwork and seasonal change the natural focus of a visit.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  28. Louis-Häfliger-Park Louis-Häfliger-Park
    28 1 hour

    Louis-Häfliger-Park

    Louis-Häfliger-Park is a public green space in Zurich named after Louis Häfliger, a Swiss humanitarian associated with efforts during the Second World War.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  29. Albert-Steiner-Garten Albert-Steiner-Garten
    29 1 hour

    Albert-Steiner-Garten

    Albert-Steiner-Garten is a garden space in Zurich named for Albert Steiner, a Swiss photographer associated with landscape imagery of the Alps. The name gives the place a commemorative connection to Swiss visual culture.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich
  30. Alfred-Altherr-Terrasse Alfred-Altherr-Terrasse
    30 1 hour

    Alfred-Altherr-Terrasse

    Alfred-Altherr-Terrasse is a named terrace viewpoint in Zurich, Switzerland. It is an elevated urban pause where travelers can step away from the pace of the surrounding streets and look across the city setting.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Zurich

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Switzerland be?

Seven to ten days can combine two city or lake bases with one mountain region. Switzerland’s dense transport network reduces transfer friction, but weather-dependent alpine excursions still need flexible time.

What entry documents are needed for Switzerland?

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration publishes entry requirements. Passport nationality, visit purpose and the wider Schengen route determine whether a visa is required and where to apply.

What is the best way to travel around Switzerland?

Zurich and Geneva airports connect directly to national rail. SBB trains, regional railways, PostBus routes and lake boats form the core network, while many mountain railways and cable cars use separate products.

When is a practical time to visit Switzerland?

June to September serves hiking and high-pass travel; December to March is the broad snow season. Mountain operating dates and weather vary by altitude, so verify the specific lift or route rather than relying on a national season.

What money and payment basics apply in Switzerland?

Switzerland prices in Swiss francs (CHF). The current treatment of euros, card fees and exchange rates is Not recorded here; verify the charged currency and amount before accepting conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Switzerland?

Switzerland uses 112 as a general emergency number, 117 for police and 144 for ambulance. Type C and J sockets supply 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe.