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.

  1. Fraumünster Fraumünster
    02 45 min

    Fraumünster

    Fraumünster is a working Reformed parish church on the Münsterhof in Zurich's old town, run by the Evangelisch-reformierte Kirchgemeinde Zürich; the address fraumuenster.ch redirects to the parish's own pages, which are the source for everything practical below.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  2. St. Peter St. Peter
    03 45 min

    St. Peter

    St. Peter is Zurich's oldest parish church, standing above St.-Peter-Hofstatt beside the Lindenhof in the old town.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  3. Christian Catholic Augustinian Church Christian Catholic Augustinian Church
    04 30 min

    Christian Catholic Augustinian Church

    Augustinerkirche

    The Christian Catholic Augustinian Church, known locally as Augustinerkirche, is an active Christian Catholic church in Zurich. It belongs to the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland, a tradition distinct from Roman Catholicism.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  4. preachers church preachers church
    05 30 min

    preachers church

    Predigerkirche

    Predigerkirche is a historic church in Zurich, Switzerland, known in English as Preachers Church. It stands as a significant religious building in the city, originally associated with the Dominican order whose members were called preachers.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  5. Kirche Enge Kirche Enge
    06 30 min

    Kirche Enge

    Kirche Enge is a church serving Zurich’s Enge district. It is a neighbourhood place of worship rather than a large museum or landmark built primarily for tourism.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  6. Wasserkirche Wasserkirche
    07 30 min

    Wasserkirche

    Wasserkirche is a church on a small island in the Limmat River at the historic centre of Zurich. Its name means “Water Church,” a fitting description of its riverside setting.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  7. Reformed Church of the Holy Cross Reformed Church of the Holy Cross
    08 30 min

    Reformed Church of the Holy Cross

    Kreuzkirche

    The Reformed Church of the Holy Cross, known locally as Kreuzkirche, is a Reformed Protestant church in Zurich. It is an active place of worship and belongs to the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  8. Reformed Church Fluntern Reformed Church Fluntern
    09 30 min

    Reformed Church Fluntern

    Grosse Kirche Fluntern

    Reformed Church Fluntern, also known locally as Grosse Kirche Fluntern, is a Protestant church in Zurich’s Fluntern district. It serves the local congregation and forms part of the city’s religious and community landscape.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  9. St. Anthony Catholic Church St. Anthony Catholic Church
    10 30 min

    St. Anthony Catholic Church

    St. Anton

    St. Anthony Catholic Church, also known locally as St. Anton, is an active Catholic parish church in Zurich. It serves the local Catholic community and contributes to the city’s varied religious landscape.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  10. St. Jakob church St. Jakob church
    11 30 min

    St. Jakob church

    St. Jakob

    St. Jakob church is a church in Zurich and an active place of worship with religious and community functions. Its role is local and ecclesiastical rather than that of a dedicated tourist attraction.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  11. Agudas Achim Synagogue Agudas Achim Synagogue
    12 30 min

    Agudas Achim Synagogue

    Synagoge Agudas Achim

    Agudas Achim Synagogue is a Jewish place of worship and community gathering in Zurich. Its purpose is prayer, religious ceremony and communal life, making it a meaningful stop for travellers interested in the city’s Jewish heritage.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  12. Station Church Station Church
    13 30 min

    Station Church

    Bahnhofkirche

    Station Church, known locally as Bahnhofkirche, is a place of worship beside Zurich’s main railway station. Its position gives it a distinctive role in the city: travellers and commuters can encounter a religious space amid platforms, shopping, and constant movement.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Zurich
  13. St. Elizabeth catholic church with bell tower St. Elizabeth catholic church with bell tower
    14 30 min

    St. Elizabeth catholic church with bell tower

    Pfarrei Sankt Elisabeth

    St. Elizabeth Catholic Church is an active Catholic parish church in Zurich, Switzerland. Its bell tower gives the building a clear architectural feature and helps distinguish it within the city’s religious landscape.

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • 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.