Country guide
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, Ber...
Photograph · Sam Ferrara · CC0 1.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
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.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Ikiwaner · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
14 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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