Visit the Best Places on Your Vacation in Switzerland

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 12:41 pm

Switzerland holds a very special place in my heart: it is the first European country I ever visited. At the time, I was living in Africa and I was planning a trip back to the states. There were no direct flights, so I decided that if I had to stop in Europe on the way, I might as well get out of the airport and see some things. One of the top places I wanted to visit was Switzerland, so I decided that would be a great starting place.

At this point in time, I have visited Switzerland three times and I love it even more. In this post, I will give more details on three of my favorite places to visit in Switzerland! I hope that it will inspire you to visit Switzerland too!!

***Disclaimer: always be sure to check Switzerland’s COVID related entry restrictions and regulations as well as regulations for visiting any tourist sites before booking any part of your journey! 🙂

Best Time to Visit Switzerland

If you are wanting to visit the destinations listed in this post, the best time to plan your vacation is between May and the end of October. This is when the weather is warmest and nicest for outdoor activities. Also, some tourist places including some of the castles close during the winter. Always be sure to check the individual websites for information regarding openings.

However, if you are wanting to go skiing in Switzerland or tour Christmas markets, then the best time to visit would be between December – March.

Visit Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), Switzerland

Lake Lac Léman (also know as Lake Geneva) is stunning, crescent shaped lake that lies on the boarder between Switzerland and France. It is the largest body of water in Switzerland and one of the most beautiful places to visit while in Switzerland. In addition to water activities such as stand up paddle boarding, boat rides, and swimming, there are many other diversions to enjoy in the area.

Things to do on Lac Léman:

1. Château de Chillon

I love the Château de Chillon. Not only is it one of the most beautiful castles in Switzerland, it is also the most visited historical monument in the country. Located right on the shores of Lac Léman, this fairy tale-looking castle has inspired many people over the years including Lord Byron who wrote his famous poem, “The Prisoner of Chillon”, about a François Bonivard, a Genevois monk, who bad been imprisoned there.

It was so exciting to visit this castle and learn more about the history of the castle. It has been uitilized in many ways over the centuries. For hundreds of years its strategic location allowed the Counts of Savoy to control trade routes between France, Germany, and Italy. Also, during its lifetime, the château has been used as a summer residence, a military storage facility, and a prison.

2. Tour Lausanne

Lusanne is the capital in the the canton of Vaud in Romandy and the fourth largest city in Switzerland. It is a vibrant cultural city, known as the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. There are many things to see and do in Lausanne. This includes a visit to the Olympic Museum, stopping in at the Lausanne Cathedral, and walking along the Ouchy Promenade where you can admire the Château d’Ouchy. (It is now a luxury hotel and fine dining restaurant.)

3. Visit the Lavaux vineyards

Lavaux Vineyards is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is recognized for its beauty as well as its quality of wine that is produced there. You can admire the terrassed vineyards on a guided walk around the area. Or, you can visit specific vineyards where you can learn more about the wine making process. Here is a website with more information on things to do in the area.

How to get to Lac Léman:

Nearest Airport: Geneva Airport

The travel time will depend on which areas along the lake you are planning to visit.

Visit Gruyères, Switzerland

Gruyères, Switzerland is a fun place to visit with multiple things to explore and enjoy. This is especially the case when it comes to delicious food related products. If you love cheese, chocolate, meringues, and more, this Swiss gem will be perfect for you. Located on top of a hill in the midst of the gorgeous pre-Alpine foothills of Fribourg, there are also outdoor areas to explore and enjoy.

Things to do in Gruyères

1. Visit Gruyères historic Old Town and the Château de Gruyères (castle)

This is an absolute must for your time in Gruyères. You can walk along the old cobblestone pathways and pop into shops selling all kinds of fun souvenirs and food items. Don’t forget to stop in at one of the restaurants to enjoy a Gruyere cheese inspired dish for lunch or dinner. And, if you’re lucky, you may even get to witness some locals playing the Alphorn. Please note that there is a fee for visiting the actual castle. You can find out more about tickets and pricing here.

Alphorn players and flag twirlers in Gruyères Old Town

2. Enjoy the cheese and double cream

Switzerland is well known for its cheese and Gruyères is an excellent place to enjoy delicious Swiss cheeses. The perfectly green hills where the cows graze lends itself to an ideal quality of milk products that are produced in this area. Gruyere cheese (which gets its name from the town/castle) is one of the key ingredients in Swiss fondue. Another product that the area is famous for is its double cream. This is not your regular light or heavy cream. No, this is thick, rich, irresistible cream that is best enjoyed in small quantities due to its high fat content. You can see the double cream in the bowl to the right of the ice cream in the photo below:

Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and a side of double cream

3. Visit Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory

Maison Cailler is just twelve minutes by car or 30 minutes by public transportation away from the Chateau de Gruyères. Here, you can learn more about the history of chocolate making in Switzerland as well as see how chocolate is produced today. It is very fun and interactive, perfect for children and adults alike. And, of course, there are many opportunities to try the Maison Cailler chocolates as well as buy some to take home in their gift shop. 😉 You can find out more about tickets and pricing here.

How to get to Gruyères:

Nearest Airport: Bern International Airport

From Bern: It’s about 1 hr by car or 1.5 hrs by public transport.

From Zurich: It’s about 2 hrs by car and about 2.5 hrs by public transport.

There are also day trip options from the Lake Geneva area.

Visit Spiez, Switzerland

Spiez is a tiny, idyllic Swiss village that is on the banks of the Thunersee and it holds a very special place in my heart. It was a place I discovered with my parents completely by accident on my first visit to Europe. But, if we hadn’t missed my train connection, I would have never discovered what is now one of my favorite places in Switzerland.

After my husband and I moved to Germany, we were discussing places we wanted to visit and, of course, Switzerland came up. I immediately thought of Spiez and I knew that this is where we should go first. If you are going to Switzerland, you do not want to miss this little gem.

To learn even more about the things to do in the romantic village of Spiez, check out my post: 5 Things to do in the Romantic Village of Spiez, Switzerland

Spiez Vineyards with Niesen Mountain in the background

Things to do in Spiez:

1. Spiez Castle

If you go to Spiez, you absolutely have to tour the little Spiez’s medieval Castle. It has an interesting history which was shaped by three main families who owned it: the barons of Strättligen, the lords of Bubenberg, and the patrician family from the city of Berne, the von Erlachs.

Please visit their website for more information on ticket prices and opening hours. And, don’t forget to stop in at the Schloss Kirche Spiez while you are there.

2. Walk around Spiez

Spiez is an adorable village and there are lots of shops and restaurants you can visit. You can also enjoy a stroll along the harbor, around Lake Thun, or explore the Spiez Vineyard Sensory Adventure Trail.

3. Visit Niesen Mountain

The Niesen is a 2,362 meter (7,749 ft) high mountain peak that overlooks Lake Thun and Spiez. You can choose to hike up the mountain, or there is a funicular train that you can ride to the top and back.

We decided that we wanted to hike, but it is about six hours and very steep. We are in pretty decent shape, but I can say that by the time we reached the top, we worn out. It also started getting dark on the way down, so we ended up taking the Funicular train part of the way down. Looking back on our adventure, I would say that if you want to hike, you are better off taking the train up and hiking down. You can find out more about ticket times and prices for the Funicular train on their website.

Additional Things to do Nearby

> Visit stunning Interlaken. This is where I stayed with my parents back in 2012 and it was gorgeous! Here’s a website with photos and a list of things to do. We personally rode the train all the way up to the Jungfraujoch (amazing!), walked along the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz, and enjoyed the stunning views as well as a meal at Schilthorn.
> Oberhofen Castle
> Hünegg Castle
> Diemtigtal Nature Park (our AirBnB was located in Diemtigtal and there are some great hiking trails that we got to explore, see photos below)

How to get to Spiez:

Nearest Airport: Bern International Airport

From Bern: It’s about 35 min by car or public transport.

From Zurich: It’s about 2 hrs by car and about 1.5 hrs by public transport.

In Conclusion

I hope that this post has offered lots of inspiration for your trip to Switzerland! I would love to hear what you think about a visit to these breathtaking places Switzerland in the comments below! 🙂

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine