Things to do in Switzerland

Switzerland packs four language regions and the Alps into 41,285 square kilometres, smaller than the Netherlands. Twenty-six cantons run their own schools and taxes. There is no single capital feel: Bern holds government, Zürich the money, Geneva the diplomats.

How the country breaks down

• Zürich and Basel. German-speaking north, the business and museum end of the country; Basel sits where the Rhine bends into Germany.
• Lucerne and the Bernese Oberland. Lucerne fronts Pilatus and Rigi; Interlaken, further southwest, fronts the Eiger and the Jungfraujoch.
• Lake Geneva region. French-speaking. Geneva and Lausanne share one long lake, vineyard slopes rising above it.
• Valais. Zermatt and the Matterhorn, reached car-free — the village itself bans them.
• Ticino. Italian-speaking, south of the Gotthard. Lugano gets a climate the rest of the country doesn't.

Getting between them

Trains are the point here. Zürich to Geneva runs under three hours. Zürich to Lugano is faster still, just over two hours through the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

What the country sells

Mountains dominate: cable cars to viewpoints, cogwheel trains up peaks nobody would otherwise climb, glacier walks packaged into a half-day. Lakes add cruises around Geneva, Lucerne and Zürich. Cities supply museums and old towns; watches and chocolate are shopping, not really an activity.

Practical

• Money. The franc, not the euro, despite EU borders on every side. Switzerland runs among the most expensive countries in Europe; budget for it.
• Trains. Punctual enough that a two-minute connection is routine, not risky. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016, is the world's longest rail tunnel. A Swiss Travel Pass is worth pricing out for a multi-region trip.
• Tipping. Service is already in the bill. Rounding up is a courtesy, not an obligation.
• Weather. Lowland cities such as Zürich run about 24C in July and 4C in January; Alpine valleys stay colder, and high peaks hold snow and sub-zero temperatures year-round.
• Languages. German, French, Italian and Romansh are all official. English covers tourism everywhere.