Switzerland
Overview
Located in the Alps, mountainous landlocked Switzerland is at Europe's heart, bordering France to the west, Germany to the north, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east and Italy to the south.
Switzerland's alpine setting includes Europe's highest mountains including the Matterhorn at nearly 4500m, with the highest Swiss peak being Dufourspitze at 4633m. This stunning geographic backdrop means Switzerland is adorned by waterfalls, rivers and lakes amidst plentiful verdant green pastures.
Switzerland is a small wealthy country with an extremely high standard of living, and the proximity of multiple European neighbours has led to Switzerland being a multilingual country with French-, German- and Italian-speaking regions. As well as mountain scenery Switzerland is famous for such things as its renowned banking and pharmaceutical industry sectors; the manufacture of fine, luxury watches and intricate cuckoo clocks, not to mention Swiss Chocolate and Swiss Cheese. However, Switzerland's most popular exports are likely the multi-purpose Swiss Army pocket knife and the colourful Swiss Army Guards who, for centuries, have guarded the Vatican and the Pope in Rome.
Famed for its neutrality and peaceful history Switzerland's isolated but central European location, ring-fenced by breathtaking mountains, has also led to Switzerland being the home of choice for international organisations such as the Red Cross and the United Nations.
Weather
Switzerland enjoys a continental climate with contrasting cold winters and hot summers. Sunshine is year-round, and Switzerland has almost no humidity. Geneva and Zurich in the south enjoy an almost Mediterranean climate in the Summer, when temperatures average 26˚C from June to September. The lowlands to the north of Switzerland can get even hotter.
All of Switzerland dips below freezing in the Winter with some higher mountain regions reaching minus 18˚C at night. The ski season runs from December to April.
Main resorts & attractions
Switzerland is home to some of Europe's most stylish and sought-after ski venues such as Davos, Grindelwald, Verbier, Wengen, Verbier and Zermatt, not to mention the celebrity-studded resorts of St Moritz or Gstaad - and Klosters, often host to much of Europe's Royalty when they ski.
Complimenting the winter's downhill and cross country skiing, the Swiss mountain air and bright sunshine with beautiful snowy peaks towering up into blue skies also makes Switzerland one of the most popular places for Spring and Summer walking and hiking. The more adventurous visit the same Swiss resorts in Summer for mountain biking, mountain and rock climbing, rafting, zip-lining and canyoning.
Geneva, centre of Switzerland's French-speaking region, and host to the United Nations is famous for its lake, where you can sail and wind surf and water ski. Amongst many others alternative popular lakes are Lucerne, Lugano, Constance and Neuchatel.
Berne, Switzerland's ancient capital, provides opportunities for sightseeing and traditional folk entertainment, while Switzerland's largest city is stylish Zürich which offers trendy bars and nightlife as well as being a leading venue for the arts such as opera and theatre. Zurich also hosts one of Europe' most famous and most expensive shopping streets, the BahnhofStrasse.
Switzerland's other famous city is Basel which has one of Europe's prettiest and best preserved ‘old towns' dating from the 15th Century.
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