World Guide

Switzerland

Country · Europe, Western Europe

Matterhorn
Pictured: Matterhorn · Photo: Gianluca Miscione, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy. With an area of 41,291 square kilometers and a population of about 9.1 million, this nation features the capital city of Bern and offers diverse landscapes ranging from the Swiss Alps to large lakes.

Highlights

This site covers 35 sights across the country. Natural landmarks are a major draw, including the Swiss Alps, the Matterhorn, the Aletsch Glacier, and peaks like Jungfraujoch. Water features include Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne, Oeschinen Lake, Rhine Falls, and Reichenbach Falls. Historic and cultural sites include the Abbey of Saint Gall, Chillon Castle, Tarasp Castle, Villa Diodati, the Lion Monument, the Kapellbrücke, the Cresta Run, the United Nations Office at Geneva, and the Palace of Nations. Major cities for travelers include Geneva, Bern, Lucerne, Basel, St. Gallen, St. Moritz, and Zurich.

Food and drink

The local cuisine features various cheeses, such as Emmental, Gruyère, and Appenzeller. Other notable food and drink include Muesli, Vienna sausage, Rösti, Cordon bleu, King cake, Carrot cake, Raclette, Absinthe, and Kirsch.

When to go

Based on weather in Bern, the warmest months are July and August, with daily highs of 23 °C. These months are generally favorable for outdoor travel. Spring and early summer see higher rainfall, with May and June experiencing about 19 days of rain each month. Winters are cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing from December through March.

Practical notes

Switzerland uses the Swiss franc as currency. The official languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. The country uses type C and J plugs with a voltage of 230 V. Driving is on the right side of the road. The time zone is UTC+01:00.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Switzerland

  • Absinthe
  • Emmental cheese
  • Gruyère cheese
  • Muesli
  • Vienna sausage
  • Rösti
  • Carrot cake
  • Cordon bleu
  • Appenzeller cheese
  • King cake
  • Raclette
  • Kirsch

Top sights in Switzerland

  1. MatterhornMatterhorn
  2. Lake GenevaLake GenevaLausanne
  3. Lion MonumentLion MonumentLucerne
  4. Swiss AlpsSwiss Alps
  5. Rhine FallsRhine FallsSchaffhausen
  6. JungfraujochJungfraujoch
  7. Reichenbach FallsReichenbach FallsMeiringen
  8. Lake LucerneLake LucerneLucerne
  9. Oeschinen LakeOeschinen LakeKandersteg
  10. United Nations Office at GenevaUnited Nations Office at GenevaGeneva
  11. Chillon CastleChillon CastleMontreux
  12. Villa DiodatiVilla DiodatiGeneva
  1. Cresta Run · St. Moritz
  2. Kapellbrücke · Lucerne
  3. Jet d'Eau · Geneva
  4. Palace of Nations · Geneva
  5. Engadin · St. Moritz
  6. Tarasp Castle · Scuol
  7. Abbey of Saint Gall · St. GallenUNESCO
  8. Aletsch Glacier
  9. Titlis · Engelberg
  10. St. Pierre Cathedral · Geneva
  11. Sphinx Observatory
  12. Kunstmuseum Basel · Basel
  13. Grossmünster · Zurich
  14. Zytglogge · Bern
  15. Contra Dam
  16. Abbey library of Saint Gall · St. Gallen
  17. Grande Dixence Dam
  18. Federal Palace of Switzerland · Bern
  19. Fraumünster · Zurich
  20. Basel Minster · Basel
  21. Kunsthaus Zürich · Zurich
  22. Badrutt's Palace Hotel · St. Moritz
  23. Lausanne Cathedral · Lausanne
  24. Lavaux · LausanneUNESCO
  25. Old City · BernUNESCO
  26. Bärengraben · Bern
  27. Beyeler Foundation · Basel
  28. Castles of BellinzonaUNESCO
  29. Olympic Museum · Lausanne
  30. Swiss Museum of Transport · Lucerne

UNESCO sites in Switzerland →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 23 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C56101318212323191585
Average low, °C-3-31381114131061-2
Rainfall, mm70638282119115114114100947788
Rainy days141113131919161413141414

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Bern (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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Neighbouring countries and territories