Switzerland’s chief charms are widely known. After all, its towering peaks, glacial lakes, and Heidi-esque meadows have long been postcard staples. Yet there is much more to this spot than quintessential alpine vistas.
1. Cool Conveyances
Aside from having camera-ready scenery, Switzerland has one-of-a-kind transportation options that let you see it in style. Traveling aboard vintage paddlewheel ferries and Belle Époque steamers is itself an event—ditto for those aerial cableways (some complete with rotating gondolas). Don’t forget the trains that traverse its 3,000-mile rail network. High-speed trains, narrow-gauge trains, cogwheel trains—they’re all here (and in a nation famous for watch-making, you can rest assured they run on time!). To make the most of these, buy a money-saving Swiss Travel System pass before leaving home. Looking for a free ride? Neuchâtel and nine other Swiss cities have complimentary bikes for those prepared to pedal.
2. Boffo Buildings
If you think Swiss architecture consists solely of cute chalets with impossibly-pitched roofs, think again. Thanks to a combination of political neutrality and economic affluence, this country has a wealth of beautifully-preserved buildings ranging from a Romanesque castle in Thun to the Renaissance Court Church in Lucerne. For a tutorial in architectural diversity, try St. Gallen or Bern. The former is home to both a glorious Baroque cathedral and stunning Art-Nouveau edifices; the latter (Switzerland’s capital) boasts one of Europe’s most authentic medieval Old Towns plus one of its most iconic 21st-century structures—namely Zentrum Paul Klee, an ultra-modern museum designed by “starchitect” Renzo Piano.
3. Divine Bovines
Admittedly cows don’t top many people’s “favorite domesticated critter” list. Dogs, cats, horses, and even ferrets fare better. But to know them is to love them—and a great way to get acquainted is by taking a cow trek in the pastoral Appenzell district. Organized by Morgenegg Family Farm, it’s a half-day session that includes cow grooming and (you guessed it) cow riding. Of course, visitors more interested in the cheese these animals produce will find plenty of places to gorge on gruyère or dip a fork into a bubbling fondue pot. Courtesy of an innovative “cow lease” program, adventuresome epicures can even adopt a cow, pay a visit to its Alpine pasture, then receive cheese made from its milk at the end of the season.
4. Unbeatable Bonbons
Need another reason to admire Swiss cows? Without them we wouldn’t have Swiss chocolate, which candy connoisseurs know is the best on the planet. Switzerland is chock-a-block with must-stop chocolate shops, the Merkur on Zürich’s Bahnhofstrasse being among the most popular. This fabled emporium is a Willy Wonka fantasy featuring decadent displays, free samples, and a demonstration area where you can watch master chocolatiers at work. If that isn’t enough to satisfy your cocoa cravings, you can always take a themed train excursion to the Cailler-Nestlé factory in Broc or make tracks for After the Rain in Geneva, a day spa that specializes in tasteful treatments such as chocolate wraps and cocoa-bean oil baths.
Although it is traditionally perceived as being über expensive, Switzerland happens to be a good value right now because our dollars are faring more favorably against Swiss Francs than the Euros used in adjacent nations. In short, greenbacks go further—and there are many tempting ways to spend them. For a full-blown shopping spree, head to sunny, sophisticated Lugano, a city that virtually sits on the Italian border. Its pedestrian zone, centered on the Via Nassa, is lined with high-end retailers (think Louis Vuitton or Versace) and has become a magnet for fashionistas from Milan, who routinely make the forty-mile drive to stock up on labels at lower prices than they would pay back home.
