Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Switzerland.

Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from climbing Mt Rigi's panorama hiking trail for epic views to puffing up snow-dusted peaks aboard the Brienz Rothorn Bahn, and exploring the medieval Schloss Habsburg, the ancestral home to the Habsburg dynasty.

Build a trip to remember with Lonely Planet's Switzerland travel guide:

• Our classic guidebook format provides you with the most comprehensive level of information for planning multi-week trips
• Updated with an all new structure and design so you can navigate Switzerland and connect experiences together with ease
• Create your perfect trip with exciting itineraries for extended journeys combined with suggested day trips, walking tours, and activities to match your passions
• Get fresh takes on must-visit sights including the First Cliff Walk at Grindelwald; Geneva's magnificent Château de Chillon; and Zermatt's Matterhorn
• Special features on hiking the Aletsch, Geneva walking tour, family adventure guide
• Expert local recommendations on when to go, eating, drinking, nightlife, shopping, accommodation, adventure activities, festivals, and more
• Essential information toolkit containing tips on arriving; transport; making the most of your time and money; LGBTIQ+ travel advice; useful words and phrases; accessibility; and responsible travel
• Connect with Swiss culture through stories that delve deep into local life, history, and traditions
• Inspiring full-colour travel photography and maps including a pull out map of Switzerland
• Covers Lake Geneva & Vaud, Fribourg, Drei-Seen-Land & the Jura Mountains, Bern & Bernese Oberland, Valais, Ticino, Central Switzerland, Northwest Switzerland, Zurich & Northeastern Switzerland, Graubunden, Liechtenstein

Create a trip that's uniquely yours and get to the heart of this extraordinary country with Lonely Planet's Switzerland.

Whether you want to ski in the shadow of the Matterhorn, try fondue in Gruyères, or hike in Lauterbrunnen Valley, the local Fodor's travel experts in Switzerland are here to help! Fodor's Essential Switzerland guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has been fully-redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos. Fodor's Essential guides were named by Booklist as the Best Travel Guide Series of 2020!

Fodor's Essential Switzerland travel guide includes:

• AN ILLUSTRATED ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE to the top things to see and do
• MULTIPLE ITINERARIES to effectively organize your days and maximize your time
• MORE THAN 30 DETAILED MAPS to help you navigate confidently
• COLOR PHOTOS throughout to spark your wanderlust!
• HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCALS on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, performing arts, activities, and more
• PHOTO-FILLED BEST OF FEATURES on Best Hikes, Switzerland's Most Beautiful Villages, and more
• TRIP-PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including when to go, getting around, beating the crowds, and saving time and money
• HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS providing rich context on the local people, politics, cuisine, geography, and more
• SPECIAL FEATURES on What to Watch and Read Before You Visit, What to Eat and Drink, Scenic Train Rides and Drives, The Bernese Alps, and The Vineyards of Lavaux
• LOCAL WRITERS to help you find the under-the-radar gems
• French, German, and Italian LANGUAGE PRIMERS with useful words and essential phrases
• UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE ON: Geneva, Zurich, Luzern, St. Moritz, the Glacier Express, Zermatt, the Matterhorn, Lugano, Locarno, Bern, Basel, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Grindelwald, Graubunden, Liechtenstein, Gruyères, Interlaken, Montreux, Lausanne, Lavaux Vignobles, and more.

Planning on visiting other destinations in Europe? Check out Fodor's Essential France, Essential Germany, and Essential Italy.

*Important note for digital editions: The digital edition of this guide does not contain all the images or text included in the physical edition.

ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor's has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. For more travel inspiration, you can sign up for our travel newsletter at fodors.com/newsletter/signup, or follow us @FodorsTravel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We invite you to join our friendly community of travel experts at fodors.com/community to ask any other questions and share your experience with us!

• Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Switzerland
• Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites
• Top sights and hidden gems, from bustling Zürich to the cozy small-town atmosphere of Appenzell
• How to connect with culture: Chat with friendly Swiss locals at a mountain retreat, swim in the alpine waters of the Aare River, and treat yourself to delicious cheese fondue
• Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight
• The best places to eat, sleep, and relax over wine and Swiss chocolate
• Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and mountain towns
• Detailed maps for exploring on the go
• Scenic railroad journeys such as the Golden Pass, Gotthard Panorama Express, Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and Chur
• Useful resources including a packing list, German, French, and Italian phrase guides, a historical overview, and recommended reading, plus tips for visiting Switzerland in the winter
• Over 400 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down
• Complete, up-to-date information on Zürich, Luzern, Central Switzerland, Bern, Murten, Avenches, Gimmelwald and the Berner Oberland, Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Appenzell, Lausanne, Château de Chillon, Montreux, Gruyères, Lugano, Pontresina, Samedan, St. Moritz, and more

Full of magical sights and exhilarating activities, Switzerland's small size belies its beguiling charms. In a single day, visitors can encounter glaciers, high-altitude lakes, and iconic mountains - and still be back in time for fondue and schnapps.

You'll discover:

-Our pick of Switzerland's must-sees, top experiences and hidden gems
-The best spots to eat, drink, shop and stay
-Detailed maps and walks that make navigating the country easy
-Easy-to-follow itineraries
-Expert advice get ready, get around and stay safe
-Color-coded chapters to every part of Switzerland, from Bern to Geneva, Zürich to the Bernese Oberland
-A lightweight format, so you can take it with you wherever you go

Our updated guide brings Switzerland to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations that place you inside the country's iconic buildings and neighborhoods.

Exploring beyond Switzerland? Try our DK Eyewitness Europe.

• Comprehensive coverage for exploring Switzerland
• Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites
• Top sights and hidden gems, from bustling Zürich to the cozy small-town atmosphere of Appenzell
• How to connect with culture: Chat with friendly Swiss locals at a mountain retreat, swim in the alpine waters of the Aare River, and treat yourself to delicious cheese fondue
• Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight
• The best places to eat, sleep, and relax over wine and Swiss chocolate
• Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and mountain towns
• Detailed maps for exploring on the go
• Scenic railroad journeys such as the Golden Pass, Gotthard Panorama Express, Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and Chur
• Useful resources including a packing list, German, French, and Italian phrase guides, a historical overview, and recommended reading, plus tips for visiting Switzerland in the winter
• Over 400 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down
• Complete, up-to-date information on Zürich, Luzern, Central Switzerland, Bern, Murten, Avenches, Gimmelwald and the Berner Oberland, Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Appenzell, Lausanne, Château de Chillon, Montreux, Gruyères, Lugano, Pontresina, Samedan, St. Moritz, and more

This pocket-sized Geneva guidebook, written by Rough Guides experts, is perfect for short trips. Portable and complete with a pull-out map, it's sustainably printed to support environmental responsibility.

Inside this Geneva travel book, you will find:

• Must-see recommendations - expertly chosen main attractions, hidden gems, family-friendly spots and relaxing retreats in tourist hotspots


• Top picks in Geneva - essential experiences including Jet d'Eau, Cathédrale St-Pierre, Carouge, Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, CERN, Les Pâquis, the UN tour, Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Collection de l'Art Brut, Ouchy waterfront, Plateforme 10, Chaplin's World, Montreux, Château de Chillon, Rochers-de-Naye, selected to enrich your journey


• Best itineraries - diverse trip plans, suiting various durations and interests, and including recommendations for where to eat and drink along the way


• Geneva overview - a visual at-a-glance map spotlights key areas, with brief highlights


• Inspiration for day trips - suggestions for extending your adventure or discovering new areas


• Essential travel tips - guidance on navigation, health, local festivals and a comprehensive A-Z directory


• Local language primer - key phrases for essential interaction, covering greetings, numbers and food


• Authentic reviews - independent, reliable reviews of dining, drinking and shopping options, all collated by Rough Guides' experts


• Accommodation listings - a selection of places to stay to fit any budget


• Convenient pull-out map - an essential, easily-accessible map highlighting must-visit sites


• Updates on Geneva - a brief overview of the latest changes for returning visitors


• Bonus eBook - free digital access to the guidebook post-purchase for on-the-go planning


• Coverage includes: the Old Town, the Rhône's South Bank, Plainpalais and Jonction, the Pont du Mont-Blanc, Les Pâquis and the lake's shorelines, the International Area, Geneva outskirts, La Côte, Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux and the Château de Chillon, Évian and the Southern Shore

Practical travel guide to Switzerland with a free eBook points-of-interest structured lists of all sights and off-the-beaten-track treasures, with detailed colour-coded maps, practical details about what to see and to do in Switzerland, how to get there and around, pre-departure information, as well as top time-saving tips, like a visual list of things not to miss in Switzerland, expert author picks and itineraries to help you plan your trip. This guide book has been fully updated post-COVID-19 and it comes with a free eBook.

The Rough Guide to Switzerland covers: Geneva, Lausanne and Lake Geneva, The Arc Jurassien, Basel and around, Bern and around, The Bernese Oberland, Valais, Lucerne and Central Switzerland, Zürich, Northeast Switzerland, Graubünden, Ticino.

Inside this travel guide you'll find:

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER
Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Switzerland, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in Geneva to family activities in child-friendly places, like Zürich or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Lausanne.

PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS
Essential pre-departure information including Switzerland entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more.

TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES
Carefully planned routes covering the best of Switzerland give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip.

DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE
Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options.

INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL
Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for hiking, browsing markets and sampling wine.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS
Rough Guides' rundown of Basel, Bern and Lucerne's sights and top experiences helps to make the most of each trip to Switzerland, even in a short time.

HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS
Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, to help to find the best places in Switzerland, matching different needs.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter features fascinating insights into Switzerland, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary.

FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Rathaus in Basel and the spectacular Bernese Oberland.

COLOUR-CODED MAPPING
Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in Valais, Ticino and many more locations in Switzerland, reduce the need to go online.

USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT
With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.

FREE EBOOK
Free eBook download with every purchase of a printed book allows you to access all of the content from your phone or tablet, for on-the-road exploration.

Guided by her diary, he followed the same route to discover how much had changed and how much hadn't. She went in search of adventure, he went in search of her, and found far more than he expected. Slow Train to Switzerland is the captivating account of two trips through the Alps: hers glimpsing the future of travel, his revisiting its past. Together they make a journey to remember.

This is a tale of trains and tourists, of the British and the Swiss, of a Victorian traveller and a modern-day Englishman abroad. It is the story of a tour that changed both Switzerland and the world of travel forever.

Including: St. Peter's Church, Old Town Zurich, Fraumünster Church, Augustiner Street, Parade Square, Grossmünster Church, Schipfe District, Swiss National Museum, Bahnhof Street, Water Church, Opera House, Lindenhof Hill, Chinese Garden, Lakeside Promenade, Lake Cruises, FIFA World Football Museum, Kunsthaus Zürich, Clock and Watch Museum Beyer, Urania Observatory, Aviary Zurich, Succulent Collection, Botanical Garden, Platzpromenade, Zürihorn Park, Rietberg Museum and many more sightseeing highlights of Zürich.

A guidebook to 50 day walks in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. Exploring the dramatic scenery of the Jungfrau region the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike and cover Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen Valley and Mürren.

Walks range from 5 to 23km (3-14 miles) in length and can be enjoyed in 1-10 hours. Each walk is graded to allow you to select the most suitable routes for your ability. Many also take advantage of the widespread public transport and lifts around the Bernese Oberland to provide options for walks at a higher altitude.

• 1:50,000 maps included for each walk
• GPX files available to download
• Highlights include Untersteinberg and Schynige Platte
• Detailed information on accommodation, facilities and alpine huts

• Enjoy the beautiful curated photographs (in color) of Switzerland
• The photos captures the quintessential stunning landmarks, scenery and architectural buildings of the country and city from day to night without no words (texts)
• This full page picture book will make a great home coffee table decor accessory or as a gift for a loved one
• 8.5 x 11 / large size
• Glossy softcover

Guidebook to the Swiss Via Alpina, a 400km (250 mile) trek east-to-west across Switzerland, from Sargans to Montreux on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). This fully waymarked Swiss national trail involves nearly 23,000m of ascent and descent over roughly 3 weeks of trekking - a serious challenge suitable for experienced trekkers.

• 19 daily stages of 12-29km (8-18 miles) in length, as well as a 27km (17 mile) prologue stage from Liechtenstein
• Highlights include Altdorf, Engelberg, Meiringen, Grindlewald, Kandersteg, Adelboden, Lenk, Gstaad, Rochers de Naye, Montreux
• Comprehensive route description accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping, route profiles, facilities listings and advice on safety, language and using public transport to bypass sections of the route if trekking on a tighter timescale
• Crossing 16 Alpine passes, the VA follows much of the route of the old Alpine Pass Route, including detour stages via Lenk and Gsteig
• Includes full details of where to stay, from mountain huts to hotels, inns and camping available at licensed sites along the route
• Mountain vistas taking in alpine meadows, traditional farms and snow-capped peaks, from the Todi and Titlis to the Wetterhorn, Eiger, Jungfrau, Wildstrubel and Les Diablerets
• GPX files available to download

Insight Guide to Switzerland is a pictorial travel guide in a magazine style providing answers to the key questions before or during your trip: deciding when to go to Switzerland, choosing what to see, from exploring Lake Geneva to discovering Ticino or creating a travel plan to cover key places like Zurich and the Bernese Oberland. This is an ideal travel guide for travellers seeking inspiration, in-depth cultural and historical information about Switzerland as well as a great selection of places to see during your trip. This guide book has been fully updated post-COVID-19.

The Insight Guide Switzerland covers: The Bernese Oberland, the West, Lake Geneva, the Valais, Ticino, the Southeast, Zurich, the Northeast, Basel, the Jura, the Luzern Lowlands and Central Switzerland

In this travel guide you will find:

IN-DEPTH CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL FEATURES
Created to explore the culture and the history of Switzerland to get a greater understanding of its modern-day life, people and politics

BEST OF
The top attractions and Editor's Choice highlighting the most special places to visit around Switzerland

CURATED PLACES, HIGH-QUALITY MAPS
Geographically organised text cross-referenced against full-colour, high-quality travel maps for quick orientation in Basel, the Luzern Lowlands and many more locations in Switzerland.

COLOUR-CODED CHAPTERS
Every part of Switzerland, from the Bernese Oberland to Zurich has its own colour assigned for easy navigation

TIPS AND FACTS
Up-to-date historical timeline and in-depth cultural background to Switzerland as well as an introduction to Switzerland's food and drink and fun destination-specific features.

PRACTICAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
A-Z of useful advice on everything from when to go to Switzerland, how to get there and how to get around, as well as Switzerland's climate, advice on tipping, etiquette and more.

STRIKING PICTURES
Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Matterhorn and the spectacular Lake Geneva.

FREE EBOOK
Free eBook download with every purchase of a printed book to access all the content from your phone or tablet, for on-the-road exploration.

A complicated clock, an elephant in the woods, the emperor's paddle steamer, and the first Dark Restaurant. There is obviously more to Zurich than banking, clean streets, and punctuality. This guide shows a very different side to Switzerland's largest city.

Published by The Urban Explorer these city tales from new and unusual perspectives provide independent travelers with unforgettable memories. Ideal for those who want to escape the crowds and get beyond the well-known paths, as well as for those inhabitants who perhaps thought they already knew their city. Eccentric museums, secret gardens, iconic structures, idiosyncratic shops, colorful characters and unusual places of worship.

Don't just see the sights--get to know the people.

Set aside your preconceptions of postcard scenery, chocolate and cheese, faceless bankers, and spotless cities. The real Switzerland is anything but bland. This small, multilingual, and fiercely independent country at the heart of Europe is full of surprises.

Culture Smart! Switzerland reveals the human dimension of this enigmatic country. It provides an historical overview, explores Swiss values and attitudes, and looks at the cultural continuity of festivals and traditions. It will help you navigate your way through various aspects of Swiss life and society and reveal the warmth, decency, wit and intelligence that characterizes its inhabitants.

Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

A guidebook to 35 day walks and 2 multi-day hikes in Switzerland's Arolla and Zinal. Exploring the beautiful scenery of Val d'Herens and Val d'Anniviers, west of Zermatt, the routes are generally long and high but on well-maintained paths, with some calling for a good head for heights.

Day walks range from 9 to 22km (6-14 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2-10 hours. The routes are graded allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability. Two multi-day hikes are also outlined, combining the day walks described.

• 1:50,000 maps are included for each walk
• GPX files available to download
• Detailed information on planning, facilities and public transport
• Highlights include Dent Blanche and Lac Bleu

Discover the magic of the Swiss Alps through the lens of photographer and adventurer Jane Moorman in Top of Europe: Switzerland Alps via Cogwheel Railway. This breathtaking journey captures the splendor of iconic alpine destinations: Mount Pilatus, Jungfraujoch-The Top of Europe, and Gornergrat's stunning views of the Matterhorn.

Travel alongside Jane as she explores historic cogwheel railways that defy gravity, revealing Switzerland's natural wonders-towering peaks, glistening glaciers, and idyllic valleys. With a photographer's keen eye, Jane brings to life the grandeur of legendary mountains, charming villages, and the rich history behind Europe's most awe-inspiring rail journeys.

Whether you're an armchair traveler, a photography enthusiast, or planning your own Swiss adventure, Top of Europe promises a captivating experience through stunning imagery and rich storytelling. Let the Alps take your breath away.