The Swiss Alps are why most people come. Mountains, glaciers, alpine villages, and hiking trails everywhere. Zermatt has the Matterhorn (one of the most iconic peaks in the Alps). It's car-free, expensive, and stunning. Interlaken is the adventure sports capital of Switzerland (paragliding, skydiving, bungee jumping). It's touristy but surrounded by mountains and lakes. Jungfraujoch (the "Top of Europe") is a train journey to a viewpoint at 3,454 meters with views of glaciers and peaks. It's expensive (around $200 roundtrip) but breathtaking. Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are alpine villages with waterfalls, hiking trails, and postcard views.

The Swiss lakes are beautiful. Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is surrounded by vineyards and has cities like Geneva and Lausanne on its shores. Lake Lucerne is surrounded by mountains and has the city of Lucerne on its edge. Lake Como (technically in Italy but close to the Swiss border) is also stunning.

Zurich is Switzerland's largest city. It's clean, efficient, expensive, and a bit boring compared to other European cities. The old town is charming. The lake is beautiful. But Zurich is mostly a financial hub, not a tourist destination. It's a good base if you're exploring the rest of Switzerland.

Geneva is international, multicultural, and home to the UN and Red Cross. It's on Lake Geneva with views of the Alps in the distance. It's expensive and a bit sterile, but it's also beautiful and well-located.

Lucerne is the most charming Swiss city. It has a beautiful lake, a wooden covered bridge (Chapel Bridge), and mountains in every direction. It's touristy but worth a day or two.

Bern is the capital and has a charming old town (UNESCO site) with arcaded streets, a clock tower, and bear pits (yes, real bears). It's less touristy than Zurich or Lucerne.

Swiss trains are the best in Europe. They're punctual (to the minute), clean, comfortable, and scenic. The train journeys are attractions in themselves. The Glacier Express (from Zermatt to St. Moritz) and the Bernina Express (from Chur to Tirano, Italy) are two of the most scenic train routes in the world. They're expensive but unforgettable.

Swiss food is cheese and chocolate. Fondue (melted cheese, bread for dipping). Raclette (melted cheese scraped onto potatoes). Swiss chocolate (Lindt, Toblerone, and countless local chocolatiers). Rösti (shredded potato pancake) is a Swiss staple. Swiss food is rich, heavy, and delicious. A meal at a restaurant will easily cost $25-40.

Swiss people are reserved, polite, and value order. They're punctual, efficient, and expect you to be too. Don't be loud on public transportation. Don't litter. Follow the rules. The Swiss take rules seriously. English is widely spoken, especially in cities.

Getting around is easy. Trains connect everything. The Swiss Travel Pass gives you unlimited train, bus, and boat travel for a set number of days. It's expensive ($250-500 depending on how many days) but worth it if you're moving around a lot. Buses and boats connect smaller towns and lakes.

Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Hostels run $40-80/night. A meal at a restaurant is $25-40. A coffee is $5-7. A beer is $7-10. Groceries are expensive too. Budget travelers struggle here. If you're on a tight budget, buy groceries, cook your own meals, stay in hostels, and limit restaurant meals.

When to go: Summer (June-September) is perfect for hiking. The weather is warm, the trails are open, and the mountains are accessible. Winter (December-March) is skiing season. Spring (April-May) and fall (October-November) are quieter and cheaper, but some mountain areas are closed.

Switzerland is stunningly beautiful, efficient, and expensive. If you have the budget and love mountains, it's worth every franc. If you're broke, admire it from the train window as you pass through.