Want to break the routine for a weekend?
Switzerland rarely appears at the top of the first ideas formulated, and yet our still largely unknown neighbor rarely disappoints its visitors!
It's up to you to choose the tone of your stay: sporty in Lausanne, musical in Montreux, medieval in Lucerne or artistic in Basel.
To discover
Trips to Switzerland: tailor-made tours, hotels and stays from our partners
Our selection will also allow you to discover the three major linguistic regions of Switzerland, from the shores of Lake Geneva to Italian-speaking Switzerland.
Read alsoWhere to go on a weekend by train?
Our 50 destinations in Europe
1. International weekend in Geneva
Designed in 1891, Geneva's Jet d'Eau is nearly 140 meters high.
Stephan Engler / Switzerland Tourism
Immerse yourself in the heart of the news by discovering the international organizations based in Geneva.
Since 1945, the city has been home to the European headquarters of the UN.
A historic building open to guided tours.
Also browse the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross and pass by the headquarters of the World Health Organization and that of the International Labor Organization.
Our advice: take a seat aboard the Mouettes genevoises, the small boats that cross the harbour.
A good way to get as close as possible to the grandiose jet of water.
Read alsoEaster weekend: two days in Geneva, for a gourmet and chocolate trip
2. Sports weekend in Lausanne
Named “Olympic Capital”, Lausanne is home to the headquarters of 60 international sports federations and associations.
Christof Schuerpf / Switzerland Tourism
All in altitude, Lausanne provides spectacular views of Lake Geneva, the Alps and Mont Blanc... provided you don't spare your efforts!
Catch your breath as you climb the 134 steps of the Market Stairs, a scenic passageway that leads to the cathedral.
Descend to the station then climb to the top of Montriond hill, an active park.
Finish by the port of Ouchy to visit the Olympic Museum.
Our advice: in summer, make the most of Vidy beach, a 500-metre-long stretch of sand which stands out as the longest beach on Lake Geneva.
Read alsoDestination Lausanne, “the best small town in the world”
3. Musical weekend in Montreux
The statue of Freddy Mercury facing Lake Geneva.
Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels.com
Montreux knows music!
The small town at the end of Lake Geneva hosts events throughout the year: get your tickets for the Montreux Choral Festival in April, followed by the prestigious jazz festival in July and the classical music festival in September.
In May, the Montreux International Guitar Show combines a show dedicated to the guitar, masterclasses and concerts.
Our advice: in the Montreux casino, visit the former recording studios of Queen, the legendary British rock band led by Freddy Mercury.
Free entry !
Read alsoSummer walk in Switzerland, on the Vaud Riviera from Montreux to Lausanne
4.
Multicultural weekend in Friborg
Friborg clings to a rocky outcrop overlooking the Sarine.
Andre Meier / Switzerland Tourism
Between Lausanne and Bern, Friborg sits on the “rösti barrier”, the border between French-speaking Switzerland and German-speaking Switzerland.
The city perfectly blends the two cultural influences, whether in terms of language or gastronomy.
On Saturday morning, stroll along the stalls of the market which settles in the medieval alleys of the Quartier du Bourg, on the place of the Hôtel-de-Ville.
Our advice: launch an attack on the ramparts by following the circuit of the fortifications.
This pedestrian route, lasting approximately 1h30, offers the most beautiful views of the city.
5. Official weekend in Bern
The old town of Bern is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Giglio Pasqua / Switzerland Tourism
Although Bern ranks 5th among Swiss cities, with less than 140,000 inhabitants, this city nestled in a loop of the Aar is nonetheless the capital of Switzerland.
The city carries high the prestige of the Confederacy, with its monumental Parliament which dominates the city.
Next to it, you will see the imposing facade of the Swiss National Bank and the main Swiss institutions.
Our tip: visit Bern's famous bears at the entrance to the old town, then walk along the Aare River to the Dalmazi Bridge, at the foot of the Parliament.
6. Medieval weekend in Lucerne
The Chapel Bridge and the former Jesuit Church in Lucerne.
Mattsjc
On the shores of Lake Lucerne, Lucerne immerses the visitor in the Middle Ages.
Cross the Chapel Bridge, the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe, whose construction dates back to 1333. Then stroll the cobbled streets of the old town and spot the giant frescoes that decorate the buildings, especially around the square of Winemarkt.
Also take a look at the Spreuerbrücke, a 15th century bridge decorated with paintings.
Our advice: climb up to the ramparts of the Musegg, the old fortifications, and follow the panoramic path that connects the nine towers.
Read alsoThis fall, Lucerne sets Lake Lucerne on fire
7. Trendy weekend in Zürich
Zürich is the most populous city in Switzerland with nearly 440,000 inhabitants.
Daniel Loosli / Switzerland Tourism
The economic capital of Switzerland, Zürich can also claim the title of shopping capital.
Go to the unmissable Bahnhofstrasse, the Zurich equivalent of the Champs-Élysées, which lines up all the major Swiss and international brands.
Also push the door of the small trendy shops installed in Zürich West, in particular under the arcades of the railway viaduct.
Our tip: Take the S10 train from Zürich station to the top of Uetliberg.
This hill, 870 meters high, offers a 360° panorama of the city, the lake and the Alps.
8. Arts weekend in Basel
Basel is dominated by the Roche towers, the tallest skyscrapers in Switzerland.
Andreas Gerth / Switzerland Tourism
Placed on the banks of the Rhine, at the intersection of Switzerland, France and Germany, Basel acts as an artistic melting pot.
The city has 39 museums, starting with the illustrious Fondation Beyeler, the most visited art museum in Switzerland.
Also worth seeing: the Kunstmuseum Basel, with more than 300,000 works, from Rembrandt to Picasso, and the Museum Tinguely, which brings together the creations of the Friborg sculptor Jean Tinguely.
Our advice: every year, in June, don't miss the Art Basel exhibition, one of the most important contemporary art events in the world.
9. Occasional weekend in La Chaux-de-Fonds
The watchmaking town planning of La Chaux-de-Fonds has been recognized by Unesco since 2009. Zacharie Grossen
La Chaux-de-Fonds recounts the golden age of the Swiss watch industry at the end of the 19th century.
At the time, the city was completely redesigned for the watch industry, with an urban plan combining factories and habitats.
Mandatory detour to the International Clock Museum: the collection of watches and clocks allows you to go back in time, from the 16th century to the present day.
Our advice: push the door of the Villa Jeanneret-Perret, also known as the "White House".
This is the first achievement of the architect Le Corbusier.
10. Italian weekend in Lugano
Lake Lugano and Mount San Salvatore from Monte Brè.
Frank Arcuiolo
About sixty kilometers north of Milan, Lugano offers an exotic Italian touch in the middle of the Swiss Alps.
The architecture of the old town boasts a typical Lombardy style while the Mediterranean climate is the delight of olive trees, camellias and palm trees.
Enjoy a cappuccino and an Italian ice cream on the terrace of a café!
Our advice: take the cable car to the top of Mount San Salvatore, 912 meters high.
Bird's eye view of Lugano and its lake.
In good weather, you can clearly see Milan on the horizon.
