This page was last updated by Annika on 15 October 2023.
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Must-knows about Switzerland’s towns and regions

  • Switzerland’s larger cities, such as Zurich and Basel, are very attractive. Most are not close to the Alps though.
  • The best regions to be in or near the Alps are the Bernese Oberland, the Valais, Lake Lucerne, and Graubünden.
  • Recommended central towns to explore a lot of the country include Bern and Thun, (Bernese Oberland), Brig (Valais), Lucerne (Lake Lucerne), and Montreux (Lake Geneva).
  • Some of the most popular mountain villages are Zermatt, St. Moritz, Wengen and Mürren.

Find Swiss towns for your holidays

The map below this list shows where the towns you’ve found are located.

Höheweg main street in center of Interlaken
Interlaken
Jungfrau Region, Lake Brienz, Lake ThunTrain stationAltitude: 567 m (1860 ft)
Interlaken is the central town in the Bernese Oberland, and the gate to the famous Jungfrau Region. We share our insider tips about sightseeing, traveling …
Matterhorn and Zermatt at dusk
Zermatt
ValaisTrain stationAltitude: 1605 m (5266 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Zermatt is a car-free, luxurious alpine village at the foot of the Matterhorn. Zermatt is somewhat secluded, but you can enjoy many wonderful mountain excursions …
View of Eiger and Mönch from the outskirts of Mürren
Mürren
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1650 m (5413 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
The car-free alpine village of Mürren is perched on a cliff high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland. This town at the slopes …
Zurich and its lake seen from Uetliberg
Zurich
Zurich regionTrain stationAltitude: 408 m (1339 ft)On a lake
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. There is a lot to see and do, including boat trips, museums, luxury shopping, and a historic town …
Chapel Bridge/Kapellbrücke over river Reuss in Lucerne
Lucerne
Lake LucerneTrain stationAltitude: 440 m (1444 ft)On a lake
Lucerne is an appealing city in Central Switzerland. It’s ideal for first-time visitors: the historic town center, lake and nearby mountains offer a full Switzerland …
View over Wengen and tops of western Lauterbrunnen Valley
Wengen
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1276 m (4186 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Wengen is a car-free alpine village in the Jungfrau Region, surrounded by hiking trails in summer and ski slopes in winter. It’s a perfect base …
Street in Grindelwald center with Wetterhorn view
Grindelwald
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1034 m (3392 ft)Winter sports resort
Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region has all tourist facilities you can wish for, and is at a very scenic spot on the foot of the …
Lauterbrunnen village with Staubbach Fall
Lauterbrunnen
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 793 m (2602 ft)
The small and scenic village of Lauterbrunnen is the gateway to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and to the mountain villages Wengen and Mürren. The town is …
St. Moritz in the Upper Engadine, Graubünden
St. Moritz
EngadineTrain stationAltitude: 1775 m (5823 ft)Winter sports resortOn a lake
St. Moritz is an upper-class alpine town. Located in the magnificent Upper Engadine valley in Graubünden, the town is a perfect base for hiking and …
Montreux seen from Lake Geneva boulevard toward Veytaux
Montreux
Lake GenevaTrain stationAltitude: 396 m (1299 ft)On a lake
Montreux is a pretty town on eastern Lake Geneva, with one of the most beautiful lake promades of Switzerland. It’s on the GoldenPass train route …
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Switzerland’s towns per category

Pont des Bergues in Geneva

Cities

The cities in Switzerland are relatively small, have historic town centers, and are packed with must-sees. Most are not close …
Restaurant terrace with Eiger and Mönch view in Mürren

Towns in the Swiss Alps

The best mountain cities and villages in Switzerland: our suggestions for resorts in and near the Swiss Alps.
Johanniter Chapel with flowers in Rheinfelden

Small towns

Staying in a small Swiss town will make you feel close to the country’s nature. Mind that some of the …
Chalets, flags and church in Bettmeralp, Upper Rhone Valley

Car-free towns

Switzerland has several car-free towns. Some can be reached by public transport only. They’re great destinations if you’re looking for …
Chalets along main street of Lauterbrunnen

Tourist resorts

Switzerland’s tourist resorts are famous for a reason: they’re beautifully located and give access to many outdoor activities. Learn which …
Montreux boulevard along Lake Geneva with flowers

Summer towns

Towns in the mountains and on refreshing lakes are perfect for your summer holidays in Switzerland. We’ve listed our favorite …
Mountain resort Davos in winter

Winter towns

Switzerland’s mountain villages are the best resorts for a snow holiday. Larger cities are perfect in Christmas time. Find out …

Switzerland’s holiday regions

Morning sun in the Upper Engadine at La Punt

Regions

We introduce Switzerland’s holiday regions: the Bernese Oberland, Lake Lucerne, the Valais, Lake Zurich, Lake Geneva, the Ticino and many …

Switzerland map

3-d map of Switzerland with flag

Map of Switzerland

See where Switzerland is located in Europe and which are the bordering countries. Find the main Swiss towns on this …

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.