A landlocked miracle of Alpine scenery and multilingual harmony — the Matterhorn and Eiger, Geneva's UN institutions, Zurich's financial precision, and a train network that runs to the second.
- Capital
- Bern
- Population
- 9,082,848
- Area
- 41,290 km²
- Languages
- French, Swiss German, Italian, Romansh
- Currency
- Swiss Franc (CHF)
- GDP
- $947,125M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Cervelat,Fondue, Rösti
Annual visitors
11,818,000 (2019)
Safety
Very low (0.6/100k)
Big Mac
$9.08
Avg temp
6.5°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Landlocked
☎ Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118
Travel guide
Switzerland (German: Schweiz, French: Suisse, Italian: Svizzera, Romansch: Svizra) is a mountainous country known globally for its neutrality, democracy, and almost-legendary affluence: Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and prices to match. Switzerland is known for its mountains (Alps in the south, Jura in the northwest) but it also has a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. The highest point is Dufourspitze at 4,634 m (15,203 ft), while Lake Maggiore is only 195 m (636 ft) above sea level, and the temperate climate varies greatly with altitude. Switzerland is intrinsically more culturally diverse than perhaps any other European country. It has four national languages which have historically been dominant in various regions, or cantons. German, French and Italian are spoken in the regions bordering the respective country, and Romansch — a Romance language of Swiss origin — is spoken in the mountainous area of Graubünden. Switzerland also has one of the proportionally largest expat/immigrant populations – literally every fourth resident of the almost 8.5 million inhabitants is a foreign national – consisting of almost all of the world's nationalities and ethnic groups. Switzerland can be a glorious whirlwind trip whether you've packed your hiking boots, snowboard, or just a good book and a pair of sunglasses.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Switzerland
Best time to visit
Winter (December–March) for world-class skiing. Summer (June–August) for hiking and lake swimming. Spring blooms are stunning. Interlaken is popular year-round. The Golden Pass train is best in autumn foliage.
Visa
EU/EEA citizens and most Western nationalities (US, UK, Canada, Australia) enter visa-free for 90 days. Note: Switzerland is Schengen but not EU.
Highlights
Rhine Falls, situated in Switzerland, is one of Europe's most impressive waterfalls. With its powerful cascade of water plunging down a height of 23 meters (75 feet) and a width of 150 meters (490 feet), Rhine Falls is a breathtaking natural wonder. Visitors can experience the falls up close by taking a boat ride, walking across a panoramic viewing platform, or exploring the surrounding parklands. The sheer force and beauty of Rhine Falls create a mesmerizing spectacle and offer a memorable encounter with the power of nature.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (14)
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Major cities
Zurich
Switzerland's largest city — a global financial hub with a surprisingly vibrant old town, lake swimming, and design scene.
Geneva
Switzerland's cosmopolitan lakeside city, home to the UN and Red Cross, with Mont Blanc views across the lake.
Interlaken
Switzerland's adventure capital between two lakes, with direct access to Jungfraujoch, paragliding, and alpine hiking.
Lucerne
Switzerland's most picturesque city — a medieval wooden bridge over a lake, with the Alps as a backdrop.