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    DK Switzerland
    DK Switzerland
    DK Switzerland
    Ebook626 pages4 hours

    DK Switzerland

    By DK Travel

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Whether you want to hit the slopes, explore chocolate-box alpine towns, or take a scenic railway journey to remember, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Switzerland has to offer.

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDK Travel
    Release dateMar 26, 2024
    ISBN9780593842874
    DK Switzerland

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      Book preview

      DK Switzerland - DK Travel

      DK

      Switzerland

      Inspire / plan / Discover / experience

      Contents

      g Contents

      key to main icons

      g Contents

      price guide

      Throughout the guide the following price categories have been applied:

      ¡¡¡ On a budget

      ¡¡¡ Mid-range

      ¡¡¡ Splurge

      g Contents

      key to maps

      g Contents

      DISCOVER Switzerland

      alt image

      t The crystalline River Limmat bisecting Zürich

      g Discover Switzerland g Contents

      Welcome To

      Switzerland

      alt image

      t Narcissus blooming across Les Pléiades, Vaud.

      Think Switzerland, and yodelling, cheese, cuckoo clocks and chocolates might spring to mind, but this country has so much more to offer. Magnificent natural beauty, charming medieval villages, cosmopolitan cities and a healthy dose of Alpine air – Switzerland’s small size belies its beguiling charms. The varied scene is coloured by a fascinating history and the unique mix of four official languages only add to the appeal. Whatever your dream trip to Switzerland includes, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is your perfect companion.

      alt imagealt imagealt image

      Once a group of independent cantons, the Swiss Confederation has come a long way since its foundation in 1291. Today’s federal state is an intriguing blend of different customs, languages and dialects, lending the country a rich heritage. The year’s myriad traditional festivals, where alphorn players and Swiss wrestlers take centre stage, are woven into the country’s cultural tapestry. And there are stunning historic landmarks to explore across the land, from the castles of Bellinzona in the south to St Gallen’s abbey quarter in the north. As much as it is rooted in the past, Switzerland looks to the future, with cutting-edge nightlife in Zürich, world-class art galleries in Basel and superb fine dining across the country from Geneva to St Moritz.

      Away from its buzzing cities, Switzerland is a land of the great outdoors, and the country’s network of hiking, biking and skiing trails is as well organized as its public transport system. In a single day, you can encounter breathtaking glaciers, high-altitude lakes and iconic mountains, and be back in time for fondue and schnapps.

      With so many different things to experience, Switzerland can seem overwhelming. We’ve broken the country down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge and colourful, comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether you’re staying for a weekend, a week or longer, this DK Eyewitness travel guide will ensure that you see the very best Switzerland has to offer. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Switzerland.

      1 A warmly lit train passing the iconic Matterhorn.

      2 Charlie Chaplin statue, overlooking Lake Geneva.

      3 Evening in buzzy Zürich West.

      g Discover Switzerland g Contents

      Reasons to love

      Switzerland

      Small in size but big on experiences, Switzerland is awash with fascinating sights, exhilarating activities and intriguing traditions, presented in one remarkably beautiful package. Here, we pick some of our favourites.

      1 Bern’s Old Town

      006_reasons_to_love_Eifel_Tower

      t A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Swiss capital’s medieval Old Town is a real beauty. Its charming lauben (covered walkways) shelter independent boutiques, little cafés and buzzing bars hidden beneath cellar doors.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      2 Scenic rail Journeys

      alt image

      t Part of the fun of travelling around Switzerland is the journey itself. The country’s rail routes are truly extraordinary, both as feats of engineering and for the incredible scenery they pass through.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      3 Rural traditions

      alt image

      t From Schwingen (wrestling) to Hornussen (a combination of golf and baseball), via cowbell ringing and alphorn playing, the past is still very much a part of modern Swiss life.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      4 Lake Life

      006_reasons_to_love_Eifel_Tower

      t Despite being a landlocked country, Switzerland’s myriad lakes mean getting near the water is always easy. Lakeside beaches throng all summer with sunbathers and swimmers, while quiet hiking trails lead to remote Alpine lagoons.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      5 Sledging in the Jungfrau

      alt image

      t Take an exhilarating toboggan ride in this stunning mountainous region. Top of the list is the longest run in Europe – the epic 15-km (9-mile) descent from the top of the Faulhorn to the village of Grindelwald.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      6 Fondue

      alt image

      t Breathe in the irresistible aroma of molten cheese. Fondue Moitié-Moitié – half Gruyère, half Vacherin Fribourgeois – is best washed down with a glass of local Chasselas wine.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      7 Historic treasures

      alt image

      t Whether St Gallen Abbey, Bellinzona’s castles or the fairy-tale Château de Chillon in Montreux, Switzerland’s rugged terrain is littered with history-laden sights that rival its natural wonders for your attention.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      8 Art in Basel

      alt image

      t Art enthusiasts flock to Switzerland’s cultural capital for its annual artistic showpiece Art Basel, but its world-class galleries and museums are a joy all year round.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      9 World-Class skiing

      alt image

      t From the epic powder runs of Zermatt – the highest resort in Europe – to family-friendly slopes, Switzerland offers a remarkable choice for skiers, freeriders and snowboarders on and off-piste.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      10 Hut to Hut hiking

      alt image

      t Join the Swiss in their national pastime – hiking to cosy cabins across the Alps. Whether run by the Swiss Alpine Club or privately owned, each offer the camaraderie of spending the night in the mountains.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      11 Zürich’s nightlife

      alt image

      t The largest city in Switzerland, Zürich is a go-to place for night owls. Head to dynamic Langstrasse, a reformed red-light district, for pubs, clubs and cocktail bars.

      Discover Reasons to Love Switzerland

      12 Wine tasting in the Lavaux

      alt image

      t Blanketing the hillside above Lake Geneva, the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces are a fine place for a Swiss wine initiation. Take a stroll along the myriad wine trails, where vignerons (winegrowers) lure visitors with tastings.

      g Discover Switzerland g Contents

      Explore

      Switzerland

      This guide divides Switzerland into eight colour-coded sightseeing areas, as shown on the map below. Find out more about each area on the following pages.

      n Double-tap image to read the labels

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      Bern

      The gateway to the Alps, Switzerland’s oft-overlooked capital has a wealth of attractions – from its medieval Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to urban swimming in the clean waters of the Aare River. The city is also the seat of Switzerland’s government and the Houses of Parliament are often open to the public. Always at the heart of the country’s intellectual culture, Bern is a laid-back place for serious thinkers. The former haunt of Albert Einstein has plenty of café-lined squares and pretty gardens to chew over the day’s politics, ponder Modern Masters and debate matters of time and space.

      Best for A magnificent Old Town

      Home to Zytglogge, Kunstmuseum

      Experience The boutiques, cafés and restaurants hidden under the lauben, covered walkways that line the Old Town streets

      Go To: Bern i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      alt image

      t The ornate portal above the main entrance to the Bern Münster

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      Mittelland, Bernese Oberland and Valais

      One of the most beautiful areas in the country, this is a region of soaring peaks and deep valleys. Mountain lovers should make a beeline to Interlaken to soak up the sky-high vistas and ride the train to the Jungfraujoch. To the south, in the canton of Valais, looms the country’s most famous peak: the Matterhorn. For the ultimate journey, catch the train to see hanging valleys and leviathan-sized glaciers from the comfort of a carriage.

      Best for Breathtaking panoramas from top-of-Europe summits

      Home to Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Aletsch Glacier

      Experience Hiking along the incomparable Aletsch Glacier

      Go To: Mittelland, Bernese Oberland and Valais i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      alt image

      t Flower-filled meadowland beneath the iconic Matterhorn

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      Geneva

      The capital of the French-speaking part of the country is the jewel of the Swiss Lake District. Pocket-sized and impeccably clean, it offers timely distractions for clock-watchers and more casual travellers. The pedestrianized Old Town, a mini-maze of bijou squares and Neo-Classical cathedrals, is a delight to get lost in. Beyond the city limits, you’ll find CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, the creased hills of Saint-Cergue, and enough lakeside vineyards and castles to keep you here longer than planned.

      Best for Museums, culture and lakeside excursions

      Home to Musée d’Art et d’Histoire

      Experience Taking a tram to the lovely Italianate district of Carouge, with its independent shops and Saturday market

      Go To: Geneva i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      alt image

      t Dusk setting over Geneva’s Brunswick monument and fountain

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      Western Switzerland

      Stretching from the Jura mountains and Vaud Alps to the shores of lakes Geneva and Neuchâtel, this is one of the most densely inhabited parts of the country. City-breakers flock to buzzing university city Lausanne and the hip-shaking jazz bars of Montreux, while foodies relish the iconic cheese of Gruyères, fondue-friendly Fribourg and Lavaux’s winegrowing nirvana. In between all this, let time slow down in the historical watchmaking hubs of Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds.

      Best for Jazz, wine and watches

      Home to Lake Geneva, Château de Chillon

      Experience Taking the scenic GoldenPass train line from Montreux to Interlaken

      Go To: Western Switzerland i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      portrait_image

      t The sun rising over a verdant vineyard overlooking Lake Geneva

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      ZÜrich

      Often ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities, Zürich has more to offer than its reputation of wealth. Switzerland’s largest city punches above its weight as a 21st-century design hub without losing its medieval mojo. Just take a stroll through the zigzagging lanes of the Old Town Niederdorf to the Limmat River, and you’ll wend a path past weathered churches, candy-box clock towers, avant-garde galleries, traditional chocolatiers and high-end boutiques. Most visitors use it as a jumping-off point, but the city’s mix of culture and cuisine demands attention.

      Best for A city buzz

      Home to Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum

      Experience Swimming in a badi, an outdoor pool on the lake or river

      Go To: Zürich i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      portrait_image-narrow

      t A rooftop bar at sunset overlooking Zürich’s Old Town

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      Northern Switzerland

      Encompassing the river lands of the Rhine, which winds from Basel’s Old Town to Bodensee in the east, this region is full of contrasts. Basel is well known for its ambitious skyline – shaped by architects such as Mario Botta and Zaha Hadid – and few cities are so defined by their relationship with art. Elsewhere, hot springs have been attracting visitors to Baden since Roman times. To the east, the rolling vineyards of Regensberg yield some of the prettiest landscapes.

      Best for World-renowned art, thermal springs

      Home to Basel Kunstmuseum, Baden

      Experience The huge annual expo Art Basel

      Go To: Northern Switzerland i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      portrait_image-narrow

      t Looking across the Swiss plateau from Mount Rigi

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      Central Switzerland and Ticino

      Most journeys through this alluring region begin in Lucerne, where a boat trip on Vierwaldstattersee drifts past jaw-dropping cliffs. To the south is the town of Andermatt, with five-star hotels and golf courses. On the other side of the Gotthard Tunnel spills Italian-speaking Switzerland, home to the lakeside towns of Locarno and Ascona, clifftop monasteries, crystal-clear swimming spots, and belly-hugging pizza and pasta.

      Best for Superlative scenery and tasty Italian food

      Home to Kloster Einsiedeln, Bellinzona

      Experience Riding up – and up – the Burgenstock mountain’s spine-tingling outdoor elevator

      Go To: Central Switzerland and Ticino i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      portrait_image-narrow

      t Dusk falling over breathtaking Lake Lugano

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      Eastern Switzerland and GraubÜnden

      The Switzerland of storybooks is alive in the east. Dairy farmers and cheesemakers get to work in postcard- ready mountain huts and picturesque farmsteads, while sawtooth peaks rise above turquoise lakes. The region is known for outdoor adventures and the famous champagne powder of the ski resorts of Arosa and Davos. Beyond the mountain resorts lie tranquil Lake Constance and historic St Gallen to the north.

      Best for Outdoor thrills, folk singing and traditional life

      Home to UNESCO-protected St Gallen Abbey, Swiss National Park

      Experience Participating in local celebrations

      Go To: Eastern Switzerland and Graubünden i

      DISCOVER Getting to Know Switzerland

      portrait_image-narrow

      t The verdant rolling hills of Appenzell

      g Contents

      Switzerland Itineraries

      alt image

      t Bern’s monumental 15th-century Münster.

      Switzerland’s diverse regions are bursting with historic towns, breathtaking natural scenery and myriad activities. These itineraries will help you make the most of your visit to this beautiful country.

      g Discover Switzerland g Contents

      Discover Switzerland Itineraries

      4 Days

      in Bern and the Bernese Oberland

      Day 1

      Day 2

      Day 3

      Day 4

      Discover Switzerland Itineraries

      alt image

      t Interlaken’s Old Town.

      g Discover Switzerland g Contents

      Discover Switzerland Itineraries

      5 days

      in Western Switzerland

      Day 1

      Day 2

      Day 3

      Day 4

      Day 5

      Discover Switzerland Itineraries

      alt image

      t Charlie Chaplin standing on the banks of Lake Geneva.

      g Discover Switzerland g Contents

      Discover Switzerland Itineraries

      8 days

      in Central Switzerland

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