Switzerland

Switzerland is a compact Alpine country bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. Its capital is Bern, and it has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The Alps, with their glaciers and snow-capped peaks, cover more than half the land, while the valleys between them hold clear lakes, Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne among them.

The largest cities — Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Lucerne and Lugano — keep medieval quarters, Gothic and Romanesque landmarks and hundreds of museums. On the shores of Lake Geneva, in Montreux and Vevey, and in the thermal town of Bad Ragaz, travel sits easily alongside wellbeing. St. Moritz, Zermatt, Davos, Gstaad and Verbier rank among the world’s best-known ski resorts, while in the south, around Lugano and Ascona, palm trees and near-Mediterranean warmth wait beyond the Gotthard.

The climate is temperate: summer brings 18–27 °C in the valleys and winter −1 to 5 °C, with mountain weather set by altitude. Hiking is at its best from May to October, and in winter the Alps belong to skiers. Trains and roads run with clockwork precision, keeping journeys short, so Switzerland suits skiers, families, and lovers of culture, food and spa time alike.