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Western Europe

Switzerland

Capital: Bern · 26 regions · 1,899 places

CH CHUS State Department: 1/4
Population
8.52M
Area
41.3K km²
Capital
Bern
Currency
CHF
Power plugs
C
230 V
Calling code
+41

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located at the intersection of Central, Western, and Southern Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, and Italy to the south. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Alps, the Swiss Plateau, and the Jura Mountains; the Alps cover most of the country's territory, whereas the majority of its 9 million people are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts many of the largest cities and economic centres, including Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Winterthur, and Lucerne. Wikipedia

When to go

Best places in Switzerland in October

54 Switzerland

Chiasso

Canton Ticino · Switzerland
16° / 8° 141 mm Oct
Mendrisio i
50 Switzerland

Mendrisio

Canton Ticino · Switzerland
15° / 7° 144 mm Oct
Lugano i
49 Switzerland

Lugano

Canton Ticino · Switzerland
15° / 7° 148 mm Oct
49 Switzerland

Massagno

Canton Ticino · Switzerland
15° / 7° 148 mm Oct
47 Switzerland

Monthey

Valais · Switzerland
15° / 6° 93 mm Oct
47 Switzerland

Aigle

Canton of Vaud · Switzerland
15° / 6° 93 mm Oct
47 Switzerland

Ollon

Canton of Vaud · Switzerland
15° / 6° 93 mm Oct
47 Switzerland

Collombey

Valais · Switzerland
15° / 6° 93 mm Oct
Go score

When to go in Switzerland: month-by-month

Go score by month for the main destinations — green means great weather.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Zurich581934526469686439106
Geneva6102541577278767245176
Basel592339546974726944146
Lausanne592135516776746843146
Bern692032486372706441127
Winterthur58193452656968643996
Lucerne692133506370686341127
St. Gallen59162947596867603786
Lugano142032405168737170492416
Biel/Bienne59152743587371613796
Zürich (Kreis 11)582035536669686540106
Zürich (Kreis 3)581934526469686439106
Zürich (Kreis 9)581932516369686239106
Thun7102031486171706341128
All holiday types

More ways to travel in Switzerland

All holiday types
Waterfalls17Caves15Glaciers75Lakes60Canyons7Thermal spas3History46Castles122Palaces5Museums55World Heritage11Cathedrals4Monasteries23Skiing292Paragliding412Surfing8Diving353Hiking20Theme parks5Zoos & aquariums13
Tourist density

Tourism in Switzerland

How many visitors come, how concentrated tourism is, and when the country is busiest.

International visitors a year
11.82M
World Bank · 2019
World rank by arrivals
#41
Visitors per resident
1.39
Visitors per km²
286
Very quietQuietModerateBusyVery busy

Monthly level: nights spent in tourist accommodation nationwide (Eurostat).

Most popular destinations in Switzerland

  1. 1LucerneExtreme
  2. 2LuganoExtreme
  3. 3MontreuxExtreme
  4. 4NeuchâtelExtreme
  5. 5ChurVery high
  6. 6WinterthurVery high
  7. 7BellinzonaVery high
  8. 8ZermattExtreme
  9. 9GruyèresExtreme
  10. 10La Chaux-de-FondsVery high
  11. 11Saint-UrsanneExtreme
  12. 12AarauHigh
Practical

Switzerland: practical information

Plugs, money, emergency numbers, safety and typical prices — everything to know before you go.

Power plugs
C
Voltage
230 V · 50 Hz
Driving
Drive on the right
Currency

Swiss Franc

CHF · Fr.

1 USD ≈ 0.83 CHF

Languages
French, Swiss German, Italian
Calling code
+41
Emergency numbers
Safety & travel advice
1
Exercise normal precautionsUS State Department
No travel warningsUK Foreign Office · Aug 11, 2026
Read the full advice
Typical prices
  • Meal, casual restaurantCHF 23.00≈ $28.00
  • CappuccinoCHF 5.00≈ $6.00
  • Beer (0.5 l)CHF 7.60≈ $9.10
  • Bottled water (1.5 l)CHF 2.20≈ $2.60
  • Taxi, 5 kmCHF 17.00≈ $20.00
  • Public transport ticketCHF 3.00≈ $3.60
  • Mid-range hotel, per nightCHF 165≈ $195

Estimated from Switzerland’s consumer price level (World Bank) — real prices vary by place and season. Prices are about 128% of US levels.

Upcoming public holidays
  • Dec 25Christmas Day
  • Jan 1New Year's Day

Regions of Switzerland

26

Largest cities in Switzerland

39 Switzerland

Zurich

Canton of Zurich · Switzerland
13° / 6° 84 mm Oct
45 Switzerland

Geneva

Canton of Geneva · Switzerland
15° / 6° 95 mm Oct
44 Switzerland

Basel

Canton of Basel-City · Switzerland
15° / 6° 63 mm Oct
43 Switzerland

Lausanne

Canton of Vaud · Switzerland
14° / 6° 103 mm Oct
41 Switzerland

Bern

Canton of Bern · Switzerland
14° / 5° 84 mm Oct
Winterthur i
39 Switzerland

Winterthur

Canton of Zurich · Switzerland
13° / 6° 76 mm Oct
Lucerne i
41 Switzerland

Lucerne

Canton of Lucerne · Switzerland
14° / 6° 102 mm Oct
37 Switzerland

St. Gallen

Canton of St. Gallen · Switzerland
13° / 6° 81 mm Oct
UNESCO

World Heritage sites in Switzerland

Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe i

Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

Haugschlag · 4 km
prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps i

prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps

Gottlieben · 2 km
Monte San Giorgio i

Monte San Giorgio

Riva San Vitale · 2 km
Abbey of Saint Gall i

Abbey of Saint Gall

Sankt Gallen · 0 km
Lavaux i

Lavaux

Cully · 1 km
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier i

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier

Chardonne · 1 km
Saint John Abbey i

Saint John Abbey

Müstair · 0 km
Glarus thrust i

Glarus thrust

Elm · 6 km
Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area i

Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area

Grindelwald · 14 km
Old City of Bern i

Old City of Bern

Bern · 0 km
Three Castles of Bellinzona i

Three Castles of Bellinzona

Bellinzona · 0 km
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes i

Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes

Poschiavo · 10 km

Main airports

Neighbouring countries

AT AustriaFR FranceIT ItalyLI LiechtensteinDE Germany