Eastern Switzerland Travel Guide

Despite its proximity to Zürich, this Germanic region, with Germany to the north and Austria to the east, maintains a personality apart—a personality that often plays the wallflower when upstaged by more spectacular touristy regions. Happily, the truth is that the region does not lack for a satisfying variety: its north dominated by the romantic Rhine, the region is lush with orchards and gardens, a generous share of mountains (including Mt. Säntis, at roughly 8,200 feet), and lovely hidden lakes, as well as the enormous Bodensee (Lake Constance). Because the east draws fewer crowds, those who do venture in find a pleasant surprise: this is Switzerland sans kitsch, sans the hard sell, where the people live out a natural, graceful combination of past and present. And although it's a prosperous region, with its famous textiles and fruit industry, its inns and restaurants cost noticeably less than those in adjoining areas.