398 Best Sights in Switzerland

Take a boat from Lugano across to Capolago, where you can take the 40-minute cogwheel train up to soaring Monte Generoso and its striking geometric observatory designed by Mario Botta. Fares vary, depending on the route taken, but are between SF35 and SF50 round-trip. At the top of the observatory are two restaurants, one self-service and the other fine dining, as well as a panoramic terrace. After lunch, head out on one of the many marked hiking trails.

Monte San Salvatore can be reached via the funicular in Paradiso. Departing every 30 minutes, it costs SF30 round-trip. At the top is a huge relief model of the entire Sottoceneri region, with "nature itinerary" paths marked and signs pointing out flowers and trees.

A hillside park behind the waterfront, Monte Verità was the site of a utopian, vegetarian artists' colony in the early 1900s. Influenced by Eastern and Western religions as well as new realms of psychology, its ideals attracted thousands of sojourners, including dancer Isadora Duncan, novelist Hermann Hesse, and psychologist Carl Jung. You can visit some of the Monte Verità buildings, including the unusual flat-roofed Casa Anatta, and the museum, which was renovated in 2017. The main park and grounds are open year-round.

Charles d'Este-Guelph, the famously eccentric (and deposed) duke of Brunswick, died in Geneva in 1873 and left his vast fortune to the city on condition that his mausoleum, the Gothic design of which is based on the 14th-century Scaligeri tombs in Verona, be given prominence. No one is sure why his sarcophagus faces inland.

On the town square, facing the Pfarrkirche St. Peter und St. Paul, stands this 19th-century monument to Arnold von Winkelried, a native of Stans who died while leading the Swiss Confederates to victory over the Austrians at the battle of Sempach in 1386. The Austrians, armed with long spears, formed a Roman square so that the Swiss, wielding axes and halberds, couldn't get in close enough to do any damage. Shouting, "Forward, confederates, I will open a path!" von Winkelried threw himself on the spears, clasping as many of them as he could to his breast and creating an opening for his comrades.

Weggis has a cable car up to the top of the Rigi, and neighboring Vitznau has a cogwheel train. You can also approach Rigi via the cogwheel train from Arth-Goldau; the two lines were built by competing companies in the 1870s in a race to reach the top and capture the lion's share of the tourist business. The line rising out of the lakefront resort of Vitznau won, but the Arth-Goldau line gets plenty of business, as its base terminal lies on the mainstream St. Gotthard route. Rigi is one of the few mountains covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Otherwise, a day card from Weggis, Vitznau, or Arth-Goldau is SF72. If you’re approaching from Weggis, follow signs for the Rigibahn, a station high above the resort (a 15-minute walk). From here you can ride a large cable car to Rigi-Kaltbad, a small resort on a spectacular plateau; walk across to the electric rack-and-pinion railway station and ride the steep tracks of the Vitznau–Rigi line to the summit of the mountain. Take an elevator to the Rigi Kulm hotel to enjoy the views indoors or walk to the crest (45 minutes) to see as far as the Black Forest in one direction and Mt. Säntis in the other.

Set 19 km (12 miles) south of Stans and towering over Engelberg, this is perhaps the most spectacular of the many rocky peaks that surround the Obermatt's long, wide bowl. Thanks to a sophisticated transportation system that benefits skiers, hikers, climbers, and sightseers alike, it's possible to ride a small cable car up to the tiny mountain lake (and famous ski area) called Trübsee (5,904 feet). From there, change and ascend to Stand to catch the famous Rotair cable car, which rotates to give 360-degree panoramas on its way up to the summit station on the Titlis. At the top is a multilevel structure that seems to conjure up Disney's Space Mountain: four rock-embedded, fortress-thick floors lead to stores, an ice grotto (serving drinks from a solid-ice bar), and a restaurant with views that take in the Jura Mountains, the Graubünden, and Bernese Alps.

Just a few steps from the abbey, at the end of the Old Town, is the Mühleggbahn, a self-service funicular that runs up the hillside, offering lovely views of St. Gallen and the Bodensee. Once at the top, take two immediate right turns to the wooden stairs leading to a paved path with park benches. For a single ride only, choose the "Kurzstrecke" button when you buy your ticket.

A 30-minute walk up the steep Mülenenschlucht takes you past the mossy Steinach Gorge, where St. Gallus allegedly befriended a bear in 612. To commemorate St. Gallus's 1,400th birthday in 2012, the city installed a public art exhibit here that includes a self-opening time capsule embedded in a river rock (by German artist Maria Eichhorn) and a haunting neon sign atop the gorge's railroad viaduct (by Welsh artist Bethen Hews). There isn't much signage along the gorge, so pick up a helpful audio guide from the tourist office.

In the heart of town, a 16th-century courtyard-centered mansion, once home to renowned engraver Alexis Forel, displays the holdings of the Musée Alexis Forel. Although most of Forel's exceptional works are in the Musée Jenisch, in Vevey, here you can experience his home surroundings. Thick-beamed salons filled with high-back chairs, stern portraits, and delicate china remain as they were in the 1920s, when musicians and writers such as Igor Stravinsky, Ignacy Paderewski, and Romain Rolland gathered for lively discussions and private concerts. An attic room has a selection of 18th-century puppets and porcelain dolls.

In Château-d'Oex's tiny center, the Musée Artisanal du Vieux Pays-d'Enhaut gives insight into life in these isolated parts. An old farmhouse reproduces interiors from a farmer's home, a cheese maker's cottage, and a carpenter's studio.

Josef Mueller began acquiring fine primitive era art from Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Americas in 1907. Today his family's vast, inspired collection of sculpture, masks, shields, textiles, and ornaments spans six continents and seven millennia. A small selection is on view at any given time, displayed like jewels in warm, spotlighted vaults of scrubbed stone.

Neuchâtel is part of the Three Lakes wine region, the smallest of Switzerland's six wine-growing areas. The famous Pinot Noir rosé wine, Oeil de Perdrix, originated in Neuchâtel, and the canton produces many other excellent wines, including traditional-method sparkling wine made by the Mauler winery in an old Benedictine monastery in Val-de-Travers. Amid the vineyards that fan out to the west of Neuchâtel city and slope gently down to the lake sits Château Boudry, which houses the Musée Cantonale de la Vigne et du Vin (Cantonal Museum of Vine and Wine).

One of the main reasons to visit the Musée d'Art, housed in the remains of two 12th-century castles, is to discover the work of Swiss artist Ernest Biéler (1863–1948). For three decades from around 1905, he painted life in Savièse, a community in the Sion district. The naive vibe of these scenes and portraits offers a glimpse into the Valais as it once was. The museum also features a small but intriguing collection of canvases, photography, and other works from the 18th century to today by international and local artists.

The Museum of Art and History, one of the largest museums in Switzerland, brings together archaeological, applied art and fine art collections. The 15th-century Miracle of the Fishes, in which Jesus paces the waters of Lac Léman, keeps things focused locally at this museum built in 1910. The collection includes Switzerland's largest concentration of Egyptian art, Escalade-era weapons, Alpine landscapes from both ends of the 19th century, and substantial modern art. There is often a fee for temporary exhibits.

This important museum is housed in the Renaissance Ratzé Mansion and, incongruously, an old slaughterhouse connected to the mansion proper by an underground passage. The mansion displays 12th- to 19th-century art, including several works by Hans Fries. The 19th-century slaughterhouse, a stark stone structure modernized with steel-and-glass blocks, provides the setting for a provocative mix of sacred sculptures and the kinetic, scrap-iron whimsies of native son Jean Tinguely. The attic gallery displays 19th- and 20th-century paintings from Swiss artists, as well as from Delacroix, Courbet, and others. Take a breather in the quiet sculpture garden overlooking the river. Limited descriptive material in English is available upon request, and guided tours in English can be booked in advance.

Large, evocative wildlife dioramas complete with sound effects cover most major animal types at this spacious museum. Large quantities of fossils, gigantic crystals, precious stones, and a case full of polyhedrons ensure that the place is always swarming with local school groups. Swiss geology, the history of the solar system, and thematic temporary exhibits round out the collection; most labels are in French. The museum is a short walk away on the outskirts of the Vieille Ville.

Opened in 2013 in the former Archaeological Museum, this space's theme is "Man and Nature in the Valais," which aims to inspire visitors to consider their relationship with the natural environment in the Valais, from the Mesolithic age to today. Installations feature typical flora and life-size representations of fauna that inhabit this diverse land.

Above the train station, a cluster of 17th-century homes once belonging to the town's successful winemakers is now the Musée de Montreux. This historical museum traces regional development from the time when Roman coins were used as tender, focusing on agricultural life and the shift to tourism. Profiles of famous residents and visitors who lived and worked in the area are highlighted. The museum's cellar restaurant, open from 6 pm, is a good place to sample typical local cuisine.

Complete with two water-powered mill wheels, the Musée de Morat is the town's old mill. On view are prehistoric finds from the lake area, military items, and trophies from the Burgundian Wars as well as rotating art exhibits.

For something completely different, visit the quirky Musée des Grenouilles. Here are displays of 108 embalmed frogs posed like people in scenes of daily life from the 19th century. Other exhibits include an authentic 17th-century kitchen, military artifacts, and household objects dredged from Lac de Neuchâtel.

The town's castle, built by the Duke of Savoy around 1286 as a defense against the bishop-princes of Lausanne, now houses the Musée du Château. The eclectic collection includes weapons, military uniforms, and 10,000 miniature lead soldiers. In the Salle Général Henri Guisan, you'll find memorabilia of this World War II general, much honored for keeping both sides happy enough to leave Switzerland safely alone.

Nestled in a charming floral park that parallels the water, the Musée du Léman has interactive exhibits about the fragile ecosystems of the lake, recreational boating activities, and coast-guard rescue techniques. There's a sizable aquarium, housed in a shuttered 18th-century hospital.

Learn about regional traditions at the Musée Gruérien, which contains displays of folk costumes, handicrafts, and farm tools. It even has full reconstructions of the interiors of rural dwellings and a mountain cheese-making facility. The museum boasts reserves of more than 25,000 items.

The Ancien-Évêché (Old Bishopric) holds a wealth of both temporary and permanent historical exhibits about the city. Don't miss the 250-square-foot scale model of 17th-century Lausanne, with its commentary illuminating the neighborhoods' histories. Also look for the re-created 19th-century shop windows.

This grand 16th-century manor house, briefly home to Charlotte de Lengefeld, wife of Friedrich von Schiller, retains some original furnishings, as well as collections of arms, art, keys, and winemaking paraphernalia.

The 18th-century Château de Prangins is home to the Suisse Romande branch of the Musée National Suisse. The castle once had land holdings that stretched all the way to Rolle. Its four floors detail (in four languages, including English) Swiss life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Surrounded by parks and gardens (take note of the extensive culinary plantings set according to ancient documents), the museum is also a major venue for cultural events and regional celebrations. A café with terrace is open for lunch and refreshments.

With high-tech presentations and touching mementos, this complex pays tribute to the athletic tradition in ancient Greece, the development of the modern Games, the evolution of the individual sports, Paralympic competitions, and the athletes themselves. There are art objects—an Etruscan torch from the 6th century BC, Auguste Rodin's American Athlete—as well as archival films and videos, interactive displays, photographs, coins and stamps, and medals from various eras throughout Olympic history. A sculpture park, museum shop, and lovely café overlooking the lake complete this ambitious, world-class endeavor. Brochures and guided tours are available in English.

Switzerland's original fine arts museum, inaugurated in 1826 and named for its late benefactor, Simon Rath, housed Geneva's growing collections of art and archaeology until they overflowed to the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in 1910. Now the Rath hosts two major temporary exhibitions each year; they range in focus from archaeology to contemporary art.