Tourist Attractions & Monuments Switzerland

Budget & Tips

Children are almost always taken into consideration in museums and other cultural venues, as well as on board public transport, through various discounts and other little touches such as adapted tour programs or play corners (especially in certain restaurants). Websites exist for activities with children by canton, such as www.genevefamille.ch or www.vaudfamille.ch.

Almost all towns offer discovery passes with a wide range of activities at very attractive prices if you combine visits.

The Ticino ticket (www.ticino.ch/fr/ticket.html). The canton of Ticino welcomes you to enjoy 100% of its cultural, sporting and leisure activities. The Ticino Ticket is given to you when you stay at a local inn, bed & breakfast or hotel. It entitles you to free rail travel throughout Ticino, and discounts on ski lifts, lake cruises on the Swiss side and on the main tourist attractions.

Main events

With such a diverse playground, the country hosts and organizes events of all kinds all year round. In winter, the resorts come alive with ski races, such as the World and European Cups, and sliding competitions of all kinds (even a toboggan race in Les Diablerets) to delight mountain enthusiasts. In summer, the mountains offer mountain bike races, enduro races like the World Series in Crans-Montana, and alpine festivals.

Favoring typical events like the Rigi-Staffel underpants wrestling festival, a popular event, or the Fête de l'Escalade in Geneva in December, where costumed processions in period uniforms celebrate the battle won against the Savoyard invaders in 1602. It's an opportunity to sample chocolate marmites and listen to the songs of Cé qu'è lainô.

The lakes are veritable little inland seas, and Léman hosts a famous regatta every June: the Bol d'or Mirabaud.

Numerous music festivals take place every summer, and Paléo (yeah.paleo.ch) is one of the best known. Every year, no fewer than 270,000 spectators and 300 concerts and shows enliven the shores of Lake Geneva.

Guided tours

There's nothing like listening to the words of an experienced guide who's passionate about the city's heritage. Tourist offices can guide you on city tours by bus or minitrain. They also organize themed guided tours - just ask. Many passes, such as Geneva City Pass in Geneva, offer free tours.