Scenic  Switzerland tours

Picture Switzerland and you’re almost certainly visualising soaring mountain peaks and beautiful Alpine scenery – and one of the best places to see that in real life is at Davos. Europe’s highest city might be famous as a meeting place for the world’s politicians and economists, but outside these high-powered summits, you’ll find plenty to tempt year-round. In the summer months, there are wonderful mountain trails to explore, as well as gondolas, cable cars and trains to help you get around, usually ending in mountain restaurants with breathtaking views.

Set on the banks of Lake Lucerne, in Switzerland’s Germanic canton, the charming city of Lucerne also makes a great base to explore the nearby mountains and lakefront villages. Don’t miss a chance to discover the medieval buildings of its historic old town, backed by 14th century walls in the shadow of the Alps, while the Chapel Bridge, Europe’s longest covered wooden bridge, has straddled the river for 700 years. Discover some of the area’s folklore, before cruising across the lake to marvel at the towering Alps or to journey into the mountains aboard a small cogwheel train.

The Swiss Riviera stretches along the banks Lake Geneva from Lausanne to Montreux, passing attractive Vevey, with its old town – ideal for enjoying some of the country’s loveliest scenery on one of our Switzerland escorted tours. The medieval Chateau de Chillon, just outside Montreux, inspired Lord Byron, while the vineyards of Lavaux line the banks elsewhere. Only a tiny percentage of Switzerland’s wine is exported, and this UNESCO-listed site is the perfect place to drink in the scenery as you taste a few vintages. Or soak up the Mediterranean vibes of Montreux, known for its jazz festival and flower-lined promenade.

Set at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt draws visitors year-round for its countless hiking routes in summer as well as winter ski. But the big highlight for most Switzerland tours is the chance to explore some of the area by rail, with 54 mountain railways and lifts across the region. Use these to climb up to spectacular viewpoints gazing out onto glaciers or journey from Täsch to Zermatt for a different view around the foot of the Matterhorn, as well as Europe’s highest cogwheel trail to the summit of Gornergrat past dramatic bridges and mountain lakes.

A popular destination since the days of the Roman Empire, it’s no surprise visitors still flock to the chic lakeside town of Locarno. Known for having the warmest climate in Switzerland, there’s an enticing Mediterranean atmosphere as you stroll the streets of the Italian-speaking town. Discover more of Locarno’s history with Roman and Bronze Age exhibits on display at medieval Castello Visconteo, wander along the shore of Lake Maggiore where palms and lemon trees line the lakeside, or head into the mountains on the funicular and cable cars.

Enjoy a taste of la dolce vita in Switzerland at lovely Lugano, on the shores of Lake Lugano, just across the border from Italy. People-watch in the main square with its colourful pastel palazzi, get happily lost in the maze of cobblestoned streets, relax in one of Lugano’s numerous parks or ride one of the three funiculars for wonderful views of the nearby mountains and water. Then enjoy the best of the lake, with a walk along the flower-lined promenade, stopping for a drink or Italian-influenced bite to eat, before heading out on one of the many boat trips.

While you could argue that a train journey isn’t a single destination to visit, travelling on the Bernina Express is an experience no-one should miss if you’re looking at Switzerland touring holidays. Crossing 196 bridges, passing through 55 tunnels and climbing the Brusio Spiral Viaduct on its route through the Swiss Alps from St Moritz to Tirano in Italy, you’ll see UNESCO World Heritage sites during the four-hour journey from the glacier-frosted heights to the palm-fringed lakesides.

Many of the lakes you’ll see on our Switzerland guided tours border other countries, so it’s easy to forget just how much wonderful lakeside scenery the country has – from Lake Geneva on the edges of France to Lake Constance, bordering Germany and Austria, and Lake Maggiore, shared with Italy. Each has its own charms, with crescent-shaped Lake Geneva overlooked by the Alps and with the Swiss Riviera stretching along its banks. Or Lake Constance, fed by the Rhine into an ancient glacier basin, is ideal for watersports, while Lake Maggiore is known for its beautiful flowers and gardens.