Switzerland

The Hôtel Beau-Rivage in Geneva, Switzerland, is a historic luxury hotel established in 1865 by Jean-Jacques Mayer. Renowned for its elegant architecture and breathtaking interiors, the hotel offers stunning views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. Some big names can be found in the hotel’s guest book over its century and a half lifetime, including monarchs and heads of state from multiple contents, Catherine Deneuve, and the Dalai Lama!

The Woodward is renowned for its sophisticated design, offering breathtaking, unobstructed views of Lake Geneva. It skillfully combines modern comforts with traditional elegance, creating a harmonious blend of the area’s rich history and contemporary style. The Woodward features high-end amenities, including a gourmet restaurant and a wellness center, all crafted to provide an exceptional experience for guests from all over the world.

MAMCO is Switzerland’s largest contemporary art museum. It is housed in a former factory building and features art from the 1960s to today. MAMCO is home to over 6,000 works and celebrates both Swiss and international artists.

All aboard! Our morning commute would be a lot brighter in a perfectly pink tram. Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist set out to design this bubble-gum beauty as part of a project to incorporate art into urban life. Mission accomplished!

This is one museum where you will never lose track of time! Considered to be the world’s foremost horology museum, the Patek Philippe Museum celebrates over five centuries of watch making history. The museum also houses the earliest watch ever made! As well as the namesake watches, the museum also features other brands, so don’t worry if you’re on a budget 😉

Microscopes, telescopes, thermometers, oh my! This scientific studio is home to important instruments that aided in biological breakthroughs in Geneva and around the world. The museum also brings the past to the present through hosting scientific conferences and citizen debates.

Built on the site of a former fortification ring, Geneva’s Art and History museum houses more than 7,000 artifacts from around the globe. A competition was held in 1900 to decide who would design and construct the museum. After crowning architect Marc Camoletti the winner, the facade was decorated to reflect the contents inside: sculptures depicting painting and a plethora of other art forms.

After hosting the Swiss National Exhibition in the late 1800s, the city of Geneva realized that their waterways weren’t properly lit for incoming sailors to see. As a result, the Phare des Paquis was constructed so seafarers would no longer confuse lighthouses with the city lights. Today, the lighthouse stands tall as an iconic symbol of the city.

Platforme 10 is home to three museums, one of the world’s leading photography museums, Photo Elysée; mudac – Musée cantonal de design et d’arts appliqués contemporains which is dedicated to design in French-speaking Switzerland; and Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne which features the works of both local and international artists from iconic Renaissance-era pieces to contemporary art.

The Royal Savoy Hotel provides a luxurious experience with breathtaking views of Lake Geneva. Combining classic elegance with modern amenities, it features spacious rooms, gourmet dining, and a wellness center. Its central location offers convenient access to the city’s attractions, blending historical charm with contemporary style for a sophisticated stay.

With over 10,000 artifacts, Lausanne’s Olympic Museum holds the title of the largest archive of Olympic Games memorabilia in the world. Founded in 1993, the Olympic Museum won a medal of its own in a sense: it was awarded the European Museum of the Year in 1995. Around 250,000 visitors every year enjoy the Olympic Museum and the surrounding Olympic park, dotted with sculptures that celebrate the iconic 3,000-year history of the Olympic Games.

With Swiss tourism taking off in the mid 1800s, this hotel was built in a record 18 months! Transitioning between being a temporary hospital during both of the World Wars and a luxury retreat for the rich and famous, Le Montreux Palace has been the location of peace treaties and legendary parties.

This nostalgic mode of transportation has been running since 1899 with no exhaust fumes (it’s powered by wastewater!) Also known as “Funi,” this funicular is considered to be a technological marvel and remains a beloved landmark throughout Europe.

In need of a recharge? This charming hotel sits on the edge of a lush forest, and is home to a farm-to-table restaurant. Originally built as a private residence in the 17th century, the hotel currently boasts an ornate interior and relaxing atmosphere. Just take a look at the massive golden bathtub- you’ll never want to leave! Just make sure you don’t fall in or out the window.

The Zentrum Paul Klee, located in Bern, Switzerland, is dedicated to the life and works of the Swiss painter Paul Klee. In 1997, Livia Klee-Meyer, the daughter-in-law of Paul Klee, generously donated nearly 690 artworks to the city and canton of Bern. The museum now houses about 40 percent of Paul Klee’s complete body of paintings.

Built in 1910, Parkhotel Gunten is a charming hotel with a rich history located in Gunten, just off the bright blue waters of Lake Thun. In addition to its picturesque setting and elegant ambiance, the hotel offers guests numerous amenities, such as a spa in a former boathouse and a sauna with panoramic windows. Parkhotel Gunten is a perfect spot for guests to relax, or for the more adventurous, easy access to mountain excursions.

The Hammer hotel, rooted in a family tradition spanning over a century, began with the legendary tale of Anton Hammer in 1901. Saved during a treacherous mountain hike by a mysterious figure, Anton pledged to build a refuge for travelers in Eigenthal, a large valley within the Swiss Alps. Three generations later, the Hammer family continues this legacy, offering accommodation and hospitality to guests in the picturesque Eigenthal valley.

In 1889, engineer Eduard Locher defied skepticism by opening the 4,618-meter-long railway from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm on Mount Pilatus in Switzerland. The railway boasts the world’s steepest cogwheel gradient at 48% which leads travelers up to an elevation of 2,703 meters (6,801 feet). Its innovative design, featuring two horizontally rotating cogwheels, was showcased at the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris.

The Dragon Ride Ariel Cable Car, which takes riders up a vertical high of 647 meters (2,120 feet), is the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. It’s one of only two ways to reach the top of Mount Pilatus, but definitely the closest you’ll find to flying right in the ethereal Swiss Alps!

Before the Hotel Des Alpes Lucerne was converted to a hotel in the 19th century, it was a private home built circa 1553. Now, the hotel is a home (at least, a temporary one!) for guests from all over the world who come to experience the history and charm of Lucerne. Guests are greeted with stunning views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains, and are treated to an interior that blends history with modernity.

The site of a tsunami in the early 1600s, the uniquely shaped Lake Lucerne is known for its variety of scenery with everything from medieval views to city lights and gorgeous mountain ranges. The lake itself was an integral part of the transalpine trade route in the mid 1800s, and with a ride on the Lucerne Ferry you can take in everything the lake has to over. Just keep your fingers crossed for calm waters.

The Sorrell Hotel Zürichberg was originally established at the end of the 19th century by the Women’s Society for Temperance and Public Health, a group determined to counter rampant alcoholism affecting their community, as an alcohol-free spa & hotel.

The Rietberg Museum, located in Zurich, Switzerland, showcases art from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. It stands as Switzerland’s premier museum dedicated to non-European art and design. The museum is home to 32,600 objects and 49,000 photographs in its collections, most of which are on public display!

Museum für Gestaltung Zürich (The Museum of Design) in Zurich explores the history and contemporary significance of design through exhibitions and collections across areas such as graphic design, industrial design, and fashion. It serves as a platform for both Swiss and international design, with an emphasis on innovation and cultural relevance. The museum aims to educate and inspire visitors about the impact of design on society, highlighting its evolution and diverse applications.

The Hotel Widder in Zurich is made up of nine connected medieval townhouses once home to gentry, merchants, and artisans. Transforming the old (like, really old!) townhouses into a luxury modern hotel was no small task, given its impressive 700 years of history. Luckily, Swiss architect Tilla Theus had a plan: she connected the houses with passageways and made design choices that complemented the historic stone walls and wooden beams.

The Fotomuseum Winterthur is a photography museum in Winterthur, Switzerland, dedicated to showcasing photography from both emerging and established photographers from all over the world. The museum’s collection includes 9,000 photographs, prints, copies, moving images and more!

Basel’s Museum Tinguely celebrates Swiss artist Jean Tinguely’s kinetic art, or art that involves movement. It houses a diverse collection of Tinguely’s whimsical and interactive sculptures, showing his unique approach to art through movement and sound. Designed by architect Mario Botta, the museum’s striking architecture complements Tinguely’s dynamic creations, offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the world of kinetic art.

Tucked in a narrow pedestrian alley in Basel, Switzerland sits the Hoosesagg Museum (The Pants Pocket Museum), the smallest museum in the city. The location didn’t start as a museum; it was more of a solution to entertain the wandering eyes of passersby and tourists on walking tours outside the window of Dagmar and Matthias Vergeat’s home! It’s called the Pants Pocket Museum because most of the collection’s items could fit in a pocket.

The Fondation Beyeler, located near Basel, Switzerland, is renowned for its impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. Founded by art collectors Ernst and Hildy Beyeler, the museum showcases works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Andy Warhol, among others. The museum is located in the middle of Berower Park, where visitors can find sculptures that sit among the beautiful, natural backdrop of the foothills of the Black Forest.

Constructed in the mid 1800s, this charming hotel has some of the best views of the Kleine Scheidegg pass. A family run hotel (currently five generations in!), this alpine escape has been featured in a variety of films, from “The Eiger Sanction” to “North Face.” With its pretty facade and picturesque location, it’s no wonder why this hotel made it into some iconic films.

Riding through the Swiss Alps along the Kleind Scheidegg Pass, you are bound to see not just beautiful mountains and green pastures, but also some black and white four legged friends as well! The highest railway in Europe, Jungfrau Railway has five operational stations to allow for anyone to experience the height- and the cows.

Home to the only chairlift in Switzerland with a side seat for unobstructed views, Cardada Cimetta will get you a look at some of the highest and lowest points in the country! Cardada’s slogan is “The Place to Be,” which is something that we can 100% support! Just don’t look down 😉

One of the most famous places of pilgrimage in Switzerland, this shrine’s origin dates back to the mid 1400s when the Virgin Mary appeared to a Franciscan Friar. After the sighting of Mary, the Friar then decided to build a place of worship on the “rock” of Locarno.

Today, the Splendide Royal is recognized as Lugano’s leading five-star luxury hotel and is part of the prestigious brand “Leading Hotels of the World.” The hotel is housed in Villa Merlina, an elegant Baroque villa near Lake Lugano built around 1870. It’s appropriately named: this hotel certainly is splendide — spledide enough that it has hosted numerous notable guests such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tina Turner, and President George H. W. Bush.

Founded in 2015, MASI Lugano is an art museum that prides itself on its collection of over 14,000 pieces from the late 15th century to today. The museum celebrates local artists as well as international artists, all of whom have some connection to the local area!

Delicious food with a view? What more can you ask for? Located on the peak of Monte Bre, this gorgeous restaurant allows visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax in nature. Whether you’re recovering from a hike or mountain bike trek, or merely just took the funicular to the top, this is the perfect place for some peace and quiet (and a nosh).

Located on the “Sunniest Mountain in Switzerland” this 100+ year old funicular can get you to the summit of Monte Bré in just over 10 minutes! Originally built to allow for Lugano residents to get a break from the heat in the summer without straying too far from their homes, the funicular offers a quick and enjoyable ride with breathtaking views!