These Swiss locations offer authentic experiences away from common tourist routes. The selection includes mountain inns, waterfalls, UNESCO sites, historical churches, lakes, bridges, valleys and medieval castles. Each place displays the natural and cultural diversity of Swiss regions.
Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland
This 170-year-old mountain refuge stands against a rock wall at 1454 meters altitude.
Bern, Switzerland
The valley contains 72 waterfalls dropping from 300-meter-high limestone cliffs.
Ticino, Switzerland
The mountain contains Middle Triassic fossils from 240 million years ago.
Valais, Switzerland
The Romanesque church from the 11th century stands on a hill above the city of Sion.
Flims, Graubünden, Switzerland
The 15-meter deep lake with mineralized water sits in a mountain depression, surrounded by fir forest at 1000 meters altitude.
Areuse Gorge, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
This 19th-century stone bridge connects two rock walls above the Areuse River. The construction site stands 20 meters above the water.
Val Müstair, Graubünden, Switzerland
The village at 1375 meters altitude sits in the Romansh-speaking valley on the Italian border. The medieval church is under monument protection.
Neuchâtel Jura, Switzerland
The rock basin with 160-meter high walls extends over one kilometer. Alpine ibexes and chamois live in this nature reserve.
Valais, Switzerland
The valley contains numerous mineral deposits and offers geological walks through Alpine landscapes with historical mining tunnels.
Graubünden, Switzerland
The mountain farm sits at 1711 meters in the Engadin and combines accommodation with traditional agriculture.
Valais, Switzerland
The untouched Alpine valley hosts rare plant species and a meandering stream with natural water flow.
Bern, Switzerland
The village with medieval castle on Lake Brienz developed through fishing and timber trade.
Schwyz, Switzerland
A sculpture park with contemporary artworks integrated into the landscape of the animal park, built after the 1806 landslide.
Ticino, Switzerland
A 220-meter high concrete dam from the 1960s, known for bungee jumping and as filming location for James Bond's GoldenEye.
Vaud, Switzerland
A 12th-century water castle built on a rock island, connected to the shore by a wooden bridge.
Bern, Switzerland
A 13th-century castle on a hill above the village, overlooking the Simmental and Lower Simmental regions.
Valais, Switzerland
The village contains wooden houses from the 17th century and maintains regional customs including the Carnaval d'Evolène celebration.
Graubünden, Switzerland
The 8th-century Benedictine monastery contains Romanesque wall paintings and a three-nave church with medieval architectural details.
Graubünden, Switzerland
Guarda features traditional Engadine architecture with sgraffito decorations on house facades and forms the background of the Schellen-Ursli story.
Bern, Switzerland
The lake displays intense blue coloring due to its mineral-rich water and stands surrounded by spruce forest.
Graubünden, Switzerland
The high plateau at 2000 meters contains over 2000 plant and animal species with moors and alpine meadows.
Bern, Switzerland
A hiking trail through the gorge leads over wooden walkways along the stream with waterfalls and limestone rocks.
Fribourg, Switzerland
The museum displays glass art from medieval times to present day with a collection of church windows and glass paintings.
Bern, Switzerland
This former river course now forms a lake with reed belts, alluvial forest and numerous water birds.
Ticino, Switzerland
The village sits on the eastern shore of Lake Lugano. Stone houses and narrow lanes climb up the slope.
Bern, Switzerland
The suspension bridge spans a gorge at 100 meters height. It connects two mountain sides over 170 meters length.
Valais, Switzerland
The village stands at 2000 meters elevation. A cable car connects it to the valley, as no roads lead up.
Uri, Switzerland
The green meadow by Lake Lucerne was the meeting place of the first three cantons in 1291. A monument commemorates the event.
Bern, Switzerland
The glacier formed this 300-meter deep gorge with limestone walls. Visitors can explore it through metal walkways and illuminated tunnels.
Lucerne, Switzerland
This 204-meter wooden bridge from 1333 crosses the Reuss River. Inside contains 17th-century paintings depicting Swiss history.
Graubünden, Switzerland
The Saint Martin Church in Zillis displays 153 Romanesque ceiling paintings from the 12th century depicting biblical scenes and medieval allegories.
Schwyz, Switzerland
The location sits on Lake Lucerne with views of the Rütli meadow. The trails lead to historical sites of Swiss national foundation.
Aargau, Switzerland
The streets and squares date from the 13th century, featuring townhouses, city walls, churches and five historical gates.
Graubünden, Switzerland
The 300-meter deep gorge was carved by the Hinterrhein river and served as a historical trade route across the Alps.
St. Gallen, Switzerland
The valley extends over 134 kilometers and features hiking trails, cycling routes and viewpoints along the Thur river.
Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland
The 13th-century fortress stands on a 200-meter limestone rock and features a keep and fortifications.