Swiss Cities & Villages

If you interested in history and culture, Switzerland has many beautiful cities and villages to explore. Below are our guides to get you started.

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Swiss cities

This larger cities are great for historical and cultural walking tours.

Explore Zürich’s Old Town on foot with this family-friendly self-guided walking tour featuring top landmarks, scenic views, parks, and chocolate stops.
Explore Lucerne on our self-guided walking tour, including the famous wooden bridge. charming car-free old town, and ancient city wall.

Swiss villages

These small towns and villages are nice for a short wander, some with castles and museums.

Bellinzona is a little gem in southern Switzerland with three UNESCO World Heritage castles and plenty of other charm. Here are 5 things to do in Bellinzona for a perfect weekend getaway.
Wander this lovely village south of Zurich with a castle and lakeside promenade with alpine views. Kids will enjoy the small theme trail and big playground. Best to arrive by boat from Zurich.
This open-air living museum in the beautiful Bernese alps lets you experience traditional Swiss rural life, with authentic buildings, trades and dress from the old days.
Thun is a cute little lakeside town with a rushing river, a quiet old town, a little castle, and fantastic views of the alps.
Charming medieval village with a castle, car-free cobblestone lanes, traditional treats, and nearby cheese dairy to visit.
A small village surrounded by a city wall on the shores of the beautiful Lake Neuchatel.

French towns

These villages in France are near enough for a day trip from Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, or Bern.

Eguisheim is the smaller, quieter complement to Colmar, both adorable Alsace towns filled with colorful half-timbered buildings.
Highlights for children during a tour of Strasbourg France
Adorable village in Alsace France, perfect for wandering and sampling pastries.

German towns

These villages in near the Swiss/German border are good day trips from Zurich, Lucerne or Basel.

Visit the highest waterfalls in Germany and wander through a small village famous for cuckoo clocks.
Stroll through this charming medieval village north of Zurich on the Rhine river with many beautifully preserved historic building. Good combination with the nearby Rhine Falls.

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