No country in the world is as fascinating and interesting as Switzerland. To the admirer of nature, it offers scenes of grandeur almost unrivalled; to the observer of national manners, a people of great simplicity and firmness of character and as far as harmony and peace is concerned, no country can displays in a striking light the salutary effects of religion, freedom, and security of property nor can the poet or painter find scenes more calculated to exhilarate the imagination.

There isn't anything in Switzerland that you can't find somewhere else in the world. Finland has more lakes, the glaciers in Iceland are bigger, the mountains in Nepal are higher, in Italy you'll find more apricot orchards. But where does Switzerland scores over others is, that you can't cover all the above said places in three to four hours. But if you are in Switzerland, you can visit all these places on a 2 to 3-hour train trip.

Switzerland measures 220 kilometers (137 miles) from north to south; this takes four hours to travel by train and three hours by car. It's 350 km (217 miles) from east to west. On a journey of 3 to 4 hours the official language can change two, three or even four times.

Small, mountainous and wealthy, with a population of just seven million, Switzerland is renowned for its enviable quality of life in a country that ticks along like clockwork. Its products are sought after the world over, from delicious cheese, chocolate to luxurious watches whose timekeeping is as sharp as a Swiss army knife, another popular export from this clever little nation in the Alps.

As a stylish tourist destination it offers top ski resorts like Zermatt and celebrity-studded St Moritz, while the white peaks of mountains set against blue skies make a wonderful backdrop for summertime hiking. The ancient capital of Berne provides opportunities for sightseeing and elegant shopping, while nightlife can prove to be a lot of fun.

Geography
Switzerland is bordered by France in the west, Germany in the north, Austria in the east and Italy in the south. It has the highest mountains in Europe, with waterfalls and lakes set amid green pastures. The highest peaks are Dufour Peak, 4634m (15,217ft), on the Italian border; the Dom, 4545m (14,912ft); the Matterhorn, 4478m (14,692ft); and the Jungfrau, 4166m (13,669ft).

Climate
From a climate point of view, Switzerland is located in a transition zone. In the west, there is a strong influence of the Atlantic ocean. Winds bring a lot of moisture into Switzerland and cause rainfall. In the east, there is an almost continental climate, with lower temperatures and less precipitation. On the other hand, the alps - which run from east to west - act as a climatic divide. South of the alps, there is an almost Mediterranean climate, with significantly higher temperatures but also a lot of precipitation.

Generally speaking, spring is wet and cool, April is well known for fast and often changing weather conditions. Summer is supposed to be warm and dry with maximum temperature up to 35°C (95°F). The temperature of city depends primarily on the elevation. It drops significantly in September or October. Winter is supposed to be cold and dry. The temperature may drop below 0°C everywhere, especially at night. In the alps region gets lot of snow.

Basel Art
The world of art is no stranger to Basel and every year, the world's biggest and most influential art fair, the ART' is held here.In Basdl you can find more than 100 galleries. Modern art buffs will enjoy the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Kunsthalle also specialises in modern art. Fondation Beyeler art museum which opened recently and has become extremely popular which houses an enviable private art collection. The pieces in the Museum of Art are equally impressive and masters such as Holbein are well-represented. Switzerland's famous sculptor Tinguely and his works are celebrated in the Tinguely Museum and his bizarre iron creations have been admired by many a visitor.

Geneva Lake Leman
The geographic feature dominating the city is, of course, Lake Léman. This immense body of fresh water is the largest and bluest of all the lakes in Switzerland. The arrival of warm weather in the city heralds the opening of lakeside terraces and beaches, the most well known being the Bains de Paquis which is well set up for swimmers and café habitués. Viewing the cityscape by boat is highly recommended as stunning views of the Jet d'Eau and the Savoy mountains are to be beheld.

Geneva Old Town - Vieille Ville de Geneve
A meeting place since Roman times, the Bourg-de-Four is at the heart of the Old Town. The square, in reality more like a multi-leveled spiral, is dominated by café terraces, next to the 18th century fountain, book and antique shops and a very low-key police station.

Among the notable sights in the area is the Cathédrale St-Pierre. More important for its role in history than its aesthetic beauty, the Cathedral comprises a miscellany of pieces tacked on through the centuries. Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a Roman temple (350AD) near the foundations of the Cathedral and the dig site is open to the public. For a superb view of the city, the North tower can be climbed for a small charge.

Maison Tavel, at 6, Rue Puits-de-St-Pierre, is the oldest house in Geneva. Now a city-owned museum, the multi-storied house exhibits objects from Geneva's past, with rooms decorated in period style. Another museum in this area, the Musee Barbier-Müller, holds a stunning collection of non-European artwork. The 126m long wooden bench located there is the longest in the world. In addition, chestnut trees blossoming in this delightful square traditionally signal the start of spring.

It is fair to assume that Tolstoy did not journey by pedal boat, or catamaran, both of which can be rented during summer months. If captaining your own craft does not appeal, there are many cruise options available.

Geneva City Center
It is difficult to isolate one point as being the city Centre. Historically, the Place du Bourg-de-Four in the Old Town would have been the main focus. From a practical point of view it is tempting to bestow this honor on the building on the Pont-de-la-Machine, which traverses the Rhone, between the left and right banks of the lake. Housed here is a branch of Geneva's tourist information Centre.

Zurich Schipfe
"Schipfe" is one of the oldest quarters of the city of Zurich. The name originates from the nautical term "schupfen" which mean push used by the fishermen to describe how they pushed their boats to and from the river bank. During ancient time Schipfe was the transfer point for essential merchandise and over the period of time it developed into the headquarters of the silk industry, prime location for bathhouses and boat building. Even today, the Schipfe is still the street of artisans where the craftspeople take the necessary time for their customers, providing expert advice and suggestions. The Schipfe is an idyllic location to linger, shop and enjoy some good food.

Zurich Museums & Arts
Zurich is the best place for those of have interest in art. Zurich and the surrounding region is home to the biggest number of museums and exhibitions in the whole of Switzerland. The Kunsthaus is one of Europe's foremost museums of art and host a series of constantly changing exhibitions. Art, architecture, painting and objects of interest from the past and present.

Zurich Nightlife
For all those nocturnal, there won't be better location than whiling away their time in the nightlife here. Night birds will find plenty to do into the early hours of the morning: at weekends over 300 venues stay open after midnight. This the time when in DJs from all over the world play everything from House, Techno and Latin to Acid Jazz. If you prefer things a little more mellow, drop into one of the numerous open-air bars. Zurich also is world famous for its Street parade, along the lake of Zurich, starting at Mythenquai going over direction Zurich Bellevue.

Glacier Express -"Traverse Switzerland by a world-famous train"
Zermatt - Brig - Furkapass
The Glacier Express is a world-famous train, which is not only worth the attention of train enthusiasts. The train is very suitable to view the scenery in a most comfortable way. The train starts in Zermatt and runs via Brig, Andermatt and Chur to St. Moritz in the canton of Graubünden. This way the train offers a nice possibility to travel from Wallis to Graubünden. This train is also called 'the slowest express train in the world', and the journey will take you a whole day. This train offers a restaurant and a mini-bar.

Bernese Oberland
Snow-covered mountain tops, fresh green meadows, woods, blue lakes, nice villages and gondolas to beautiful viewing points, if this where you want to be, then head for Bernese Oberland is a part of the canton of Bern and one of the older vacation destination of Switzerland. Situated in the Centre of Switzerland it is very convenient for to make day trips to other areas in Switzerland, such as Wallis. Cities like Bern, Luzern and Zürich can also be reached easily. This way you will be able to see more of the country.

And If you are not planning to make long day trips, the Bernese Oberland offers a lot of possibilities to stay in a small area and to be able to undertake a lot of different things as well. Besides the hiking possibilities this area offers many water sports and mountain sports. You can participate in several organized sportily activities. You could make magnificent tours by train, bus, car, boat or gondola. Furthermore you will find museum and other things worth being seen, like stalactite caves, a miniature railroad and many viewing points.

Zermatt
Zermatt, at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn. This is one place in the world where you won't find cars, electric-cars and horse-drawn sleighs and carriages are the only transport allowed. This idyllic mountain village at the foot of the Matterhorn has developed into one of the biggest summer and winter resorts. Zermatt is located at the foot of the Matterhorn in the Valais Alps in the south of Switzerland at an altitude of 1,600m. above sea-level.