What’s on in Switzerland

Situated on the elbow of the River Rhine and at the ‘three-countries-corner’ where Switzerland, Germany and France meet, Basel is seen as one of Switzerland’s centres for art, music and architecture.

Head to the large market square to admire the rich decoration of the red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, before ambling through the old town’s cornucopia of boutiques and book shops. Among the more traditional buildings you’ll also spot various modern designs by such renowned architects as Herzog & de Meuron, Diener & Diener and Richard Meyer.

Another attraction that Basel boasts in abundance is museums; with almost 40 to its name the city has the highest density of museums in the whole of Switzerland. These include the Basel Art Museum, home to the biggest Holbein collection in the world; the Museum of Cultures, one of Europe’s largest collections on European and non-European life; the Tinguely Museum, devoted to the animated mechanical sculptures of Swiss iron sculptor Jean Tinguely and housed in a building designed by Ticinese architect Mario Botta; and the Foundation Beyeler, which displays around 200 works of classic modernism by such greats as Monet, Cézanne, van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein and Bacon.

There are also such varied delights as the Musical Theatre Basel, which regularly delights audiences with extravagant productions of international musicals; the Zoological Gardens, with some 600 animal species and exotic flora right in the heart of the city; the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show (pretty self explanatory really); and relaxing cruises along the River Rhine.

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Switzerland’s capital is renowned for having retained many of its historic features, making it a truly spectacular destination to visit. Wander among the old town’s narrow streets and take in their original sandstone houses and general medieval air, or head to the city’s Lauben, 6km of old shopping arcades that make up the longest covered shopping promenade in Europe.

For great views meanwhile try the elevated Rose Garden above the city’s famous Bear Pits (head along to see these beautiful beasts enjoying the bear necessities), or the platform at the top of the cathedral’s 101 metre high tower. From there you can see the River Aare wend its way around the old town, and in summer you may even be able to spot a few swimmers bathing in its clean waters.

A little further along the river you’ll also find the Bundeshaus or Federal Palace, home to the national parliament. Its doors are often open to the public, so head along if you feel like getting a taste of Swiss politics.

If you worry that politics may leave a slightly bitter taste however, check out some more flavoursome offerings at the markets held in the city squares. The Onion Market for one, held on the fourth Monday of every November, comes highly recommended by all those who visit. Indeed, many get teary-eyed just at the memory.

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In the bay where the River Rhone leaves Lake Geneva, among nearby Alpine peaks and the hilly terrain of the Jura mountains, lies a city known as the “capital of peace”: Geneva.

Of course, this rather grand sounding title may initially come across as meaningless rhetoric, but when one considers this remarkable city’s legacy, one can see why it’s warranted.

At the International Museum of the Red Cross you can learn all about the humanitarian organisation’s origins, and see the effects the Red Cross has had throughout the world since it was founded in Geneva in 1863. Then head to the Palace of the United Nations to experience the European seat of the UNO, and feel what it’s like to stand in international territory by passing through the palace’s paled gate.

It’s not all just internationally recognised and respected goodwill organisations though. Geneva is also home to some pretty striking sights, such as the city’s landmark Jet d’eau, a 140 metre high water jet near the edge of the lake, and the St. Pierre Cathedral, which offers a unique view of the city and lake from its north tower. For a closer view of the lake meanwhile, take a cruise across it on one of the many boats available and marvel at the castles and palatial homes that line its shores.

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Lausanne, the second largest city on Lake Geneva, has got plenty to attract and distract from its better known neighbour, combining the hustle and bustle of a fast-moving commercial city with the laid back feel of a picturesque holiday resort.

Gaze out across its rolling hills and admire the surrounding slopes of vineyards and imposing Savoy Alps reflected in the surface of the lake. Then wander among the labyrinthine back streets and alleyways of the medieval city centre.

In the largely car-free old town you’ll find Lausanne’s impressive Gothic cathedral sitting among various shopping streets (perfect for picking up the odd Swiss souvenir), while the pretty waterfront area of Ouchy also boasts some fantastic shopping, as well as the remarkable medieval castle (the Castle of Ouchy), originally constructed around 1170 and now acting as a hotel.

Lausanne is also home to the International Olympic Committee, as well as the Olympic Museum, the world’s largest collection dedicated to the Olympic Games. For a different kind of museum visit meanwhile, head to the Musée de l’Art Brut in Beaulieu Castle, which holds a unique, worldwide collection of artworks created by the mentally disturbed and the criminally insane. Suffice to say, it’s not necessarily the kind of place to take the kids.

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In the heart of Switzerland, on the northern shores of Lake Zurich, this city is a veritable cultural hive, offering over 50 museums and 100 art galleries, international fashion labels, and the most flamboyant and lively nightlife in Switzerland.

For art lovers the Kunsthaus Museum is simply a must, housing pieces from every important period in European art, from the Middle Ages through to the present. For art from further afield meanwhile, the Rietberg Museum displays non-European art, particularly from India, China and Africa.

The city is also fit to bursting with activities for outdoorsy types, from leisurely walks by riversides and lakeside bathing in the heart of the city, to more strenuous and spectacular jaunts like hikes up the nearby Uetliberg mountain. Alternatively, the Weltklasse Zurich track-and-field event has seen a total of 24 world records broken in its 79 year history, and is perfect if you’d rather spend your time watching other people exert themselves than doing so yourself.

It’s also incredibly easy to reach, with Zurich Main Railway Station acting as a central European railway hub, so it’s the ideal place to take in as you travel throughout Switzerland.

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Locarno International Film Festival
Film festival on the shores of Lake Maggiore in southern Switzerland, showing new cinematic works of every style.

Montreux Jazz Festival
This world famous jazz festival has grown from humble beginnings in 1967 into a 16 day affair, headlined by greats from the worlds of jazz, blues, rock, world music, rap, electro, pop and soul.

Lucerne Festival
Classical festival dating back to 1938, with a focus on music from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Lucerne Honky Tonk Festival
At the end of March Lucerne’s bars and cafés come alive to the sound of reggae, ska, pop, soul, blues, funk, beat, flamenco, salsa, house, swing, boogie-woogie, rock, folk, and many more.

Wolfwil Easter Egg market
Held two weeks before Easter, this unique, charming and friendly market and exhibition attracts Easter egg lovers from across the globe.

Omega European Golf Masters
The Swiss stop on the professional men’s European golf tour is held in September at the Crans-Sur-Sierre course.

White Turf St. Moritz
Horseracing meeting held in February in the exclusive resort town of St. Moritz. The races take place on snow-covered courses and include Skikjöring events, where people on skis are pulled along a 2,700 metre track by unsaddled thoroughbreds.