Top 10 things to do in Switzerland

OTP’s Top 10 things to do in Switzerland in 2014!

1. Go Hiking/Mountain Biking

Switzerland has more than 48 300 km marked trails, and the nature that is right at the heart of it is second to none! The air is fresh, and you often find yourself alone with nature. Hiking in Switzerland is easy and varies in difficulty and altitude. Most of the time there are restaurants and hotels along the way. Hikers can choose between camping in a hut, or staying over in a hotel.

If hiking is not for you then just going for walks in Switzerland is a beautiful experience, at all times of the year. Even in wintertime, for those who aren’t so keen on skiing there are beautiful walks you can take up at the ski fields.

For those who fancy viewing these incredible sights at speed can make the most of our mountain biking holidays. If it’s your first time riding in the Alps then we offer a huge range of trails to build up your confidence and skills in this very different environment to British riding. We choose trails that will get you used to the exposure and the altitude, before then introducing all the Alps have to offer in terms of gradients. We time this progression with the ability of the riders and will only ever show the trails that will suit you and help you get the most out of your stay and make it a natural progression that your skills will improve.

However overall enjoying the nature in Switzerland is the number one thing to do, one way or another. 

 

2. Adventure Time in Interlaken

Interlaken has been described by tourists a big outdoor adventure park. Especially for the adrenalin junkie there is loads to do whether it’s sky diving over the Swiss glacier, water-ski or paraglide. It’s a beautiful area, and is also really close to the highest train station in Europe of the Jungfraujoch which you can find at over 3,400 meters high.

3. A Day In Bern – The Capital

Any trip to Switzerland has to include a visit to this beautiful city, and Capital. With a lot of history and impressive architecture, for those searching for a more relaxing experience it’s nice to walk around and let the old city take you back a few hundred years.

4. Try the Local Delicacies

Switzerland may be small in size, but every region has kept their own specialties and cultural traditions close to their hearts. Whilst boasting some of the worlds finest delicacies including specifically Fondue and Raclette.  

Its clear that these two internationally renown dishes have one core ingredient. Cheese. However this is regularly underestimated. It’s cheese of the best quality you can get. A favorite is to just melt it all down in a pot, especially for Fondue and dip bread in some bread – perfect!

5. Swiss Chocolate

Whilst remaining with the culinary theme, Swiss Chocolate is what automatically comes to mind when considering Swiss food. One of the most renown has to be that found in Buchs, in the North of the country. The enticing “Le Monde du Cacao” exhibition allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of chocolate, and provides all sorts of interesting facts about the history of Chocolat Frey.

6. Alpine Skiing

Few places in Europe has as good skiing as in Switzerland. Many of the ski-fields are huge and often blend in with each other, meaning you can ski over to another ski resort. Whilst offering more resorts than any other tour operator in the country OTP have chosen the best ones for their excellent skiing, picturesque scenery and friendly atmosphere. Catering for any budget or party size, we have a wide range of quality hotels, apartments and chalets chosen to best suit you, whether you want a cheap get-away or luxury 5-star holiday with a swimming pool. Most importantly, we also include a 6 day ski-lift pass with your holiday, so there are no surprise costs when you get to your resort.

Many people who go skiing in Switzerland don’t actually go there for the skiing, but for the experience, with OTP we really are the Swiss specialists, there to make that experience as enjoyable as possible.

 

7. Take a Beautiful Train Route

Traveling by train can look expensive at a first sight, but there are so many deals and offers you can get that you may end up with an amazing route cheaper than a one way ticket. One example is their day passes where you can travel as much as you like, anywhere you want for a whole day. OTP’s sister company, www.swisspasses.com can provide you with all your ticketing needs to make your travel as easy as possible. To name but a few spectacular journeys there is the world famous Glacier Express route, and also the Jungfraujoch which brings you to Europes Highest Train Station, however there are also countless of other beautiful routes. Traveling by train is more than just a transport from point A to point B here, it’s a destination in itself.

 

8. Swiss Watch Making

When thinking of Switzerland apart from Chocolate, it’s watches that regularly come to mind. With the worlds top three watch makers all originating from Switzerland it is Rolex, Omega and Breitling which typically dominate the world market. One of the best museums is found in Biel. With its fascinating variety of objects, pictures and exhibits, the Omega Museum documents the history and highlights of the famous Biel watch brands.

9. James Bond Experience

Are you a fan of James Bond? Well then Switzerland is certainly for you! Ranging from the spectacular views from the Piz Gloria as seen in Her Majesties Secret Service to the infamous dam bungee jump at the start of Goldeneye in the Verzasca Valley, this is a great attraction for any fan of this true British icon.

 

10. Visit Zurich

Zurich is one of the top 10 cities in the world for tourists to visit next year, according to the Lonely Planet travel guide for 2014, which lauds the Swiss metropolis for its “Bacchanalian edge”. Switzerland’s biggest city ranks fifth on a list, released on Wednesday, headed by Paris, Trinidad (Cuba), Cape Town and Riga, the capital of Latvia. One of the most spectacular area’s has to be that of Zurich West, where “industrial decay has given way to nocturnal hedonism” states the Lonely Planet guide. Many will be visiting Switzerland’s biggest city for the European Athletics Championships, which it hosts in August. Although there is no mention as of yet regarding the ‘Street Parade’ a large outdoor event attracting over a million party goers many are hoping for its return this year. Zurich certainly is one of the most up and coming cities in Europe

For more information regarding your Swiss holiday get in touch with us at www.otp.co.uk OTP offers great value Ski holidays and Christmas Market short-breaks in winter, guided Mountain Biking and Road Biking tours, and also Golf and Summer Ski holidays to Switzerland's best resorts. We really are the Swiss Specialists and look forward to hearing from you soon!