Switzerland is compact enough to cross in a day, but its appeal is vertical rather than horizontal: mountain railways, lake towns and passes matter more than distance covered. The country also switches language between regions — German in Zurich and Bern, French around Geneva and Lausanne, Italian in the south — which changes the feel of a trip more than the map suggests.
The guides on this page cover Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lucerne, Lausanne, Basel and a countrywide overview. Two seasons dominate: winter for skiing, and June through September when mountain railways and hiking routes are fully open — many high-altitude lines close outside those months. Costs run high by European standards, and regional travel passes usually work out cheaper than buying mountain excursions separately.