Lush and lovely … Lugano. Photograph: Corbis

The best of Switzerland's city sights: readers’ tips

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With Alpine backdrops, sparkling lakes and medieval hearts, these Swiss cities rank among some of the most picturesque destinations in Europe

Winning tip: Leisurely Lugano

Dramatically positioned on a glittering blue lake with mountains towering around, Lugano is a stunner. If arriving by train, take the little funicular down into the centre and soak up the rarefied air of the wealthy Italianate streets. Head 500 metres east through the elegant Giardini Pubblici to Castagnola, to pick up the Sentiero dell’olivo path, which leads 3.5km through shoreline olive groves to Gandria, a pretty cluster of houses clinging to the hillside just shy of the Italian border. It’s an enchanting walk (though beware Lycra-clad high-achieving Luganesi pounding past on their lunch break power jog) to a timewarp village with good lunch options and a convenient, scenic ferry ride back into town.
marthah

Liqueur in Chur, sir?

Said to be Switzerland’s oldest city (first settled around 3900BC), Chur is a must for visitors with its magnificent mountain setting and traffic-free old town. Try climbing up to its highest point at 1,800 metres above sea level, sample the local cherry liqueur or visit its many archaeological sites, ranging from prehistoric through Roman to medieval. You won’t go hungry – the city is brimming with gourmet restaurants and characterful cafes.
Tony Partridge

Up and down in Lucerne

View over the old town of Lucerne — Photograph: Alamy

This central Swiss city has an attractive, compact medieval old town but all the attributes of a modern city. It has a beautiful lakeside setting where black kites wheel and scavenge, a river with two covered bridges (one built in 1333) and a promenade lined with bars and cafes. Its city walls have a 13th-century tower with views over town and surroundings. In typical Swiss fashion the train, bus and lake boat stations are next to each other, encouraging trips along the beautiful lake with possible stops for the world’s oldest cog railway up the 1,800-metre Rigi mountain or the world’s steepest cog railway to 2,100-metre Pilatus peak. Switzerland’s Museum of Transportation is in the town and you can take a 40-minute train journey to Engelberg, where Bollywood shoots its mountain scenes and the three-stage cable car goes up to the 3,200-metre Titlis mountain’s ski area all year round.
saints12

Schaffhausen and the Rhein

The Rheinfall in Schaffhausen. Photograph: Alamy

An hour’s drive north of Zurich is this beautiful medieval city with its stunning town centre and fabulous Rhein River Bath swimming area. A walk along the Rhein will take you Europe’s widest waterfall (249 metres), the Rheinfall, with great boat trips and castle to explore. In December don’t miss the strange Christmas market tradition of Santa being led through the streets by a group of men eerily clanging giant cowbells.
chrisj52

Cheap eats in Swiss cities

In any Swiss city seek out Manor or Migros shops for (relatively) cheap but very good meals in their self-service cafeterias. Migros offers an excellent cold buffet selection with meats, local cheeses and lots of salads. Food is priced by weight and great for vegetarians. Manor, unlike Migros, sells alcohol including local wines, and has a good choice of hot food as well as delicious cakes and pastries. Both cook meat to order for each customer and all the food is fresh and well-presented.
girlfromvaud

Berne is no pit

Berne bear pit — Berne’s Bärengraben (bear pit). Photograph: Rex

Berne old town, which is on Unesco’s world heritage list, is a walking and browsing paradise. The bear pit (the Bärengraben), run by the city’s Dählhölzli Zoo, has been much improved – the animals have a much larger area in which to roam since 2009 when the pit was supplemented by Bären park. Until 27 November there is a fantastic light show at the Swiss parliament) based on the story of the Matterhorn. There are plenty of clips of this on YouTube, but it really has to be seen in person.
Notsinginganymore

Basel fireworks

Basel celebrates — Basel on the night before Switzerland’s National Day (1 August). Photograph: Corbis

Head to Basel on 31 July – the evening before the Swiss national holiday for superb fireworks on the Rhine. I lived in Basel for two years but I keep going back for the firework display - the best I’ve ever seen anywhere, but you have to be early to secure your spot by the river, ideally close to Mittlere Rheinbrücke, the middle Rhine bridge.
ID331436

A veggie dinner in Zürich

We loved Hiltl, in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. So many delicious dishes: veggies and carnivores were equally impressed. Hiltl also runs cookery classes.
Mains from about £12, nine locations within Zurich
MarineGirl1

City break in Geneva

Red Cross Museum Geneva — Red Cross Museum, Geneva. Photograph: Alamy

Geneva is an ideal city break location. The International Red Cross Museum and its fascinating historical insights is within an easy walk from the centre, but on your way you can stop off at the Musée Ariana, and enjoy an alfresco cup of tea on the ambient balcony. The superb botanical gardens are free and, of course, there is a beautiful lake in Geneva! Take a boat ride to the other side for even more awe-inspiring scenery. Head out of the centre for less touristy restaurants and bars where you can enjoy the good life for less. The number 8 bus takes you over the border into France, where you can take a ski lift up the mountain for a delicious lunch or hike.
CarolGardner7

Exploring Neuchâtel

Château de Neuchatel. Photograph: Getty Images

This small city may not be as famous as Geneva or Basel, but it deserves as much attention. Only 30 minutes from the border with France, it sits on a Jura mountainside by a lake and is surrounded by vineyards. It is 1,000 years old, and its best-known sights are its château and the Collegiate Church, both dating from the 12th century and sharing a rocky promontory. Wandering around the city centre visitors will enjoy the yellow stones buildings. The lake, and its towns, are worth exploring by boat and on National Day, 1 August, thousands of fireworks are launched from all over the place, reflecting on the calm water. For nibbles, try one of the unforgettable cheese fondues at La Taverne Neuchâteloise.
ludofarine

Historic St Gallen

Rotunda of the St. Gallen Cathedral — The rotunda of St Gallen Cathedral. Photograph: Alamy

I’ve got family in Switzerland so often visit. I particularly love the city of St Gallen in the north-east. It has a fabulous eighth-century cathedral, a Unesco world heritage site, and a great baroque monastic library next door. Its collection includes manuscripts dating back to Roman times. The surroundings are fabulous too – with lake Constance and the charming villages and mountains of the Appenzell region. And it’s all easily reached by the wonderful local trains.
Caffcaff

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