10-Nights Switzerland: Europe's Crown Jewel - Land Journey

Lucerne

Without a doubt one of the prettiest towns in Switzerland, Lucerne lies in the heart of the country on famous lake of Lucerne. Dotted with Renaissance and Baroque fountains, colorful paintings on the gables and commanded by the exquisite wooden bridge, the Kapellbrücke and Wasserturm, the 13th century octagonal water tower, Lucerne's character is pure charm. Spectacular views and sights abound from almost every vantage point in and around Lucerne. The Old Town Hall is a fine example of a Renaissance building while the City Wall, built between 1350 and 1405 stands proud above the city. A stroll along the quay leads past the modern health resort and onto the largest, most important Transport Museum in Europe and the only Planetarium in Switzerland. The famous Lion Monument and Glacier Garden make for remarkable viewing as do the mountain peaks surrounding the city. A short drive from town takes visitors to some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth, and a short drive from Viewaldstätter Lake leads to nearby winter resorts and many more lakes.

Interlaken

Interlaken's foundations can be seen in the 12th century castle and its fascinating Augustinian monastery. Nestled beneath the legendary triad of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, Interlaken is a wondrous health resort and an international favorite. The superb mountainous scenery and gentle climate are ideal venues for virtually every leisure activity. Höheweg is the business and social center of Interlaken. The shopping is varied and interesting from simple souvenirs to luxurious timepieces. Grand hotels and inviting restaurants and cafes to spoil the visitor abound while a traditional horse-drawn carriage transports guests in fine style. The famous Kursaal - Interlaken's casino - is situated in the center of Höheweg. There are many types of entertainment including elegant balls, annual music festivals, Folklorica, local and trade shows in addition to the delights of the casino tables. Interlaken is also an ideal starting point for excursions to the Bern upperlands and breathtaking Jungfrau region with the centrepiece's massive peak soaring into cloudless skies.

St. Moritz

The snow-clad mountains of St. Moritz are loved by ski enthusiasts from all over the world. Outstanding accommodations and nightlife are just the trimmings for a winter playground of superlative quality. Oberengadin's mineral springs are also a major drawcard. St. Moritz is the most famous ski resort in the world: chic, elegant and grand with a very cosmopolitan ambience. It lies in a beautiful setting around the lake in the Engadin valley. The 'sparkling dry champagne climate of St. Moritz' is legendary: its famous sun shines 322 days of the year. The famous health springs have been in use since the Bronze Age and a modern spa complex complements their soothing properties. St. Moritz is the birthplace of winter tourism and modern winter sports in the Alps and is Switzerland's only Olympic host resort. It literally offers 'snow how' at its best: skiing - downhill and cross-country - the Cresta and Bob runs; horse races, polo and golf on the frozen lake, plus a consummate nightlife, gala events, shopping fashion shows and much more.

Lugano

With its warm climate and Latin Character, Lugano is a carefree town nestled between the peaks of San Salvatore and Monte Bré. The swaying palms and cypress trees give it a distinct Italian feeling, and it is the largest town in the Italian-speaking Tessin canton. Due to its pleasant climate and breezy Mediterranean ambience, Lugano is one of the all time favorites and most visited resort areas during the warmer months. The old town has many buildings of historical interest. Palazzo Civico is filled with restaurants and boutiques and is the pulsating heart of the town. The irregularly shaped Lake of Lugano is spectacularly picturesque as is the bordering scenery. Indulging in some excellent shopping along Via Nassa. Lugano offers a wide variety of cultural, art and musical events each offering a unique way to explore the city's history and traditions. The famous Thyssen-Bornemisza art gallery, Villa Favorita, attracts countless visitors. Historic churches including Santa Maria degli Angioli and the cathedral San Lorenzo are well worth a visit.

Stresa

This summer and winter holiday resort in the province of Novara is situated on the west side of Lake Maggiore on the slopes of Mount Mottarone, looking out over the Borromeo islands. The lakeside is very attractive, with a wide avenue of trees and flowerbeds, lined with hotels and villas set amongst trees. From here you have a panoramic view of the Borromeo islands. The avenue opens out on to Piazza Marconi, overlooked by the neoclassical church of Sant’Ambrogio, designed by Zanoia and built in 1790. It has a single nave and contains seventeenth century paintings by local artists and nineteenth century sculptures by Somaini. Beyond the piazza lies the Villa Ducale which was built within a beautiful park in 1770 and at one time belonged to the philosopher Antonio Rosmini who died there in 1855. It is now a study centre dedicated to Rosmini and contains mementoes and rare editions. Rosmini College, founded in 1852, is in Viale Marconi. The church has Rosmini’s tomb and a monument to him by Vela. Stresa also hosts national and international conferences and congresses which are held in the modern Palazzo dei Congressi.

Zermatt

Friendly, welcoming Zermatt, with its grandiose panoramas of snow-capped peaks that include the legendary Matterhorn, boasts the longest winter season in Europe and the highest skiiing area. Horse-drawn carriages in summer and snow sleighs in winter add further ambience to Zermatt's quaint Walliser houses and the elegant, often world famous hotels. The absence of cars has helped bestow an elite status on Zermatt. The picture perfect streets and snow-lined pathways are clean, pristine and romantic in atmosphere. In the summertime, walking and climbing enthusiasts can enjoy the unlimited scope of the magnificent mountains and glaciers, while skiing devotees enjoy the seemingly endless pistes in wonderful powder snow. Zermatt attracts tourists, not only for its fresh and clean mountain air, but also for its excellent restaurants, bars and nightclubs; the tempting, exclusive shops and boutiques and the friendly hospitality of the local residents.

Lausanne

Lausanne, Switzerland, and its port city, Ouchy (pronounced ou-SHEE), are on the northern bank of Lake Geneva, 35 mi/60 km northeast of Geneva. They can be seen either as a day trip from Geneva or (better) in a two-night stay. The older part of Lausanne, called the Cite, is fun to stroll; be sure to see the port area, the 13th-century tower, the exquisite 13th-century Gothic cathedral (best of its kind in Switzerland) and the 14th-century Chateau St. Maire.

If you have a few extra days available, you might visit some of the charming towns in the area, including Vevey, which is home to a wonderful Charlie Chaplin Museum (https://www.chaplinsworld.com/en), and Gruyeres. Other old villages that are worth a stop include Epesses and Riex. Most of them can be reached by following the well-marked Route de Vignoble (Route of the Vineyard), named after the many private vineyards and wine cellars dotting the hills (these specialty routes are almost always preferable to the major highways). And be sure to stop and taste some of the wines along the way.

You can also go across the lake to France. The spa and resort Hotel Royal is in Evian, where Evian water is bottled. For a long day trip, head to Chamonix to see Mount Blanc (the tallest mountain in Europe). Cable cars climb to a point near the top called Les Aiguilles du Midi, which offers stunning views on clear days.

For those who don't want to go up quite that high, there's also a cable car that goes to a glacier called La Mer de Glace. There you can walk upon and even go inside a tunneled portion of the glacier. If you go, remember to take your passport, as you will be leaving Switzerland.