Tourism in Switzerland

Switzerland is a popular holiday destination, known for its spectacular mountains and lakes, quaint villages and cultural diversity. But behind the idyllic postcard images lie complex questions: how does climate change affect mountain tourism? What consequences does overtourism have for local communities? And who can still afford holidays in expensive Switzerland? Here you will find analyses and background information on Swiss tourism – from its beginnings in the 19th century to the challenges of today.

Climate change and sustainability in Swiss tourism
Tourism and tourism flows
Alpine tourism in transition
Holiday homes and living in the Swiss Alps
Icons of Swiss tourism
Holidays in Switzerland

Climate change and sustainability in Swiss tourism

Tourists admire the Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in Europe.

What is the future of glacier tourism in a world with less ice?

This content was published on Jul 23, 2025 Climate change puts glacier tourism at risk. How can this vital industry be saved for local communities? Here are some adaptation strategies.

In recent years ski resorts at lower altitudes have had to re-think their tourism offers due to the lack of snow.

Climate change puts Swiss tourism to the test

This content was published on Jul 16, 2025 Climate change threatens tourism in Switzerland – and is partly caused by it. How can the industry become more sustainable?

A crack in a ski lift structure in the Swiss Alps caused by thawing permafrost.

New hope for cable cars and mountain huts threatened by permafrost collapse

This content was published on Jul 16, 2025 A novel scientific solution being developed in Switzerland aims to stabilise mountain infrastructure endangered by climate change.

The Lion of Lucerne rock relief is one of the most photographed tourist spots in Switzerland.

‘Balancing growth and sustainability is the challenge of the century for the tourism sector’

This content was published on Jun 24, 2024 Francisco Betti, co-author of a report on world tourism, firmly believes in the key role of technological progress in making the sector sustainable in the next 20 years.

escaping from the heatwave to the Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps could profit from ‘heat escape’ tourism

This content was published on Oct 14, 2023 Could low-lying Alpine resorts become a heatwave-free haven for summer tourists?

Tourism and tourism flows

Tourists wait with their cars for free parking spaces at the church car park, on Sunday, 19 May 2024 in Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland. The holiday resort of Lauterbrunnen wants to introduce an entrance fee for day tourists travelling by car. Like many other tourist resorts around the world, the municipality in the Bernese Oberland struggles with large streams of tourists.

Mass tourism in Switzerland: beneficial or detrimental?

This content was published on Jul 5, 2024 While some see tourism in Switzerland as a welcome boost, others are concerned about too many tourists in certain regions.

Italian-speaking Switzerland is more than just a weekend getaway

This content was published on Jan 9, 2024 Ticino was a holiday haven for the Swiss during the Covid-19 pandemic but is now experiencing a slight downturn.

‘High costs are not prohibitive for premium destination Switzerland’

This content was published on Nov 5, 2023 The president of Switzerland Tourism believes that local authorities are perfectly capable of managing the occasional flow of visitors.

Asian tourists taking photos at the pier in Iseltwald, where Crash Landing on You was filmed.

Fans of Netflix series disrupt peaceful Swiss village

This content was published on Aug 27, 2022 Fans of the South Korean TV series ‘Crash Landing on You’ are flocking to the Bernese village of Iseltwald. Not everyone is as delighted as they are.

Alpine tourism in transition

‘Swiss engineering at its best’: the steepest cable car in the world

This content was published on Feb 8, 2025 A section of the Schilthornbahn cableway is the latest example of breathtaking engineering in the Swiss Alps. But how steep is it?

Tensions between Jewish guests and Swiss locals in Davos: an explainer

This content was published on Feb 13, 2024 What’s behind the tensions between locals in the Swiss resort town of Davos and Orthodox Jewish holidaymakers?

Family picture with Lucy Walker, British climber

150 years ago, the first woman conquered the Matterhorn

This content was published on Jul 22, 2021 British climber Lucy Walker reached the peak of the iconic Matterhorn six years after her compatriot Edward Whymper.

What iconic Swiss spots looked like 150 years ago

This content was published on Oct 16, 2019 William England’s Alpine pictures, made using an innovative photographic technique, were a resounding success. Today, they’re being re-created.

tre persone incordate sulla vetta di una montagna innevata

This profession calls for you to put your life at risk

This content was published on Aug 12, 2018 When a fatal accident happens in the mountains, many question the judgement of the guide. swissinfo.ch speaks to one about how to keep safe.

Asian approach to life and skiing

This content was published on Feb 18, 2014 Johnson has become somewhat of a celebrity in the resort due to extensive media coverage, and is constantly greeted by passers-by as he walks down the street. Johnson, a translator as well as a qualified ski instructor, arrived in Switzerland at the beginning of December 2013. It is his first trip abroad. He only started…

Holiday homes and living in the Swiss Alps

‘The chalet is the first prefab house in history’

This content was published on May 31, 2025 The chalet first conquered the world – and then Switzerland. So why is it considered a quintessentially Swiss building?

The Swiss Alps ski village that is luring nervous Americans

This content was published on Apr 22, 2025 Demand from ‘Trump refugees’ for property in the Swiss resort of Andermatt has surged.

The Swiss Alps, a new Eldorado for real estate developers

This content was published on Jan 22, 2025 The Swiss Alps are attracting a growing number of investors, prepared to pump hundreds of millions of francs into vast tourist complexes. But at what cost?

Locals driven out by luxury homes in Swiss mountains

This content was published on Mar 14, 2024 Rising property prices in Pontresina, a municipality next to the exclusive resort of St Moritz, are forcing residents to leave the valley.

Icons of Swiss tourism

From Bond to Bollywood: scene-stealing Switzerland on the big screen

This content was published on Apr 29, 2024 A scenic cinematic tour of films in which Switzerland’s natural beauty and landmarks have played an unforgettable role.

Rarefied beauty found in Alps and adverts

This content was published on Aug 15, 2017 Fuzzy and white, Edelweiss flowers are a lucky find for hikers, and a ubiquitous sight on Swiss marketing materials.

In the thrall of the mountain king

This content was published on Mar 15, 2017 Once extinct in Switzerland, the ibex is back. Thousands of the surefooted creatures now live in the Swiss Alps.

Einstein and the relativity of tourism exploitation

This content was published on Nov 25, 2015 “Can you walk through walls?” Karl Höb, one of Ulm’s city guides asks at the beginning of his guided tour. Like Bern, the southern German town of Ulm was also once home to the famous physicist. The walls the guide refers to are now nothing more than symbolic however. The house where Albert Einstein was…

James Bond: half-Swiss, totally profitable

This content was published on Oct 5, 2012 Without Switzerland, the James Bond films – and Bond himself – would be very different.

Holidays in Switzerland

Swiss vacationers jump on the ‘no kids’ holiday trend

This content was published on Jul 18, 2024 The popularity of “adults-only” holidays has surged in recent years, RTS reports, including among a Swiss clientele.

‘No kids’ holidays are booming in Switzerland. Blatant discrimination or a stroke of genius?

Canny tourist operators have realised that many people will pay a premium to remove kids from their holidays. What does this say about society?

Join the discussion

Jul 17, 2024

102 Likes

55 Comments

View the discussion

Wandern am Gibidumsee VS Hintergrund: Fletschhorn Foto by Christof Sonderegger

What you need to know about hiking in Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 2, 2022 Switzerland is perfect for hikers. With 65,000km of marked hiking trails, there are routes for every ability level.

Chantal Panozzo in front of Baden’s city hall

How to travel like a local in Switzerland

This content was published on Jul 15, 2017 American writer Chantal Panozzo lived in Switzerland for almost ten years – long enough to fill a book with nearly 100 travel tips.

Swiss Politics

Most Swiss Abroad won’t be able to vote online in 2027 federal election

Foreign Affairs

Behind the scenes: how impactful is Switzerland’s support for political prisoners?

Swiss Abroad

Consular protection: more and more elderly Swiss are dying abroad

Parliament is debating whether to relax war materiel export rules.

Swiss weapons exports grew 20% in first half of 2025

UBS orders bankers to scale back sale of complex currency products

Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?

Some regions of the world are on an upward trajectory with the promise of a steadily improving future. Where do you live? And in which direction is your region or continent developing?

Join the discussion

Jul 21, 2025

33 Likes

22 Comments

View the discussion

Are you noticing or anticipating any changes in your life as a result of the tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump?

How do you think your life could be impacted by the US tariff policy? Let us know.

Join the discussion

Aug 5, 2025

16 Likes

17 Comments

View the discussion

What’s the smartest way for countries to compete for world-class research talent?

As the US slashes science funding and pressures universities, many researchers are considering a move. Should Switzerland try to entice them?

Join the discussion

Aug 4, 2025

6 Comments

View the discussion

Tourism in Switzerland

Climate change and sustainability in Swiss tourism

More

What is the future of glacier tourism in a world with less ice?

More

Climate change puts Swiss tourism to the test

More

New hope for cable cars and mountain huts threatened by permafrost collapse

More

‘Balancing growth and sustainability is the challenge of the century for the tourism sector’

More

Swiss Alps could profit from ‘heat escape’ tourism

Tourism and tourism flows

More

Mass tourism in Switzerland: beneficial or detrimental?

More

Italian-speaking Switzerland is more than just a weekend getaway

More

‘High costs are not prohibitive for premium destination Switzerland’

More

Fans of Netflix series disrupt peaceful Swiss village

Alpine tourism in transition

More

‘Swiss engineering at its best’: the steepest cable car in the world

More

Tensions between Jewish guests and Swiss locals in Davos: an explainer

More

150 years ago, the first woman conquered the Matterhorn

More

What iconic Swiss spots looked like 150 years ago

More

This profession calls for you to put your life at risk

More

Asian approach to life and skiing

Holiday homes and living in the Swiss Alps

More

‘The chalet is the first prefab house in history’

More

The Swiss Alps ski village that is luring nervous Americans

More

The Swiss Alps, a new Eldorado for real estate developers

More

Locals driven out by luxury homes in Swiss mountains

Icons of Swiss tourism

More

From Bond to Bollywood: scene-stealing Switzerland on the big screen

More

Rarefied beauty found in Alps and adverts

More

In the thrall of the mountain king

More

Einstein and the relativity of tourism exploitation

More

James Bond: half-Swiss, totally profitable

Holidays in Switzerland

More

Swiss vacationers jump on the ‘no kids’ holiday trend

More

‘No kids’ holidays are booming in Switzerland. Blatant discrimination or a stroke of genius?

More

What you need to know about hiking in Switzerland

More

How to travel like a local in Switzerland

Popular Stories

More

Most Swiss Abroad won’t be able to vote online in 2027 federal election

More

Behind the scenes: how impactful is Switzerland’s support for political prisoners?

More

Consular protection: more and more elderly Swiss are dying abroad

More

Swiss weapons exports grew 20% in first half of 2025

More

UBS orders bankers to scale back sale of complex currency products

Most Discussed

More

Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?

More

Are you noticing or anticipating any changes in your life as a result of the tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump?

More