With snow-capped Alps, forested hills, fairytale castles, Renaissance cathedrals, shimmering lakes, stylish spas and luxury ski resorts, it's easy to see why Switzerland has been one of the world's top tourist destinations for the past two centuries.

It is the country that fashioned tourism, so it's no surprise that Switzerland caters to visitors all year round. In spring and summer it offers lakeside chalets, mountain trails and spa resorts. In the sunny southern region of Ticino, near the Italian border, visitors will find palm-fringed Riviera-style resorts offering a variety of water sports. Those keen on hiking and mountaineering will find over 31,000 miles (50,000km) of mountain and forest trails throughout the country.

In November the country's ski resorts begin opening, and visitors pour in throughout the Christmas season and the crowds do not abate until the snow begins to melt with the onset of spring. With the highest pistes in Europe, Switzerland's ski runs offer reliable snow and breathtaking views. Most resorts also have plenty to do for those not so keen on skiing, making Switzerland the perfect destination for a winter fantasy of log fires, fondues and glistening snow.

Switzerland's cities are pristine and beautifully laid out with famous Swiss precision. Zurich is widely regarded as the intellectual and artistic centre of the country, sporting incredible architecture and more than a thousand fountains, with many museums and galleries to boot. Geneva is the principal city for the international community, and is home to hundreds of world organisations. Its setting on the shores of Lake Geneva gives it a romantic atmosphere, and the city has an exciting, if rather expensive, nightlife.

Fraumünster Church

Address: Am Münsterhofplatz Zurich

Admission: Free Monday to Saturday 9am-12pm, 2-6pm, Sunday 2-6pm (May to September); Monday to Saturday 10am to 12pm, 2-5pm Sunday 2-5pm (October, March to April); Monday to Saturday 9am-12pm, 2-4pm, Sunday 2-4pm (November to February). The church is closed for some services on Sundays

Telephone: 044 211 4100

Swiss National Museum

Address: Museumstrausse 2 Zurich

Admission: Sfr10 (adults), Sfr8 (concessions). Children under 16 free Daily except Mondays 10am to 5pm (until 7pm on Thursdays)

Telephone: 044 218 6511

Rhine Falls

Address: Schaffhausen Zurich

Telephone: 052 672 7455

Lake Geneva (Lac Léman)

Address: Geneva

Lausanne

Address: Geneva

Château de Chillon

Address: Avenue de Chillon 21 Geneva

Admission: Sfr12 (adults), Sfr6 (children 6-16). Concessions available. A guided tour costs Sfr6 extra for adults, no charge for children Open daily from 9am to 7pm (April to September), 9:30am to 6pm (March and October), 10am to 5pm (January, February, November, December). Closed 25 December and 1 January

Telephone: (0)21 966 8910

Bern

Address: Bernese Oberland

Kunsthaus Zurich (Fine Arts Museum)

Address: Heimplatz 1 Zurich

Admission: Collection: Sfr22 (adults), Sfr14 (concessions), children 16 and under free. Wednesday to Friday 10am to 8pm. Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday 10am to 6pm

Telephone: 044 253 84 84

Polybahn and Rigiblick Funiculars

Address: Polybahn: Central station (Hauptbahnhof). Rigiblick: Seilbahn Zurich

Admission: Polybahn: Monday to Friday 6:45am to 7:15pm. Rigiblick: Daily 5:20am to 12:40pm

Museum of Design Zurich

Address: Ausstellungsstrasse 60 Zurich

Admission: Sfr9 (adults), Sfr6 (concessions) Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, Wednesday 10am to 8pm

Telephone: 043 446 6767

Niederdorf

Address: Niederdorfstrasse Zurich

Zurich Zoo

Address: Zurichbergstrasse 221 Zurich

Admission: Sfr22 (adults), Sfr16 (age 16-25), Sfr11 (age 6-16). Children under age 6 are free. Daily from 9am to 6pm (March to October) and 9am to 5pm (November to February)

Telephone: 044 254 2505

Centre Le Corbusier

Address: Hoeschgasse 8 Zurich

Admission: Open July to September, Saturday and Sunday 2-5pm. Exterior viewable year round.

Jet d'Eau

Address: Quai du Général-Guisan Geneva

Admission: Open from 10am to 4pm in winter and 9am till 11.15pm in summer. Closed for three weeks in November for annual maintenance

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

Address: 17 Avenue de la Paix Geneva

Admission: Free Open daily except Tuesday from 10am to 5pm. Closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January

Telephone: (0)22 748 9525

St Peter's Cathedral

Address: Cour Saint-Pierre Geneva

Admission: Access to the tower Sfr8 (adults), Sfr4 (children). Combined admission to the Archaeological site and tower: Sfr16 (adults), Sfr8 (children) Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm and Sunday 12pm 6.30pm (1 October to 31 May). Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 6.30pm and Sunday 12pm to 5.30pm (1 June to 30 September)

Public Parks

Address: Place Neuve, Quai Gustave-Ador, Route du Lausanne and Jonction respectively Geneva

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Address: 10 rue des Vieux-Grenadiers Geneva

Admission: Sfr8 (adults), children free. Free from 3pm on the first Sunday of every month and 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month Open Tuesday to Friday, 12-6pm. Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm. Open from 12pm to 9pm on the first Wednesday of every month.

Telephone: (0)22 320 6122

Palais des Nations (United Nations)

Address: Pregny Gate, 14 avenue de la Paix Geneva

Admission: Sfr12 (adults), Sfr10 (students and seniors) and Sfr7 (children) Open daily from April to October from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm. July and August from 10am to 5pm. The rest of the year from Monday to Friday from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm, except over the Christmas period

Telephone: (0)22 917 4896

Plaine de Plainpalais Flea Market

Address: Plaine de Plainpalais Geneva

Admission: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6:30am to 6pm

Barbier-Mueller Museum

Address: 10 Rue Jean-Calvin Geneva

Admission: Sfr8 (adults), Sfr5 (concessions). Children under 12 years are free. Daily from 11am to 5pm

Telephone: (0)22 312 0270

Place Neuve

Address: Geneva

Museum of Art and History

Address: Rue Charles-Galland 2 Geneva

Admission: Permanent collection, free. Temporary exhibits: Sfr5 (adults), children under 18 free Tuesday to Sunday from 10am-6pm

Telephone: (0)22 418 2600

Patek Philippe Museum

Address: Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7 Geneva

Admission: Sfr10 (adults) Tuesday to Friday 2pm to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm

Telephone: (0)22 807 0910

Swiss Alps

Address: Zurich

Musée d'Historie Naturelle

Address: 1 Malagnou road Geneva

Admission: Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm

Telephone: 022 418 6300

Aquaparc

Address: 1987 Le Bouveret Geneva

Admission: Full day entry: EUR46 (adults); EUR38 (children) Open daily from 10:30am–7:30pm. Hours vary by season.

Telephone: 024 482 0010

Forestland

Address: 01220 Divonne-les-Bains Geneva

Admission: EUR19 (adults); EUR11.50 (children) Open daily from 10am to 7pm

Telephone: 450 205 394

La Ferme Foraine Bonaventure

Address: Route de Loex, 20, chemin des Blanchards Geneva

Admission: Open daily from April to October

Telephone: 079 203 5703

Happyland

Address: Rue du Foulon Geneva

Admission: Sfr25 (adults); Sfr22 (children) Open daily during season from 11am–6pm

Telephone: 027 458 3425

Glacier Express

Wedding and Honeymoon

Rico's Kunststuben

Address: Seestrasse 160, Küsnacht Zurich

Food Type: French

Kronenhalle

Address: Rämistrasse 4 (Right Bank) Zurich

Food Type: Local

Zunfthaus Zur Zimmerleuten

Address: Limmatquai 40 (Right Bank) Zurich

Food Type: Local

Zeughauskeller

Address: Bahnhofstrasse 28a, Paradeplatz (Left Bank) Zurich

Food Type: Local

Blaue Ente

Address: Seefeldstrasse 223 Zurich

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Veltliner Keller

Address: Schlüsselgasse 8 Zurich

Food Type: Local

Hummerbar

Address: Hotel St Gotthard, Bahnhofstrasse 87 Zurich

Food Type: Seafood

Café Bar Odéon

Address: Limmatquai 2 Zurich

Food Type: Café

Chez Crettol

Address: Florastrasse 22, Kusnacht Zurich

Food Type: Local

Seerose

Address: Seestrasse 493 Zurich

Food Type: International

Les Armures

Address: 1 Rue Puits-St-Pierre Geneva

Food Type: Local

Café des Bains

Address: Rue des Bains 26 Geneva

Food Type: Café

La Perle du Lac

Address: Rue de Lausanne 126 Geneva

Food Type: French

Café du Soleil

Address: Place du Petit-Saconnex 6, Petit-Saconnex Geneva

Food Type: Local

Auberge de Floris

Address: Route d'Hermance 287 Geneva

Food Type: French

Les Papilles de Lavinia

Address: Rue de Coutance 3bis Geneva

Food Type: Spanish

Parc des Eaux-Vives

Address: Quai Gustave-Ador 82 Geneva

Food Type: French

Heaven Lounge

Address: Rue Phillippe-Plantamour 25 Geneva

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

La Mamounia

Address: 10 boulevard George-Favon Geneva

Food Type: Moroccan

Le Chat-Botte

Address: Quai du Mont-Blanc 13 Geneva

Food Type: French

Locanda Ticinese

Address: 13 Rue Rousseau Geneva

Food Type: Italian

L'Ange des Dix Vins

Address: 29 Rue Jacques-Dalphin Geneva

Food Type: French