Swiss Switch: Why You Should Spend Summer in the Land of Milk & Honey
In the winter, you can’t open a bottle of bubbly without spraying a Local Foreigner team member on the slopes of Switzerland; in the summer, things are calmer but no less scenic. Impossibly blue snow-fed lakes sit at the base of cartoonishly picturesque mountains dotted with lacy edelweiss blooms that bob in the breeze. The overall effect is that of stepping into a screensaver - if you feel inclined to yodel, no one will blame you. But even if you don’t start singing, the hills will be alive with the sound of music (despite the fact that the movie was filmed in neighboring Austria), as music festivals highlighting everything from organ to jazz to metal to techno keep the energy going through the long, lovely days. Fans of folklore, extreme running, classic cars, and contemporary art will also find lots to love. And everyone comes together on August 1 for Swiss National Day, which is marked with fireworks, bonfires, rosti and sausages, and plenty of regional wine. Read on for five of Switzerland’s most stunning spots to visit this summer, and where to stay when you’re in town.
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
Lucerne International Organ Festival
July 3 to July 11, 2026
Lucerne Festival
August 13-September 13, 2026
Lucerne
The iconic image of Lucerne is the Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, its window boxes stuffed with magenta geraniums. Swans swim underneath and then look back at you over their swan-shoulders. There are 16th-century clock towers you can climb, unicorn fountains, and painted facades, and in the summer, diners at the riverfront restaurants and cafes linger late into the evening (though you’ll be forgiven for losing track of time when the sun sets at 9:15PM.) But the main event here is the lake, which is best explored by boat - you can pedal or you can paddle, but we’re traveling by sauna boat, a floating sauna that allows the freedom to dive into the cold lake and then warm up in your own steamy cabin. The novelty transportation doesn’t have to stop there, either, as there are several different cable cars and the world’s steepest cogwheel railway in the vicinity to take advantage of the alpine views. And should a phrase from Tchaikovsky or Strauss catch your ear as you’re wondering how one city can possibly be so idyllic, you’re not going crazy - it’s just the sounds of the annual Lucerne Festival, which brings luminaries like Yo-Yo Ma and Amanda Gorman to the shores of the lake in late summer.
Where to Stay:
Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern
In the late 19th century, travelers journeyed to Lake Lucerne to treat a host of ailments. These days, if you’re feeling sick and tired of not living in a postcard, some time at the Mandarin Oriental will fix you right up. A stunning Belle Époque palace crowned with a patinaed copper dome, the Mandarin Oriental Palace faces the panoramic expanse of the lake. Rooms are restrained and contemporary, but retain beautiful details that hearken to days past - the herringbone parquet floors are especially sharp. In the summer months, the city’s buzzing Seebad Lake Pool is docked directly in front of the property, perfect for a bracing dip in the healing waters.
Festival da Jazz St. Moritz
July 2-26, 2026
The British Classic Car Meeting
July 10-12, 2026
St. Moritz
Twice host to the Winter Olympics and the mountain landscape most people picture when they close their eyes and think of the Swiss Alps, St. Moritz is widely celebrated as the birthplace of Alpine winter sports, which is precisely what makes it so quietly magical in summer. When the last of the winter crowds depart, the town settles into a state of unhurried ease: wildflowers in violet and amber bloom freely across the hillsides, the grass turns an almost impossible shade of green, and the pace of life slows to match the long, golden evenings. The Romans were the first to recognize what the valley had to offer, drawing travelers to its mineral springs long before the ski lifts arrived, and that restorative spirit lingers still. A soak in the thermal waters with the Engadin peaks rising around you has a way of dissolving whatever you carried here with you, and the surrounding silence does the rest. The town itself, despite a permanent population of just 5,000, punches well above its weight at the table, with a two-Michelin-starred restaurant a highlight in a dining scene that has long catered to some of the world's most discerning guests.
Where to Stay:
Kulm Hotel St. Moritz
It was Johannes Badrutt and his wife Maria Berry who first put St. Moritz on the map, transforming the Engadin Valley from a summer retreat into a year-round destination and, in doing so, giving birth to winter tourism as we know it. Their hotel, the Kulm, remains the spiritual heart of that story: its dining room and entrance are still rich with the historic florals and deep red accents of its origins, while a recent renovation by architect Norman Foster has woven in a contemporary sensibility and a thoughtful commitment to sustainability. In summer, the Kulm comes into its own as a destination for families and couples alike, with a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a 2,000-square-metre spa offering eleven distinct spaces for relaxation, from pools and saunas to a full fitness suite.
Art Basel (70-minute drive from Zurich)
June 18–21, 2026
Street Parade Zurich
August 8, 2026
Theater Spektakel — International Theatre on the Lake
August 13 – 30, 2026
Zurich
Zurich is famous as the home of Lindt Chocolate, but its summer sweetness extends well beyond red foil packaging. Switzerland's largest city ranks among the world's highest for quality of life, and it wears its popularity with visitors gracefully. With just a touch of snow still dusting the surrounding Alps, slip on your sandals and make your way to the sparkling turquoise water, or take a page out of the locals’ book and dive headfirst into the cool Limmat River. If you'd rather stay dry, there are plenty of boats cruising the city's waterways, where the pale green steeple of Fraumünster rises against a brilliant blue sky. Food and walking tours offer a chance to taste that iconic chocolate alongside delicate cheeses and local sweets like Tirggel (thin honey-spiced cookies) and Straumann Hüppen, long wafers filled with creamy chocolate. And threading through it all, the sounds of jazz, rock, and blues drift through the Gothic lanes of the Old Town, swelling to a roar during the city's legendary summer street parades.
Where to Stay:
Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich
Housed in Zurich's oldest grand hotel - originally opened in 1838 - the Mandarin Oriental Savoy stands on Paradeplatz, right at the city's beating heart. The historic property has welcomed everyone from Franz Liszt to Charles Dickens, yet this grande dame feels anything but dated thanks to a recent reimagining by Parisian designer Tristan Auer. His interiors weave together polished marble, elegant herringbone wood floors, and soft tawny seating with curated local art and waterfall chandeliers. With Zurich's most celebrated churches steps away and Lake Zurich shimmering at the front door (not to mention the legendary boutiques of Bahnhofstrasse within easy reach), it is difficult to imagine a more perfectly positioned address in the city. Dining, too, rarely requires venturing far: guests can sample contemporary cuisine at Orsini, Mediterranean flavors at Baur, or settle in at the rooftop bar 1838 for sweeping views over the city as the evening light fades over the Alps.
The Folklore Festival
August 8 & 9, 2026
The Matterhorn Ultraks
August 21-23, 2026
Zermatt
The air in Zermatt is unlike anything else in the Alps. The town has been car-free since its founding, leaving the mountain atmosphere pristine and clean, carrying a soft, resinous scent of Swiss pine and the earthier notes of European larch. It was in 1865 that climbers from across the world first descended on this quiet village in a race to summit the Matterhorn, and the ambition that arrived with them never quite left. Today, Zermatt draws skiers, hikers, and dreamers in equal measure. The surrounding peaks hold their snow year-round, meaning the slopes are rarely out of reach, and on a clear run the views are almost as exhilarating as the descent. For those who prefer their mountains at a more contemplative pace, the Five Lakes Trail winds through alpine meadows past a series of glacial lakes, each one reflecting the Matterhorn on a still day in a scene that feels almost too perfect to be real. Back in the village, the historic lanes reward unhurried exploration, and the dining, including several Michelin-recognized restaurants within a few minutes' walk of one another, offers the full warmth of Swiss cuisine, fondue very much included.
Where to Stay:
Mont Cervin Palace
Run by the Seiler family for over 150 years, the Mont Cervin Palace remains Zermatt's most storied hotel. Its 160 rooms are spread across four buildings, where pine floors and wooden ceilings give the interiors the warmth of an alpine retreat, while large windows frame the village and the peaks beyond. The hotel draws families and couples in equal measure, with a world-class spa, fitness center, pool, ski room, and four restaurants (two of which hold Michelin stars). What sets Mont Cervin apart, though, is a genuinely attentive staff and the sense of hospitality that 150 years of looking after guests has produced.
The Fête de la Musique
June 19–21, 2026
The Lake Parade
July 1, 2026
Geneva
Birthplace of the United Nations, home to the Red Cross headquarters, and the city that shaped Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Geneva carries more world-defining history per square mile than almost anywhere else in Europe. But it’s the sunny lakeside and the rhythm of its daily life that draw most visitors today. Switzerland's second-largest city works equally well as a destination in its own right or a starting point for mountain excursions. The cobblestone streets of the Old Town wind past landmarks like St. Peter's Cathedral and open onto lively squares lined with small cafés, perfectly suited to long, unhurried afternoons. Visitors of all ages can assemble their own Swiss Army Knife to take home at the Victorinox flagship store, and the lakefront deserves a proper stroll: the Jet d'Eau sends a plume of water 140 meters into the sky above Lake Geneva, while the nearby Horloge Fleurie, a working clock laid out entirely in flowers, pays quiet tribute to the city's long tradition of watchmaking.
Where to Stay:
The Woodward, Auberge Collection
Housed in a grand Belle-Époque building from 1901, the Woodward has been reimagined by architect Pierre-Yves Rochon into an all-suite lakeside sanctuary. From the suites - many of which feature marble fireplaces, bespoke bookcases, Lalique touches, and all of which offer impeccable views - you’ll watch reflections dance across the water and snow-capped Alps beyond. And you’ll eat well without leaving the property: L’Atelier Robuchon, Geneva’s only two-Michelin-star venue, offers destination dining, while Le Jardinier serves lighter, plant-driven plates. The Guerlain Spa spans two floors, boasting the city’s longest indoor pool, multiple saunas and steam rooms, and luxurious treatment rooms, perfect for relaxing before or after a trip up the mountains.
The Palace Riviera at Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern
Created for the hotel’s 120th anniversary. Enjoy private cruising on a historic vessel on Lake Lucerne, spa, dining and butler service. Valid through April 2027.
Inclusions: Accommodation in a signature suites, A two-hour private boat cruise on Lake Lucerne, Rolls-Royce airport transfers, A culinary credit of CHF 250 per adult for use at MOzern, Quai 10 Terrace, Minamo (one Michelin-starred omakase), or Colonnade (two Michelin-starred modern French cuisine), A one-hour spa treatment per adult, A personal butler available daily from 7am to 11pm, Bottle of Champagne upon arrival
