Touring companies in Switzerland offer different types of tours. There are short tours that last two hours or less, providing a brief glimpse into a city or an intense look at a few things. These tours a great for children, whose attention may wander before long. City tours are often shorter than others and may include storytelling. Another option are three- to four-hour tours, which cover more area and more information. These tours often take tourists by bus through historical monuments and important sites. Even longer tours are also available. Most tours into the Alps or to visit a specific mountain are day-long tours. Most tour companies also offer bus tours, walking tours or combination tours involving bus and boat transportation. One touring company in Zurich even operates a trolley tour.
It can be a little daunting to choose between the variety of tours available. Start with a tour of the city where you first arrive. If you are trying to make a trip up to the Alps, be aware that the particular tour you want may depart from a different city. You may have to make special accommodations.
Each city has exciting and interesting local attractions that can't be missed. In Zurich, one of the most popular tours takes the visitor to the Zurich Zoo, home to wildlife creatures and perfect for kids. Other important sites in Zurich include Lake Zurich and the famed Chagall stained glass windows in the Fraumunster Church. Tours in Geneva will take the tourist through the city's world peacemaking center. Other tours will travel through Old Town Geneva for old buildings and older history. Something else not to miss on your trip to Switzerland: the Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall. Tours to this exciting location leave from Zurich.
Many mountains make up the Swiss Alps, and tours to the biggest and most important mountains are easy to find. A tour to Mount Pilatus takes you 7,000 feet above sea level in a cogwheel train up the steep incline of the mountain. Another exciting tour through the Alps is a tour of Mount Titlis, a peak that boast glacial peaks reached by a cable car. The peaks are snowy year round and provide tourists with a chance to touch the snow and ice, no matter what time of year. Mount Hoher Kasten provides a yummy taste of the Alps, with a chocolate factory, a cheese factory and a castle. The nearby towns at the base of this beautiful peak provide all the riches Switzerland is famous for. If you cannot choose, some touring companies offer bus passes to visit all of these mountains.
Throughout the year, the Swiss Alps are at risk for avalanches. Exercise caution and follow posted signs to ensure safety. It is recommended that travelers purchase travel and international medical insurance, in case of an alpine incident. Traveling and hiking through the mountains can be dangerous, no matter the time of year. When on a tour, do not leave the tour group and avoid disrupting the wildlife and habitats.
