Summer holiday in a mountainous country

Switzerland is traditionally considered a winter holiday destination. But besides ski resorts there are about 140 lakes with purest water. Approximately 10% – these are full-fledged water resorts, where you can swim, and sunbathe, and engage in water sports. The warm lakes Lago Marjor and Lugano in the sunny "Italian" Switzerland – Canton Ticino. Then Zurich Lake, Geneva Lake (Lac Lehman), Firwaldstessky (It is Lucerne) Lake, two lakes in Interlaken – Brienz and Tun.

Even in relatively cold Swiss lakes, you can swim in July, August. Moreover, there are even engaged in diving. Very developed yachting and windsurfing. Beaches have paid and free, pebble and sandy. Some hotels are straight on the shore with their beach stripe. Basically it is 5 * hotels, but there are not so many such hotels. There are many cultural and historical landmarks around the lakes that give an excellent opportunity for a full-fledged holiday with an interesting excursion program.

Combined tours in Switzerland are noticeable (city plus lake). Sometimes several lakes are included in the tours: first, then the lake, where you can just buy, then to where there is a thermal resort, then in the mountains. The thermal resorts on the lakes belongs, for example, Iverdon-le-Ban on the lake Neuchatel.

Most Swiss resorts have created conditions for a full-fledged recreation with children. Family apartments and hotels, resorts for children are marked with Families Welcome /"Here are welcome families". There are a wide variety of services: from renting strollers for the kid to the night in Indian Wigwam for teenagers.
KidShotels specializes in family holidays.

Italian Switzerland

They say here, in the south of the Alps, the Mediterranean begins: palm trees, alleys and streets running to "Sea", Clean beaches of Swiss-Italian lakes Lago Maggiore and Lugano. This is a Ticino Italy-speaking Canton, adjacent to the border with Italy.

Lugano resembles Italy. This is the resort of the water and the sun, located between the mountains, whose slopes go down to the shores of the lake. The largest beaches here paid. This Paradiso (Piscina Conca d’Oro), VIALE CASTAGNOLA (Lido Lugano) and Castagnola (Lido San Domenico). There are many active entertainment: windsurfing, sailing, paragliding, mountain bike and t.D.

There are some interesting museums, a magnificent park with a subtropical greens and a rosary. Not far from Lugano in Melide is an interesting park "Switzerland in miniature" (SwissminiaTur), where in scale 1:25 the most famous objects and buildings of the country, as well as suspended cable and railways are reproduced

From Lugano, you can go without a visa to Italy, more precisely, in its enclave Campiona, located on the territory of Switzerland. Here is one of the four Italian casinos. Taxi from Lugano will cost about 50 euros. "Sea" much cheaper.

Ascona – a resort town on Lake Lago Maggiore – call "Pearl" Ticino. Here 2300 hours a year shines the sun. This is a very calm city. Even on the embankment there is no resort bustle, as not and large department stores, transport traffic is prohibited here. From Ascona It is interesting to go to the island of Brissag, where there is a unique subtropical botanical garden. There are growing, for example, seventener lilies.

Locarno – another popular resort on Lago Maggiore. In his priesel zone there is everything you need for rest. The central square of Piazza Grande is known for the entire world, where the main events of the International Film Festival are held. He is the third in Europe after Cannes and Berlinsky. This year it will be held from August 3 to 13. And every year in July, the jazz festival is held here.

Swiss Riviera

So often refer to the Swiss coast of the Lake Geneva, implying cities: Geneva – Lausanne – Montreux / Vyuva. Vineyards on mountain slopes, towns that are drowned in colors, water surface, which reflects the towers of cathedrals and spiers of the castles, form a delightful landscape of the Swiss Riviera. Here are more than twenty public beaches (mostly small pebbles). They are drawn by a chain from Lutry to Villeneuve through Cully, St. Saphorin, Vevey, La Tour-Le-Peliz, Clarans and Montreux. Two of them (La Riquettaz and La Budaz) in the town of Epeses – from those that we call "wild", the rest are equipped with shower, more than half – changing rooms.

Rest near the water on Riviera can be different – serenely calm or active: entertainment on the water, horse riding, tennis, all the more fashionable Nordic Walking (Scandinavian walking / hiking with ski sticks). In the evening – visit local restaurants and concert halls.

Geneva, it is where the lake turns into the Ron River, which then continues its current in France. On the lake and the river go boats, boats and pleasure steamers.

The most popular beach in the city center – Plage Des Paquis not far from the Hilton Geneve 5 *. He is arranged on a vololate leaving "sea" meters on three hundred. The bathing area is partially covered with sand, partly – wooden carriages. There is here "area" for water polo, cabin-changer, where you can leave things, a cafe works. Swan splash. From here, the Quai du Mont-blanc embankment begins, where many sunbathe in sunny weather. Further on the shore, at the end of the park area, passing along the street Rue de Lausanne, is La Reposoir Beach. On the left bank along the Quai Gustave-Ador embankment are located "Children’s beach" (Baby Plage) and "Geneva Beach" GENEVE PLAGE.

The most notable landmark of the city is a 140-meter fountain "D’O" (Jet d’Eau), beating from the lake, perhaps the world’s largest. Other notable places include the UN’s European Headquarters; International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent; Cathedral of St. Peter; Floral clock with the world’s longest second arrow 2.5 m near the hotel Swiss Hotel Geneve Metropole; Botanical Garden, Art and History Museums, Ethnography, Natural Sciences, Automotive, Red Cross. In the city about 30 museums.

Lausanne.

"Capital" Frank-speaking Switzerland and world sports – there are headquarters of the International Olympic Committee and an interesting Olympic Museum. World masterpieces of park art include Olympic Park, Botanical Garden, Emission. Cathedral (XIII in.) in Lausanne – the most significant Gothic architectural monument in Switzerland. Wonderful impressions promises a cruise on a wheeled steamhouse. It is interesting to visit the chocolate factory Diegri and in the confectionery rapp.

Here are beautiful medical clinics. Fabulous journey to health sources can be performed in the thermal center of Iverdon-le-Ban.

Lovely Cuisine in Folk Restaurants: Cafe Des Artistes, Chalet Suisse or Casino Grand Cafe. A warm welcome waiting for guests in Vinoteca De Bourg and Le Loui. Lausanne has one of their most prestigious clubs of Switzerland MAD.
Montreux is called the most romantic resort of Swiss Riviera. He was the second home for many writers, artists, artists. Among them, Byron, Hugo, Shelley, Charlie Chaplin. Luxurious Historic Hotel Le Montreux Palace 5 * has lived in the last years of Vladimir Nabokov. In the park of the Small Palace, that across the road from the hotel, its sculpture is installed.

Not far from the city feature is Schilon Castle (XIII in.) – one of the most beautiful historical monuments of Switzerland. From Vöva, you can go on a tour of "Grape train" In the village of Schabr, which is famous for its wine cellars.

Montreux – City of Festivals. Throughout the year, Festivals of Cinemies, Colors, Classical Music, Humor are held here. Most prestigious – "Jazz festival" (Montreux Jazz Festival), which is held every July from 1967. Here were Bob Dylan, b.B. King, Chick Corea, Ray Charles. This year the festival will be held from July 1 to July 16. The sculptural busts of many celebrities visited here are exhibited on the Alley of the stars passing along the shore of the lake.

Montreux and located a little west of VEVEY often unite as Montreux-Vevey-Riviera. Vyuva is not inferior to Montreux by the number of celebrities living in it. On his outskirts is the estate of Charlie Chaplin, where his son lives. Here are a lot of wine cellars. Among them, Vieu-Bourg (Vieux-Bourg), Bovy, Bacchus, Le Scanavin. Ukrainian dishes are perfectly prepared in the Kyiv restaurant.

Zurich Lake (Zurichsee) is drawn into the city, reaching the center, where turns into the Limmat River. In Zurich, you can perfectly connect holidays in nature with urban pleasures. Here, for example, is Banhefstrasse – one of the most famous shopping streets of Europe, Niederdorf Street with a pedestrian zone, street musicians, wine and beer. Additional area attractions include Grossmünster City Cathedral; Former female monastery Fraumyunster; Church of St. Peter (with the largest clock in Europe, in diameter more Big Ben); Zurich Opera; Museum Kunsthaus with Collections of Mulk, Mana, Matisse, Cesanna, Picasso, Chagal.

This year in Zurich "Teddy summer". The action under this title passes here from May 23 to September 18. On the streets and squares of the city, in the shop windows there are many teddy bear, dressed in Japanese kimono, Scottish cell, jeans, tuxedo. Culmination August 20-21, when the X International Festival of Teddy Bears Comes.

Lucerne

This city at the Lake Company (VierwaldStaettersee / Lake "Four cantons") It is among the top ten most interesting tourist regions of the world and is considered a place for travelers with big requests. Two green resort zones are adjacent to the city, where you can sunbathe. To the services of outdoor activities sailboats, boats, windsurfing, water skiing and bicycles.

The symbol of the city is an architectural ensemble that forms the oldest in Europe (XIV in.) Very beautiful wooden KapellBruECKE Wooden Bridge and an octagonal water tower adjacent to it (Wasserturm). Very expressive "Dying Lev" – Sculptural monument to the Swiss guardsmen who fell, defending the French king in the battle of Tuileries in 1792. Mark Twain called him "The saddest monument in the world". In the city, eight museums, among them very interesting – Museum of Transport and Communications. Resting in Lucerne, it is impossible not to climb Pilatus. The stunning landscape from the top (2120 m) and the path to it by the coolest railroad in the world (maximum tilt – 48 degrees).

Interlaken

The city is located in the canton of Bern Alps between Lakes Brinz (Brienzersee) and Tun (Thunersee). These are stunning beauty places. Felix Mendelson wrote: "Who did not see the landscape of interlaken, he did not see Switzerland". Here are huge opportunities for outdoor activities: lake cruises, hiking mountains, rafting, sailing, swimming and even diving. Lovers of acute sensations can jump from a tarzanka from the Statercar cliff, flying to Paraglider or overcome the bottomless gorge on the stretched cable. Guides will definitely show "face of a monk" On the sheer cliff and tell the legend associated with this image.

In Interlaken there is a museum of tourism, museum of children’s railways, zoo, Kursaal casino, thematic informative and equational complex Mystery Park, where the main topic is riddles associated with aliens. Admires the Panorama of the Mountain Giant Eiger (3970 m), Myung (4109 m) and Jungfrau (4158 m). At the mark of 3454 m, the most high-altitude railway station of Europe Jungfraujoch. This place is called "Roof of the Mira". Here, under the 30-meter thick ice, is located "Ice Palace". On the cable car you can climb to the top of Schilthorn (2970 m) and sit in the restaurant where the film about James Bond took.