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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Switzerland

130 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Switzerland

Updated November 23, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Switzerland

Gruyères, Switzerland

H.R. Giger Museum

The bizarre visions of H.R. Giger, tucked away in a Swiss medieval city.

Wasserauen, Switzerland

Berggasthaus Aescher Wildkirchli

This 170-year-old Swiss guesthouse built into the side of a mountain is best accessed by a cable car.

Ennetbürgen, Switzerland

Hammetschwand Elevator

The tallest outdoor elevator in Europe rockets passengers on a dizzyingly precarious ride to the top of a mountain.

Boudry, Switzerland

Saut de Brot

This lovely little bridge hidden in a Switzerland gorge is essentially a fairytale.

Beatenberg, Switzerland

St. Beatus Cave

Caves famous for the dragon-slaying saint who lived there.

Bern, Switzerland

The Child Eater of Bern

A nearly 500-year-old sculpture depicts a man eating a sack of babies, and no one is sure why.

Gadmen, Switzerland

Trift Bridge

This amazing pedestrian suspension bridge in the Swiss Alps would give Indiana Jones nightmares.

Neuheim, Switzerland

Höllgrotten Caves

These spooky and unusual stone formations create an underworldly landscape.

See All 130 Things To Do in Switzerland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Switzerland

Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Schilthorn Piz Gloria

A cablecar-station-turned-revolving restaurant with 360-degree views of the Swiss skyline.

Zurich, Switzerland

Oepfelchammer

A 200-year-old tavern challenges guests to finish a glass of wine while hanging from a ceiling beam.

Vevey, Switzerland

La Fourchette (The Fork)

At 929 pounds and 26 feet tall, this stainless steel fork can only be used by the likes of King Kong.

Kaltbach, Switzerland

Kaltbach Cave

A 22-million-year-old sandstone cave is a natural habitat for award-winning cheese.

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Explore Switzerland

Museums And Collections 16 Art 16 Mountains 10 Architectural Oddities 10 Statues 8 Literature 8 Water 7 Bridges 7 Monuments 6 Hotels 6 Animals 6 Fountains 5 Unique Restaurants & Bars 4 Places To Stay 4

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Stories About Switzerland

The Return of Swiss Cheese Baths

Melting into a tub of whey has a long history in the Alps.

by Oriana Pauli

An Ancient Roman Cult's Rituals Included Feasting, Fire, and Floor Cleaning

To uncover new clues about the secretive world of Mithraism, scientists considered evidence right at their feet.

by Nathaniel Scharping

How in the World Did Luge Happen?

The secret of the slide, from ancient Germanic tribes to tony Alpine resorts.

by Dan Nosowitz

February 14, 2022

Drawing a Bead on a Mummy’s Ancient Arsenal

Ötzi’s 5,300-year-old hunting kit could offer clues about how life was lived in Copper Age Europe.

by Isaac Schultz

December 31, 2019

The Valley of the Cheese of the Dead

In this remote Swiss town, residents spent a lifetime aging a wheel for their own funeral.

by Molly McDonough

October 24, 2019

Swaddling Glaciers in Blankets Isn’t the Oddest Idea for Extending Their Lives

As glaciers and ice sheets keep dwindling, scientists are proposing everything they can think of.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

August 23, 2019

The Swiss City That’s Full of Cat Ladders

A photographer captured Bern's eclectic and charming feline structures.

The Swiss Festival That Starts When the Cows Come Home

Six courses, eight hours, and foods you won’t find anywhere else.

by Molly Harris

December 11, 2018

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