Switzerland has been enjoying a great popularity among Taiwanese and travelers from the whole world. The reasons behind this success are the beauty of Switzerland's nature -- particularly its alpine scenery -- as well as its number of picturesque cities and towns with their long history and their influence of four cultures - the German, French, Italian and Romanish. Nowhere else in Europe is it possible to see such a variety of cultures and scenery as in Switzerland -- and all within a country that is only slightly larger than Taiwan.
Switzerland has one of the most efficient, safe and reliable transport systems in the world and travel is therefore easy and fast. Travelers to Switzerland have plenty of time for sightseeing, because they do not need to waste time on long transfers. Switzerland also offers world famous scenic trains -- such as the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express or the Golden Pass, that take the traveler on a comfortable journey through Switzerland's most beautiful scenery.
Exciting destinations
Popular destinations in Switzer-land include the cities Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lausanne and the alpine areas such as the Jungfrau area and the Matterhorn Region. There are new destinations, though, that will soon be classics among Swiss Destinations.
Engadin Area / St Moritz
A very popular area in Switzerland among European travelers is the Engadin in the Southeast -- a beautiful Alpine plateau situated around the famous resort St Moritz at an altitude of 1800m above sealevel. The stunning mountain scenery, the numerous lakes and the many picturesque villages with the distinctive Engadin architectural style make this valley especially appealing.
In addition the Engadin is one of the sunniest places in the whole country -- the sun shines here for an average of 320 days per year. The Engadin has much to offer: cable cars to the scenic mountains Diavolezza or Piz Nair that take the traveler right into a fantastic Alpine world, great nature for activities in all seasons, tradition and history in the old picturesque villages and a modern spa center in Scuol.
Last but not least: St Moritz is not only the starting point for the world-famous Glacier Express, but also of the Bernina Express -- one of the most scenic train rides in the world. In the just over 2 hours from St Moritz to Italian Tirano the train passes several glaciers, crosses the Bernina Pass at 2250m above seal level, then takes the steep descend to the Poschiavo.
After Poschiavo the train further winds down the legendary curved viaduct of Brusio arriving in Tirano in Italy -- an incredible 1,800m lower than where it was just 90 minutes ago.
Glacier3000
Imagine this: the mild climate of the Lake Geneva's Riviera around Montreux-Lausanne, where people like Charles Chaplin or Audrey Hepburn chose to live, and where one can take a swim in the lake in the warm summer months -- and just an hour away a world of ice and snow.
This is Glacier3000 -- a new destination in the Lake Geneva region. Modern cable cars and a brand new mountaintop restaurant designed by internationally acclaimed architect Mario Botta, just opened in June 2001, make this a new popular destination and is expected to be replacing overcrowded Chamonix/Mont Blanc on many tour itineraries in the next years.
At Glacier3000 travelers can experience snow and ice all year round. A unique activity only offered in Glacier3000 is a snowbus ride. It takes the travelers on a trip on the eternal ice of the glacier and for 40 minutes makes the traveler forget that they are only an hour away from the mild climate of the Lake Geneva.
Hiking
A visit to any alpine area in Switzerland on a sunny weekend reveals one of Swiss people's favorite leisure time activities: hiking. Young and old, families and friends enjoy hiking in the beautiful Swiss Alps. Hiking is the ideal way to keep healthy by exercising and breathing the fresh mountain air and at the same time relax and refresh the spirit when enjoying the nature of the Swiss Alps.
Switzerland is the perfect hiking country: it has a large network of clearly sign-posted hiking trails -- from short walks for the beginners to routes over several days for the advanced. The excellent connection to the mountain railways and cable cars, that allow even inexperienced hikers or busy participants of a package tour to enjoy a breathtaking scenery while walking an easy trail without many ups and downs.
While most places in Switzerland offer great hiking, particularly recommended are the St Moritz / Engadin area, the Jungfrau area (Grindelwald / Murren) and the Matterhorn (Saas Fee, Zermatt) region, because they offer excellent, well-maintained hiking trails suitable even for beginners and at the same time some of Switzerland's best alpine scenery.
Hiking is most enjoyable in summer or autumn. In summer, the meadows are full of Alpine flowers and fresh greenery. In autumn the air is clear and the view in the mountains is excellent. The leaves on the trees are turning yellow and the first snow falls on the mountain peaks -- an impressive combination of colors.
Even in winter, many people enjoy hiking: a large number of hiking trails are maintained all throughout the winter -- offering the unique opportunity to hike through a snow-covered ferry-tale like landscape. In spring it is recommended to hike in the lower valleys, where the fresh green covers the landscape and the flowers are in full bloom.
For further information on Switzerland, visit the Web site: www.MySwitzerland.com
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