How to spend a weekend in Thun, Switzerland’s lesser-known lakeside retreat

Perfectly punctual and impeccably polished, Switzerland's trains combine convenience and beauty. The country’s rail routes reach into its most remote corners, whether winding up to wind-beaten Alpine passes, skirting brilliantly blue lakes or gliding through valleys carpeted with wildflowers. To experience them at their best, make for the 800-mile Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, a series of train trips that encompass 11 lakes, five UNESCO World Heritage sites and four of the country's cultural regions. It’s a wonderful way to take travel at a slower pace, combining sleek city sophistication with high-altitude alpine adventure.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania might just be the next big hiking destinations.

With political turmoil worldwide, divided beliefs, and mandates facing ordinary citizens, the idea of creating your own country might seem like a dream. But with micronations launching around the world, this dream has become a reality despite not being recognized by governments.

Switzerland’s largest city may not (yet) draw the crowds of its other Western European counterparts, but it has more than enough of its share of panache to lure travelers and keep them engaged, entertained, and edified. The eminently walkable city, in spite of streets that zig and zag, is also increasingly bike-friendly. To wit: in 2024, Zurich will host Cycle Week, the national biking festival, and serve as the location for the annual Road and Para-Cycling Road World Championships. But you don’t need to ride competitively to enjoy Zurich’s myriad charms—gorgeous waterfront location, historic Old Town, sophisticated shopping, and artsy neighborhoods among them.

Known as the “playground of Europe,” this small mountainous country offers a wealth of Alpine adventures, from skiing and sledding down powdery slopes to exploring an extensive network of biking and hiking trails. But there is more to Switzerland than its breathtaking scenery. Here are 10 of the top ways to experience it.

Skiing in the Alps. Swimming in crystal clear lakes. Modern cities with medieval old towns. All that chocolate and cheese.

With its storybook alpine scenery, cultured lakeside cities, and miles of peerless pistes, Switzerland packs a lot into its landlocked borders. We consulted resident experts, from museum curators and musicians to hiking guides and authors, for their insider tips.

Recovery efforts are underway in Morocco following the massive 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country late Friday, killing more than 2,100 people, injuring thousands more, and leaving scores without a home to return to. 

A Swiss International Air Lines plane arrived at its destination without a single checked bag onboard.

Berlin, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Milan, and Zurich. Is two weeks in Europe enough time to explore all of these cities? 

Switzerland, for the second year in a row, topped U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the world’s best countries, marking its sixth time in the number one spot since 2017. Well known for its stunning mountains, lakes, and valleys—and for the cheese and chocolate from the cows that graze its verdant pasturelands—the Bernese Alps and the Jungfrau Region epitomize Switzerland. Here’s how to visit some of its highlights and experience why Switzerland’s quality of life and cultural influence are consistently ranked so high.

My older sister Melanie is the sun the rest of my family orbits around. In a way, she's my family's Taylor Swift.