Although this article is less about snow: even when you’re staying in a city, you don’t have to miss out on a hike in a snow-covered forest: The Uetliberg near Zurich, the Pilatus near Lucerne and the Gurten near Bern offer, with a bit of weather luck, wonderful hikes on the street or covered in snow. But winter has much more to offer in the cities: Instead of the lively bustle on the terraces and in the public outdoor swimming pools, friends and acquaintances now meet for cozy evenings with mulled wine, fondue or raclette, for example, in one of the numerous restaurants that convey a sense of the Swiss mountain world, even in the middle of a city.
There’s no shortage of exciting leisure activities either: as a former ice hockey player, I can only recommend a visit to a game in Switzerland’s top league (with the highest attendance after the American NHL). The game is fast, the atmosphere is noisy but quiet, even in very well-filled stadiums, and although the players skate on the ice, the temperatures in the stands are pleasant. Active athletes can also try ice skating. Ice skating is a popular pastime for young and old alike and is offered at low cost from mid-October to early March on artificial ice rinks and includes boot rental. And of course, especially in the cold months of November, December, January, February and March, the museums and exhibitions offer a welcome opportunity to recharge your batteries for other activities after exploring the old towns.
Here you can directly find more information about the excursions offered by Destination Switzerland to the visiting cities:
- Private tour of Zürich West
- Half-day private tour of Zurich
- Day tour with guide in Zurich
- Private tour of Bern
- Private tour of Basel
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