Switzerland

Landlocked, fiercely independent and neutral for the past 800 years, Switzerland is a country of beautiful mountainous scenery, clockwork organisation and delicious chocolate, attracting thousands of visitors every year. However, Switzerland isn’t cheap, and many choose to bank their money here instead.

Zürich is a distinctly Germanic city, with its old town clustered around the northern end of Lake Zurich and straddling the Limmat river. The winding alleyways are full of 16th and 17th-century houses, guildhalls and courtyards. By night the area is lively. Bahnhofstrasse is built on the site of the city walls, beneath is the world’s single biggest bank-vault booty. The Museum of Fine Arts is a source of national pride, and locals love to picnic, sunbathe and swim along the lakes shoreline during the summer.

Lucerne epitomizes Switzerland’s picture postcard image, surrounded by mountains, lakes, alpine villages and meadows full of edelweiss. The charming town straddles the Reuss River on the western edge of Lake Lucerne and makes an excellent base for excursions.

Geneva is truly international with more than 200 organisations based there, leaving it somewhat highbrow and dour, as well as expensive. Howeverm, it is a lovely, historic city, on the western end of Lac Leman. Its old town is delightful, dominated by the Romanesque and Gothic styled Cathedral St Pierre, and the Place du Bourg-de-Four (square). It’s loaded with museums, including the Museum of Art and History, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum Horology Museum and the Voltaire Museum. Strolling along the lakeshore is lovely, there are many parks and bathing areas and a giant fountain to admire.

Bonn, is a typical capital city, full of politicians, but historic and interesting non-the-less.