Luxury hotel holidays to Swiss Cities

Luxury holidays to Swiss Cities: luxury hotel holidays, touring holidays and special interest holidays

An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the cities of Switzerland incorporates less-explored yet truly fascinating parts of the country. This section of our Swiss programme encapsulates those cities in Switzerland that lie outside the main cultural regions but have their own charm and history that makes them interesting and fulfilling destinations to include as part of your Swiss touring holiday. For details about Bern, Zurich, Geneva, and Lucerne, please follow the appropriate links to their region homepages. Though comparatively undiscovered by the tourist eye, many cities in Switzerland, particularly those lying on the borders between Switzerland and other European countries, provide a wealth of activity and fascinating insight that cannot be found elsewhere. Basel, for example, has one of the most beautiful Old Towns in the country, and is a haven for artistic minds from across the continent. Expressions Holidays therefore highly recommends tying these other cities into your tour across Switzerland, to achieve a far more rounded, inclusive impression of this fantastic, diverse country.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Our special interest holidays to the Swiss cities

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Highlights of Basel

Basel sits within the border triangle between France, Germany, and Switzerland; for this reason it brings together a range of cultures, styles, and languages, which makes for a lively and absorbing stay. The Rhine River carves its way through the city centre, establishing many picturesque spots on the course of its meander for lunch in a pavement café, an afternoon walk on the promenade, or simply a long pause to take in the views from one of the bridges. The quirky houses lining the river bank have more than a touch of the distinctive German influence in their architecture, which also spills over into Alsace across the French border. To truly appreciate the views of Basel from the water, take a ferry across from one side to the other, or a longer boat trip.

Cultural highlights of Basel

We would recommend seeking out Basel's most popular artistic venues, be it in one of the museums and galleries, or simply beneath one of the hundreds of statues, carved by the likes of Pablo Picasso, that dot the streets. The Fondation Beyeler is the most visited museum in Switzerland, a reputation it has gained from its millions of satisfied visitors who come to witness the ever-changing exhibitions. The Kunstmusem Basel is believed to be one of the best museums in the world, exhibiting a range of contemporary and more classical works by prestigious names, in a minimalist building that allows the art to take the focus. Scattered across the town are excellent eateries, from the Kunsthalle Restaurant with its tables that spill out onto the pavement, to the guild restaurants that serve food produced from centuries of development and innovation. Basel Cathedral, however, the icon of the city, may well be the highlight. Overlooking the waterside, its distinctive red stone and patterned-tile roof gives it a unique appearance that is unmatched across Europe. Inside, its cavernous halls have an ethereal quality, aided by the light let through the frontal rose window.

Festivals in Basel

On the week after Ash Wednesday, Basel celebrates what is Switzerland's biggest carnival. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people take part in the Fasnacht, which lasts for four days. Costumed musicians parade through the streets; others carry lanterns on the first morning; prose and poetry is distributed to the crowds; past events are acted out; and processions of musicians and spectators march through the narrow streets of the Old Town.

Swiss cities travel information

The Swiss cities are easily reached from the UK by air and rail. Due to the excellent rail service available in Switzerland, we always recommend navigating your tour, while in the country, by rail.

Rail travel

Trains are known for being punctual and comfortable and offer an excellent way of viewing the sublime scenery as you pass. Many of the most picturesque villages and towns in Switzerland are also traffic-free, or have complex, winding roads as their only access-point by car; yet, you will find they almost unfailingly have a rail station. Many iconic rail journeys allow travel from the UK direct through France into Switzerland, which we have always found adds a new dimension to your trip.

By air

Flights from the UK into Geneva or Zurich are also regular, providing a quicker alternative for those who would like to spend their entire trip in Switzerland.

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Our special interest holidays to the Swiss cities

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245

Here you will find a map of Swiss Cities showing the locations of the hotels that we offer

Our bespoke, luxury hotel holidays can be

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Our special interest holidays to the Swiss cities

● Food and wine holidays
● Cultural tours for individuals
● Visits to local music festivals
● Private guided sightseeing
● Walking holidays
● City breaks
● Spa breaks
● Family holidays
● Sports holidays

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday

Call us on 01392 441245