Switzerland’s snow-capped mountains, charming alpine villages, and festive markets make it an ideal destination for a Christmas holiday. In designing your itinerary, you'll find it offers more than postcard-perfect Christmas narratives - in cities like Zurich, a thriving arts culture and creative scene drives interesting events and offers a slice of modernity when blended with the more traditional elements of an Alpine-focused itinerary. The food scene, with 138 Michelin-star restaurants accounted for as of 2023, is tremendous and focuses on innovation whilst still paying homage to the traditional roots of Swiss cuisine.
Zurich: A Festive City of Lights
The city of Zurich, notably the largest in Switzerland, transforms into a Christmas wonderland during the holiday season, with four main Christmas markets (and a few smaller ones as well), a stunning light display and plenty of mulled wine. On Bahnhofstrasse, Switzerland's central downtown street, you will find one of four central markets, Weihnachtsmärt Market - likely the most well-known of the four and famous for its "Christmas Singing Tree". Whilst sipping on some mulled wine, take the time to listen to the children and adults singing classic carols on this gigantic Christmas tree-shaped podium.
Other markets include the largest of the four, Sechselautenplatz Wienachtsdorf Market—the urban Christmas Village. With an ice rink for younger attendees, over 100 stalls selling local culinary delights and handicrafts, and an entertainment roster including craft-making, storytelling, and operas, there is plenty to see at this famous market near the Opera House. Otherwise, Christkindlimarkt, in Zurich's main train station, is a perfect stop if you find yourself caught in a dash of rain, as it is known to be Europe's largest indoor Christmas Market (and conveniently is the most centrally located out of all the markets).
On a final note on markets - Zurich's oldest, Dörfli Weihnachtsmarkt, is located in the Old Town of the city and is perfect for those searching for a more festive feeling. With the 11th-Century Fraumunster Church in the backdrop, the small alleyways, handicraft stalls and culinary treats are truly given an extra dosage of festivity. If you are interested in learning more about how to structure a vacation around European or Switzerland-specific Christmas markets, don't hesitate to get in touch with us - our travel designers would be delighted to assist.
Aside from the markets, perhaps the best way to explore the city during this time is to partake in some classic winter activities. The Dolder Ice Rink, situated next to The Dolder Grand Hotel - a wonderful five-star property that Conte is always proud to champion in Zurich - is one of the largest in Europe and has been a permanent installation since 1930, when it was built. A great alternative is to take a bespoke boat tour down the River Zimmat, which runs through the centre of the city, as it is one of the more unique ways to admire the Old Town and some of the Christmas installations on show. Or, extend the same concept to Lake Zurich, where a boat tour of the lake is a substitute for the lake swimming that visitors generally like to partake in throughout the summer months - and you get the same wonderful views of the city, albeit from a different angle.
For those interested in entertainment and dining, Conte would recommend the likes of Circus Conelli, whose Christmas show has been running in Zurich for over 30 years. Technically located on the tiny island of Bauschänzli, which is in Zurich, the circus entertains a program of live music, acrobatics and comedy, the blend of modern and traditional interpretations giving it the legacy it holds as an advent event today. The Gala Evening offer even includes a 4-course gourmet meal alongside said entertainment - and can't be missed.
Montreux Noël: An Alpin Christmas in Switzerland
Set along the shores of Lake Geneva, Montreux Noël is one of Switzerland’s most picturesque Christmas markets. It combines the charm of a winter wonderland with the beauty of the Swiss Alps and offers a more unique backdrop than the modernity of Zurich. It should be noted that this is the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and so if you have come from another city in Switzerland be sure to adjust for a slight difference in the language spoken!
Sometimes spoken of as the most beautiful of not only Switzerland's Christmas Markets but perhaps Austria and Germany's as well, Montreux Noël's lakeside location certainly catches the eye of Christmas market enthusiasts and visitors alike. Each year, 170 stalls are invited to showcase local goods, food and crafts to an ever-increasing crowd whose numbers have reached as high as 420,000 in recent years. Only a few minutes away from the railway station, the stalls are distributed throughout an open-air and covered area, making it perfect for all sorts of unexpected (and unwanted) weather intrusions.
The food is to be noted in particular - and it is often a blended representation of both Swiss and French cuisine, with France being the other country that shares the shores of Lake Geneva with Switzerland. From Raclette to foie gras, many variations on the classic sausage and potato dishes of the region, bretzels, pancakes and sweet treats like roasted chestnuts and almonds - you certainly won't be at a loss for dining options at Montreux Noël. There are also many souvenir shops showcasing the blended culture of the region, as well as skin-care products, gifts and handicrafts to peruse at your liking.
The market, however, is just the first step into Christmas in Montreaux. For those looking for a more immersive Christmas experience or perhaps one with child-friendly activities, Conte recommends taking the Christmas train to Rochers-de-Naye to visit Santa Claus and enjoy the spectacle of the Christmas Village there. The famous Chillon Castle (the same Chillon as referenced in Byron's The Prisoner of Chillon), which is known for its medieval structure and appearance, hosts a large number of events each year and is decked out in a particularly festive repertoire of Christmas trees, lights and traditional Christmas furnishings.
Alongside the decor, the castle offers a wonderful array of workshop-like activities, ranging from Blacksmithing to pottery, and bowmaking to the cooking of medieval dishes over a traditional wood fire - including hypocras - an ancient spicy drink made from wine. Each activity ties into local culture and skills and allows the castle to come alive through its vivid narration of what history has looked like within its walls. Certainly, alongside the other attractions of Montreux, the beauty and serenity of its lakeside destination, and the warmth of the local communities, the region is perfect for both a romantic voyage or a family journey in Switzerland at Christmas with multiple stops!
Zermatt: A Christmas in Switzerland - Welcome to The Alps
However, for a true alpine Christmas, Zermatt is hard to beat. The snow-capped mountains and villages offer the festive picture-perfect landscape that books, films and stories have narrated for years - and it is important to note that it does it consistently without disappointment. This is because Zermatt, as the highest ski resort in Europe, never fails to produce the power snow that both skiers and Christmas enthusiasts treasure.
Those coming to Zermatt would be amiss not to partake in some of the famous ski routes on offer, including that of the Matterhorn slopes, offering unparalleled views of the Matterhorn alongside what is often known as "The Matterhorn Ski Paradise" for its 360km of ski pistes across altitudes sitting around the 3883m mark. The Matterhorn is also a good starting point to talk about the other winter activities that make Zermatt a prime destination for Christmas in Switzerland, as it is known that the foot of the mountain is the starting point of a festive sleigh ride - and not just any sleigh ride, but one pulled by Huskies! Throughout the journey, find out about the traditions, education and well-being of the animals as you are transported, quite literally, through a winter wonderland - you might even indulge in some classic fondue or raclette in a mountain-side restaurant before returning to your hotel for the evening. Hiking, cross-country skiing and snowboarding are also popular in this area, with Zermatt being one of the few locations that still, in particular, allows snowboarding 365 days of the year.
Also worth noting are the spa and wellness facilities in Zermatt, which have grown to cater to the needs of those who perhaps are looking for activities outside of skiing, and those who wish to wind down and relax in style after a long, cold day on the slopes. Five-star luxury hotels in Zermatt, such as The Omnia and Riffelalp resort (notably featured in the popular British TV show The Night Manager) are the places to visit for luxury treatments, wellness centres and of course - impeccably dining institutions and innovations alike.
The absence of a Christmas Market in Zermatt makes it perfect as a secondary destination on a multi-stop trip, complimenting the versatility and variety seen in Switzerland's cities and towns. However, this isn't to say that Zermatt does not have the same festive feeling as other cities and towns during the advent. The main street, or 'Bahnhofstrasse', is lined with chalet-like buildings all decorated with Christmas light, and of course, snow. Many of these buildings contain local delicacies as well as heart-warming familiar recipes, such as crepes and mulled wine. With a car-free centre, it's perfectly safe for young children and even more charming due to the pedestrian atmosphere of those mulling for a last-minute gift, a late-night snack or perhaps a bite on the way home from the Apres-ski.
