Switzerland has always been attractive for tourists, travellers and those who want to have a home abroad. There are a large range of activities such as skiing, sailing, surfing, golf, mountain biking, hiking, city tours and museums. Non-Swiss citizens have always been keen to acquire Swiss real estate.

Switzerland has always had a very stable economy, even in a world market that has been shaky of late. It is a haven of social stability and economic growth.

Real estate prices in ...

Against a backdrop of glaciers and mountain lakes, Gstaad is a haven for the rich and famous, with frequent visitors including King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Elizabeth Taylor, Bernie Ecclestone, Julie Andrews and Johnny Hallyday.

Built at the junction of four quiet valleys, near the southern tip of the Bernese Oberland, Gstaad was once only a place to change horses during the grueling voyage through the Oberland, but as the railroad lines developed, it grew into a resort.

After th...

Les Rinduez is a quiet alpine field by Les Collons, a village at 1,800m which links into the Verbier and Nendaz ski system, under two hours from Geneva by rail or car and less than 20 minutes from Sion (some direct flights in the winter from the UK). When these services start in December Les Collons will have the fastest transfer in the entire Alps.

Located at the end of the Four Valleys, on the “Old Piste”, it is part of one of the largest and highest ski regions in Europe, and th...

Most travellers visiting Switzerland choose to go in winter in order to capitalise on the country’s impressive and world-renowned ski slopes. This is not surprising, perhaps, but the country’s notable terrain lends itself perfectly to summer adventures, too. For sporty, outdoorsy types, nothing should beat hiking in the scenic surroundings of Switzerland. Offering eminent trekking environments set in alpine surroundings, the so-called “Haute Route” (also called The High Route or Mount...

Uprooting several times before at last finding a country she could really settle in, Monica Barzilay set up her own company to help others moving into Switzerland adapt to the new pace of life. Using her contacts across a wide network of disciplines, Barzilay Services specialise in aiding overseas buyers and renters looking to move to the French Riviera, investigating which would be the best area and providing the local knowledge necessary to find the best property, then helping out with the ...

St. Moritz has been for more than a century one of the world’s top winter destinations, hosting the winter Olympic Games twice. Not only does it offer a full range of activities for people eager to make the most out of their time there, but a broad palette of events and entertainment

for non-skiers and for those less concerned with “active activities”. Sports competitions such as polo and horse races on the lake, bobsleigh and skeleton competitions, gourmet festivals, great spas ...

Switzerland is a country known mostly for mountains, chocolate, anonymous bank accounts, an exemplary public transport system and finishing schools. But even though it may not be home to cutting-edge music or avant-garde artists, over the last decade or so Switzerland has been undergoing, quietly of course, a style revolution.

Some of the world’s greatest architecture is now Swiss-made. The country that brought us the architect Le Corbusier, is also the birthplace of Herzog and de Me...

If you’re making a trip to Switzerland, you can expect it to be several things. Firstly, count on the scenery being of the impossible colour scheme and beauty of a fairy-tale picture book. Secondly, welcome to a magical land where everything runs, not only well, but to the kind of efficiency which has travellers sleeping soundly at night to the regular chimes of precise clocks. And before you get too accustomed to the professional perfection of this diminutive country, it has a rather q...

Switzerland; the country that gave us the clean, refined and much-loved Helvetica typeface, the butt of the joke in Orson Welles’ speech from the Third Man, known for neutrality, banking and precision watches. It gets a tough ride from the rest of the world, we’ll take the chocolate and the time-pieces but that’s about it. When it comes to divisive issues we like to pick a side, rally in our corners and know whose support we can count on – unless you’re the Pope,...

Famous for watches and chocolate, there is in fact much more to Switzerland. A landlocked country with four official languages, it has a diverse culture to match, and whether you fancy dining German, Italian or French you are in for a treat.

This is also the country where people first skied for fun and the impressive Alps make for an exciting summer and winter sports venue. Cruise amid stunning views on the Lac De Neuchâtel and explore the gothic architecture and colourful fount...