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12 Things I Love about Switzerland – Beautiful Country

Baptiste Wicht | Updated: |

(Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links)

Even though there are some things I dislike about Switzerland, I love living in Switzerland. In this article, I list the things I love about Switzerland.

There are 12 things on my love list! And there are not the only things I love about Switzerland. I have many more things I like about it than things I do not like.

Before you read what I love about Switzerland, you should know my situation! You have to remember that I live in the Swiss countryside. I live in a tiny village. And I do not like cities. Some people like cities more than villages. But I would hate living in a town. I also enjoy hiking a lot, and I like being outside. This situation will be reflected in some things I like the most about Switzerland.

Below, you will find 12 things I love about Switzerland. They have almost nothing to do with money. And they are in no particular order.

1. The mountains

Mrs The Poor Swiss in front of mountains
Mrs. The Poor Swiss in front of mountains

I love the Swiss mountains. They are beautiful. And they are everywhere, and they are near. You do not have to drive 200 miles to see a mountain. There are many mountains that I can see from my apartment. If I want to go hiking to a mountain, 5 or 10 minutes by car and I can already be on the mountain. In 30 minutes by car around my house, there are enough mountains to hike for a year!

And we have famous mountains such as the Matterhorn or the Jungfrau. But you do not go there every weekend with the prices of cable cars that are horrendous.

2. The lakes

Mr. The Poor Swiss in front of a lake
Mr. The Poor Swiss in front of a lake

There are tons of lakes in Switzerland. From tiny lakes to huge lakes.

And a lot of them are beautiful and in an awesome environment. And we also have several impressive artificial lakes with large dams. We even have the tallest dam in Europe (and the tallest gravity dam of the world!), the Grande Dixence dam. All these lakes make for beautiful views and very lovely hikes! For instance, the closest lake to my house is only 10 minutes away by car. And there are also many small rivers.

3. The smallness

Some people will think I am crazy. But I like that Switzerland is small.

From the center of Switzerland, you can go everywhere in less than four hours. That is awesome. I do not like great distances. And even big cities in Switzerland are still relatively small. And small towns have perfect sizes.

The capital of my state, Fribourg, is small enough to cross it on foot. That is awesome! When I was in the United States, I felt it was too big. Another advantage is that you can save a lot of time and money for your travel to your own country!

4. The villages

Small houses in Switzerland
Small houses in Switzerland

There are a lot of small villages in Switzerland. They are so peaceful and so typical

My village is around 150 people. It is in a small municipality of about 3000 people. This size is perfect for me. You can get to know your neighbors. You can get to know a lot of people in the village. And you know every place around the village.

Small villages are something you do not find in every country. Indeed, small villages tend to disappear in many countries. There are many reasons for me to live in a village. And we are not too far away from the city. Fribourg, the state capital, is about 15 minutes away. I would not like to live in a town.

5. The chocolate

Swiss Chocolate
Swiss Chocolate

Swiss chocolate is very famous already. I probably do not have to tell you that Swiss chocolate is delicious! We have many great chocolate factories in Switzerland. There are two factories close to me. In Fribourg, there is a Villars factory. And in Broc, there is a Caillers factory. The latter is a mandatory visit for a lot of people visiting Gruyères.

I am not a huge fan of desserts and sweets in general. But Swiss chocolate is fantastic. It is excellent, and there are many varieties. You can find many kinds of chocolate. There are enough to satisfy most tastes. When I visit people outside the country, I always bring Swiss chocolate with me, and everybody is always happy to receive it. And to eat it!

6. The cheese

Swiss Cheese Fondue
Swiss Cheese Fondue

Switzerland has a lot of great cheese. From Gruyères to Vacherin and even goat cheese. And, of course, the very famous cheese fondue. There are many varieties in the different states of Switzerland. In my region, the most famous is the half-and-half fondue with half Gruyères and half Vacherin. But a good Vacherin fondue is also fabulous. Mrs. The Poor Swiss has been enjoying Swiss cheese a lot since she joined me in Switzerland.

You can find a lot of small dairy shops in many villages. For instance, in our village, there are two cheese shops and factories. And each of these little shops has its specialties and generally uses milk from village farmers. It is a very local production, and it tastes incredible!

7. The cleanliness

Switzerland is very clean. Streets in cities and villages are being cleaned quite often. And most people in Switzerland are very respectful and do not throw things away. Even in some very tourist places, you can feel it is very clean. I rarely see trash when I go hiking in the mountains. And when I do, I try to take it with me if I carry a backpack.

And inside places are also generally very clean. You can sit on the ground in most places. I think this is a good sign. There are many countries I have been to where I would not sit on the floor in any place. I wish more people in other countries would have the same mentality. It does not take a lot of effort to pick up your trash. And even if it is not yours, pick it up anyway!

8. The calm

This one is related to the other points. I like so much living in a tranquil place.

A lot of the time, the only thing I can hear is the birds and the cowbells. Calm is awesome. I wish it would be even quieter since I live near the main road. But quiet and calm are fantastic. It is probably only achieved in small villages. But I feel that Switzerland, in general, is quiet and calm. You can find many places where you can rest. It is peaceful and more healthy to live in a quiet area. It will also ease your stress. And I sleep much better in the calm of Switzerland than in most places.

9. The safety

I feel safe in Switzerland. There was never a time when I did not feel safe in Switzerland. I am not saying that Switzerland does not have any crime. There are crimes, of course, especially in some big cities and even more so in some places in these cities. There are some parts of some cities where I do not like to go.

I have traveled to many countries. And in almost all of them, there was someplace I was not comfortable with. Here, I know many people who let their houses open most of the time. Or let their bikes be unlocked on the street and find them back every night. I would not go that far myself. But I think it tells something about safety in Switzerland.

10. The snow

Snow in Switzerland village
Snow in Switzerland village

I like winter for all the snow that we get.

We generally get snow everywhere, even at a lower altitudes. My village is only 700 meters above sea level, and we get more than enough snow. The snow is great! It is gorgeous. And this amount of snow allows me to go skiing. Since the mountains are quite close, I can ski in several places in less than 30 minutes. I do not need to drive four hours to go skiing, like many places worldwide. It saves me a lot of time. And it also saves some money! Even though skiing is an expensive hobby, there are ways to ski for less in Switzerland.

I would not like to live in a place that does not get any snow. Winter should have snow. I think it is the order of things. Even if you need to plow the snow in winter, I think it is worth it!

11. The punctuality

This one is starting to wear off. But it is still better than any country I have visited.

Most people are very punctual in Switzerland. For instance, if you have an appointment at 9 am, people expect you to be there at 9 am sharp. The most famous example in Switzerland is the train. When the train has a few minutes of delay, they are already announcing it and apologizing for it. Punctuality is awesome. If the train is said to leave at 9:02 am, there is very little chance that you can catch it at 9:03 am. I do not like Swiss public trains, but at least they are on time!

When we invite people to our place, 95% of the people are here on time. I am saying it is starting to wear off because some Swiss people tend to be always late. Another problem is often with doctors and health professionals. Their appointments are very often late. But overall, people are on time, and appointments are on time as well.

12. Hiking trails

I already mentioned that I loved the mountains in Switzerland. But there is another thing that I love about the mounts. It is the hiking trails.

We have many hiking trails in Switzerland. There are more than 60’000 kilometers of trails available. All these trails are well-indicated and well-maintained. And they are free! You do not have to pay to hike into a nice forest following a well-defined trail!

If you like hiking, Switzerland will be an excellent place for you. And when you think that nothing is far in our small country, it is a great place to hike.

Conclusion – Switzerland is awesome!

In conclusion, I believe that life in Switzerland is awesome!

Of all the countries and places I have traveled to, Switzerland is the only place I want to live! It is beautiful, calm, and safe. Everything is close by. You can visit a mountain or a lovely lake in less than one hour. You can sleep at night with almost no noise but the cows’ bells. And you can eat great cheese and great chocolate. What else can we ask?

Of course, Switzerland is not perfect. I do not think there is such a thing as a perfect country. I already wrote about five things I hate about Switzerland. But overall, these are small things compared to what I love about this country.

What about you? Do you agree with my list? What do you love about Switzerland?

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Baptiste Wicht started The Poor Swiss in 2017. He realized that he was falling into the trap of lifestyle inflation. He decided to cut his expenses and increase his income. Since 2019, he has been saving more than 50% of his income every year. He made it a goal to reach Financial Independence and help Swiss people with their finances.
Discover Swiss Financial Secrets That Maximize Your Money!

Learn easy ways to optimize your finances and save thousands in Switzerland with our exclusive e-book. Learn about the most cost-effective financial services tailored for savvy residents and expats!

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18 thoughts on “12 Things I Love about Switzerland – Beautiful Country”

  1. My favorite thing about Switzerland was that the rest of continental Europe is within few hours drive wherever you are.
    Worst thing – restaurants. Expensive and not very good/bad variety.

  2. Regarding the hikes, don’t miss the official website that describes all trails (and also biking, mountain biking and even skating routes): https://map.wanderland.ch/?lang=en&photos=yes&bgLayer=pk&logo=yes&season=summer&resolution=250&E=2631750&N=1189000

    And… some self-advertisement of these articles I’m writing about tourism in canton Vaud (next to Mr. TPS’s Fribourg) with plenty of photos and data:

    https://lucianosphere.medium.com/the-most-lovely-beach-in-switzerland-its-underwater-treasures-and-the-beautiful-towns-nearby-bc157b7414fa

  3. I agree with you, Switzerland is great. One question though. In nr 11 you say that you do not like Swiss public train. Why?

    1. Hi PWyss,

      For me, it’s way too expensive. Compared to the other countries, it’s way more expensive, even when taking income into account.
      The main problem I think it’s not very well-supported by the state, that’s forcing them to make more profits (and taking a part of the profits).
      And it’s also too fancy. I’d rather have older trains and pay less.

      What do you think?

  4. I love many things about Switzerland, but one things people seems to ignore (or take for granted) is Swiss law stability. It is next to impossible to have your taxes changed for next year. If the change comes, it is after long debate, social discussions, referendum etc. And usually, this is going in good direction (taxes are lowered, society is aware of the fact Switzerland must be competitive in the world). I can guarantee you that this is NOT the case in 99 % of the world. The fact that your taxes are predictable for years to come is incredible bonus, especially for business. I come from a country, where tax law can be changed in November and start as a new binding, completely different system just in January next year, this is crazy. Enterpreneurs spend months in tax offices, asking for clarifications etc. Tax and law stability in Switzerland – this is huge, huge thing.

    1. Hi,

      That’s a very good point. Many people will argue that it takes too long to change anything in Switzerland. But I agree with you that it’s a strength. Our laws are very stable and can’t be changed on the whims of the politicians.

      Thanks for sharing!

  5. I agree with everything on the list and have to add that it’s also a great country to raise children. There are many small parks around the neighborhood for kids and the healthcare system is excellent here.

    We are so glad to have the opportunity of living in such an awesome country as expats! :)

  6. I think the key to good Swiss chocolate is the fat content. It is so rich and creamy. In the UK the first ingredient is sugar, then cocao, then a bit of cocao butter and you usally have to go above 70% or 80% for the first ingredient to be cocao, but the second ingredient is still sugar. In switzerland, I think most chocolate has cocao as the first ingredient, then cocao butter THEN sugar. Delicious. (P.S.The best chocolate brand is Frey).

    1. Hi ChrisD,

      I do not know about the details, thanks for sharing :)
      I do not know why they taste so good, but it’s enough for me that they do!
      Frey is pretty good, but for me, Lindor from Lindt is even better :)

      Thanks for stopping by!

  7. 🐷🌹a good list ! And I agree with it ! I am from China , actually China is quite safe in big aspect. But it won’t be so safe as switzerland, for example, you can easily get stole if you don’t lock your bike.
    And one more thing you can add is that Swiss people are very polite. Even bus driver they say hello to every passengers and goodbyes. I love it 👍

    1. Thanks Dumbo :)

      Yes, I could have added politeness to the list. But not every Swiss is polite. In fact, less and less people are polite I believe. Especially in big cities. But it’s still a good thing :)

  8. I liked your list of things you hate about Switzerland more! Haha just joking, this is great. I also love everything you mentioned in this post, but also a few of the items you mentioned in the other one :P

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