Was a little alarmed that this book dismissed Geneva all together in three words: "big and dull" since I had two days booked there. Fortunately I loved Geneva. Made me realize travel guides are subjective and you have to click with the book. I enjoyed the side bars about Swiss culture and history, but in general found I was getting more help from the countless travel blogs I would google upon reaching an area. E.g. "Top 10 things Bern" -- with photos and descriptions I found them way more useful to get grounded than a black and white type in a printed book. Equally helpful were YouTube vides I'd watch prior to exploring an area. Probably won't bother with a travel book next time.

Has helped me plan a great itinerary fir Switzerland.

The small nation of Switzerland straddles the Alps in western Europe. It is about the size of the U.S. states of New Hampshire and Vermont together, and perhaps more challenging to explore, thanks to its rugged terrain. Rick Steves has some suggestions for the enterprising traveler in this new guide. In addition to its iconic mountains, forests, alpine lakes and rivers, Switzerland is divided by languages into four different regions. Each has a slightly different take on Swiss culture. The author suggests some careful planning in advance, to get to what you really want to see in the way of historic buildings, cathedrals and museums, unique cuisine, and of course the magnificent scenery. Take advantage of an efficient railway network that allows the enterprising traveler to see the sights while someone else drives. As with other Rick Steves guides, it pays to read the whole book before making choices and planning your journey. The guide includes an enticing selection of color and black and white photographs, and lots of useful maps for exploring Swiss cities. Well recommended to the enterprising traveler.

Very informative, easy to read, great tips on travel and entertainment.

Rick Steves is old school in his approach to travel - focusing on historic sites and walking tours. While there is information on certain hikes (and I appreciate the specific directions) - these guides are lacking in more activity based travel. I would like to know more about reputable companies offering biking, kayaking, boating, or other "active" types of adventures. You can tell me about the origin of the limestone buildings in Bern and the history of the Cathedral, but also tell me about floating down the Aare River with the locals. There is a decided lack of information on applicable technology and useful apps. For example - first time European travelers should know that WhatsApp is a necessary messaging app used almost exclusively by Europeans. Further, Google Maps and Apple Maps seem to each work better in certain cities than others, each city/country has different rideshare apps that work best in that area, Moovit is a great app for walking directions that tie into public transport. The Fork is an Open Table-like app that works in some European cities. Today's travelers are largely tech-savvy - and if they aren't they are probably on a group tour or a river cruise. Please include this information in your local travel guides.

I read and studied this book for three days and I was able to nail down a 14 Nights/ 15days independent rail trip to Switzerland. It highlights all the points of interests in Switzerland with hotel and restaurant recommendations. I like it that Rick Steve only put hotels on his guide that he liked and personal experience with, including location in the area. I like the kindle version that I can click on the link of the websites he provided to check out rate and book directly. This is a money saving tip for individuals who would like to create their own itinerary and enjoy the experience of traveling and planning. A must read book if you are planning an independent travel to Switzerland. This book saved me money and time on my planned trip to Switzerland. Thank you Rick Steve, you’re the best!!

I consider Rick Steves' books to be a master class unto themselves. I just got back from a trip to the Bern-Oberland area with my family, and the recommendations in it were spot on. His walking tours are highly enjoyable and always organized for a relaxed pace-- perfect for any traveler.

Used this for a trip around Switzerland. There are great ideas/tips for the Lauterbrunnen valley area where we spent a lot of time. We decided to stay in Grindelwald, and that area isn’t covered in the book, which was okay. I enjoy Rick’s books, and some accommodations offer a discount for Rick Steve’s readers. (We saved over $100 in accommodation discounts in Italy using RS discount). The book also has some good maps which came in handy, as did ideas for some good hikes.