What to See When Camping in Switzerland

There can be few places in the world as beautiful as Switzerland. Camping is the best way to enjoy this amazing country, allowing you to feel very much at home with the stunning scenery and natural surroundings. My personal suggestion of a campsite in Switzerland would be Camping Manor Farm, a spacious grassy lakeside site just two miles from Interlaken. Surrounded by mountains and with lovely views of the Eiger, you won't be short of things to do with its own supply of watersports and activities on site, including mini-golf, volleyball and its own restaurant.

It's also conveniently placed to see some of the sights of the country, but which should you prioritise? Here's my advice...

Zürcher Spielzeugmuseum

It's safe to assume that your time in a tent or mobile home in Switzerland will take you to the country's cultural capital at some point. Here you will find a fascinating range of museums, but perhaps the most memorable is the Zürcher Spielzeugmuseum or Zurich Toy Museum. Here you will find over 1,200 antique toys collected from all over Europe, from the 18th to the 20th century. What is really fascinating here is seeing how the toys follow the trends of their specific periods, with dolls' clothes mimicking fashions, and toy trains following the technological advancement from steam onwards. Elsewhere, visitors will see all manner of children's' entertainments through the ages from books and wooden toys to tin figures and doll houses.

Löwenbräu-Areal

Western Zurich used to be the run-down industrial district, but now it has become one of the trendiest areas of the country. This is in part due to the Löwenbräu-Areal gallery, which houses some amazing contemporary art and is regularly visited by art enthusiasts from all over the world. Based in what was formerly a sprawling brewery, the building is divided into six gallery spaces in spacious white halls. If you have art fans on your Switzerland camping holiday, this is well worth a visit.

Jet d'Eau de Genève

Literally meaning "water jet", the Jet d'eau is a huge fountain in Geneva and is one of the city's most famous landmarks (it even appeared in the logo for this years European football championships). The landmark pumps an impressive 132 gallons of water per second to an amazing 140 metres in the air at a speed of 124 miles per hour, meaning that at any given time there are 1849 gallons of water in the air! It's certainly an amazing sight, but make sure you watch out for changes of wind direction which have been known to leave unsuspecting tourists drenched. You don't want a soggy, miserable trip back to your Switzerland campsite!

Old City of Bern

Switzerland's capital is full of cultural highpoints, but no more so than in the medieval old town, which has been marked as a UNESCO world heritage site thanks to its patrician buildings and arcades. The buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries, and despite being restored in the 18th century have managed to maintain their character and feel, creating some great photo opportunities. The real pleasure here is just strolling through the charming streets absorbing the atmosphere. If you're staying in a mobile home in Switzerland, this is one of the most memorable days out you can expect to have.

Jungfrau Aletsch Bietschhorn

Saving the best until last though, this is a perfect example of why camping in Switzerland is such an amazing experience: the scenery. The Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn is a 'World Natural Heritage' according to UNESCO, and has the honour of being the only place in the Alps to get this distinction. The mountain rises to 12,907 feet and covers a length of 23 k. Visiting the range will allow you to see a wonderful combination of ice, rocks and alpine foliage. This is what Switzerland's campsites are all about.

Although there certainly is a lot going for Switzerland, it's worth remembering that this is very much a summer camping holiday destination! It can get very, very cold in winter and as such you may struggle to find any Switzerland campsites open. If you're looking for a summer retreat though, the attractions and scenery make a holiday spent camping in Switzerland a truly superb proposition.