Welcome to
Cycling in Switzerland

Tradition-conscious, open-minded and full of contrasts, Basel is regarded as one of Switzerland's centres for art, music and architecture. Thanks to its central location at the 'three-countries-corner' where Switzerland, Germany and France meet, the city on the elbow of the Rhine is also an important centre of fairs and congresses. The large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall and the late Romanesque-Gothic cathedral are the landmarks of the city.

Artefacts supplying the earliest proof of human life in Switzerland were found near Pratteln. The old drilling towers of the Rhine «Schweizerhalle» salt works bear witness to Pratteln’s industrial past. Other places of interest are the Bürgerhaus, Pratteln Castle and the old parish church.

Liestal, situated 17km to the southeast of Basel on a wooded flank of the Ergolztal, capital of the half canton Basel-Land and a charming and lively small town with a plethora of historic buildings of interest in the fortified old town.

Aarau, the capital of the Canton of Aargau in the Swiss Mittelland, is located on the River Aare to which the town and canton owe their name. The charming old town boasts the most beautiful eaves, the so-called "Dachhimmel", in Switzerland. The people of Aargau come into their own celebrating festivals and old customs such as the «Maienzug» and «Bachfischet»

The small town of Sursee with its beautifully preserved old town was awarded the Swiss Heritage Protection Society’s Wakker Prize in 2003. Sursee’s location on the bank of the Sempachersee adds to its appeal. The <> is a well known town custom.

Sempach is at the southeastern end of the lake of the same name in Canton Luzern. The St. Jakob Chapel and Winkelried stone commemorate the Swiss victory at the Battle of Sempach in 1386. The ornithological institute is also worth visiting.

Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, sited on Lake Lucerne, is embedded within an impressive mountainous panorama. Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and watch shops, the beautiful lakeside setting and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, the town is a destination for many travel groups and individuals on their journey through central Switzerland.

Stansstad in Canton Nidwalden lies at an altitude of 435 metres on the strait dividing Lake Lucerne from the Alpnachersee. The famous Bürgenstock hotels high over the lakeside lie partly on Stansstad territory.

Highlight of Stans, capital of Canton Nidwalden, is the popular excursion peak Stanserhorn at 1898 metres altitude. The peak offers views encompassing 100 kilometres of Alpine peaks and ten Swiss lakes.

The resort of Beckenried (435 m) is on the south bank of Lake Lucerne at the foot of the Klewenalp with views of the popular and famous Rigi mountain on the other side of the lake. Near to Beckenried, on the panoramic terrace high above the lake, lie the villages of Emmetten and Seelisberg. Cable-cars provide access to the family-friendly walking and skiing area of Klewenalp and Stockhütte.

Gersau occupies a romantic location on the southern slopes of the Rigi by Lake Lucerne, on what is sometimes called the "Riviera of Central Switzerland". High above Gersau is the Rigi-Scheidegg area, both a paradise for walkers and a small winter sports area, with excellent views.

Brunnen, part of the municipality of Ingenbohl in Canton Schwyz, lies on the shore of the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) on its eastern branch, the Urnersee, at the foot of the Bürgenstock and Gotthard massif. Its central location makes it the ideal starting point for many excursions.

The Gotthard Railway and Axenstrasse road pass through Sisikon. The village on the shores of the Urnersee is bound to the story of William Tell, who risked his life by jumping onto the Tellsplatte and out of the clutches of Gessler, the provincial governor.

Flüelen, at the southern end of the fiord-like Urnersee lake is the transfer point from Vierwaldstättersee lake steamers to the Gotthard Railway. The Eggberge and Reuss delta are the scenic highlights of this resort in Canton Uri.

The cantonal capital of Uri is in Reusstal, south of the Vierwaldstättersee lake. A touch of Italianità is already visible in Altdorf’s architecture on the way to the Gotthardpass across the Alps. The legend of Tell, Switzerland’s national hero is omnipresent.

Pack-animal trail, Gotthard Railway, motorway, basis tunnel: Erstfeld’s development is linked with the Gotthard transit axis. The Railway Trail, InfoCentre on the new basis tunnel and railway depot make. Erstfeld particularly interesting for railway fans.

Who doesn’t know it – the little church on a hill at Wassen? It has been a landmark on a journey to the south since the opening of the Gotthard Railway, but is also a checkpoint on the bold but confusing route with two helical tunnels.

Andermatt is situated in the Urseren Valley, one of the most impressive high-altitude valleys in Switzerland. It is the crossroads of the mountain pass routes from north to south and from west to east.

The Gotthard Pass is the most important north-south trans-Alpine route in Switzerland. The road over the pass, the rail tunnel, the motorway tunnel and (in a few years’ time) a new Rail Base Tunnel link northern and southern Europe, and connect northern Switzerland with the Ticino vacation region.

Airolo (1175 metres altitude) at the foot of the Gotthard Pass is the site of both southern portals of the Gotthard road and rail tunnels. This is why the uppermost village in the Leventina valley is mainly regarded as a place of transit - an erroneous assumption.