From Alpine pastures to medieval town squares, Swiss customs shape the rhythm of life. Festivals announce the changing seasons, and music echoes through mountain valleys. Artisans also still work by hand, just as they have for generations.
For travelers seeking the best places to travel in Switzerland, these experiences reveal the country’s true identity. And for those who value access, originality, and depth, they represent the best Switzerland tours on offer.
Forged by Fire
Traditional Swiss Bell Making
One of Ker & Downey's favorite things to do in Switzerland involves stepping into the fire. Indeed, travelers will meet and work alongside Peter, one of Switzerland’s last traditional bell-smiths. All the while, feel the heat of molten metal, and watch as these iconic bells emerge from fire and force.
Did you know that each bell carries its own voice? This rare experience therefore helps preserve a a disappearing craft. It also exemplifies the depth found in some of the best Switzerland tours.
Master Time Itself
Build Your Own Swiss Watch
Swiss watchmaking defines precision. In a private workshop, Ker & Downey guests can work alongside master horologists to assemble a Swiss watch from start to finish. Examine their movements, place components by hand, and learn how balance and restraint create perfection.
This represents craftsmanship at its highest level. And by taking part, travelers leave Switzerland with much more than a personalized watch. Rather, they also leave with an understanding of Swiss mastery. It’s an experience that elevates the best Switzerland tours into something exceptional.
Welcome the New Year the Old Way
Silvesterchlausen in Appenzellerland
Every January, Appenzellerland transforms and celebrates the New Year not once, but twice. During Silvesterchlausen, elaborately costumed figures parade through snow-covered villages, ringing heavy bells and chanting ancient harmonies. Locals celebrate the “Old New Year” with rituals that date back centuries.
The handcrafted costumes dazzle, showcasing scenes from rural life. Yet they don't just journey from house to house in the morning withing everyone "es guets Neus." They also visit the local pubs until midnight.
Ker & Downey clients, however, don’t watch the festival a distance. Indeed, they get to stand among villagers as tradition unfolds.
Start the Day the Alpine Way
Milk Cows with a Local Farmer
In the Alps, mornings begin early. Ker & Downey therefore invites travelers to rise before dawn to join an Alpine farmer at work. Milk cows by hand, walk through mountain pastures, and learn how seasonal grazing and tradition shape Swiss dairy culture.
The experience feels grounding, honest, and real—a true glimpse into Swiss rural life and among the best things to do in Switzerland.
Celebrate the Return from the Mountains
Alpabzug
Each autumn, Switzerland marks the close of the Alpine summer with Alpabzug—or la désalpe in French—the return of cattle from high mountain pastures to the valleys below. Celebrated across the country, this centuries-old tradition reflects the deep relationship between land, livestock, and community.
The animals wear floral crowns and polished bells that ring through the streets, accompanied by alphorns, yodeling, and traditional music. Villages welcome the herds with quiet pride as farmers guide their cows through town.
Eventually, villages erupt with music, dancing, and local food. More than a festival, Alpabzug honors a successful summer in the mountains and expresses gratitude for the animals that sustain Alpine life.
Witnessing Alpabzug offers travelers rare insight into Switzerland’s agricultural heritage and communal spirit. It brings locals and visitors together in shared celebration and stands as one of the most joyful seasonal experiences in Switzerland.
Autumn in Ticino
Castagnata in Ascona
Also in Autumn (October to be precise), the lakeside town of Ascona celebrates Castagnata. This unique festival honors the chestnut, an ingredient long woven into Ticino’s culinary heritage. Throughout the village, crackling fires roast thousands of marroni, filling the air with a warm, sweet aroma.
Local artisans transform chestnuts into breads, cakes, jams, and regional specialties. Visitors can therefore taste the season in its purest form. The atmosphere feels relaxed and convivial, shaped by food, fire, and the rhythm of lake life.
Castagnata captures autumn at its most evocative and offers quietly memorable experience.
Precision Meets Play
Build a Swiss Army Knife
Swiss ingenuity thrives on simplicity. Ker & Downey invites travelers to assemble their own Swiss Army Knife, choosing tools and learning why every detail matters. The experience highlights problem-solving and timeless design. Plus, it allows guests to leave with a functional keepsake as well as insight into a global icon.
Sweet Traditions
Become a Swiss Chocolatier
Chocolate reigns supreme in Switzerland. However, instead of visiting one of the popular chocolate houses, Ker & Downey invites guests to experience a hands-on workshop. Learn about cacao origins, perfect tempering, and flavor balance. Then, craft your own chocolate creations led by a master chocolatier.
The process demands precision, but the reward delights every sense.
Alpine Music Reimagined
Hackbrett & Yodeling Sessions
Music tells Switzerland’s stories, and one of the best ways to hear it is through yodeling. This traditional way of singing embodies Switzerland's unique musical heritage. Rather than simply listening to a yodeling performance, participate in a yodeling session with a local yodeler. Learn tips and tricks, and experience firsthand how Swiss culture evolves without losing its roots.
Additionally, learn more about Switzerland's traditional Hackbrett / dulcimer, an instrument used in traditional folk music from the Appenzell region. Played with a pair of hammers, the instrument arrived in Switzerland in the Middle Ages. Travelers can witness the task of building of a dulcimer at a local workshop. Or, they can enter a local family home to enjoy an intimate performance of its layered, rhythmic melodies.
From Field to Fork
Farm-to-Table Experience
Swiss cuisine begins on the land. Indeed, the farm-to-fark revolution finds its pinnacle in Switzerland's fresh produce, freely roaming cattle, and hyper-local dining.
At a local working farm with stunning views, Ker & Downey's travelers can learn about ethical meat production and sustainable practices. See where animals graze, how farmers care for them, and how nothing goes to waste. On-site gourmet chefs then transform farm-raised ingredients into an elevated, seasonal meal.
This experience defines meaningful luxury and stands among the best things to do in Switzerland for food-focused travelers.
Hear the Alps Answer Back
A Private Alphorn Experience
The alphorn’s deep, resonant notes once guided herders across vast mountain slopes. They also used alphorns to round up cows and calm them during milking. Today, this iconic instrument still carries the spirit of the high Alps.
Ker & Downey travelers have the opportunity step into the vast, awe inspiring landscape and take part in making music. Indeed, can learn how to breathe properly, and how to hold the horn steady from a local instructor. Then learn how to play, sending sound across open valleys of the Bernese Oberland. Don't be surprised, though, if the mountains respond.
This unique encounter connects you directly to Switzerland’s pastoral heritage. It also ranks among the best things to do in Switzerland for travelers who crave authenticity.
For those traveling to Switzerland in July, consider visiting the mountain town of Nendaz for the annual Alphorn Festival. Here, more than 150 alphorn players gather to perform in unison, filling the valley with powerful Swiss sounds. Hearing a single alphorn is amazing, but hearing an entire mountainside answer back proves awe inspiring.
Experience the Best Things to Do in Switzerland
Landscapes may inspire awe, but traditions create connection. In Switzerland, festivals and customs invite travelers to engage deeply with people, history, and place. These moments transform luxury travel into something lasting. Indeed, sometimes the best places to travel in Switzerland are not about what you see, but by what you experience.
Contact a Ker & Downey Travel Designer today to experience some of the best Switzerland tours. Let us create a custom, seamless journey tailored to your interests and travel style. In the meantime, check out our delightful journeys to Switzerland.
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Luxury Switzerland travel promises mighty mountains, lovely lakes, and charming city centers. Plan your Switzerland vacation today with award-winning tour operator Ker & Downey World Travel.
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