All Switzerland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Switzerland

184 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Switzerland

Updated September 14, 2026
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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Basel
  2. Bern
  3. Cologny
  4. Geneva
  5. Gland
  6. Lausanne
  7. Lauterbrunnen
  8. Le Locle
  9. Leuk
  10. Lucerne
  11. Meyrin
  12. Montreux
  13. Schaffhausen
  14. St. Gallen
  15. Yverdon Les Bains
  16. Zermatt
  17. Zurich

Unusual Attractions in Switzerland

Places

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Switzerland

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Switzerland

Museums 32
Architecture 20
Art 18
Mountains 13
Architectural Oddities 11
Statues 10
Water 10
Literature 9

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Stories About Switzerland

Yeomen of the Guard, Tower of London

First Trips Abroad: From Getting Lost at the Tower of London to Witnessing the Shah Revolution

Even if you’re loopy off lack of sleep or getting lost from your tour group, your first trip abroad is always magical.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
The Black Madonna of Einsiedeln inspired tiny, edible imitations.

Why Swiss Christians Once Nibbled on the Mother of Christ

Schabmadonnen are part of a long tradition of edible relics.
by Emma Cieslik, Atlas Obscura
Naughty cartographers with too much time on their hands.

Swiss Maps Are Full of Hidden Secrets

Find the Easter eggs—or the naked lady.
by Frank Jacobs, Atlas Obscura
This forged Paraguayan passport was one of thousands that helped spare Jewish lives during the Holocaust.

The Master Forgers Who Saved Thousands of Lives During World War II

From the Polish embassy in Switzerland came a campaign that spared many from Nazi extermination.
by Nina Strochlic, Atlas Obscura
This ancient dodecahedron found in Avenches, Switzerland, once the Roman city of Aventicum.

The Mysterious Dodecahedrons of the Roman Empire

The first of many of these puzzling objects was unearthed almost three centuries ago, and we still don't know what they were for.
by Frank Jacobs, Atlas Obscura
However long this snowman effigy, known as the Bӧӧgg, takes to burn will determine the remaining length of winter.

To Banish Winter in This Tiny Wisconsin Town, Burn a Swiss Snowman

The burning of the Bӧӧgg is like a fiery version of Groundhog’s Day, but with fireworks and sausages.
by Tea Krulos, Atlas Obscura
Whey bathing at Berglialp in Switzerland.

The Return of Swiss Cheese Baths

Melting into a tub of whey has a long history in the Alps.
by Oriana Pauli, Atlas Obscura
Mithraeum elements included a tauroctony, or depiction of Mithras sacrificing a bull.

An Ancient Roman Cult's Rituals Included Feasting, Fire, and Floor Cleaning

To uncover new clues about the secretive world of Mithraism, scientists considered evidence right at their feet.
by Nathaniel Scharping, Atlas Obscura
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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