By the time I had reached Switzerland I already had nearly 80 countries under my belt. With that said, I truly believe Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Their picturesque cities and villages that are spread out against some of the most dramatic mountain scenery are one of a kind. My first trip to Switzerland I visited Zurich in the late winter. On my return, I went to the south and attempted to climb the Matterhorn in early September.

Bern is the capital of Switzerland, built along the Aare river in northwestern Switzerland. The capital of Bern is a small city with a historic city center, and is known for being one of the most expensive places in the world.

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and home to many large financial organizations and powerful international companies. Zurich has always been famous for its clean and safe streets, museums and art galleries, and most recently, more bars and clubs.

Switzerland’s high altitude mountain resort is located along the Italian border in the heart of the Alps. Here you can find some of the world’s best skiing, mountaineering, and hiking. The mountains around Zermatt are some of the most beautiful in the world, and include the world’s most famous peak, the Matterhorn.

The Matterhorn is one of the most recognized peaks in the world due to its dramatic shape and towering presence over the surrounding landscape. I made a failed attempt to climb the Matterhorn due to weather, but made it within 90 minutes of the summit. Climbing the Matterhorn represents one of the many true adventures of Swiss Alps mountaineering.