Switzerland is known for mountains and trains arriving on time. Less well-known is its cultural landscape that makes it an exceptional destination for international business events and conventions. And after the the business event, one of the best ways to access Swiss culture is through the Swiss Travel Pass.
Located in the heart of Europe, Switzerland offers a uniquely multilingual and multicultural environment for global gatherings. The country has four national languages – German, French, Italian and Romansh – and strong cultural ties to neighbouring countries, acting as a bridge between Northern and Southern Europe. This cultural versatility makes the nation accessible for international participants, while the country’s world-class infrastructure provides a high-end setting for business events.
Swiss history contains some of the greatest minds in philosophy and science – Carl Jung, Jean Piaget, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and even Albert Einstein – as well as musicians and artists besides. Most attractive is the country’s offer of museums – many of which are included in the Swiss Travel Pass, making it an invaluable tool for delegates looking to extend their stay.
Museums: Extensive access with the Swiss Travel Pass
The Swiss Travel Pass includes the Museum Pass, granting free admission to over 500 museums across the country, covering all 26 cantons and including remote regions. Museums often provide audio guides in multiple languages and the pass can be used digitally via an app, making access seamless with skip-the-line entry at most participating venues.
Notable museums accessible with the pass include:
Swiss National Museum, Zurich
The country’s most comprehensive history museum, covering Swiss culture from prehistory to the present. Housed in a castle-like building next to Zurich’s main train station.
National Museum in Zurich (with a Limmat ship in front)Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva
One of the largest museums in Switzerland, with collections spanning archaeology, applied arts and fine art.
Geneva, Musée d’Art et d’HistoireBallenberg Open-Air Museum, near Interlaken
An open-air museum showcasing traditional Swiss rural life, with over 100 original historic buildings relocated from different cantons, including demonstrations of crafts like cheesemaking, blacksmithing and woodcarving.
Ballenberg, Swiss Open-Air MuseumZentrum Paul Klee, Bern
Houses over 4,000 works by Paul Klee, one of the 20th century’s most influential artists.
Bern, Center Paul KleeHR Giger Museum, Gruyères
Features the works of one science fiction’s most iconic designers – and the creator of the “Alien” movie aesthetic.
Gruyères, HR Giger MuseumChaplin’s World, Corsier-sur-Vevey
Celebrating the British actor who made Switzerland his home.
Corsier-sur-Vevey, Charlie Chaplin MuseumSwiss Museum of Transport, Lucerne
Ideal for corporate events with a technological theme.
Lucerne, Museum of TransportTechnorama, Winterthur
Switzerland’s science centre with over 500 interactive exhibits.
Technorama in WinterthurConvention venues with cultural flair
Switzerland takes cultural integration seriously in its MICE industry, with several convention centres directly linked to art museums and housed in impressive architectural creations:
KKL Luzern
This striking convention centre is connected to the Kunstmuseum Luzern, allowing delegates to seamlessly blend business with art appreciation.
KKL LuzernLAC Arte e Cultura Lugano
A cultural hub that combines meeting spaces with extensive art exhibitions.
LAC Lugano Arte e CulturaWürth Haus Rorschach
Features both convention facilities and impressive art collections.
Würth Haus RorschachConvention hotels also embrace Switzerland’s cultural heritage, with properties like The Dolder Grand showcasing significant private art collections, Villars Palace offering cultural exhibitions and Hotel Teufelhof in Basel functioning as both accommodation and art gallery.
The Teufelhof BaselHistorical sites: A glimpse into Switzerland’s past
Switzerland’s historical sites offer insights into deep European history, accessible via the country’s famously efficient public transport included in the Swiss Travel Pass:
Augusta Raurica, Augst, near Basel
A well-preserved Roman archaeological site including an amphitheatre and museum
Augusta Rarica. Photo by Wladyslaw SojkaUNESCO Abbey of St. Gall, St. Gallen
A baroque cathedral complex with a world-renowned medieval library.
Abbey Cathedral of St Gall. Photo by Jakub HałunGrossmünster, Zurich
A Romanesque-style Protestant church in Zurich, associated with the Swiss Reformation.
Grossmünster ZürichRapperswil Castle, Rapperswil
Overlooking Lake Zurich, this 13th-century castle houses the Polish Museum and offers panoramic views.
Rapperswil Castle, on the shores of Lake ZurichKloster Allerheiligen, Schaffhausen
A former Benedictine monastery featuring Romanesque and Gothic elements.
Schaffhausen, Kloster Allerheiligen (as seen from Munot)Culinary traditions: Regional specialties
Swiss cuisine remarkably reflects the country’s geographical diversity and cultural ties to neighbouring Germany, France, Italy and Austria. The food traditions vary dramatically from region to region, creating a mosaic of influences that delegates can explore.
In German-speaking areas, hearty dishes dominate: Bratwurst (fried sausage) and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (sliced veal and mushrooms in creamy white wine sauce) served with rösti (hash brown-like potatoes) – considered by some the best brunch food in the world when topped with eggs.
Zürich-style sliced veal with röstiThe French-speaking regions offer more refined fare, with specialties like fondue and raclette – both featuring rich, melted cheese that’s become synonymous with Swiss hospitality. In southern, Italian-speaking areas, the cuisine shifts toward Mediterranean flavours, featuring olive oil, fresh herbs and pasta.
Traditional Swiss fondue in FelseneggSwitzerland’s commitment to sustainability extends to its hospitality sector, with hotels and convention centres increasingly focusing on local sourcing of food and beverages, reducing environmental impact while showcasing regional specialties.
You’d be advised not to miss Bündner Nusstorte (a nut-filled pastry from Graubünden) and Switzerland’s world-renowned chocolate. Lindt may be internationally known, but some of the best Swiss chocolate comes from local artisans.
Lausanne, chocolatierFestivals and heritage sites
Switzerland’s cultural calendar is packed with internationally recognised events accessible by public transport. The Montreux Jazz Festival celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026, while Art Basel marks its 55th anniversary in 2025.
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