Basel

Basel may be Switzerland's least appreciated big city. It's quieter than Zürich, less international than Geneva, and farther from the Alps than Bern. Yet Basel is Switzerland's second-largest city, and its wealthy patrician families have nurtured a tradition of scholarship and art since the Renaissance. The fact that Basel has more than two dozen museums for a population of 200,000 makes it clear that this is no ordinary provincial town. Basel's location is also unique. The city lies just inside Switzerland's borders with France and Germany. Basel is Switzerland's third most populated city with 830,000 inhabitants, Basel is Switzerland's second-largest urban area.

Bern

The city of Bern is the fifth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities,has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000. Bern is also the capital of the Canton of Bern, the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons.
The official language of Bern is German, but the main spoken language is the Alemannic dialect called Bernese German; most residents of the city speak both. English and French are fairly widely spoken, but to a lesser extent. In 1983 the historic old town in the center of Bern became a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Bern is ranked among the world’s top ten cities for the best quality of life.

Geneva

The cheerful city of Geneva sits on the lake's western shore, lofty snowcapped peaks creating a gorgeous backdrop on all sides. The city is perfect for exploring on foot; rent a bike to venture further. The top of any itinerary should be visits to Geneva's lakefront and its famed water fountain, the Flower Clock in the English Garden, St. Peter's Cathedral, and the Reformation Wall. Geneva is the second-most-populated city in Switzerland (after Zürich). Geneva is a global city, a financial centre, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross.
Geneva has been described as the third European financial centre after London and Zurich, and the world's eighth most important financial centre, Geneva has the third-highest quality of life of any city in the world.The city has been referred to as the world's most compact metropolis and the "Peace Capital". In 2009, Geneva was ranked as the fourth most expensive city in the world.

Zürich

Zürich might still be home to the world's fourth-biggest stock exchange and remain Switzerland's financial engine, but it's also surprisingly vibrant and trendy. Located on a picturesque river and lake whose water you can drink, easy to get around and a stranger to the hassled lifestyle that defines bigger cities, this affluent, fashion-conscious place enjoys the finest things in life.

Hundreds of new bars, restaurants and clubs have opened since the late 1990s and, since its Street Parade overtook London's Notting Hill Carnival, Zürich now hosts Europe's largest annual street party. Its former industrial quarter brims with nightlife venues catering to a youngish crowd, and this happening 'Züri-West' district has the same buzz as Berlin's Prenzlauerberg or Mitte. The infamous 'gnomes', as the British like to call Zürich's bankers, are still here, but sometimes they can astonish you by whizzing by on a Segway scooter.

With church steeples rising against a backdrop of hills and mountains, the medieval old town will also appeal to traditionalists.

Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.