Switzerland

Switzerland (German: Schweiz, French: Suisse, Italian: Svizzera, Romansch: Svizra) is a mountainous country known globally for its neutrality, democracy, and almost-legendary affluence: Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world, and prices to match. Switzerland is known for its mountains (Alps in the south, Jura in the northwest) but it also has a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. The highest point is Dufourspitze at 4,634 m (15,203 ft), while Lake Maggiore is only 195 m (636 ft) above sea level, and the temperate climate varies greatly with altitude. Switzerland is intrinsically more culturally diverse than perhaps any other European country. It has four national languages which have historically been dominant in various regions, or cantons. German, French and Italian are spoken in the regions bordering the respective country, and Romansch — a Romance language of Swiss origin — is spoken in the mountainous area of Graubünden. Switzerland also has one of the proportionally largest expat/immigrant populations – literally every fourth resident of the almost 8.5 million inhabitants is a foreign national – consisting of almost all of the world's nationalities and ethnic groups. Switzerland can be a glorious whirlwind trip whether you've packed your hiking boots, snowboard, or just a good book and a pair of sunglasses.