Still, deciding where's truly worth the time and money isn't always simple. And for Canadians, who have to cross the Atlantic and put aside a serious budget just to get here, making the right decision matters even more.
This year, I decided to finally turn my attention to one country that's been quietly waiting on my bucket list for years: Switzerland. In May, I travelled there to watch the European Women's Championship — and spent two weeks exploring everywhere from cozy cities like Geneva and Basel to storybook alpine towns like Grindelwald and Interlaken.
By the end of my trip, I knew one thing for certain: if you can only pick one country in Europe to visit, Switzerland should be it.
One of the best things about Switzerland, as far as I'm concerned, is just how compact it is. The entire country is only 41,285 square kilometres — a speck compared to Canada's nearly 10 million square kilometres.
And yet that size is an advantage: the country's incredible public transit system makes it easy to cover a lot of ground. Trains, trams, buses, and even cable cars run with a precision that I've never experienced elsewhere in Europe. They're clean, efficient, and spacious, and they connect even the smallest alpine villages.
What's more, unlike sprawling countries where you can travel for hours and see the exact same scenery, in Switzerland, you can cross from one city to the next in a few hours, with vistas that continuously transform outside your window like a moving postcard.
And it really is postcard-perfect. Every town I visited — from lakeside Geneva to storybook Bern — looked as if it had been painted for a travel brochure.
Grindelwald, Switzerland.Helena Hanson | Narcity
Of course, the Swiss Alps deserve their own mention. These mountains are the stuff of fairytales, with snow-capped peaks rising above dense pine forests, icy rivers sparkling in the sunlight, and meadows so green your eyes can't quite adjust. Hiking is one of Switzerland's biggest draws, and while I didn't have time to tackle a major trek, almost everyone I spoke to gushed about it being some of the best hiking they'd ever done.
For Canadians used to the Rockies, the Alps will have a familiar grandeur — but with an even greater sense of accessibility, thanks to gondolas, funiculars, and trails that are impeccably maintained.
A specific highlight for me was Grindelwald, a village that looks like it's been lifted from the pages of a fantasy novel — and maybe it has been. According to Forbes, Grindelwald and its surrounding areas served as the inspiration for Rivendell and the Misty Mountains in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."
Framed by the Bernese Alps and more widely known for its appearances in both Star Wars and James Bond films, too, Grindelwald felt like stepping into another world.
The quaint and charming city of Bern is another must-visit, with its medieval old town, cobblestoned streets, and arcades that made me feel like I'd slipped back a few centuries. Plus, it's famously home to a family of brown bears, cared for in a large riverside park, a nod to the animal that has symbolized the city for centuries.
The famous bears of Bern. Helena Hanson | Narcity
And don't get me started on the food! Switzerland borders Italy, France, Germany, and Austria, and its culinary culture reflects that proximity. In the south, plates of fresh pasta and thin-crust pizza appeared on menus. In the west, flaky croissants and creamy sauces dominated. In the north, local restaurants were serving up authentic, hearty sausages and pretzels.
The chocolate and cheese are as good as you'd expect, too — rich, indulgent, and taken seriously at every level.
Add in the mix of languages and cultural influences — French in Geneva, German in Basel, Italian in Lugano — and you feel as if you've travelled across half of Europe without ever leaving one country.
The charming city of Bern, Switzerland. Helena Hanson | Narcity
What's more, Switzerland is so well connected to its neighbours that you can easily hop over the border for a day trip. France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein are all right there, making Switzerland an ideal base if you want to extend your trip elsewhere.
The weather is another plus. My May trip was warm but comfortable (with a few downpours!), ideal for city exploring. But Switzerland is a true year-round destination: ski resorts glitter in winter, autumn paints the valleys gold, and summer brings wildflower-studded trails.
One of the things I loved most about Switzerland was that it felt so relaxed. Unlike so many other European hotspots, it didn’t feel overcrowded or chaotic. Even though I visited during spring and a major soccer tournament, the city crowds never felt overwhelming — totally unlike destinations like Paris, Rome or Barcelona.
However, there is no sugar-coating it: Switzerland is expensive. It was easily one of the priciest places I've travelled to in Europe, from restaurant meals to hotel stays to train tickets.
But, in my experience, the quality of almost everything was so consistently high that it felt worth it. Even budget hotels were spotless and comfortable, and public transit, though costly, was so efficient and scenic that I didn't resent a single fare.
Supermarkets and hostels help stretch the budget, and tipping isn't expected beyond a small service charge, which helps balance things out.
What sets Switzerland apart for Canadians, in my opinion, is that it really can give you everything you'd hope to find on a Euro trip — without the stress of cramming multiple countries into a short vacation.
You get the mountains, the medieval cities, the food, the languages, the culture, and the postcard-worthy landscapes all in one quaint country. And because of its size and connectivity, you'll leave feeling like you truly experienced it, not just skimmed the surface.
As for me, I'm already planning to return. Switzerland might be small, but it delivers the best of Europe in one perfect package. If you're crossing the Atlantic and can only choose one destination, this is the country I'd tell every Canadian to put at the very top of their list.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
