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Our list of events not to be missed in Switzerland

International Traveller

There’s a reason Switzerland has been dubbed the ‘happiest country on the planet’ (according to the 2015 Happiness Report): in addition to all that nature, there’s always something fun and fabulous worth seeing, doing and experiencing.

 

Read on to discover your list of potential things to do in Switzerland… 

Lucerne Festival

The Lucerne festival is a festival in three parts, with orchestras, conductors and soloists coming together during summer (the summer Festival), at easter (the easter festival) and in November (the piano festival) to celebrate the wonder of music.

Art Basel

Art Basel is one of the world’s premier art fairs, bringing together artists, galleries and patrons in celebration of modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries. For the duration, the city is abuzz with events, exhibitions, parties and lots more. Next year Art Basel will be held 15-18 June.

Montreux Jazz Festival

The jazz world’s preeminent festival celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016. Next year the festivities kick off on 30 June and continue until 15 July, with concerts and live shows headlined by some of music’s biggest names. montreuxjazzfestival.com

Locarno Film Festival

Featuring an always eclectic mix of indie and mainstream film, as well as awards and honorees, one of the big drawcards here is the outdoor screenings in the Piazza Grande. Next year’s festival takes place 2-12 August. pardolive.ch

Sechseläuten or Burning the Böögg

Held in Zurich on the third Monday in April every year, this ancient custom involves the ceremonial chasing away of winter by burning the Böögg, a giant snowman sitting atop a stack of wood. Prior to setting him alight, there is a procession of the guilds from the Bahnhofstrasse to Limmatquai and the Sechseläutenplatz.

Swiss National Day

Celebrated since 1891, the Swiss National Day is held on 1 August each year, with community-based celebrations, fireworks and bonfires in many big cities and larger communities.

The return of the Maid of the Mountain

The story of Heidi, Johanna Spyri’s tale of an orphan who is sent to live with her reclusive grandfather in the Swiss Alps, was originally published in 1880, and since then no fewer than 19 movies, television adaptations, and animated features have been made of the classic tale.

This year will see the release of another film adaptation: Heidi stars screen veteran Bruno Ganz as Grandfather and newcomer Anuk Steffen in the title role, not to mention some pretty spectacular Swiss scenery.

and don’t miss…

  • Late night at Zurich Museums – First Saturday in September
  • Eidgenössisches Jodelfest, the largest yodeling festival in Switzerland  – Held every three years in Brig-Glis; in 2017 it’s happening 22-25 June
  • Fête des Vignerons (Winegrowers’ Festival) – Held every 20 years in Vevey; the next one takes place from 26 July-13 August 2019
  • The Alpine Ascent in the Bernese Oberland, and the Alpine Descent in Sumiswald – Held in June and mid-September respectively; cattle adorned with garlands and decorations come or go from the mountains.

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.