10 Ways to See Switzerland Like a Prince or a Pauper

Wine

Like a Prince: The Swiss produce wine. A lot of it, in fact. They just don't export much of it, so it's not uncommon for Americans to be oblivious to the number of quality vineyards here. Enlighten yourself with a Swiss wine tasting fit for a prince at a luxury resort in the Alps: LeCrans Hotel & Spa in Crans-Montana. This extravagant mountain resort has an on-site vinothèque (a collection of wines available for tasting) with panoramic windows overlooking the Alps, featuring 48 local and international reds and whites. LeCrans has 15 suites, each with a private terrace, and nightly rates start at 550 CHF (about $614) during low season and 800 CHF (about $893) during high season.

Like a Pauper: Imbibe with a side of snacks for a slight fee with a wine-tasting program at the Lavaux Vinorama in Rivaz. First, feed your mind with a free short video detailing the history of the beautiful vineyard terraces in the Lavaux wine-making region, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva. Then try some Swiss-made wine (and snacks like bread and pastry sticks) for yourself. Tasting packages start at 13 CHF (about $14.50) per person for a selection of three wines and some appetizers to munch on—a real bargain for a light lunch in Switzerland.

Chocolate

Like a Prince: From Toblerone to Nestle, some of the planet's biggest chocolate brands originate in Switzerland. And chocolate tastings, whether focused on single-sourced, dark, or organic, are a delicious diversion for travelers. They're like wine tastings—but sweeter. Tastings tend to be affordable (we'll get to that in a minute), but a more in-depth exploration of Swiss chocolate making might be worth a splurge. Head to the School of Chocolate in Nyon, where students learn the nuances of chocolate tasting and receive a chocolate history lesson, care of artisan chocolate makers Michael and Viviane Rapp. The five-hour course costs 180 CHF (about $201) per person, and participants receive a diploma upon completion.

Like a Pauper: The famed chocolate maker Favarger produces decadent treats like chocolate-robed nougat, silky chocolate fondue, and milk chocolate bars made with local Swiss milk—using recipes that are hundreds of years old. It's one of the few continuously family-operated chocolate makers in the country, and it was the first chocolate producer in Switzerland to roast its own cocoa beans. Visit the Favarger shop in Geneva, which sits near the company's original location, and pick up a few souvenir bars. Or take advantage of Wednesday-morning and -afternoon tours at the Favarger factory in Geneva. The one-hour tours cost 25 CHF (about $28) for adults; register in advance.

Accommodations

Like a Prince: The most expensive hotel suite in the world is at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva. If you can unearth a spare 75,000 CHF (about $83,739), why not spend the night in this 5,500-square-foot royal penthouse suite equipped with one of the world's largest televisions, a Turkish bath, a staff of three, 12 bedrooms, and 12 bathrooms? The suite, which offers a panoramic view of Lake Geneva by way of bulletproof glass windows, takes up the entire eighth floor of the hotel. Former guests include President Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Rihanna.

Like a Pauper: Accommodate both your shrewd sense for budgeting and your appreciation for the good life at wellnessHostel4000, an eco-friendly Alpine hostel opening in Saas-Fee in the summer. In Saas-Fee, a car-free resort town flush with classic Swiss chalets, wellnessHostel4000 offers a luxury experience for budget travelers, complete with an indoor pool, dazzling mountain views, and private rooms with en suite bathrooms. Nightly rates for a stay in a four-bedroom unit with a private bathroom start at 65 CHF (about $73) during high season. Oh, and breakfast is included.

Fondue

Like a Prince: "You can't really serve fondue in an elegant restaurant," Chef Carlo Crisci of Lausanne restaurant Le Cerf told the Wall Street Journal. The traditional Swiss dish makes dining rooms smell of cheese, and it can even cause patrons' clothes to carry a fondue odor for days. For a deluxe fondue experience, then, forgo the Michelin-starred establishments, which typically don't serve it, and get your melted cheese to go. Zurich's Fondue Tram provides a two-hour city tour along with all-you-can-eat fondue, coffee, and dessert, for either lunch or dinner. Tickets start at 93 CHF (about $104) per person.

Like a Pauper: In order to embark upon an outdoor, budget-friendly fondue adventure, make your first stop at the dairy in Schönried, where you can pick up a portable fondue pack designed for enjoyment on the Fondue Trail. The pack has fondue mix, a burner, a fondue pan, and other essentials that allow hikers to mix up an authentic open-air Swiss meal. No need to cart various fondue accoutrements on the rest of your journey. Simply return the rucksack back to the dairy when you're finished. The cost? A mere 18 CHF (about $20) per person.

Clocks and Watches

Like a Prince: Celebrate Swiss precision by investing in an expertly crafted timepiece. The artist, clockmaker, and Guinness World Record holder (for the world's largest clock pendulum) Jean Kazes creates gorgeous, large Morbier clock sculptures that would make a fabulous addition to any elegant parlor. One-of-a-kind Kazes clocks have exposed mechanisms, leaving the movement of the clock and its elegant inner workings visible. You can visit his shop in Carouge, where handsome, hefty clocks flaunt the beauty of timekeeping machinery. The handmade pieces retail for thousands of dollars. Visit the shop at 21 rue St. Joseph in Carouge.

Like a Pauper: Since Swiss-made watches can cost a king's ransom, opt to look in lieu of buying. It can be difficult to arrange a tour of Geneva's famed Patek Philippe watchmaking factory, which houses cool things like secret prototypes, multimillion-dollar timepieces, and an enormous Jean Kazes wall clock. The luxury Swiss watchmaker offers special guided factory tours to watch owners and dealers but doesn't typically open its doors to the general public. The nearby Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, however, is a budget-friendly alternative. Admission to access the collection of antique watches, watchmaking tools, and contemporary timepieces housed in this space costs 10 CHF (about $11).

Dining

Like a Prince: With two three-star restaurants and 19 two-star restaurants, there's no shortage of elegant establishments at which to dine in Switzerland. In the last four years, in fact, the country has had a 30 percent increase in Michelin stars. The princely thing to do, then, would be to fine dine at establishments that have received some of the highest honors in the restaurant world. Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville in Crissier and Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau are the country's top luminaries for 2014: Both restaurants hold three Michelin stars, a rating bestowed upon only about 100 restaurants on the planet. Both gourmet establishments are located within luxury hotels, so there's little excuse to pass on an overnight epicurean excursion.

Like a Pauper: Geneva and its environs have many street markets, but my favorite is the fashionable morning market in Carouge. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Carouge, a historical garden city built by the Romans, stirs to life with a bustling food market. The gathering of grocers, wine sellers, and artisans is as chicly European as it gets. Well-dressed shoppers stand amongst reclaimed wine barrels while sipping locally produced vintages, a truffle hunter hawks his latest harvest of hand-foraged fungus, and fresh cheeses, flowers, fruits, and vegetables abound. A lunch or brunch at this outdoor market is a true bargain. I purchased some fresh, hand-pressed juice and a Lebanese falafel wrap for around 15 CHF (about $16.75).

Giant Chess

Like a Prince: On the expansive, flawlessly manicured private gardens of the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne lies a whimsical giant chessboard. This is perhaps the best-located giant chessboard on the planet. Enjoy a million-dollar view of the water as you get your game on beside the shores of Lake Geneva. Rates start at 400 CHF (about $446) for a room with garden views.

Like a Pauper: It's not uncommon to find giant outdoor chess sets in Switzerland's cities, available for public use. One of my favorites is in the Parc des Bastions in Geneva, where players square off in epic chess tournaments featuring knee-high pieces on sweeping outdoor chessboards. (You'll want to swing by the park's famous Reformation Wall, too, which maintains the large-scale effect with enormous statues of William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox.) And during winter, there's an ice-skating rink in the park—normal size. Happily, all of this is free!

Chateaus

Like a Prince: The most luxurious way to experience a Swiss chateau is to spend the night in one, naturally. The Château d'Ouchy, a 50-room, medieval-inspired property overlooking Lake Geneva, is my pick for a slice of the royal life. Although most of the castle dates from the 19th century, the ancient property retains its original 12th-century tower. And, like any proper chateau, it features elevated views of the surrounding town, Lausanne (as well as Lake Geneva and the Alps), high pointed towers, and a romantic ambiance. Rates start at 330 CHF (about $368) for a double room.

Like a Pauper: You've likely seen pictures of Chillon, one of Switzerland's most iconic castles. A beautiful and ancient bastion situated on the banks of Lake Geneva, Chillon is the stuff of medieval fantasies: Its dank subterranean vaults, vast banquet halls, and looming watchtowers give life to a vanished era. But the price of admission is far from kingly. Adult entry costs $12.50 CHF (about $14). Or purchase a Montreux Riviera Card and receive a 50 percent discount on admission.

Beer

Like a Prince: Craft beer may not be Switzerland's most famous export, but the country has a wealth of high-quality breweries and distilleries, many of which open their doors to inquisitive, thirsty tourists. You can go beyond tastings and tours by partaking in a hands-on brewing workshop. At Bier Factory, a microbrewery in Rapperswil (a town bordering Lake Zurich) that produces small batches of unfiltered beer, budding brewers can handcraft 16 bottles of ale under the tutelage of an experienced Swiss brewmaster. The workshop, which includes lunch, costs 225 CHF (about $251) per person.

Like a Pauper: Head to lofty heights for a practically free tasting of some superb Swiss brews. BierVision Monstein in the Alps resort town of Davos is the highest-altitude brewery in Europe. Its workers employ a unique strain of yeast that is capable of fermenting beer at altitudes of more than 5,300 feet. Tours of the facility are free, and a tasting is priced at 3 CHF (about $3.30) per cold one.

Water Views

Like a Prince: Few experiences feel as luxurious as waking up to a view of an azure Swiss lake melding with the vivid blue of a sunny sky. Throw in an Alps backdrop and you'll never want to leave your hotel. One of my favorite splurges is Hotel des Trois Couronnes, an elegant spa property on the banks of Lake Geneva in Vevey. Part of the Swiss Riviera, Vevey is blessed with a unique microclimate: Palm trees flourish in the region, and the weather remains comfortably mild throughout the year. At Hotel des Trois Couronnes, 34 of the 71 rooms have water views, and many have balconies with wrought-iron tables and chairs. And if you didn't book a balcony room, you can refresh with a cocktail in the steam bath on the hotel's spa terrace, which overlooks the lake. Standard nightly rates start at 600 CHF (about $669) for a lake-view room during summer high season.

Like a Pauper: One of the best views of Lake Geneva and its Alpine surroundings can be experienced on the rocky shores of the lake in Vevey. Here, along the palm-lined, flower-filled lake promenade, is a collection of chairs bolted onto rocks. Climb down over the rocks and relax with a good book or a friend in seats that virtually float over the clear water—for free.

You Might Also Like:

• Off-Season Europe
• Seven Notoriously Expensive Destinations (and How to Go for Cheap)
• 10 Picture-Perfect Mountain Towns to See in Winter