The land of chocolate, Insta-worthy towns, alpine forests and mountainside railways, Switzerland features on a number of our river itineraries along the Rhine. You can sail through the country on TUI River Cruises like the Rhine Explorer and the Rhine: Chateaux & Gateaux. As you wind along one of Europe’s longest rivers, you’ll get more than just an eyeful of snow-capped mountains, riverside villages and mirror-like lakes – this place is bursting with scenic hotspots and eye-popping panoramas.

And when it comes to exploring on foot, you’ll find that each of our river cruises to Switzerland stops in at the charming city of Basel in the north-west. Most of our Rhine cruises include a full day that you can use to unwrap the city’s Medieval centre. Have the camera handy for the 12th-century Gothic cathedral, which has far-reaching views across terracotta-coloured rooftops. Then potter around the ancient city walls, past colourful shuttered townhouses and history-stuffed museums. And don’t miss a shopping spree in the Spalenberg district, where boutique stores rub shoulders with delicatessens and teeny museums. Other sights you can see if you’re in Basel for a whole day include Fondation Beyeler – an art gallery housing works by artists like Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Matisse. Alternatively, dive in to Switzerland’s world-famous chocolate in one of Basel’s many sweet shops, where you can sample everything from liquor-filled choccies to truffles and pralines.