Culture & Gourmet Autumn
Culture meets cuisine: Europe’s most beautiful cities in autumn
Strasbourg
Alsatian charm among half-timbered houses and wine taverns
It is well worth taking your time when it comes to food, too. Traditional wine taverns serve regional specialities accompanied by wines from nearby Alsace. Strasbourg combines French savoir-vivre with the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Alsace.
The city is easy to reach by train from Switzerland, with direct services from Basel.
Vienna
Culture, coffee houses and Viennese cuisine
In Vienna, culture and cuisine have always gone hand in hand. Magnificent museums, imperial architecture and one of Europe’s great musical traditions meet traditional Beisl taverns, coffee houses and Heuriger wine taverns.
In 2026, the Austrian capital is putting its culinary identity firmly in the spotlight under the motto ‘Vienna Bites. Cuisine, Culture, Character’. Viennese cuisine, historic coffee houses and vineyards within the city limits make Vienna a destination that can be wonderfully explored through its flavours. Art and cuisine also come together: in 2026, the Kunsthistorisches Museum presents ‘A Bite of Art’, exploring the interplay between food, dining culture and art.
Our tip: Combine a museum visit with a classic Viennese coffee-house break – and allow plenty of time for a Melange and a slice of cake.
Salzburg
Culture in autumn
Music is everywhere here. Following in Mozart’s footsteps takes you through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, past historic squares, museums and traditional coffee houses. At the same time, city and nature are unusually close together – perfect for a walk across Salzburg’s city hills with views over the autumn landscape.
There are direct train services from Zurich to Salzburg.
Milan
Art, design and aperitivo
Milan may be famous for fashion, but there is much more to the city than that. Its imposing cathedral, historic palazzi, major art collections and contemporary design make this northern Italian metropolis a wonderfully varied cultural destination.
Then there is the Italian way of life: an espresso at the bar, a stroll through Brera and a leisurely aperitivo in the early evening. Autumn is an especially pleasant time to explore Milan and combine sightseeing with a culinary journey through the city.
Travel comfortably from Switzerland to the heart of Milan aboard the EuroCity.
Our tip: After art and shopping, embrace the Milanese aperitivo tradition and look back on the day over drinks and small bites.
Lyon
France’s city of gourmets
Anyone who travels for good food cannot miss Lyon. The city is considered one of France’s great culinary destinations. Traditional Bouchons Lyonnais serve classics of regional cuisine, while the Halles Paul Bocuse tempt visitors with cheese, charcuterie, pâtisserie and many other specialities.
But Lyon offers far more than food. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town, Renaissance lanes, hidden traboules, more than 30 museums and the contemporary architecture of the Confluence district provide plenty of cultural variety.
The TGV takes you directly and comfortably from Geneva to Lyon.
Our tip: Wander through the Halles Paul Bocuse in the morning and discover traditional Lyonnaise cuisine in a bouchon in the evening.
Dijon
Burgundy for all the senses
Dijon is about far more than mustard. The former capital of the Dukes of Burgundy combines an exceptional historic heritage with one of France’s best-known wine and culinary regions.
A walk through the Old Town leads along cobbled streets past half-timbered houses, the Palais des Ducs and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. One of the city’s culinary highlights is the Cité internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin, dedicated entirely to French food and wine culture. And just beyond Dijon begin Burgundy’s famous wine landscapes.
With TGV Lyria, you can reach Dijon from Basel in just under an hour and a half and from Lausanne in around two hours.
Our tip: Follow the Owl Trail through the Old Town and combine a day of culture with a tasting of Burgundian specialities.
Frankfurt
Culture on the River Main
Skyscrapers and half-timbered houses, an international metropolis and welcoming neighbourhoods: Frankfurt thrives on contrasts. Around the Römer, the city reveals its historic side, while its famous skyline rises just a few steps away.
Culture lovers in particular are spoilt for choice. Almost 40 museums make up Frankfurt’s Museumsufer, showcasing art, history, architecture and design. Afterwards, discover the city’s culinary side at the Kleinmarkthalle or stop at one of its traditional apple-wine taverns.
Our tip: Spend an afternoon exploring the Museumsufer, then discover Frankfurt’s regional side over traditional Hessian cuisine.
Düsseldorf
Art, architecture and cuisine on the Rhine
Düsseldorf combines the relaxed Rhineland way of life with an exceptionally diverse art, architecture and food scene. Museums, galleries and the renowned Kunstakademie shape the city just as much as the contemporary architecture of the MedienHafen and Kö-Bogen districts.
The culinary diversity is equally exciting. Alongside traditional Rhineland cuisine, Little Tokyo in the heart of the city offers Japanese restaurants, izakayas and speciality shops.
Autumn 2026 also brings some exceptional art highlights. From September, K20 presents the exhibition ‘Niki de Saint Phalle – Dream Machine’, while the Kunstpalast opens a major Jörg Immendorff retrospective at the end of September.
Our tip: Start with art, then explore Little Tokyo and round off the day with a stroll along the Rhine.
