December in Switzerland means twinkling Christmas markets, swooshing down the ski slopes and melty raclette for dinner. It is a roaring fire in a chalet, a thermal bath in the snow and eating roasted chestnuts and sipping mulled wine as you walk the streets of a quaint downtown. From Appenzell to Zermatt, Switzerland offers alpine charm at its finest.
Appenzell: an enchanting step back in time Traditions run deep in Switzerland, especially in the delightful village of Appenzell. Here, you can explore a Christmas market and listen to carolers sing Advent songs, just like anywhere else in the country. There is also the opportunity to witness Silvesterchlausen , a longstanding, only-in-Appenzell custom.
On Dec. 31 and Jan. 13, Silvesterchlausen mummers don elaborate ornamental headgear with bells around their neck and wander from house to house, ringing in the new year by singing and yodeling.
In between the Silvesterchlausen festivities, trek to Santis, a massive mountain where on a clear day you can see six different countries from the summit. Basel: brimming with holiday cheer Basel's Christmas Market is the "biggest and arguably the best around," CNN said, attracting revelers who want to see the roughly 150 "fabulously decorated stalls selling Christmas spices, decorations and candles." This feast for the senses is separated into two sections — one at Barfusserplatz, where the mulled wine is a must, and the other at Munsterplatz, where you can get into the spirit of the se.
