Central Switzerland, Switzerland

Capital City: Lucerne
Closest Airport: Lucerne
Population: 689,800
Resort Area: Entlebuch – Lucerne – Sorenberg – Niederrickenbach – Engelberg – Oberiberg – Einsiedeln – Klosterli – Sattel – Schwyz - Andermatt
Snow Season: Mid-December – end March
Main Language: German
Currency: Swiss Franc

Lucerne is both the geographical and historical heart of Switzerland. Names and places here are long and Germanic sounding and if you’re planning on ordering a beer in the local lingo, you need to remember to the verb at the end of the sentence put.

Resorts, like everything else in the region, are centred around the lake and with 18-or-so to choose from, there’s pretty much something for everyone. The two highlights of the region are Andermatt’s 40km trail and the 12km, 2,000 metre descent from the Titlis to Engelberg. Neither are for the faint-hearted, but if you hate short runs and long queues, you should be in your element here.