Raced over eight days, the event covers two weekends in June, and along with the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is considered a proving ground for the Tour de France, which is on the calendar approximately two weeks after the end of the Tour de Suisse.

Since 2011 the event is part of the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest level of professional races.

Like the Tour de France and the Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse has several stages with significant mountain climbs in the Swiss Alps and at least one individual time trial.

A women's race was first held in 1998, won by Lithuanian rider Rasa Polikevičiūtė.

[2] The race is considered a proving ground for the Giro Donne, which is on the calendar after the Tour de Suisse.