15 Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland
Are you looking for the best places to visit in Switzerland? With its picturesque mountains, alpine lakes, swiss cows, iconic attractions, and the finest chocolate, Switzerland is one of the best countries to visit in Europe.
Switzerland has impressive traditions, delicious local food, incredible sights, and exciting activities. This list doesn’t include all of Switzerland’s attractions because there are many different regions and towns to visit.
Check out these 15 beautiful places to visit in Switzerland and add more fascinating attractions to your Switzerland Itinerary. We highly recommend visiting Zermatt, Lucerne, Bern, Zurich, Lugano, Ticino, and Château de Chillon, which are still on our bucket list.
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- 15 Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland
- Best Places to Visit in Switzerland
- 1. Ebenalp, Schäfler, Seealpsee Hike
- 2. Berglistüber Waterfall
- 3. Stoos Ridge Hike
- 4. The Valley of 72 Waterfalls, Lauterbrunnen
- 5. Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui
- 6. Stäubifall
- 7. Gelmerbahn
- 8. First Cliff Walk, Grindelwald
- 9. Furkapass & Hotel Belvedere
- 10. Saxer Lücke, Fälensee Hike
- 11. Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht)
- 12. Lake Brienz
- 13. Wengen
- 14. Caumasee, Flims
- 15. Trümmelbachfälle
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Best Places to Visit in Switzerland
1. Ebenalp, Schäfler, Seealpsee Hike
The Alpstein Mountains are one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. Ebenalp is situated at 1640 m above sea level. You can also visit it as a day trip and combine it with nearby attractions such as Saxer Lücke and Fälensee. Before you visit, check the weather forecast and the mountain webcam.
Wasserauen is the best starting point for the hike and is easily accessible by car or train. Once you arrive, the Ebenalp Valley station is only a 2-minute walk away.
The Ebenalp cable car ticket costs 34 CHF (38.5 USD) return and 22 CHF (25 USD) one-way for adults. You can get a 50% discount with Swiss Pass.
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! Travel insurance is the best way to avoid extra expenses due to unexpected accidents, cancellations, delays, loss of personal items, and emergencies.
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Hungariandreamers readers get a 5% discount on Heymondo.
The hiking loop is 14 km long: Wasserauen – Berggasthaus Aescher – Ebenalp – Schäfler – Seealpsee.
Read the full post → Ebenalp, Schäfler, Seealpsee Hiking Trail
2. Berglistüber Waterfall
The Berglistüber Wasserfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Switzerland, and you must visit it. It can be accessed from the free parking lot, and you will reach the waterfall in just a few minutes.
The Berglistüber Waterfall is free to visit.
There is an unlocked gate with a sign warning you not to go behind the waterfall! However, you can walk behind the Berglistüber Waterfall at your own risk, which is a fantastic experience.
Good to know
A road trip is the best way to explore Switzerland.
Enjoy unlimited access by public train, bus, and boat to visit more than 41 cities, reach peaks of many mountains, and sail through beautiful lakes in Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass.
3. Stoos Ridge Hike
Stoos Ridge Hike is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. The hike is located in the car-free mountain village of Stoos, on a beautiful panoramic trail along the ridgeline. As Stoos is not accessible by car, you can reach Stoos from Morschach by cable car or from Schwyz by funicular. The best part of the hike is that you can ride with the world’s steepest funicular railway (110% gradient).
You can visit it as a day trip from Zurich or Lucerne and easily combine it with nearby attractions, such as Stäubifall and Berglistüber Waterfall.
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The best time for hiking is from June to September.
Read the full post → Stoos Ridgeline Hike
4. The Valley of 72 Waterfalls, Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland, made famous for its fairytale surroundings and picturesque views. This epic place is located in the middle of a valley and is home to Switzerland’s highest free-falling waterfall.
Take the iconic photo with the Staubbach Waterfall in the background, and then take a free tour behind Staubbach Falls.
Here you’ll find the perfect viewpoint in Lauterbrunnen: (46.5946721, 7.9083079)
Most people take a quick stroll around the town, but if you can, spend a few days here and explore the nearby villages and stunning sights. Right next to the train station, you’ll find Parkaus Lauterbrunnen, where you can leave your car.
Book the Bernese Oberland Tour.
5. Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui
The charming Rosenlaui Valley is one of the most romantic places in Switzerland. Take a photo by the river with the mountain in the background, then visit the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge. The path through the gorge is well-maintained, and the hike takes about 45 minutes. You will pass along waterfalls, natural whirlpools, and gorgeous shaped rocks.
The entrance fee to the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is 10 CHF (11 USD) for adults and 5 CHF (5.5 USD) for children. It will be much colder than outside, so bring a sweater or jacket. You can visit in rainy weather, but wear good shoes and a raincoat.
Recommended post → Meiringen Guide
6. Stäubifall
Stäubifall is one of our favorite waterfalls in Switzerland, located near Unterschächen in Uri. A few wooden houses, lush fields, and cute cows surround the waterfall. If you have time, you can hike around the area, as the views are stunning.
Parking is available in Ribi, and the walk to the waterfall takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes. After that, enjoy the breathtaking views from Klausen Pass, a famous scenic drive across the Swiss Alps.
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It’s worth combining it with a visit to Berglistüber Waterfall, just a 20-minute drive away.
7. Gelmerbahn
The Gelmerbahn is one of the best day trips in Switzerland and is easily accessible from Zurich, Interlaken, or Lucerne. A ride on Europe’s steepest open passenger funicular railway is a must-experience in Switzerland. Then, you can combine your visit with the Aare Gorge or Reichenbach Falls.
Buy your ticket online a few days in advance, because tickets sell out quickly!
As the Handeckfall Bridge (Handeckfallbrücke) is located right next to the Gelmerbahn, take your time to explore the bridge and then enjoy the fantastic panoramic views from the Gelmer Funicular. When you reach the top, you can hike around the turquoise-blue Gelmersee or hike up to the Gelmer Mountain Hut.
Read the full post → How to Visit Gelmerbahn
8. First Cliff Walk, Grindelwald
One of the best places to visit in Switzerland is the First Cliff Walk. The Grindelwald First cable car is quite expensive, but it is well worth it. A return ticket for the cable car costs 68 CHF (74.5 USD) for adults and 20 CHF (22 USD) for children (6-15 years). You can get a 50% discount with Swiss Pass.
Once at the top, you can enjoy great views from the cable car station. After that, you can hike to Bachalpsee. Bachalpsee is a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by mountains, offering stunning views in good weather.
The hike to the lake is 3 km away long and takes about 50 minutes. The trail is well-marked, with picturesque scenery and moderate ascents. Then, hike back, stroll the First Cliff Walk, and take the cable car back to the village of Grindelwald.
Good to know
In Grindelwald, you can park at the Parkhaus Sportzentrum or Parking Eiger for 2.5 CHF (3 USD) each hour.
9. Furkapass & Hotel Belvedere
The Furkapass is the most magnificent high mountain pass in Switzerland. It is also home to the iconic Belvedere Hotel and the Rhone Glacier. The drive to the Furkapass is a popular experience for bikers, motorcycles, and sports car enthusiasts.
There’s a large car park right in front of the hotel where you can leave your car for free while you visit the Rhône Glacier.
The Eisgrotte Rhonegletscher is usually open from June to mid-October, daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. The entrance fee is 9 CHF (10 USD) for adults and 6 CHF (6.5 USD) for children.
A visit to the Rhône Glacier is a unique experience in Switzerland and not to be missed.
See also → Best Hotels in the Switzerland Mountains
10. Saxer Lücke, Fälensee Hike
Appenzell region is a popular destination in Eastern Switzerland, offering fantastic outdoor activities and beautiful hiking trails. This hike is situated at 1649 m above sea level. You can also visit it as a day trip and combine it with nearby attractions such as Fälensee and Seealpsee.
You can reach Saxer Lücke from Staubern or Hoher Kasten. From Frümsen, go to the cable car station, and the cable car can reach Staubern in just 8 minutes.
Once you arrive, hike to the Saxer Lücke, which is about 3 km long and can be reached in 1.5 hours. During the hike, you will pass several impressive viewpoints. Then, follow the trail to visit the magnificent Fälensee.
Read the full post → Saxer Lücke Hiking Trail
11. Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht)
Looking for more top places to visit in Switzerland? The Aare Gorge is located between Meiringen and Innertkirchen. The Aareschlucht is a 1.4 km long walkway and 200 m deep natural wonder. A beautiful, easy walk that is accessible to all ages and a truly refreshing experience in summer.
It takes about 45 minutes to walk through the impressive gorge. You can walk back to the start on a public hiking trail via Lammi or take the Meiringen-Innertkirchen railway that runs alongside the gorge.
Good to know
The Aare Gorge is accessible by wheelchair and stroller from the west entry point to the middle of the gorge.
Recommended post → Things to Do in Meiringen
12. Lake Brienz
Iseltwald is a small, charming town on the coast of stunning Lake Brienz, close to Interlaken. Lake Brienz is one of the most beautiful turquoise lakes in Switzerland.
This hidden gem is famous for its stunning photos of Schloss Seeburg (Castle). Unfortunately, it is private property and not open to the public. But you can take a relaxing stroll around the town and try some water activities.
You can leave your car in the car park at the entrance to Iseltwald and walk from there to the lookout point.
Book this Best Bernese Oberland Region Tour. This tour includes visiting the Lake Lungern, Aare Gorge, Giessbach Falls, Brienz, Interlaken, and Lauterbrunnen.
13. Wengen
Take a day trip to Wengen, a picturesque village that can only be reached by train or hike. However, we recommend that you don’t miss the train ride experience.
A round-trip train ticket from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen costs 15.60 CHF (17 USD). Unfortunately, the weather was terrible when we visited Wengen, but the village was still magnificent.
We recommend you plan several days in Switzerland and explore nearby places such as Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, and Grindelwald. Interlaken is also the perfect base for visiting the top of Europe, the Jungfraujoch.
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Don’t miss the breathtaking views from Wengen of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Swiss Alps.
14. Caumasee, Flims
Lake Cauma is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. It offers magical scenery in all seasons, making it an unmissable destination. We only saw the lake in the winter, but we recommend a visit in the summer or autumn. It is an ideal place for swimming, water sports, relaxation, or hiking.
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Visit the Blausee or Bachalpsee in Switzerland, which are also beautiful lakes.
See also → Best Luxury 5-Star Hotels in St. Moritz
We recommend parking at the Lake Cauma parking lot. Then, walking to the lake and exploring the surroundings. The cost of parking is 1 CHF (1 USD) each hour.
Afterward, go to the II Spir Viewpoint for a stunning view of the “Swiss Grand Canyon” and visit Crestasee. Lake Cresta is another beautiful spot in Switzerland that is less visited. The lake offers the perfect place for a picnic in summer or a romantic walk in winter.
15. Trümmelbachfälle
The Trümmelbachfälle, with its 10 glacial lakes, is located inside the mountain and is accessible by tunnel lift. The Trümmelbach Falls is a short drive or 45-minute walk from Lauterbrunnen. There is a parking lot directly at the entrance, where you can park for free.
After that, you can take a tunnel lift to the top of the falls, where you can access a network of walkways and tunnels that connect the waterfalls. From the top, you can start the walk down and enjoy the different perspectives of the scenery.
Depending on weather conditions, the waterfall is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM from April to early November. The entrance fee to Trümmelbachfälle is 15 CHF (16.5 USD) for adults and 6 CHF (6.5 USD) for children (6-15 years).
We hope our list of places to visit in Switzerland will inspire you to travel to this magical country. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – Heymondo
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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I really LOVE Switzerland and I am proud to say it is my DREAM country to Visit.
Hi! Thanks a lot!
We love Switzerland too! We hope to explore the other parts of Switzerland next time and can share blog posts about it!
Best regards,
Dittus and Mate