Famously the highest town in the Alps as well as one of the ‘classic’ mountain destinations, Davos is the bigger an...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Petting zoos & campfire spots for families• Adventure Park Färich• Surf, sail & pedalo on the lake and lido
Overlooked by the north side of the Eiger, Grindelwald’s the life and soul of the Jungfrau towns. It’s a mix of vin...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • 500km walking paths• 160 km mountain bike trails• First-Flyer Zip Line & indoor rope park
The clue’s in the name with Interlaken: it’s situated between two fabulous lakes, the Thun and the Brienz. As well ...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Water sports on the lakes• Amazing views from the Two-lake Footbridge• Excellent train connections
On the banks of the Kander river and framed by colossal Alpine peaks, Kandersteg is small, friendly and utterly ‘Swi...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Kandersteg-Allmenalp via ferrata• Summer toboggan run• 360 panorama from Niesen
Klosters is the smaller and prettier of the two Graubünden villages - and it’s near enough to Davos that you can st...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • 700km marked footpaths• Paddle at the lido• Great for tennis
Lucerne is one of the cultural hubs of central Switzerland. Picture a fairy-tale town and this is probably what you’...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Rigi, Pilatus & Stanserhorn mountains• Visit the famous Lion Monument• Water sports on the lake
Freddie Mercury got it in one: “If you want peace of mind, come to Montreux”. The Jazz Festival put this town on th...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Warm climate• UNESCO Lavaux vineyard terraces• 12th century Chillon Castle
Peering over the Lauterbrunnen valley and with the Monch, Jungfrau and Eiger in its sightline, the views from Mürren...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • 200km walking trails• Visit the Trümmelbach falls• Funicular to Allmendhubel from resort
Saas-Fee is quiet and rustic, complete with old barns and narrow pathways but there’s nothing quaint about the activ...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Views from the rotating restaurant• 350km of hiking trails and Nordic walking routes• Acclaimed for family and hiking holidays
Mark Twain called Weggis the ‘loveliest place’ he’d visited... and we’re inclined to agree. Known as the ‘Rivier...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Spot the ‘Elephant stone’• 46km hiking trails• Lovely village park
Wengen’s storybook Switzerland – you reach the town by mountain railway (the whole place is car-free) and once you’...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Climbing on the Eiger• 500km+ walking trails• See the Trümmelbach Falls
With easy access to Bernese Oberland’s massive array of activities and attractions, this lovely old village is spot ...more ‣
Activities & Attractions
Walking
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Highlights • Quieter alternative to Interlaken• 13th century Unspunnen ruins• Visit Gsteigwiler and Saxeten
With gentle paths, road climbs, singletrack and pro-standard parks, everyone from families to full-sus head-cam heroes will have a smashing time in Switzerland. Regardless of the destination or surface, the mountains are an ever present theme here: whether you’re riding alongside or up them, the peaks dominate the trails in Zermatt and the Lauterbrunnen valley.
The cycling here is very well organised: designated national and regional routes, split between cycling and MTB, traverse the country. Smaller rides (like the ones around Lake Lucerne) pack plenty of features in a short distance, while the Lugano trail and other big tours will see you zooming through meadows, roads and narrow paths while the scenery unfolds around you.
There are lots of gentler paths through parks and by lakes for a family bike ride. The added battery power of E-Bikes has proven a popular way to get around; with 400 rental stations around the country and some 5600 miles of well-marked bike paths, there’s plenty to pedal.
It looks like Mother Nature built the Swiss countryside just for hikers – paths are strewn across the landscape, where walls of saw-toothed mountain ranges preside over flower-strewn valleys and deep Alpine lakes. Take advantage of the trains and lifts that make so much of the area accessible – even if you just want an easy wander with some sightseeing before going the easy way down.
Try out some stages on massive national routes, like the Alpine Panorama Trail which finishes up in Lake Geneva or have a go at a meticulously planned regional route like the one from Zermatt to Saas-Fee.
The valleys and lakeshores make a lovely setting for a simple stroll – far away from those gruelling hikes but still within view of their epic settings. Traipse along promenades from Montreux or Lugano or work up an appetite in the Lauterbrunnen valley – or countless others like it – before easing any hunger pangs with local delicacies like Gruyere cheese...