Best Swiss E-Bike Resorts

If your idea of a summer break involves rest, relaxation and gobsmacking views, you’ve hit the nail on the head here: on the banks of the Thun Lake and at the base of the Niederhorn, this peaceful village has a healthy combination of all three. Fighting the sights of the Bernese Alps for the title of ‘Merligen’s best feature’ is the weather, which is hot enough to rival the Med.

Lucerne is one of the cultural hubs of central Switzerland. Picture a fairy-tale town and this is probably what you’d come up with; the Renaissance and Baroque architecture, lakeside setting and mountainous surroundings make this one of the prettiest towns in the land. To really appreciate the setting, take the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to the top of the Pilatus for a panoramic view of 73 alpine peaks or look over the water from the medieval Kapellbrucke or the water tower. There’s a lot going on here in the summer – including the annual festival of classical and contemporary music which usually features big names from around the globe.

Famously the highest town in the Alps as well as one of the ‘classic’ mountain destinations, Davos is the bigger and livelier of the Graubünden resorts. The area is a sight to see in the summer; all sun-drenched gorges, flowering valleys and towering peaks. Hiking is huge here (there are 700km of footpaths in the surrounding area) and you can also enjoy the views by cycling, paragliding or just doing backstroke - there’s nothing like a swim in the Davos Lake. For something different but well worth doing, take a tour around Monstein, the highest brewery in Europe.

Overlooked by the north side of the Eiger, Grindelwald’s the life and soul of the Jungfrau towns. It’s a mix of vintage Swiss and newly built architecture, topped off with sights of the big three – the Monch, Jungfrau and Eiger. If you can drag your eyes away from the mountains, there’s plenty to do, from walking and golf to bungee jumping and Via Ferrata. Kick back and watch the world go by in the evenings (best accompanied by a glass of chilled Valais wine).

On the banks of the Kander river and framed by colossal Alpine peaks, Kandersteg is small, friendly and utterly ‘Swiss’. While the pace of life in the village is lovely and leisurely, things really heat up when you reach the mountains – this is a seriously good area for hiking and mountain biking. We love the downhill free-trail, which is packed full of berms and jumps and the area has plenty more for the to-do list including a rope park, swimming pool and summer toboggan run.

Klosters is the smaller and prettier of the two Graubünden villages - and it’s near enough to Davos that you can still make the most of the larger town’s spas and bars. The village has a definite air of ‘country chic’ and its surrounding hills have hundreds of kilometres for walking, cycling and pony trekking (or scooter descents if you’re after something a bit unconventional...). Visit the Madrisa adventure park if you’re here with the clan – it’s the largest of its kind in Switzerland.

With the warmest weather in Switzerland, Locarno is a brilliant blend of Italian and Swiss on the tip of the legendary Lago Maggiore. If you’re not too caught up indulging in La Dolce Vita, have a go at sailing or set off on one of the fantastic local walks. The town hosts its international film festival every summer (famed for the outdoor viewing experience in the Piazza Grande) and it’s always worth visiting the church of Madonna del Sasso up in Orselina – if only for the sights of the lake and town.

Near the River Aare and at the meeting point of some seriously stunning alpine passes, this market town is a great base in the Bernese Alps. Get the train to places like Interlaken and use the mountain railway for high altitude hikes. As well as being the hometown of the meringue (picture a world without Eton Mess...), the Reichenbach Falls are the locals’ claim to fame – the site of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty’s legendary final struggle.

Three things you can’t visit Vitznau without doing: 1) Get a boat out onto the lake to fully appreciate its location; facing Lake Lucerne with the Rigi Mountain towering behind, this place really is spectacular. 2) Take the cog railway (which happened to be the first of its kind in Europe) to the top of Rigi, for a 360° panorama of mountains and lakes stretching over to Germany and France. 3) Spend the evening by the lakeside – the sunset here is frankly spectacular. It’s not all about the sights though, the Rigi has some terrific walking routes and there are some lovely bike paths along and overlooking the lake. The region is officially labelled a ‘Wellness Destination’ by the Swiss Tourism Federation, so if you need to escape for some R&R, you’ve come to the right place.

Mark Twain called Weggis the ‘loveliest place’ he’d visited... and we’re inclined to agree. Known as the ‘Riviera of Central Switzerland’ and with a type of rose named after it, this is a seriously pretty village on the shores of lovely Lake Lucerne. If you’re not relaxing with a glass of Eggisbühler as you listen to one of the daily concerts, go for a scenic walk, hike or bike ride; the climate causes the area to bloom with hundreds of species of flowers throughout the summer. Take the old cog railway up the Rigi for cracking views of lakes and mountains and get a boat across the lake for a sight of the Rigi itself, which looms over the town.