Exploring Switzerland should be more than a trip up the Matterhorn or a hurried visit to Luzern. Why not slow down a little, take a detour off the cliched route, and explore the lesser-known Switzerland. The following 16 destinations, unique from last years list, are no less worthy of a stopover. You will find mountains to make you feel small, cobbled stoned cities to get lost in and lakes perfect for a summertime dip. All come highly recommended by contributors who call Switzerland home.
Aare Gorge
While it’s no secret that Switzerland is home to some of the world’s best scenery with its spellbinding peaks and picturesque valley. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that Switzerland is also home to geological marvels that either takes your breath away or make you hold onto it.
A walk along the Aareschluct or the Aare Gorge ticks both of these boxes, and it’s ideal for a hot summer’s day adventure with the whole family. Walk 1.6 km alongside the Alpine blue of the river Aare as it roars through the ravine it’s been carving for millennia. The sound of the water is incredible, while the shade of the gorge and the cool damp of the wet tunnels that the walkway takes you through is very welcome on broiling summer days.
While there are two different entry-points to the gorge, the Meiringen entrance is the better option for families with young children as the little ones can let off steam at its large playground. Walkthrough the gorge, taking it all in (the river and the ‘mascot’ carved into the tunnel walls) and return via the Meiringen–Innertkirchen Railway back to Meiringen. The railway burrows through the walls of the gorge, which is a fun experience in itself.
Pair your trip with a stop in the town of Meiringen who claim to of invented the meringue or visit the very touristy Reichenbach Falls made famous by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.
Recommended by Nayana from @themigratorymum
Bavona Valley, Ticino
Combing Swiss organisation with the Italian Dolce Vita lifestyle, the Ticino region is one of our most beloved areas of Switzerland to visit. Ventur further past the crowds in the Maggia valley to discover the lesser-known Bavona Valley, an adventurous playground for hiking and nature lovers. The valley is home to beautiful waterfalls and remote villages that make you feel you have travelled back in time, or straight into a fairytale!
The surreal village of Sabbione, with houses built under (or around) enormous rock, is home to people who still move according to the seasons. A practice called ‘Transhumance’, and has them fleeing in the colder months of the year due to most homes not having electricity.
Travel further through the valley to visit Foroglio for its typical Ticinese stone houses and an awe-inspiring waterfall! The water drops spectacularly from the mountain and hits the cliff underneath with all its force. You can wander through the village, visiting it’s only store, with its many handmade items. Enjoy lunch in Foroglio’s only restaurant, and enjoy waterfall views while eating traditional dishes like rustical Polenta and creamy Risotto.
Recommended by Laura from Let’s Explore
- Read more the Bavona Valley on Laura’s blog.
Caumasee
Switzerland is not just about snow-capped alps, skiing and cold weather, also home to many pristine lakes. Lake Cauma or Caumasee is near Flims, in the canton Graubünden. The spectacular turquoise colour of its water looks somehow paradisical and painterly at the same time.
The lake is only reachable by foot, about a 10-minute leisurely walk to the funicular that takes you down to the lake from the carpark. Alternatively, there is a footpath to walk down, which is also suitable for prams and wheelchairs.
Get up close and personal with on a boat, or bring your swimmers and dip your toes in the (cold) lake on a summers day. There is also a restaurant and a play area for the kids. Come with plenty of time, as we spent a long time perched on some rocks admiring the crystal clear, incredibly turquoise water.
Recommend by Jane from @frenchified_wife
Crans-Montana, Valais
Wow, just wow! Crans-Montana is a winter resort that outshines itself in summer! A truly incredible place to visit with family in the warmer months with a vast range of activities, many of which are provided free with the ‘Explorer Card’ for those staying overnight. With so much to do and lots of accommodation options available, it’s worth staying at least a couple of nights.
My highlights include hiking and cycling. An easy hike for families is the Sentier des Marmottes, a mostly flat, one hour walk from Cry–d’Er to Les Violettes. It starts at the top of a cable car and ends at another that you can catch down or alternatively take a trip up to see Glacier de Plaine Morte (2927m) and see how many marmots you can find!
We stayed at the perfectly positioned campground positioned by the beautiful Lac de la Moubra with swimming, pedalos, acrobranche, and a couple of restaurants. Time it right and you could be in the swing of things at the annual Blues Festival by the lake.
Recommended by Jennifer Robertson
Fribourg
Come and visit Fribourg!
Fribourg, my adoptive town sits right on the “röstigraben”, or “language frontier”… cut in two by the river “Sarine” (or Saane” depending on which side of it you are, and which language you speak). An adorable and hilly town, with as many as 15 bridges, the oldest one being 400 years old older than the newest one!
On the left-hand side of the Sarine, one speaks French, on the right one, it’s Swiss German. The old town next to the river has a unique language all of its own, a mixture of both French and German called: “Bolze” You have to be born there to speak it!
Fribourg is a very catholic town too, with numerous convents and abbey which makes it not unusual to meet nuns or priests in robes as you explore the city. During term-time, the city’s population explores by 10’000 people who come to study at the local university.
I love old stones, and Fribourg is a real medieval town, built in the 13th century. Many houses are still from that period or the later Middle Ages. Spring is my favourite time to stroll through the old town and admire the old buildings.
Recommended by Caroline from Tulipes en Janvier
Lausanne
Lausanne, a small city on Lake Geneva, is the perfect destination for a long weekend or a stopover in between destinations. Boasting the comforts of a small city but still is home to those beautiful Swiss views. Wander through its streets or head down to the Ouchy Port which itself offers family fun but also is the starting point exploring the region (which includes stops in France) by boat.
For days where you would like to retreat inside, why not explore Lausanne’s numerous museums. I recommend the Olympic Museum, where kids and adults alike will enjoy reliving their favourite Olympic memories
Bring your walking shoes and climb the 300 steps to the top of the wooden tower, Tour de Sauvabelin. Your reward, a spectacular view over Lausanne and a unique walk through the forest canopy. After all, that walking, don’t leave Lausanne without discovering it’s food. I suggest a typical Swiss cheese fondue, or why not try a Breton crêpe?
Recommended by Janet from My Twenty Cents
- Read more about Janet’s tips for Lausanne over on her blog.
Männlichen
One of my favourite places to take people is Männlichen in the Bernese Oberland. The journey itself is an instagramable adventure all on its own, with dramatic cable car rides from either Wengen or Grindelwald whisking you up into an alpine wonderland. Hike the short but steep path to the Männlichen summit for a 360-degree view or why not sit back and let the kids enjoy the playground set in front of snow-capped mountain peaks, while you sit back and enjoy the local hospitality.
In summer there is an excellent cow-themed path back down to Grindelwald, or I highly recommend the 4.5km hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg where you can pick up a train back to Grindelwald or Wengen. Or for a truly “only in Switzerland” experience stay overnight at the Berggasthaus Männlichen. Wake up to the sounds of cowbells and if you are lucky am out of this world sunrise.
Recommended by Amanda from Amanda Joy Photography
- Read more details about Männlichen in an upcoming blogpost
Morteratsch
One of the easiest places to see a Swiss glacier is at Morteratsch in southeast Switzerland, near St. Moritz. You can take the train or drive very close to the glacier, then an easy stroll through the valley to reach the ice. On the path, you’ll see historical pictures of the glacier, showing how much it has shrunk over the past 100 or so years, a sad but essential truth to teach our children.
For a unique experience, you can hike about 5 km along the valley walls next to the glacier up to a mountain hut. The path is a mountain trail, but well-built and well-worn, suitable for children about 6+ with hiking experience. At the hut, you can have a simple meal, admire the glacier and hike back. Or you stay overnight and experience the sunset and sunrise over the ice and mountains.
If you want to stay overnight, there is a campground along the river flowing from the glacier. There is also a hotel at the mouth of the valley as well as parking by the train station.
Recommended by Tanya from Swiss Family Fun
- Read more detail about visiting Morteratsch and mountain hut in this post
- Read more about Camping Morteratsch
Mt Generoso, Ticino
A climb to the top of Monte Generoso is a beautiful day trip when visiting the Lugano region of Ticino. Located in the southernmost part of Switzerland, the mountain has sides in both Switzerland and Italy.
The easiest way to the top is by train. Departing from Riva San Vitale, a return ticket will cost a family of 4 108chf. But for those looking for more of an active challenge consider hiking up. I recommend the shorter (4-hour) trail from the Bella Vista parking lot, especially for those with kids.
Sweeping views over lake Lugano greet you as you reach the summit, as well as the imposing “Fiore di pietra“, the stone flower-shaped building designed by Mario Botta. Eating options include a self-service restaurant and a full-service restaurant with 360-degree views. Before you decent, consider hiking 30-minutes into Italy to visit the “Bear Cave”, which was once home to almost 1000 bears lived in the cave, hundreds of years ago.
Recommended by Julie from Gelato Travel
- Read more about Julie’s trip up Mt. Generoso over on her blog.
Mount Rigi
Called “Queen of the Mountains” and it’s easy to see why. Mt Rigi is spectacular, and thanks to its central location in Switzerland, it’s very accessible. Even better is that the cogwheel railways and two of the cable cars are included in the local train network. We spent a weekend camping in delightful Vitznau at the base of Mount Rigi, my choice for Mother’s Day. The campground itself was perfect for us, especially the heated pool, which made a great alternative to the still chilly lake.
In the morning, we headed up to Rigi Kulm (1797m) from Vitznau on the cogwheel railway. It’s best to go early before the hordes of tourists arrive by bus or boat. Take a good look around up top – the 360° views are stunning! There are a large number of walking routes, many of which are apparently stroller-friendly (gravel surface). One of these was the aptly named “Flower trail” which we took all the way down to a perfectly situated playground at Rigi Kaltbad-First. After a play, we continued onto the “Trail of Natural Treasures” or “Felsenweg”, a truly amazing “I can’t believe I’m living in this fairy tale” moment. However, not recommended for young children. For those with big appetites for both food and views, you shouldn’t miss Berghaus Unterstetten, perched right on the edge of the cliff.
To get back down the mountain, walk back to the cable car or one of the cogwheel train stops, or continue hiking along all the way back down as we did for a well deserved swiss back at the campground.
Recommended by Jennifer Robertson
Mürren
The car-free village of Mürren stole our hearts on our first visit, just months after moving to Switzerland. Each year we make sure to visit twice, once in the spring and once in the wintertime.
In late spring, the hiking seasons begins with plenty of routes for varied abilities. In particularly our kids love visiting the Flower playground at Allmendhubel, just a short funicular ride from the centre of mürren. This is a playground with a fantastic view! In winter in addition to skiing, the village offers ice skating and has an indoor swimming pool.
Mürren is car-free and is accessible by cable car and train from Lauterbrunnen, best if you are coming by public transport or cable cars from Stechelberg for those of you coming by car.
Recommended by Amanda from @expatadventures
Neuchâtel
Part of the three lakes region, Neuchâtel is where the mountains meet the lakes. Catch the funicular to Chaumont and climb the tower, to see spectacular views across Lake Neuchâtel to the alps. Chaumont boasts a great playground with shady picnic tables and even a few goats to pat.
In the warmer months, take a ferry ride across the lake for stunning views of the city. The Promenade 103 midday service is a perfect 90-minute cruise. Bring your own picnic lunch to eat on board, or the restaurant offers many meal options.
After close to 50 years of inaction, the ferry “Le Neuchâtel” resumed services in 2014. To celebrate the relaunch of the art nouveau steamer, Neuchâtel launched a city scavenger hunt tracing the cities Belle Époque. Allow two hours to enjoy historic murals, virtual chocolate walls and solve puzzles spread throughout the town. Tours are available in French, German and English.
If you want to explore Switzerland’s past, Laténium is an archaeological park and museum and UNESCO World Heritage site. A kid-friendly museum, the site features a playground and iron age houses to explore. It is well worth a visit, with free admission on the first Sunday of every month.
Recommended by Alison from Museum Travelers
The Val-de-Travers
The Val-de-Travers, is a region not to miss, let’s go!
Situated close to the border of France in northwestern Swizterland, this valley is full of activities for those who love the outdoors.
In Noiraigue, take off for the Creux du Van, a magnificent grand canon of natural wonder and breathtaking beauty, or enjoy the gentle and beautiful Gorges de l’Areuse.
In Môtiers, visit the Maison de l’Absinthe, a museum all about the history once illegal Absinthe combined with a village stroll. The waterfalls and the adventurous Gorges de la Poëta Raisse are worth a visit too.
In St-Sulpice, climb up to the Chapeau de Napoléon for a refreshing lunch while enjoying the view of the valley. Finally, in Buttes, take the chairlift to the summit and then take a ride down the slope on your scooter or simply walk – the site offers many fun activities for the everyone to enjoy
Recommended by Johana from L’atelier Du Fromage
Vevey
Vevey is often underestimated, being overshadowed by the more popular cities of Lausanne and Montreux. But a smaller tourist footfall adds to the charm of Vevey – relaxing by the lakeside is the most obvious and easiest things to do. During summers the entire promenade is particularly lively – there are picnic spots, tons of options to swim in the lake and buvettes right by the lake offering small eats.
Vevey has a lot to offer culturally, home to plenty of museums including Alimentarium, Vevey photography museum, Museum nest Vevey and Musée Jenisch, to name a few. Charlie Chaplin also called this rather sleepy town home, with his life immortalised at interactive Chaplin World. Vevey is also a great place to base yourselves for a visit to the Chillon Castle located close to Montreux.
For those looking for a mountain with beautiful views, plan to include Mont Pèlerin, connected to Vevey by a funicular. Alternatively, Les Pléiades also has spectacular views, traditional swiss meals and is easily reached by train. You find all kinds of food in the city; seafood is particularly popular due to its lakeside location. Ze Fork, Molino or even the restaurant at Hotel Astra are good choices.
Recommended by Pragati from My Swiss Story
Walensee
Surrounded by mountain peaks, Walensee (Lake Walen) is located southeast of Zurich – on the border of the cantons of St. Gallen and Glarus. The region, easily accessed by car or public transport, is known as Heidiland, thanks to its connection to the much loved Swiss children’s story set in the nearby village of Mainfeld.
Discover lovely villages and towns on its shores thanks to the “Spielerlebnis Walensee”. Claiming to be the largest theme playground in Switzerland, it has six themed playgrounds right on the lake’s shore. These are connected not only by the local ferry line but also by an adventurous game: reveal the story’s secrets together with characters Mara and Jonas. (best enjoyed in the warmer months of April to October). Make sure you grab the “Entdecker-Set” (Explorer Set) before you set off on your adventure. The explorer set can be purchased at various locations around the lake and includes a booklet with the story and a treasure map with detailed instructions. Good luck!
Recommended by Hanka from Our Swiss Experience
- Read more about Hanka’s trip to the Walensee over on her blog
Zugerberg
There is a canton nestled between Zurich and Luzern that not many tourists visit. However, the big corporates know it well, for its low taxes and crypto valley. And for those who are lucky to call it home, we know, it is also renowned for outstandingly gorgeous sunsets.
This beautiful canton is Zug, and its namesake city has a lot to offer for families on the lookout for magical forest trails and stunning views of Lake Zug.
At just 24 minutes from either Zurich or Luzern, Zug feels much closer to the alps. Instead of heading to Rigi (as most people do) my advice is to head to Zugerberg mountain for a themed forest trail that the kids will love, and adults won’t mind either.
The 5.4km loop trail will enchant all children with activities including a mini forest labyrinth, a treehouse and a sensory trail. And for the adults? Get ready for resting areas (while your kids play) with views that any 5-star spa would kill for – the trail has it all.
Zugerberg and its funicular welcome visitors year round, even if hiking is not your “thing”. The panorama restaurant at the funicular station is a must!
Recommended by Maricela from The Meditation Fairy
- Read more about the Zugiblubbi forest trail here.
