*By Anna Timbrook*
With its Alpine countryside and beautifully-preserved historic cities, Switzerland is one of the most picturesque countries in the world. Whether you’re an outdoorsy adventurer or an urban explorer, the relatively small country is filled to the brim with experiences. In fact, deciding where to visit can be overwhelming. I’ve been living in Switzerland for nearly 20 years and still feel there’s a lot more to explore. To make your trip planning easier, here are four beautiful places that you won’t want to miss when visiting Switzerland:
1. In And Around Interlaken
As the adrenaline capital of Switzerland, you’re sure to have a memorable time in Interlaken. It’s the place to be for adventure sports like paragliding, bungee jumping, and skydiving. And, the natural beauty of the location, flanked by lakes and surrounded by towering alps, is like second to none.
There are countless hiking options as well, which means anyone can enjoy their time outdoors here. It’s also a great base to explore the beautiful Bernese Oberland, which is what I would recommend you do. Interlaken has amazing transportation options, so make sure to head up to both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen as well.
A great day trip from Interlaken is the hike to Bachalpsee, one of the prettiest Swiss mountain lakes. From Grindelwald, it’s a quick cable car ride to Grindelwald First, then an easy 3-kilometer hike to the lake.
Of course, you can’t miss the world-famous Jungfraujoch – the highest train station in all of Europe combined with epic Alpine views. It’s a 2-hour trip up from Interlaken, passing through mountainsides (literally) along with providing glacial views and more “swissness” than you will need in one day.
2. Zermatt
Switzerland is well-known for several things, but none more iconic than the unique triangular mountain peak of the Matterhorn. You may already know it from the Toblerone chocolate box…
Zermatt is a joy to stroll around as it’s a car-less town filled with timeless local hotels, spas and chalets. So, take some time between adventures in the mountains above to enjoy a local speciality with a view.
One of the most popular activities in Zermatt is a trip to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise or Sunnegga for good vantage points of the Matterhorn. There are several restaurants and fancy shops to explore as well as many child-friendly play areas for family trips. With 200 kilometers of pistes, it’s also one of the most popular places to go skiing and snowboarding.
Zermatt is also the perfect spot for hiking. There are countless Alpine trails to choose from, but one of the best is the 5 Lakes trail. It’s a fairly easy hike with a few moderately steep sections, but should be manageable for most people, even if you have older kids. The trail passes by Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee with unobstructed views of the Matterhorn almost all the way.
3. Lucerne
The compact city of Lucerne is definitely one of Switzerland’s most beautiful, so it’s no surprise that I mention it here. It sits on the shores of Lake Lucerne where the Alps begin to show their true majesty. It has all of the things you would expect in Switzerland – pristine lake, majestic mountains, and a town steeped in history. It’s only an hours drive, or train, from Zurich with amazing views along the way.
At the center of Lucerne is the medieval Old Town, with lots of ancient cobbled streets and painted buildings to explore. However, the true gem of Lucerne is the must-see Chapel Bridge right in the heart of downtown, crossing the Reusse river.
There are other worthwhile sites to check out in the old town such as the original Musegg town wall, complete with functioning clock, and the lower, the Jesuit church and the other lesser known Spreuer Bridge.
If you have more time, it’s worth taking a day trip to the peak of Mount Rigi. The Mount Rigi Panoramic Trails passes through lush meadows and breathtaking views of lakes, peaks, and valleys. At the top of the trail, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Lucerne.
For something less physical but equally exciting, take a trip to the top of the Fronalpstock mountain. In order to get there, you have to head to Stoos. From there, you can take the brand new, and world’s steepest funicular, which looks kind of like a bunch of barrels rolling up the hill. It has an incline of 110% and travels an altitude of 740 meters (2427 feet).
From the village, you can take another chairlift to the viewing points of Fronalpstock mountain. At around 1,900 meters (6233 ft), you can get amazing views of Lake Lucerne and nine other surrounding lakes. There is also an easy panoramic walk along the top.
4. The Aletsch Glacier
Last, but certainly not least is the longest glacier in all of the Alps. The Aletsch glacier runs right through the heart of Switzerland, from the back of the Jungfraujoch, almost all the way to the main Rhine valley of the Valais region. It is a mind-blowing sight!
It is something you can stop off and do on your way south towards Zermatt, and definitely worth the extra effort. You won’t see anything like it anywhere else in Europe. There are various ways to get the best views of the Aletsch, but the simplest is either to take a cable car to the top of Bettmeralp or Fiescheralp from the valley floor. From there, you can easily see the glacier in all of its glory.
For those of you wanting something a little more challenging, there is also a three-part panoramic hike along the ridge above the glacier. You can do any and all parts of the hike, but the middle part between the Fiescheralp and Bettmeralp is the most stunning.
No matter which parts of Switzerland you have time or choose to visit, none of them will disappoint you. I am still blown away by the scenery here and I have seen almost every corner of this country!
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