10 Must Do Hikes In Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, but some of the best spots are only reachable on foot.

We spent a month there recently, and never ran out of hikes to do. The Swiss Alps cover about 60 percent of the country, so there are thousands of trails featuring lakes, waterfalls, mountains, and even glaciers.

Most tourists stay in the Interlaken area, which has a lot of nice activities, but there are actually plenty of great hikes all over the country. You don’t need to limit yourself to one area.

In this guide, I’ll share some must do hikes in Switzerland, from easy family walks to full-day alpine treks!

This is far from a complete list, and I plan to add more hikes with future trips, so remember to bookmark this blog and check back later.

1. Saxer Lucke

Saxer Lucke is an epic viewpoint in the Alpstein mountain range, in eastern Switzerland.

There are several ways to do this trail, but the easiest way is to take the cable car from Frumsen to Staubern, and then start the hike from there. You can check the tickets here.

It takes less than 1 hour of hiking to reach the viewpoint, and it’s incredible.

In front, you’re facing a row of jagged peaks. On your left, you can see the town of Sennwald in the distance. On your right, you can see Fahlensee lake in the valley, surrounded by mountains.

Saxer Lucke viewpoint

Generally, the best time to photograph Saxer Lucke is in the morning, because in the afternoon it’s backlit by the sun.

When you’re done at the viewpoint, you can go back the way you came (easiest), or you can hike down into the valley to see Fahlensee lake up close, grabbing lunch at Berggasthaus Bollenwees and then ending the hike at Brulisau.

It’s a long hike if you do it like that, but most of it is downhill, so it’s still pretty manageable.

Either way, Saxer Lucke is well connected to public transport, like most hikes in Switzerland, so you don’t need a car to do it!

Distance: 4.2 kilometers (2.6 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 140 meters (460 ft)
Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
Map: AllTrails

Part of the trail to Saxer Lucke

2. Schafler Ridge

The Schafler ridge is another amazing trail in the Alpstein mountain range, near Appenzell.

There are many ways to do this hike, but I recommend taking the gondola from Wasserauen to Ebenalp, and then hiking from there to Berggasthaus Schafler and the viewpoint.

You can check the tickets here, or buy them when you arrive.

Schafler Ridge

To finish the hike, you can go back the way you came (easiest), or you can descend past the Seealpsee lake, which is a more scenic route. It’s a steep and rugged path, but there are metal cables to hold for safety.

If you want to extend the trail and take a detour, you can hike past Altenalpturm up to the Lotzisalpsattel. That’s what I did, and it gives a really unique perspective from the opposite side of the mountains, where there’s also less people on the trail.

No matter how you do this trail, you’re going to get some of the most epic views in Switzerland!

Distance: 10.5 kilometers (6.5 mi) point to point
Elevation Gain: 380 meters (1,250 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: AllTrails

Views of Altenalpturm from the Lotzisalpsattel

Views of Seealpsee lake while descending from Schafler

3. Staubifall

This is a short and easy hike that ends with a big waterfall in a Swiss village.

The location is a bit remote, but you can reach the start of the trail by car or public transport. We went there with a combination of train and bus, and it was a long day, but it was well worth it.

From the bus stop or parking area, it’s a 1 hour hike on a gravel road to get to the waterfall, and then the same amount of time to go back.

    
 
There’s a gradual incline on the hike to Staubifall, but nothing too crazy, and you have some shade along the way.

Once you reach the village, there’s another foot path to go even closer to the waterfall if you want, but my favorite photo is with the houses in the foreground. If you’re lucky, you might even get some cows wandering into the shot.

The waterfall is around 100 meters tall, so it’s bigger than it looks from a distance. The best time to photograph it is in the afternoon, because it hides in a shadow in the early morning.

It’s a beautiful place, and we wished we could’ve stayed there longer!

Distance: 6.6 kilometers (4.1 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 285 meters (935 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Map: AllTrails

Even the houses are photogenic at Staubifall

4. Pizol 5 Lakes Hike

This is a popular hike near Sargans with five mountain lakes, including two bright turquoise lakes called the Wildsee and Shottensee.

There are a few different ways to do this hike, but the easiest way is to hike from Pizolhutte to Gaffia. There are chair lifts that run from Wangs to either of these places, so you can use those to get up and down from the trail.

Here are the current prices for the Pizol lift combo ticket. The starting station in Wangs is well connected to Swiss public transport.

It’s a great hike, especially on a sunny day when the color of the lakes really pops!

Distance: 10.5 kilometers (6.5 mi) point to point
Elevation Gain: 550 meters (1,800 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: AllTrails

Wildsee is the first lake on the Pizol 5 lakes trail.

Shottensee is the second lake on the trail.

5. Stoos Ridge Hike

The Stoos ridge is a popular trail with amazing views of Lake Lucerne from above.

This one gets very busy, so it’s best to go early in the morning. You’ll also escape the worst of the heat that way, since the trail is completely unshaded.

Most people start the hike at Klingenstock and end at Fronalpstock, using the cable cars at both ends of the trail to go up and down from Stoos village.

I’d definitely recommend hiking it in that direction, because that way you’ll have the sun at your back and the best views of the lake in front of you.

Stoos ridge hike

Stoos is a car-free mountain village that’s accessed by the world’s steepest funicular (inclined railway). Getting to ride on it is another fun bonus of doing this hike.

The Stoosbahnen funicular is free with a Swiss Travel Pass, but you’ll still need to buy tickets for the cable cars from Stoos to Klingenstock/Fronalpstock and back, if you use them for the hike.

You can check the cable car tickets here, or wait and buy them on the spot.

Distance: 4.5 kilometers (2.8 mi) point to point
Elevation Gain: 285 meters (935 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: AllTrails

Stoos is such a nice hike

Wide open views on the ridge

6. Oeschinensee Upper Trail

Oeschinensee is a bright turquoise lake surrounded by mountains in the Bernese Oberland, not far from Interlaken.

It’s fairly easy to reach the lower part of the lake with a gondola ride from Kandersteg, but the very best views are on the upper loop trail, which takes some more effort.

The best way to hike this trail is in a clockwise direction, that way it starts with the best views and ends at the lake, where you can take a dip if you want.

Oeschinensee has gotten extremely popular, so an advance reservation is mandatory if you plan to use the gondola. You can check the tickets here.

Distance: 9.2 kilometers (5.7 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 500 meters (1,650 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: AllTrails

My favorite view of Oeschinensee from the upper trail

Hiking along the edge of the lake

The shore at the bottom

7. Gastlosen Loop

This is an awesome trail that loops around the Gastlosen mountain range in western Switzerland.

Most people prefer to do the hike counterclockwise, that way you’re climbing up the steepest part rather than descending it on slippery rocks.

There’s great scenery all the way through this hike, but the best views are at the Wolfs Ort saddle, which is roughly halfway through the trail.

From the saddle, you can extend the hike by climbing the Wandflue peak, which overlooks the rest of the mountain range.

View of Gastlosen from above the saddle

The main starting point for the Gastlosen hike is at the chairlift in Jaun. You can check the tickets online here, or buy them on the spot.

Jaun is a small village, but it’s connected to Switzerland’s bus system, so it’s not a problem getting there even if you don’t have a car.

This is one of my favorite hikes in Switzerland! Even if you’re staying in another area, it’s worth the travel time.

Distance: 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 655 meters (2,150 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: AllTrails

Views of the Wandflue peak from Gastlosen trail

The whole time you’re walking under these jagged peaks

8. Trift Bridge

This is a unique hike near the Interlaken area that features a high footbridge, a melting glacier, and a turquoise lake.

The Triftbrucke is a suspension bridge that’s 100 meters high and 170 meters long, spanning a canyon and river at the foot of the Triftsee glacial lake.

It’s spectacular and a little bit scary to walk across, but you can trust the Swiss engineering.

Trift bridge

Triftsee glacial lake

If you want to extend the hike past the bridge, you can continue to the Trifthutte, which has up close views of the glacier, plus a restaurant and cabins for staying overnight.

Most people only hike as far as the bridge and then go back, which takes about 1.5 hours each way.

The trail starts in Gadmen, which is connected to public transport and has a cable car called the Triftbahn that takes you partway up the trail.

It’s recommended to book ahead for the cable car, because it regularly sells out. You can check the tickets here.

Distance: 6.6 kilometers (4.1 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 730 meters (2,400 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Map: AllTrails

Drone pic of Triftbrucke and the lake

Trift glacier

9. Leiterhorn

This is a nice little hike from Wengen town center that gives you views of Jungfrau and the Lauterbrunnen valley from above.

You can reach the best views in just half an hour of hiking, but it’s all uphill, so that adds some challenge. It’s still family friendly, and we did it with a baby.

The view is kind of like what you see in Wengen, but you’re higher and you escape the crowds, which is nice. In fact, we went early and had the whole trail to ourselves!

Distance: 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 275 meters (900 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Map: AllTrails

Views on the Leiterhorn trail

10. Matterhorn Glacier Trail

This is a great hike near Zermatt with multiple lakes, glaciers, and up close views of the Matterhorn, Switzerland’s iconic pointy mountain.

The easiest and most relaxing way to do the hike is to start at Trockenersteg and end at Schwarzsee, that way you’re walking downhill for most of the trail, with only one hill to climb near the end.

You can take a cable car from Zermatt to Furi, and then Furi to Trockenersteg, where the trail starts.

Matterhorn Glacier Trail

More glaciers in the distance

After finishing the hike, you can take the cable car from Schwarzsee back down to Zermatt, or you can take it up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe.

All of these rides are included in the Matterhorn Peak Pass, which can be booked for multiple days here, or you can book a single day trip here.

Either way, I’d recommend going early in the morning, because the Matterhorn tends to hide in clouds later in the day!

Distance: 6.3 kilometers (4 mi) point to point
Elevation Gain: 165 meters (545 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Map: AllTrails

Schwarzsee lake

So many reflections

Honorable Mentions: More Hikes To Do

• Brienzergrat / Hardergrat

This is a long, epic ridge trail above Interlaken that can be hiked in either direction, from Brienzer Rothorn to Harder Kulm, or vice versa.

It’s an all day hike that requires plenty of research and preparation, and lots of water, but the whole hike across the ridge has amazing views of the turquoise Lake Brienz.

The reason I haven’t rated this as a ‘must do’ hike is because of the danger and difficulty. There are steep drop-offs on both sides, and people seem to die on it every year, so it’s not for everyone.

Still, if you’re a serious hiker looking for a challenge, it’s one of the most epic trails near Interlaken!

Distance: 21 kilometers (13.1 mi) point to point
Elevation Gain: 985 meters (3,230 ft)
Difficulty: Hard
Map: AllTrails
 

• Hinterburgsee

This is a fun, family friendly hike in Axalp, above Interlaken, that has a lake and other nice scenery.

The forest is lined with dozens of interesting wood carvings. Kids will love it! When I was there, the locals were busy making new sculptures, carving tree stumps along the trail.

The reason I’m not rating this as a ‘must do’ hike is partly because the location isn’t very accessible. You can reach the mountain village of Axalp by bus from Brienz, but it’s a fair amount of travel time for a relatively short hike.

Distance: 5.3 kilometers (3.3 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 250 meters (820 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Map: AllTrails

Hinterburgsee lake

Wood carving on the trail

• Schreyenbachfall

This is a nice, big waterfall that’s a bit of a hidden gem in eastern Switzerland. We only saw a handful of other people there all day.

The main waterfall is about 165 meters tall, and the whole thing is closer to 300 meters if you include the upper cascades.

The catch is that the waterfall only flows for 45 days a year, and it’s diverted for a power plant the rest of the year. Double check the dates, but normally it’s only flowing from June 18 to August 2.

    
 
If you have a car, you can park at the cable car station near the waterfall and walk to it in 15 minutes.

Otherwise, if you’re using public transport, you’ll have to stop in Linthal and hike from there. That’s what we did, and it was pretty easy even with a stroller.

There isn’t a dedicated hiking path, so you’ll be walking on the road, but there’s never much traffic. It took a little under 1.5 hours in each direction.

The walk to the waterfall winds through a beautiful valley with a clear stream and quiet Swiss villages. The stats below are for the hike from Linthal.

Distance: 10.4 kilometers (6.5 mi) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 215 meters (705 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Map: Google

More Hiking Ideas For Switzerland

These are some more good hikes in Switzerland that we haven’t had a chance to do yet, but I’d recommend checking them out if you can!

• Bachalpsee – Popular lake hike at Grindelwald First.
• Northface Trail – Family friendly hike in Murren, above Lauterbrunnen.
• Grosser Mythen – Steep peak near Lake Lucerne.
• Limmernsee – Challenging hike to a reservoir with turquoise water, in eastern Switzerland.
• Aletsch Panoramaweg – Scenic hike near a big glacier in the canton of Valais.
• Hornli Trail – Tough hike with super close views of the Matterhorn.
• Batoni Waterfall Arena – Valley with multiple waterfalls. Best in the spring when there’s plenty of water.
• Chuebodenhorn – Glacier lake with floating icebergs, in southern Switzerland.

Map Of Hikes In Switzerland

Here’s a general map of some great hikes in Switzerland, just so you can get an idea of where they are in the country.

Keep in mind these locations may be approximate, so it’s best to use the maps on AllTrails for exact hiking routes.

More Switzerland Guides

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this guide for the best hikes in Switzerland.

I’ll be writing more travel guides for Switzerland on my blog, so don’t forget to check back later!