The Most Beautiful Places in Switzerland
Looking for the most beautiful places in Switzerland? Switzerland is full of many of the prettiest spots in the entire world, whether you are visiting in winter, summer, or somewhere in between.
I have read many posts with a similar topic to this but found they all have the same cliche places listed. So, in an effort to share some more unique spots, I have come up with the following list to help you craft your Switzerland itinerary. Here are the most beautiful places in Switzerland!
The Most Beautiful Places in Switzerland
Interlaken
Interlaken in the canton of Bern is a popular tourist destination and a place some might argue is the most beautiful place in Switzerland. Situated between two lakes, Brienz and Thun, it’s also the gateway to the rest of the enchanting Jungfrau Region. I have visited in both winter and summer and cannot recommend it more, especially if you love outdoor adventure!
WHERE TO STAY: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa. Click here to check it out.
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen, also in the canton of Bern, is a place I often see called the most beautiful place in Europe. Lauterbrunnen, which translates to “many fountains”, is home to 72 waterfalls, despite being a tiny village.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Staubbach or in nearby Wengen at the very popular Hotel Edelweiss Wengen or Hotel Schonegg Wengen
Grindelwald
Grindelwald, another popular village, is home to the largest ski resort in the Jungfrau region. It’s also home to my favorite sledding route of all time, the Eiger Sledge Run. Click here for my full recap of it. Don’t miss the Cliff Walk, either. Click here for more information.
WHERE TO STAY: Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel or Hotel Eiger
Thun
Thun is located on Lake Thun (duh) and has a historic Old Town. It’s beautiful and certainly worth a visit while in the canton of Bern!
WHERE TO STAY: Boutique Hotel Spedition with a perfect 10 out of 10 rating!
Innertkirchen
Bern
Bern is the capital city of Switzerland but you’d never know it by looking at it! Why? It looks like a charming medieval town with an Old Town so lovely it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The photos speak for themselves, as it is the most beautiful city in Switzerland.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & The Spa. Click here to see the latest prices.
Adelboden
Adelboden is a charming village, great for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.
Ligerz
Gstaad
Gstaad is an upscale resort town in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Bern. It’s a popular destination for many, including a handful of famous celebrities like Julie Andrews, Salma Hayek, Valentino, and Elizabeth Taylor. Don’t miss the fondue hike, which you can click here to learn more about.
WHERE TO STAY: Le Grand Bellevue. Click here for more info.
Kandersteg
Trying to find the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland? This one is for you! Kandersteg is home to Lake Oeschinen, one of the most photographed lakes in Switzerland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
WHERE TO STAY: Bernerhof Swiss Quality Hotel. Click here for more info.
MÜrren
Mürren is a totally car-free village located above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Accessible only via an aerial cableway, the ride alone is reason enough to visit!
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Alpina Lauterbrunnen (confusing name, but it is actually in Murren)
Zermatt
Zermatt is a charming mountain resort town in Switzerland, most widely known for it's skiing, climbing and hiking as well as for its iconic views of the famous Matterhorn. It is located in the Valais canton and is one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland as well as one of the best ski places in Switzerland. The entire village is car free, making it great for walking around and shopping at the many boutiques. For more information on Zermatt, click here for my guide to visiting.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Mont Cervin Palace, Romantik Hotel Julen Superior, or Riffelhaus 1853 (many of the most beautiful hotels in Switzerland are here in Zermatt, I would say)
Sion
Sion, also in the canton of Valais, is the sunniest town in Switzerland!
Riederalp
Riederalp, like Zermatt, is a car-free resort town, great in both summer and winter.
Oberwald
Oberwald is a tiny town of only a few hundred, located directly before the famous Furka and Grimsel passes.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Alpenhof Oberwald
Chexbres
Chexbres is a wine-growing town with magnificent views of Lake Geneva.
Lausanne
Lausanne is a picturesque city located on Lake Geneva, home to the International Olympic Committee who recognizes it as being the Olympic Capital. It’s the fourth largest city in Switzerland, with more to do than there is room for here! It is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland.
WHERE TO STAY: Lausanne Palace or Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa
Bourg-en-Lavaux
Bourg-en-Lavaux is a newer municipality, formed when Cully, Epesses, Grandvaux, Riex and Villette merged in 2011.
Tenero
Chateau-d'Oex
Château-d’Oex is a charming little town, famous for being the World Alpine Capital of Hot Air Ballooning. Each year there is a nine day international festival which takes over the entire town at the end of January. For more information, click here to read my guide.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Valrose in Rougemont (next to Chateau-d’Oex, this is where I stayed)
Camedo
Camedo is a tiny Swiss village near the Italian border. So small, in fact, that even Google maps can’t accurately locate it! They mistakenly recorded it as Borgnone which is a different village. Click here for the accurate location.
Ascona
Ascona is located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region. It has a beautiful old town and a famous promenade on the lake lined with cafes. The colorful houses along the water remind me of so many places I have seen in Italy, making it seem more Italian than Swiss to me!
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Eden Roc. Click here for more info.
Schwyz
Zug
Mugena
Mugena is a small village in Ticino that I have dreaming of for years thanks to the above photos!
WHERE TO STAY: Guesthouse Arosio B&B (half a mile from Mugena)
Onsernone
Switzerland Tourism calls Onsernone one of the most impressive and mysterious valleys in Ticino. If you want to be isolated in one of the most scenic places in Switzerland, this is for you.
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the capital of Ticino and is home to three medieval castles — Castelgrande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro. They are said to be some of the most well preserved in all of Switzerland.
Warth
Lugano
Lugano is the largest town in Ticino yet has, my favorite, a car-free historic town centre! It is a mixture of Swiss and Mediterranean, both in architecture and cuisine.
WHERE TO STAY: Lugano Dante Center Swiss Quality Hotel. Click here to check it out.
Obergoms
Airolo
Orselina
Orselina is a town of 727 with an almost 50/50 split of German and Italian-speaking residents. If you are looking for a place to relax for a few days, Villa Orselina, below, is an incredibly highly rated option.
WHERE TO STAY: Villa Orselina
Gruyeres
Locarno
Cevio
Bedretto
Lucerne
Lucerne is a popular tourist destination in central Switzerland. It’s located on Lake Lucerne, of course, and is surrounded by mountains (Rigi, Pilatus, and Stanserhorn). Don’t miss its covered Chapel Bridge, the Museggmauer, and a lake cruise.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern or Palace Luzern
Fluehli
Fluehli is a town in the canton of Lucerne and is part of the unreal UNESCO Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve.
Soglio
Roaming through the streets of Soglio is said to feel like stepping back in time. Famous for its flowers, it’s been called “the gateway to paradise” and it is easy to see why!
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Stua Granda
St. Moritz
St. Moritz, which has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, is a famous luxury resort town. Wondering what to do in St. Moritz? Click here to read their own list of 30 things to do before you leave!
WHERE TO STAY: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel. Click here for more info.
Fribourg
Beautiful Fribourg is one of the largest medieval towns in all of Switzerland. It lies above the Sarine River which surrounds it on three sides and has a charming Old Town full of other 200 unique Gothic facades.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel de la Rose. Click here for more info.
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is in northeastern Switzerland, just south of Lake Constance (one of my favorite lakes in Europe!). The Abbey Library, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is reason enough to visit. Trust me, Google it!
WHERE TO STAY: Oberwaid - Das Hotel. Click here to check it out.
Basel
The city of Basel lies in the Rhine river in northwestern Switzerland, near the border of France and Germany. After Zurich and Geneva, it is the third most populated city in Switzerland and with the second largest economy (after Zurich). The official language in Basel is German, but most locals speak Basel German, a local dialect.
WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Basel or The Passage - Urban Retreat
Geneva
Zurich
Zurich is no secret to anyone visiting Switzerland, and it’s most likely where you will be flying into. It is quite beautiful and has plenty to do, so it’s worth a visit if it fits into your trip properly.
WHERE TO STAY: Atlantis by Giardino or Widder Hotel
Romont
Seelisberg
Alpthal
Brusino Arsizio
Kerns
Laufenburg
Laufenburg, Switzerland is located on the border of Switzerland and Germany. On the opposite side of the Rhine River is Laufenburg, Germany. One city, two countries! How’s that for unique?!
Salgesch
Chur
Binn
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