Switzerland offers an incredible variety of mountains, valleys, rivers, and lakes. With national borders to Austria, Germany, France, Liechtenstein, and Italy, it attracts tourists from all directions. Whether you want a relaxed tour with the family, an easy, moderate, or challenging hike, Switzerland is sure to have something for everyone. Thanks to the many different landscapes and natural features, every route is unique and special in its own way.
Division of the hiking areas
Switzerland's hiking areas are structured by landscape regions (Alps, Jura, Central Plateau, and Ticino) as well as by difficulty level and themed routes. This makes hiking extremely varied – from a leisurely walk on flat terrain to high-alpine tours across glaciers. The landscape regions are:
Alpine region: The Alpine region is home to the largest and most well-known part of Switzerland's hiking areas. The Alps stretch from west to east across the country and shape about two-thirds of Switzerland, making the range of hikes extremely diverse! The Alpine region is divided into the Western Alps, the Central Alps, and the Eastern Alps.
Jura: The Jura is a low mountain range that, with its gentler heights and extensive forests, offers a different hiking experience than the steep Alps. The Jura Ridgeway is a very popular route that stretches across several cantons.
Central Plateau: The Swiss Central Plateau lies between the Alps and the Jura. It is characterized more by hills, lakes, and rivers than by steep mountain massifs. The more relaxed day hikes can often be combined with cultural or city experiences. A very popular hike, for example, leads along Lake Constance.
Ticino & Southern Alps: This Italian-speaking part of Switzerland has a special atmosphere that sets it apart from the other regions. The Mediterranean climate, steep valleys, and chestnut forests define this region.
There are also 11 central hiking regions that hiking offers refer to. They cover all the key landscape regions (Alps, Jura, Central Plateau, and Ticino). The central hiking regions are:
Bernese Oberland
Valais (Zermatt)
Graubünden (Swiss National Park)
Central Switzerland
Eastern Switzerland
Ticino (Verzasca Valley)
Jura & Three-Lakes Region
Central Plateau
Vaud Alps & Lake Geneva Region
Fribourg Region
Northwestern Switzerland
Switzerland has 48 mountains over 4,000 m high. Around 65,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails invite you to take in this country's incredibly majestic landscape. This fantastic variety of hiking areas has something for everyone! Whether you're after relaxed, cozy moments in nature or sporting ambitions. You can hike across glacier ice in the middle of summer, cool off in the snow, and then swim in a lake in your swimsuit. Later, you can wander through romantic little villages and explore Switzerland's culinary specialties.
We would like to introduce you to the 11 central hiking regions of Switzerland's hiking landscapes to give you an initial overview.
Bernese Oberland
One of the best-known and most popular hiking regions is the Bernese Oberland. The majestic mountain peaks, deep valleys, and calming lakes provide a truly beautiful backdrop. The world-famous trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau forms the most impressive sight of the Jungfrau region. The Eiger's face drops vertically for over 1,600 m, offering a wealth of opportunities for bold and skilled climbers.
The Eiger Trail is a challenging hike where you first take the Jungfrau Railway to the "Eigergletscher" station. From there, it only takes a short climb before you find yourself standing right in front of the famous wall. The trail then runs for an hour along the foot of the Eiger North Face, offering views of the Wetterhorn and Große Scheidegg. A few sections are secured with ropes. With binoculars, you can watch the climbers on the wall. You then zigzag your way down to the Alpiglen train station. Another hike is the Sigriswil Rothorn Panoramic Trail. This is a challenging hike that requires good fitness and sure-footedness. It's best to attempt this hike only once you already have some alpine experience. The strenuous route is definitely worth it for the beautiful views and natural scenery.
Valais
Valais is best known for the Matterhorn. It stretches from the source of the Rhône in southern Switzerland to Lake Geneva.
The "Five Lakes Walk" in Zermatt offers incredible views of five clear mountain lakes and the Matterhorn. All five lakes - Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee - show stunning reflections of the Matterhorn. The hike is about 9.3 km long and relatively easy. If you'd like a somewhat lesser-known hike that is probably less crowded in summer, the Saastal and the Lötschental would be suitable options. There, you can look forward to beautiful trails and magnificent views. Besides demanding mountain tours, Valais also offers relaxed valley walks, making it a great hiking destination for families too.
Graubünden
Graubünden is actually Switzerland's largest holiday region and is especially known for luxury vacations. It is also the only canton in Switzerland where three languages are spoken: German, Romansh, and Italian. A huge advantage is the opportunity to explore around 150 valleys, 600 lakes, and more than 900 peaks. With over 11,000 km of hiking trails, it is a true paradise for hikers. The Swiss National Park is the oldest national park in the Alps and is home to a fantastic variety of untouched nature and rich wildlife.
If you'd like to take another hike, you could, for example, choose the over 300 km long Walser Trail crossing Graubünden. Of course, there are also plenty of tours that don't take several days. There are numerous shorter, family-friendly routes. Very popular, for example, are the circular hikes from Zernez or the hike to Chamanna Cluozza (the only mountain hut in the national park). There's a chance to spot deer, ibex, marmots, and other wildlife, making the outing something truly special. If you're not sure which animal you've spotted or want to learn more about the local flora and fauna in general, there are plenty of informative and educational signs.
Central Switzerland
The hiking options in Central Switzerland are incredibly varied. Besides easy and challenging hikes, there are themed trails, such as the Trübsee Geological Trail or the Ratenpfad in the Zug region.
Lake Lucerne at the heart of Central Switzerland is a wonderfully beautiful hiking area. You can climb the Rigi (Queen of the Mountains) or instead hike along the Lake Lucerne Panoramic Trail. The hiking route runs from Weggis to Vitznau and is about 10 km long. The numerous rest spots along the way give you the chance to relax, take in the scenery, and pause along the way. Why not try leaving the stress of everyday life behind on this trail? The route also passes through idyllic villages and offers very beautiful views of the lake and mountains. Since the trail is well-developed and suitable for all age groups, it can get somewhat crowded depending on the season.
Eastern Switzerland
Eastern Switzerland offers you a wide variety of hiking trails. There are different difficulty levels, each with different requirements. A good base level of fitness and experience are essential for some routes, so we recommend checking the specific requirements before setting out on any trail.
A popular route in the Alpstein mountains is the Three Lakes Tour. On this hike, you walk past the lakes Seealpsee, Fälensee, and Sämtisersee. If you'd rather take in an impressive gorge, you can do the Taminaschlucht Circular Tour. This is a moderately challenging hike that requires a good basic level of fitness. The paths are easy to walk, so no special skills or equipment are needed. The 14.7 km long 7-Peaks Tour Flumserberg is considered a difficult hike. So if you want to challenge yourself and have good fitness and sure-footedness, this tour is for you. Remember to wear sturdy footwear, bring enough water, and it's best to only attempt this tour if you already have alpine experience.
Ticino
The Mediterranean and mild climate of this Italian-speaking region gives it a special flair. The climate is particularly well-suited for hiking. The landscape is very varied, and you can choose between gentle hills or steep mountain slopes. The chestnut forests are also very pretty to look at.
Another highlight is the Verzasca Valley. The emerald-green river and stone houses are very beautiful. The most popular route is about 14 km long. On hot summer days, you can take a dip in the clear waters of the river at several spots. Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore offer spectacular views while hiking along the well-marked trails.
Jura
The Jura Mountains boast a wonderfully varied landscape! A strenuous hike, a challenge to test your own abilities, or perhaps a relaxed family outing instead - it's all possible here.
If you want to climb Reculet (1,718 m) near Geneva, one of the highest peaks of the Jura massif on the French side, you'll need to cover 950 m of elevation gain and 15 km of trail in about 6.5 hours. Once you reach the top, you'll surely forget all the effort thanks to the fantastic view awaiting you there. The incredible view of the varied shapes of the Alpine peaks and the mystical Mont Blanc is worth every challenging hike. With a bit of luck, you might encounter some animals along the way, such as a herd of chamois. If the elevation gain proves too much, you can also shorten the route by taking the gondola. A hike through the Areuse Gorge can be completed in about 3 hours. Along the way, you'll find beautiful natural rivers and streams, enchanting paths, and views into gorges. A very varied and highly recommended route.
Central Plateau
The Central Plateau between the Alps and the Jura consists mainly of flat and hilly areas. The region's landscape was strongly shaped by Ice Age glaciers. Erratic boulders from foreign places, deposited by glacial drift, can still be found in the area today. You can admire these along various trails.
A little further east, in the Appenzell region, the "Hoher Hirschberg" loop beckons with its 12.9 km length. On this route, the focus is on the view. The Alpstein panorama offers a stunning vista, and the detour via the Gaiser Hohegg viewpoint is also well worth it. Other options include an easy walk such as the Aare riverside path or a demanding tour such as the Panoramic Trail across the Jura ridges.
Vaud Alps & Lake Geneva Region
The Vaud Alps are very varied, with plains, mountains, lakes, wine-growing areas, panoramic hikes, ruins, and gorges. Here you can hike at high altitudes, admire the mountains' reflections in the lakes, and take walks through the vineyards. There are even stroller-friendly hikes for young families.
A shorter hike you can take is to the Dar Waterfall – Merveille des Diablerets. At 1 hour 30 minutes and just under 5 km, it's an easy hike where you can admire the impressive 90 m high waterfall. On hot days, you can cool off by dipping your feet in the water below. A moderately challenging hike, requiring good basic fitness and sure-footedness, is the Lac Lioson Circular Tour. It offers stunning views of the lake and wonderful trails through the mountains.
Fribourg Region
In addition to easy walks and demanding mountain and high-altitude hikes, the Fribourg region even offers the chance to take a tour around Moléson.
Such diverse flora as found on the Gastlosen Circular Hike is rarely seen elsewhere in the pre-Alps. The hike leads around the nearby Gastlosen range, whose striking appearance makes an impression right from the starting point of the tour. As you walk along the trail, imposing and jagged limestone mountains come into view, with sheer rock faces in places over 300 m high. In the Stillwasser forest, there is a rich variety of plant life. This is a moderately challenging tour that features not only straight paths but also, every now and then, small rock stairways. A 14 km hike starting at 1,493 m is the Breccaschlund Panoramic Trail. The Breccaschlund Panoramic Trail has a fascinating, mysterious atmosphere. From Schwarzsee, you reach the Bärghuus Riggisalp at an altitude of 1,493 meters. This is where the Breccaschlund circular hike begins. Alpine flowers and grazing cows complete the picture.
Northwestern Switzerland
Of course, there are also short, easy trails, but in Northwestern Switzerland you're sure to find what you're looking for if you want to walk along a long-distance trail. Examples include the Jura Ridgeway, the Aargau Trail, the Swiss Path, the Via Rhenana, and the Trans Swiss Trail. Of course, there are also numerous shorter hiking routes, high-altitude trails, viewpoints, and old towns to explore.
If you decide to take on one of the longer trails, be sure to have the right equipment. This includes suitable hiking boots and weather-appropriate clothing, among other things. You should also remember to bring plenty of water and enough food.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey
We wish you a pleasant trip to Switzerland and lots of enjoyment on your exploration tour through the country's impressive natural scenery. Please make sure to find out about the applicable toll regulations in good time. In addition, our route planner is available to help you plan your trip optimally and show you the relevant toll products. Of course, we're happy to help if you have any questions. Feel free to contact us anytime by email.
About the author
Michelle Albrecht