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14+ Hikes in Switzerland That NEED To Be On Your Bucket List! - The Homebody Tourist

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Skip to contentSwitzerland was truly a bucket list vacation for me. From epic waterfalls (everywhere you look) to snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see, it’s a true outdoor-lovers paradise. Although I spend most of my time hiking in the USA (which I will forever be obsessed with), the hiking in Switzerland is hard to beat. I’m excited to share this list of the very best hikes in Switzerland!Side note: I only spent 7 days exploring this amazing country, so I haven’t been able to check out all the hikes. I reached out to fellow travel bloggers to compile this epic list of breathtaking Switzerland hikes!This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.&nbsp;There are&nbsp;only products included that I truly love. I APPRECIATE your support!Table of ContentsLet’s start out with the best day hikes in Switzerland. I have sorted the following hikes from shortest to longest so you can pick the ones that best fit your hiking style! Plus, here’s a map to help you plan your Switzerland hikes!I’m sure you have seen pictures of this picturesque waterfall plastered all over Instagram. It’s actually the highest freefalling waterfall in all of Switzerland AND it’s easily accessible right in the Lauterbrunnen Valley.After taking a train to the Lauterbrunnen station, you can easily reach Staubach falls on foot (10-minute walk) or by bus.After arriving, you can head up the short trail (.4 miles round trip) to walk behind the falls. Although short, it is a pretty steep and crowded trail to the top so make sure to factor in at least 30 minutes for the hike.From Staubaach Falls, catch the next bus (bus 141) to the Trümmelbachfälle&nbsp;stop. After a short walk, you’ll see a line to buy tickets for Trümmelbach Falls. It was only 14 CHF, and completely worth it IMO.Trummelbach Falls are an impressive set of 10 waterfalls that cut through a mountain. I recommend taking the elevator up (to stop 6) and then walking the entire way down. This way, you will ensure you see all the viewpoints without the trek up 🙂Expect to spend around 1 hour exploring here.After checking out the falls, spend the evening walking back through the the village to the train station (about a 45 minute walk). You’ll walk along the river and pass some epic viewpoints.To reach the Aare Gorge, you will need to take a train to Brienz and then connect on a train to Meiringen (10 minutes) and then from Meiringen to Aareschlucht West or Ost (West was closed when we visited).After your train ride, you’ll have a short walk to the entry of the gorge to purchase your tickets (10 CHF). (There were no signs posted on the walk, but just follow the path up from the Ost station and you’ll eventually see the large entry building).It’s a fun and&nbsp;easy walk through the gorge&nbsp;about 1 mile each way. Since the West train station was closed, we did have to walk there and back to get back to the Aareschlucht OST station.I think Giessbach Falls is quite the hidden gem of a hike in Switzerland. While most people are flocking to the mountainous trails, the epic waterfalls get left behind. Thankfully for us, the rain gave us the opportunity to check out these underrated falls!To reach the trailhead, you need to take the boat shuttle from the Brienz Train Station to the&nbsp;Giessbach&nbsp;See stop (included in your&nbsp;Swiss Rail Pass– see boat schedule&nbsp;here).From here, you have the option to take a funicular to the top of the falls, or hike. We choose to&nbsp;hike&nbsp;as there are many amazing stops and overlooks along the way. Although you can hike further up, we stopped at the point where you walk behind the falls.Be prepared though, these are some powerful falls and you will likely get soaked!Keep Reading::: 25+ Adventurous Things to do in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland!Lake Bachalpsee is one of the beautiful lakes in the Bernese Oberland region of&nbsp;Switzerland. The beauty of this&nbsp;hike&nbsp;is that most of the work is done by the cable car, so you can do this easily even if you are visiting&nbsp;Switzerland&nbsp;with kids. The cable car to Grindelwald First ride offers amazing views of Eiger and other mountains overlooking Grindelwald.The&nbsp;hike&nbsp;is simple but has breathtaking views. Once you reach Lake Bachalpsee, you will note how serene it is and makes for a perfect photo-op.As experienced by Shweta from Zest In A ToteThe&nbsp;impressive Matterhorn Glacier Trail, high above the mountain village of Zermatt, is one of the best&nbsp;hikes&nbsp;in&nbsp;Switzerland. The well-signposted theme trail with the number 26 leads you along below the world-famous Matterhorn. The rocky trail passes mountain lakes, glacier remnants of the upper Theodul glacier and a rugged landscape of ice and stone.Most&nbsp;hikers&nbsp;start walking from the Schwarzsee mountain station and towards Trockener Steg, as they have less ascent and more descent in this&nbsp;hiking&nbsp;direction.You will get to witness nature change from green meadows to rocky outcrops at every meter of altitude and when arriving at the trail end at Trockener Steg, you can add another highlight on top: the viewing platform of Klein Matterhorn.Take the Matterhorn Glacier Ride to the highest mountain station in Europe. At 3,883 meters, the Klein Matterhorn offers a unique 360° panoramic view of 38 Alpine giants over 4000 meters above sea level.As experienced by Linda of&nbsp;Hiking&nbsp;the AlpsThis hike had been on my bucket list for quite some time, and even though the weather did not cooperate with us, it was still amazing!You’ll start by taking the train to Kandersteg. After arriving, you will have about a 15 minute walk from the train station to the gondola station. It’s flat, paved, and right through town.After arriving at the&nbsp;gondola station, purchase your tickets (30 CHF general, 15 CHF with&nbsp;Swiss Rail Pass). Once at the top, you’ll then have a 30 minute easy walk to the lake (there is a paid shuttle as well)Once at the lake, you can choose between&nbsp;different hikes, or walk to the restaurant, or&nbsp;rent a row boat.&nbsp;We hiked to the waterfall (pictured above). It was a short hike, but slightly sketchy as you can see in the picture!And if you are lucky enough to have dry weather, there is an&nbsp;alpine slide&nbsp;at the mountain station.Tiny&nbsp;Ebenalp Mountain is a bit of a hidden gem&nbsp;that holds an entire day’s worth of memorable (and Instagram-able) activities.Take the quick way up via cable car and&nbsp;hike&nbsp;your way down. At the top you’ll find the cliff hanging Berggasthaus Aescher, a rustic mountain retreat where you can stop and enjoy refreshments.If you happen to be on the mountain on a Sunday, you are in for a real treat! Locals make their way to church services which are held inside a cave on the mountain. You’ll be treated to the glorious sound of the choir as they perform hymns. These are no ordinary hymns but instead performed in a unique and beautiful style of yodeling called “natural yodel.”There are several scenic trails on the mountain which eventually lead to the emerald green Seealpsee Alpine lake. Ebenalp is truly one of&nbsp;Switzerland’s best&nbsp;hikes!&nbsp;As experienced by Angie of We’re Not in Kansas AnymoreWithin walking distance from the Interlaken Ost train station, you’ll find the famous Harder Kulm funicular.From the base of the mountain, you will have the choice to hike up or take the funicular up.If choosing the funicular, you can purchase your tickets right at the entry (included with the Jungfrau Region Pass, 50% off with the Swiss Travel Pass), and then hop on board 10-minute funicular ride as it climbs almost 2,500 feet.If hiking, plan for the trek up to take anywhere from 2 to 3 hours as it is pretty steep.During the ride (or hike) to the top, you’ll be met with unparalleled panoramic views of Interlaken, the Thun and Brienz lakes, and the surrounding mountains.We actually choose the funicular ride and then explored the trails at the top (which led to THE BEST views with NO crowds). Highly recommend.Then reward yourself with a pizza from the outdoor restaurant and enjoy dinner with a view!A little over half an hour’s drive from&nbsp;Lucerne&nbsp;lies Lungernsee — a beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by breathtaking mountain views. Usually, people stroll around this lake. Almost no one knows about this panoramic hike with views of Jungfrau mountains, the butterfly paradise, and the picturesque village of Lungern.The hike starts at the Lungern-Turren cable car for 24 CHF one-way. Alternatively, you can also hike for 2 hours going up. The cable car will take you to Turren, the butterfly paradise, where you can see the largest butterflies living in Switzerland.From the station, you will go a 15-minute downhill until the zigzag slope going upward to the small summit of Dundelegg (1739m). At the top, you can see the breathtaking Alps landscape.For the complete experience, walk down around the forest, where you will see waterfalls and a stunning view of the Lungernsee. End your 4-hour hike with a stroll down to the charming village of Lungern.As experienced by Gladis of Happiness on the WayOnce you arrive in Zermatt on the&nbsp;Glacier Express, a world of&nbsp;hiking&nbsp;trails are beckoning you to explore the mountains. The 5-Seenweg, or 5 Lake&nbsp;Hike, is a very scenic&nbsp;hike&nbsp;in the mountains around Zermatt.You go up via the cable car and&nbsp;hike&nbsp;at high altitude from one lake to another. During the&nbsp;hike, you have epic views of the Matterhorn mountain and together with the 5 lakes you’ll visit, this makes for gorgeous views.The 5 lakes are:&nbsp;Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee.&nbsp;If you&nbsp;hike&nbsp;them in this order, from Blauherd to Sunnegga, you mostly walk downhill because you start at almost the highest point. Only at the end, you’ll&nbsp;hike&nbsp;up to the cable car station.Almost at the half-way point, you’ll find a nice mountain hut for some rest and food and drinks. Not all lakes are natural or equally beautiful, but each lake has its own charm. Make sure to keep an eye on the time for the last cable car down, otherwise it will be a long descent into Zermatt.As experienced by Naomi of&nbsp;Probe Around The GlobeDuring our ONLY sunny morning during our week in Switzerland, we headed to the picturesque Panorama Trail. To get to this trailhead, you have to take a gondola from Wengen or Grindelwald up to Mannlichen.After marveling at the coolest mountain playground, you can take off on the trail. The entire way you’ll be surrounded by the most beautiful views while listening to the cow bells ringing. It was truly a magical time and one of the VERY BEST easy day hikes in all of Switzerland.It’s a pretty easy downhill route that leads to the Kleine Scheidegg station. From here, you can choose to hop on a train or hike back up.For anyone looking for even more of an adventure, you can head out on one of these epic multi-day hikes in Switzerland. With the right preparation and research, these could lead to an unforgettable time!Tour du Mont Blanc&nbsp;(TMB) is easily the best multi-day&nbsp;hike&nbsp;in Switzerland, and maybe even all of Europe.You&nbsp;hike&nbsp;through three countries (France, Italy, and&nbsp;Switzerland) on an 11-day&nbsp;hike&nbsp;through the Alps. The trail covers and impressive 105 miles and 32,800 feet in altitude gain/loss.The Tour du Mont Blanc is very well labeled so there is no need for a guide. The Tour du Mont Blanc is a popular trail, so the refugees usually sell out. The refugees’ range in comfort level but all will serve a delicious hot meal and cold beer after a long day of&nbsp;hiking.The official Tour du Mont Blanc website is fantastic, allowing you to book your stays by calculating how long you want to walk each day. Every day is a new wonder, and it was one of our favorite trips of my life.As experienced by Steff of JustTravelousThe&nbsp;Jura Crest Trail&nbsp;is a long-distance&nbsp;hike&nbsp;that meanders through the picturesque Jura Mountains, offering&nbsp;hikers&nbsp;a serene and captivating experience. The&nbsp;hike&nbsp;encompasses a variety of terrain, from lush forests to open meadows, and you’ll encounter charming villages along the way.&nbsp;The trail begins in Dielsdorf, near Zurich, and ends in Nyon on Lake Geneva. The trail is about 192 miles long and divided into 16 stages. Most of the time, the beginning point or the endpoint of a stage has good connections with public transportation, so it’s easy to&nbsp;hike&nbsp;separate stages of the trail.As experienced by Jacoba of Travel with Co.There ya have it! 14 of the most breathtaking hikes in Switzerland. I’m already ready to return and check the rest of these off the list.Which is first on your Switzerland bucket list?TweetEmailPrintKansas City, Missouri is an underappreciated gem in the heart of the U.S. and its unique local flare, walkable city districts, and remarkable affordability make for a perfect long weekend...Continue ReadingI am SO excited for you that you are starting to plan a trip to the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland. It's definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and there are truly adventurous...Continue ReadingHellooooo! I’m Jordan!I'm a former elementary teacher turned freelance writer/travel blogger/social media manager/entrepreneur/etc. I still have no idea what I'd like to be when I grow up...I'm almoooost 30....:) BUT, for now, I'm just trying to create a life I love living.&nbsp;As much as I LOVE to travel, I also enjoy routine, being home, and sleeping in my own cozy bed. Anyone else?&nbsp;You won't find me living in a van or backpacking for months on end. BUT, I do like to spruce up the monotony of daily life by exploring the USA through long weekend trips!

Skip to contentSwitzerland was truly a bucket list vacation for me. From epic waterfalls (everywhere you look) to snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see, it’s a true outdoor-lovers paradise. Although I spend most of my time hiking in the USA (which I will forever be obsessed with), the hiking in Switzerland is hard to beat. I’m excited to share this list of the very best hikes in Switzerland!Side note: I only spent 7 days exploring this amazing country, so I haven’t been able to check out all the hikes. I reached out to fellow travel bloggers to compile this epic list of...

14+ Hikes in Switzerland That NEED To Be On Your Bucket List! - The Homebody Tourist

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