Cover Image Credit: wikimedia
Home to gorgeous lakes, quaint villages, and the high peaks of the Alps, Switzerland is a heavenly mountainous destination. When people describe Switzerland as the “Heaven on Earth”, trust us, they are not wrong. It is no doubt one of the best and favourite holiday destinations of people across the world. Switzerland is a hiker’s paradise too giving you the perfect blend of fresh mountain air, towering snow peaks, and rich meadows of the alpine. Come to this heavenly place and explore the dramatic landscape and Swiss countryside with the best walking tours in Switzerland.
7 Iconic Walking Tours In Switzerland
If you are thinking “why go for walking tours in Switzerland?”, then you must go through this article to clear your doubts. We have compiled a list of the best walking tours in Switzerland that will give you a fine taste of its greatest architectural sites, glacial lakes, serene valleys, majestic waterfalls, outdoor sports, and rugged mountains on your next trip.
1. Zurich City Walking Tour
Come to Zurich and explore this city’s rich heritage and historic value, which is by far the best in Switzerland. The snow-covered Alps in the backdrop, striking Old Town, different type of art galleries, and an exuberant nightlife are some of the many things you can expect from this Swiss city.
Zurich city walking tours in Switzerland is quite a thing to do on your holiday. Exploring this Zurich on foot is the greatest way to see and understand it. Famous for wine and cheese, this largest city of Switzerland is a hub of music, street parades, and music. Walk-through the streets of this city and explore its contemporary, vibrant culture, historical monuments, food and more.
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Places to visit: Zurich Downtown, Paradeplatz Square, Fraumünster Church, Lindenhof, Langstrasse, ETH campus, Lake Zurich and Bürkliplatz, Kunsthaus Zürich, Limmatquai and the Rathaus
Best hotels: Zurich Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel, Zurich Airport, Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich, Hotel Adler Zurich
Best restaurants: Restaurant Opera, Marktkirche, Restaurant Gruntal Zurich, La Fonte, Za’atar
Must Read: 10 Fab Places To Visit In Basel On Your Switzerland Vacation
2. Interlaken City Walking Tour
Next on your list of walking tours in Switzerland should definitely be to Interlaken. It is a hidden jewel located amidst the Alps of Switzerland with plenty of secret walking spots waiting for you to explore. Walk on foot with your fellow mates and discover the traditional aspects of the Swiss culture in local and authentic settings. Not the busiest place in Swiss, but definitely worth discovering and is famous for mountain related sports.
Stroll in this town, visit the farms, feed the farm animals and taste fresh and produced cheese. Also, this town is full of stunning lakes, do visit a few on your Swiss walking tours and don’t forget to capture pictures for your social media.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Places to visit: Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, Aere River, Giessbach Waterfalls, St. Beatus Caves
Best hotels: Hotel Chalet Swiss, Hostel Alplodge Interlaken, India Village, Hotel Bellevue
Best restaurants: Restaurant Luegibrueggli, Goldener Anker, Velo Cafe & Bar, Little Thai, Migros Restaurant
Suggested Read: 10 Interlaken Restaurants Serving The Most Delicious Food In Switzerland
3. Jungfraujoch Walking Tour
Jungfraujoch swiss walking tours are famous among the locals and experience the best of Swiss holidays. You will have to take a train from Interlaken that will drop you on the top of the hill from where you can explore this beautiful place covered with snow. Jungfrau is a Unesco’s World Heritage site at 3000 meters.
To admire the gorgeous vistas of the biggest The Aletsch Glacier, you can make a stop at Eiger Glacier and start walking to Sphinx. You can also hike downhill from Eiger to Kleine Scheidegg, which takes not more than 40min. Admire the natural splendor of the place, play with snow and make your holiday perfectly memorable. Just forget the world and soak yourself in the natural beauty of the gorgeous ice-capped mountain. If required, you can also explore this scenic landscape in a way that suits you by choosing a private tour. There are many options available.
Duration: 8 hours
Places to visit: Trümmelbach, Eiger Glacier, Sphinx Observation Deck, The Aletsch Glacier, Ice Palace
Best hotels: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Hotel Interlaken, Hotel Beausite, Hotel Weisses Kreuz
Best restaurants: Barracuda Cafe & Bar, Arcobaleno, The BEEF Steakhouse & Bar, Creperie La Chouette
Suggested Read: 10 Unique Museums In Switzerland That Walk You Through History Of Humanity
4. St. Moritz Private Walking Tour
Standing tall amidst the beauty of nature, you should definitely visit this popular destination. Beauty combined with ultimate luxury is the best way to describe this place. You can also pick a private tour to St. Moritz for your Swiss walking holidays. A well-trained guide will take you to some of the most popular attractions of St. Moritz. The timings, accommodations, customization will be done according to your preference and taste. If you want to do something different, arrive at St. Moritz in style by taking a ride from Zermatt on Glacier Express.
Duration: 2 hours
Places to visit: St-Moritz Bader, frozen lake, museums, parks,
Best hotels: Hotel Laudinella, Hotel Waldhaus Am See, Soldanella
Best restaurants: Veltlinerkeller, DIE HUEHNEREI, Restaurant Engiadina, Hotel Piz Restaurant & Pizzeria
Suggested Read: 8 Enticing Festivals In Switzerland For Mirth And Merriment!
5. Lugano Architectural Walk With A Local
Make the most of your Swiss walking holidays by taking a local walking tour to the most cherished architectural sites of Lugano. Take an architectural walk to this pitcher-perfect destination and discover all of it. It is one of the most preferred Swiss walking tours, where you get to explore the most alluring historical buildings and learn about the history of each structure from a local. Also, know the transformation of this city to a modern time while still keeping its uniqueness intact.
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Places to visit: Lake Lugano, Monte San Salvatore, Santa Maria degli Angioli, Valle Verzasca, Monte Bre, Bellinzona Castles, Lugano’s Old Town
Best hotels: Hotel Admiral, Villa Sassa Hotel, Residence & Spa, Suitenhotel Parco Paradiso
Best restaurants: Irish Pub Sorengo, Ristorante Antico, La Veranda Restaurant, Grotto Morchino
Suggested Read: Saxon Switzerland National Park: Your Wilderness Guide!
6. Private Walking Tour To Davos
Pack all your essentials and head out on walking holidays in Switzerland to see and know it all. Davos is an impressive town with equally impressive sites and places. It is the home to the largest ski resort situated in Davos and many thrilling hide-aways. Your walk to the family-friendly destinations such as Pischa, Madrisa and Rinerhorn will be fun-filled too.
You can book a private walking tour to Davos where you will get to see popular tourist attractions of this town. The best part about choosing a private tour is that you will get to customize the package according to your taste, preference and time.
Duration: 2 hours
Places to visit: Fluela Pass, Vaillant Arena, Lake Davos, Kirchner Museum Davos, Eau-la-la
Best hotels: Hard Rock Hotel Davos, Hilton Garden Inn Davos, Hotel Waldhuus Davos, Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvedere
Best restaurants: Glow by Armin Amrein, Restaurant Extrablatt, Montana Stube, Bistro Angelo
Suggested Read: A Guide To Switzerland In March Tailor Made For You
7. Lucerne Walking Tour
If you are on Swiss vacation, then Lucerne needs a special mention on the list of walking tours in Switzerland. Lucerne is centrally located, compact and most ravishing cities of Switzerland. It also serves as a gateway to the Alps and is known for preserving its outstanding medieval architecture. You can walk through the vibrant old town of this city, do some sightseeing and admire its beauty. Due to the compactness, walking and exploring Lucerne is quite easy and fun. The town hall is within walking distance from the rail station and the biggest attraction among all the tourists.
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Places to visit: Mt. Pilatus, Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne, Mount Rigi, Old Town, Lion monument, Spreuerbrücke
Best hotels: Hotel Central Luzern, Hotel Anker, Hotel des Balances, Hotel des Alpes, CASCADA Boutique Hotel
Best restaurants: Villa Schweizerhof, STERN Luzern, Richemont Gastronomie, Khoua Vientiane, Manor Restaurant Manora
Travel Tips For Walking Tours In Switzerland
- Buy a Zurich Pass. It is great value for money and allows free entry to the forty Zurich museums.
- Drinking is at fancy bars is not cheap here but hostel bars and grocery stores offer cheap drinks.
- Try the Lunch Special Offers provided by cafes.
- Meat is quite costly. Stick to vegetarian food if you want to save money.
- Traveling by buses, trains, or trams is way cheaper than a by taxis.
- Visit during summers as there are many free activities in Switzerland at that time.
- Don’t forget to try the Swiss chocolate.
- Wear proper hiking shoes or sports shoes.
- Carry a light jacket even in the summers.
- Try skiing on the hundred-mile ski trails.
- Carry some cash even on a prepaid tour.
- Carry a water bottle and refill it at the many free water filters.
Further Read: 10 Street Foods In Switzerland: Pamper Your Gastronomic Craving
All set to try these walking tours in Switzerland and see a different side of this wonderful country? We guarantee you will be amazed to see the real charm of this country and will get to enjoy your vacation in Switzerland to the fullest! Not to mention, they are much cheaper, keep you on toes, and are usually all-inclusive.
Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own rights to any of the images and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Walking Tours In Switzerland
Is Switzerland expensive to visit?
Switzerland is regarded as one of the most expensive territories in the world besides Geneva and Zurich.
What is the best time to visit Switzerland?
April, June, September and October are the best months to visit Switzerland when the weather is welcoming and the places are less crowded.
Do I need a visa for Switzerland?
Citizens of the EU, EEA or the Schengen area do not need a visa to visit Switzerland. However, they can only stay up to a duration of 90 days.
Can I visit Switzerland with a Schengen visa?
Yes, one can visit Switzerland with a Schengen Visa and explore the cities with complete freedom.
How much does it cost to tour Switzerland?
The cost usually depends on whether you are traveling solo or with a group holiday or Swiss tours. However, the minimum amount you need starts from Rs. 1 Lakh per person.
A keen observer, an avid reader, a complete foodie, a pet lover and a curious entrepreneur with a vision to empower women. Penning down thoughts and musings come naturally, so, what better way to make a living than do what you love the most. Sujata started off as a content writer and today spearheads a content agency with an all-women team, where each day is about exploring the strength within, overcoming challenges and aiming to scale new heights. Her idea of a holiday well spent is visiting beautiful destinations, experimenting with food and trying out adventure activities.
