Switzerland · best-of list
The 8 Best Outdoor Spots in Switzerland
All 8 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Switzerland, across 5 destinations, gathered in one list. Each one is a stop on a route you can open and copy into a trip.
Our curated picks
8 outdoor spots in Switzerland, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Interlaken 3 picks
Giessbach Falls
Interlaken · On our Swiss Lakes by Rail route
Waterfalls dropping in 14 tiers, reached by boat and historic funicular.
Tip: Stop for coffee on the Grandhotel Giessbach terrace.
Photo: Eric Lawton Forbes · Google
Staubbach Falls
Interlaken · On our Swiss Lakes by Rail route
297-m waterfall dropping off a cliff into Lauterbrunnen village.
Tip: Short walk from the station.
Photo: Francesca De Angelis · Google
Trümmelbach Falls
Interlaken · On our Swiss Lakes by Rail route
Glacial falls thundering inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift.
Tip: Open Apr–Nov; bring a jacket.
Photo: Rafael.corvalan · CC BY 3.0
St. Moritz 2 picks
Lake St. Moritz
St. Moritz · On our Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route
The lake freezes thick enough to host the Snow Polo World Cup in January and the White Turf horse races in February.
Tip: Walk the cleared path around the lake when no event is on.
Photo: CorinneJL · CC BY-SA 4.0Muottas Muragl
St. Moritz · On our Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route
A funicular climbs to 2,456 m for a long view down the Upper Engadine and its chain of lakes.
Tip: Go up in the late afternoon for the light on the lakes.
Andermatt 1 pick
Oberalp Pass
Andermatt · On our Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route
Pass at 2,044 m between Uri and Graubünden; the road shuts in winter but trains keep running through the snow.
Tip: Ride the regional train up for the view even if you are not on the Glacier Express.
Photo: David Gubler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zermatt 1 pick
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Zermatt · On our Zermatt, Andermatt & St. Moritz route
Europe's highest cable-car station at 3,883 m on the Klein Matterhorn, with a glacier palace and summit viewing platform.
Tip: The air is thin at the top; go slowly and bring sunglasses even on grey days.
Photo: Roy Egloff · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zurich 1 pick
Uetliberg
Zurich · On our Swiss Lakes by Rail route
Zurich's hill, reached by S-Bahn, with views of the city, lake and Alps.
Tip: Go for sunset; hike the Planet Trail on the ridge.
Photo: roland zh · CC BY-SA 3.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Switzerland?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 8 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Switzerland has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Interlaken has the most (3 of 8), followed by St. Moritz (2) and Andermatt (1).
Are any of these free?
2 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Lake St. Moritz and Staubbach Falls. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Switzerland
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Interlaken 3 on this list
- St. Moritz 2 on this list
- Andermatt 1 on this list
- Zermatt 1 on this list
- Zurich 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.