9 of the most beautiful places in Switzerland

Why Switzerland is so special

Switzerland is one of the best destinations in Europe if you love dramatic mountain landscapes and breathtaking nature. One of the things we love most about the country is that there's something for every type of traveler. Whether you enjoy challenging hikes or prefer taking a cable car to a spectacular viewpoint, Switzerland has it all.

During our one-week road trip through Switzerland, we combined scenic hikes with easy-to-reach viewpoints. Below you'll find our favorite places and the destinations that, in our opinion, belong among the most beautiful places in Switzerland.

Zermatt and the Matterhorn

The Matterhorn is undoubtedly one of Switzerland's most iconic landmarks and should be on every Switzerland itinerary. The best place to admire the mountain is from Zermatt, a charming alpine village at its foot. Keep in mind that Zermatt is completely car-free, so if you're traveling by car, you'll first need to drive to Täsch and continue by train.

The Matterhorn is famous not only for its distinctive pyramid shape but also for inspiring the Toblerone chocolate logo. From Zermatt, you can enjoy several beautiful hiking trails with incredible views of the mountain, but even from the village itself, the scenery is spectacular. During winter, Zermatt transforms into one of Switzerland's best ski resorts, making it a fantastic destination throughout the year.

Read more about visiting the Matterhorn here.

Rhine Falls – Europe's largest waterfall

If you're driving to Switzerland from the Netherlands, Rhine Falls (Rheinfall) makes an excellent first stop just after crossing the German border. As Europe's largest waterfall, it's an impressive sight. Located on the Rhine River near Schaffhausen, you can admire the falls from several walking trails or take a boat trip that brings you remarkably close to the roaring water.

Oeschinensee – Switzerland's most beautiful mountain lake

Oeschinensee is one of our favorite places anywhere in the world. The lake's turquoise-blue water is so vibrant that it almost doesn't look real. To reach the lake, take the cable car from Kandersteg, followed by an easy 30-minute walk. Once there, you can go swimming, relax by the shore or hike around the lake. We chose the Oeschinensee–Heuberg Trail, an 11-kilometer hike that takes around four hours. The trail climbs high above the lake and offers breathtaking panoramic views of both the water and the surrounding mountains.

Visit the Rhône Glacier ice cave

The Rhône Glacier is one of Switzerland's most accessible glaciers and makes for a fascinating stop during a road trip. Located along the scenic Furka Pass, it's the country's second-largest glacier. The main attraction is the Rhône Glacier Ice Cave, where you can walk through a tunnel carved directly into the glacier. If you've never visited an ice cave before, this is a unique experience that's well worth adding to your itinerary. The entrance is located opposite Hotel Belvédère, where parking is also available.

Lauterbrunnen – Switzerland's most beautiful mountain village

Located just 15 minutes from Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen is one of Switzerland's most picturesque villages. The valley surrounding Lauterbrunnen is home to more than 70 waterfalls, several of which are visible directly from the village. Even if you're only passing through, it's worth taking the time to stroll through the streets and enjoy the incredible scenery.

Admire the Aletsch Glacier

The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in Switzerland and one of the country's most impressive natural wonders. Because of its enormous size, there are several viewpoints where you can admire it, including Moosfluh, Eggishorn and Bettmerhorn. We visited the glacier from Moosfluh, which can easily be reached by cable car from Riederalp.

Grindelwald and the Jungfrau Region

First Cliff Walk

One of the highlights near Grindelwald is the spectacular First Cliff Walk. This metal walkway clings to the side of a mountain at an altitude of around 2,000 meters, offering incredible panoramic views over the surrounding Alps. Take the cable car from Grindelwald to First and stay on until the final station. From there, it's only a few minutes' walk to the Cliff Walk. The walkway itself is relatively short, making it easy to combine with a visit to Bachalpsee.

Bachalpsee

After visiting the First Cliff Walk, continue along Trail 1 towards Bachalpsee. The hike takes approximately one hour and is relatively easy, making it suitable for most visitors. When we visited, the weather was perfect—around 25°C (77°F)—and the calm lake beautifully reflected the surrounding mountain peaks. It was the perfect place to stop for a picnic before heading back.

Explore Rosenlaui

The final destination on our list is the beautiful Rosenlaui Valley.

Although it's less well known than many of Switzerland's famous attractions, the scenery here is absolutely stunning. There are several hiking trails through the valley, but it's also a wonderful area to explore by car. Stop along the way for short walks, scenic viewpoints or simply to admire the dramatic alpine landscape.