Switzerland is a walkers’ paradise; a land blessed with incredible natural beauty - with something for everyone. Choose from alpine areas such as the Goms Valley, home to the country’s high summits of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau and Europe’s longest glacier; or gentler, pastoral walks in the vineyards and woodlands of the Lake Geneva region. The country continually alternates between dramatic, snow-capped mountains, grassy meadows, glassy lakes and beautiful, undulating valleys, with a number of fascinating towns and villages to discover, like Brig and Villars. Nature lovers will also delight in exploring areas such the Swiss National Park and Engadine, home to a number of rare species, such as bearded vultures.
Walking is without a doubt the best way to fully experience the wonders of Switzerland. Trails range from easy valley walks to challenging mountain climbs and hikers are well catered for with a number of excellent accommodation options. Just be sure to take it at a leisurely pace. With so much to explore and enjoy, this is not a country where walking should be rushed.
The about 50,000 kilometres (31,000 miles) of walking trails in Switzerland are known as the “Wanderwege” (pronounced “Vandervege”), which are characterised by orange signposts showing distances and estimated walking times. The Wanderweg routes pass through a variety of terrains: roads, paths, fields and pastures. Just one word of warning, though – many of the routes are steep (both uphill and down), so sturdy boots and ideally a strong pair of knees will be hugely beneficial!
Touchingnature.co.uk is run by people who, like you, love walking and the great outdoors. Each of the below walking regions has been fully researched and personally hand-picked by our team who are all regular visitors to Switzerland. We recommend each of these regions for their superlative scenery and walker-friendliness.
|
 |
Bernese Oberland
Exploring the likes of Interlaken, Eiger, Jungfrau and Thun in Bernese Oberland (Berner Oberland) is nothing short of magical. The craggy mountains and host of glacial features which characterise this region, truly are a hiker’s dream.
Learn more  |
|
|
|
|
 |
City of Bern Region
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Eastern Switzerland & Liechtenstein
Eastern Switzerland and the pocket-sized Liechtenstein are often sidelined by tourists anxious to get to the big glitz-and-glamour resorts further south, yet they are both amazing in their own right.
Learn more |
|
|
|
|
 |
Graubünden
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Jura & Three Lakes Region
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Lake Geneva Region (Vaud)
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Lake Lucerne Region
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Jura, Pays de Fribourg, Vaudois Alps
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Ticino (Tessin)
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Valais (Wallis) & Matterhorn
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
 |
Zurich Region
Coming Soon |
|
|
|
|
