Switzerland trip planning, the easy way
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Find Swiss town and city walks, plus guided hikes
I’ve collected our favorite Swiss nature hikes in our blog.
City trip, HikingMin. time required: 2:00
Easy city walk across the Old Town of Lucerne with famous and less-visited spots. See the City Wall, the Chapel Bridge, beautiful churches and ancient town squares.
Show more ►City trip, HikingMin. time required: 2:00
This free city walk offers a great introduction to the pretty old town of Zurich. You’ll also scroll on the promenades along the river Reuss and Lake Zurich.
Show more ►City trip, HikingMin. time required: 1:30
Discover Geneva with our varied walk along the river Rhône and the lake, and in the old town center of Geneva. You’ll see the city highlights in less than 2 …
Show more ►City trip, HikingMin. time required: 1:00
Discover the architectural highlights of Lausanne on Lake Geneva with this easy 1-hour town walk.
Show more ►City trip, HikingMin. time required: 2:00
We created this free city walk for you to enjoy the historical city center of Basel in Switzerland in just a few hours. You’ll also see the river Rhine.
Show more ►Hiking, MountainsMin. time required: 2:30
The Bürgenstock ridge above Lake Lucerne has luxurious hotels, restaurants, fantastic views and the famous Hammetschwand lift. Learn about the routes, views, hikes, and gastronomy.
Show more ►Hiking, Mountains, NatureMin. time required: 2:00
The Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier of Switzerland and even of the Alps. I explain how to get the best views: from mountaintops in the Jungfrau Region and the …
Show more ►City trip, HikingMin. time required: 1:30
Explore the vibrant town center, the lake and the parks of Lugano during this pleasant walk. You’ll get a good impression of the city in just 1h30.
Show more ►City trip, HikingMin. time required: 1:00
See the lively town center and the beautiful outskirts of Zermatt with this quick and varied walk. Perfect for a one-day trip to Zermatt as well!
Show more ►HikingMin. time required: 1:00
Enjoy the beautiful lake of St. Moritz with this easy 1-hour stroll.
Show more ►What’s the best month for hiking in Switzerland?
July, August and September form the best season to hike in Switzerland. This is when there’s the least snow in the mountains. Nearly all trails, including alpine routes at high altitudes, are accessible.
Other seasons qualify too:
- January and February are best to enjoy the specially groomed winter trails in the snow.
- Spring (March-June) and fall (October-December) are less suitable for hiking in the mountains. But they’re perfect for city walks, trails in lower Swiss valleys, and paths around Switzerland’s large lakes.
Whether or not hiking trails are open, always depends on the current weather circumstances. You can check the status of trails at your local tourism office in Switzerland.
Winter hikes
January, February and early March are best for winter hiking in Switzerland. Trails at higher altitudes are groomed specifically for hiking in the snow. Snowshoe hikes, which are more demanding, can be made too. And city walks are available year-long.
Swiss winter hiking trails can be enjoyed with normal hiking boots or with snow shoes. I explain how it works …
Summer, spring and autumn hikes
Hiking in Switzerland in summer
I prefer July, August and September for Switzerland’s alpine hiking routes. In normal circumstances there isn’t much snow left in the mountains, so even the routes high in the mountains are accessible. Of course, lower routes in valleys and around the lake are beautiful too.
If it’s hot during summer, city hikes are not my favorite option. Arno and I like to hike up in the mountains instead, to cool down a bit.
Spring and autumn hikes
From April to June, and in October and November, there’s usually more snow in the mountains than during summer. This means that certain trails in the mountains are not accessible: there may be too much snow to hike safely, and at the same time too little to groom the routes as winter trails.
Spring and fall are great for hikes in the valleys and around Switzerland’s lakes. City and town walks are recommended too.
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Practical hiking information and tips
Hiking in the Swiss Alps should not be underestimated. Casualties do occur. Learn how to prepare and how to safely enjoy the Swiss trails.
Hiking in Switzerland is available for all, but it requires caution. Weather and the alpine environment can cause dangers. Learn …
Prepare before you start hiking in Switzerland: only pick routes that suit your capabilities and check weather forecasts. I also …
SwissTopo and Switzerland Mobility are great navigation apps for your hikes in Switzerland. But paper maps are important too: your …
How to dress and what to pack for your Swiss holidays, with tips for all sorts of activities: from summer …
Other websites of interest
MySwissAlps.com includes 
