This page was last updated by Annika on 27 February 2024.
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Must-knows about small Swiss towns

  • Many small Swiss towns excel in scenic beauty.
  • Some mountain villages, such as Zermatt, are not located centrally. Check travel times for your planned day trips with the timetable before booking accommodation.
  • Some tiny hamlets such as Gimmelwald are famous for their views. But they may offer hardly any tourist facilities.
  • Do you want to visit a famous Swiss city, but prefer spending the night in a small nearby town? I present my suggestions.

Find Switzerland’s prettiest small towns

The map further down shows where the listed towns are located.

Matterhorn and Zermatt at dusk
Zermatt
ValaisTrain stationAltitude: 1605 m (5266 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Zermatt is a car-free, luxurious alpine village at the foot of the Matterhorn. Zermatt is somewhat secluded, but you can enjoy many wonderful mountain excursions …
View of Eiger and Mönch from the outskirts of Mürren
Mürren
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1650 m (5413 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
The car-free alpine village of Mürren is perched on a cliff high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland. This town at the slopes …
View over Wengen and tops of western Lauterbrunnen Valley
Wengen
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1276 m (4186 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Wengen is a car-free alpine village in the Jungfrau Region, surrounded by hiking trails in summer and ski slopes in winter. It’s a perfect base …
Street in Grindelwald center with Wetterhorn view
Grindelwald
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 1034 m (3392 ft)Winter sports resort
Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region has all tourist facilities you can wish for, and is at a very scenic spot on the foot of the …
Lauterbrunnen village with Staubbach Fall
Lauterbrunnen
Jungfrau RegionTrain stationAltitude: 793 m (2602 ft)
The small and scenic village of Lauterbrunnen is the gateway to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and to the mountain villages Wengen and Mürren. The town is …
St. Moritz in the Upper Engadine, Graubünden
St. Moritz
EngadineTrain stationAltitude: 1775 m (5823 ft)Winter sports resortOn a lake
St. Moritz is an upper-class alpine town. Located in the magnificent Upper Engadine valley in Graubünden, the town is a perfect base for hiking and …
Passenger ferry at Lake Brienz arriving at dock in Brienz
Brienz
Lake BrienzTrain stationAltitude: 563 m (1847 ft)On a lake
Brienz is a scenic village in the Bernese Oberland. Located on Lake Brienz, it’s a good base to cover the Jungfrau Region, the Meiringen area, …
Aerial view of Saas-Fee and mountains
Saas-Fee
ValaisAltitude: 1792 m (5879 ft)Winter sports resortThis is a car-free town
Saas-Fee is a car-free village in the Valais, surrounded by some of Switzerland’s highest peaks. Enjoy mountain rides, skiing, hiking and biking here.
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My favorite small towns close to large Swiss cities

When Arno and I visit a Swiss city, we like to stay in a nearby town with quick rail or bus access to the city. If you like peace and quiet too, check my suggestions in our city hotel guides and region overviews:

My take on popular small villages: Iseltwald, Lauterbrunnen, Lungern and more

Swimming in the Verzasca river under Ponte dei Salti

Tourist hypes: popular small spots

Are the small Swiss tourist hotspots worth visiting? I share my take on Lauterbrunnen, the Aescher guesthouse, the Verzasca Valley …

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.