Things to do in  Swiss Alps

Situated on the shores of sparkling Lake Lucerne, at the base of Mount Pilatus, the city of Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most scenic destinations and a popular basecamp for exploring the Swiss Alps. Visit to see the city’s historic medieval center, then head into the mountains for hiking, cycling, and winter sports adventures.

Commanding the views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley is the Jungfrau, part of the mighty Swiss mountain trio that includes the nearby Eiger and Mönch. As a visitor, you can’t actually visit the Jungfrau peak. Instead, you visit Jungfraujoch, a saddle of the mountain range that connects Jungfrau to the Mönch and is marketed as the Top of Europe. An ice palace, glacier viewing platform, and terrace are among its attractions.

Reaching 10,626 feet (3,239 meters) above sea level, Mt. Titlis is Central Switzerland’s highest peak and probably its finest vantage point. The mountain has a cutting-edge transportation system—including, most famously, a revolving cable car that turns 360 degrees during the ride to the top station at 9,908 feet (3,020 meters). Those lucky enough to be inside the car are graced with stunning panoramic views of Alpine peaks, sheer rock faces, and an icy crevasse-cracked glacier.

Perched on a rocky precipice 11,716 feet (3,571 meters) above sea level, the Sphinx Observatory is a working lab with a large telescope. The landmark sits on Jungfraujoch peak—known as the "Top of Europe"—and offers stunning views of the Bernese Alps and beyond from its observation deck, one of the highest in Switzerland.

Lake Thun—or Thunersee as it’s known locally—is a glacial lake near Interlaken. Its bright turquoise water and the surrounding mountains and valleys are pure picture-postcard Switzerland.

Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) is one of the two lakes that flank the popular resort town of Interlaken. The village of Brienz, which sits on the opposite side of the lake (and from which the lake takes its name), is a picture-perfect Swiss spot made up of traditional wooden chalets with the snow-capped Alps rising behind them.

Nicknamed the “Mountain of Mountains,” the Matterhorn is one of the highest peaks in Europe, reaching a mighty 14,692 feet (4,478 meters). Known for its jagged triangular shape, it’s one of Switzerland’s most famous peaks—not only for its views, but also for its appearance in the logo for Toblerone, the iconic Swiss chocolate brand.

This mountain pass in the Bernese Oberland may be best known as the starting point for the scenic Jungfrau Railway, but it's also a hiking hub: several trails from here offer stunning mountain views. From an elevation of more than 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), you can marvel at the peaks of Jungfrau and Mönch, and the stark Eiger North Face.

High above the Swiss town of Interlaken stands Harder Kulm, a viewpoint with panoramic views of the mountains and valleys of the Berner Oberland region. Visitors can hike to the spot from town, or take a funicular railway. Once at the top, you can enjoy the views, have a refreshment, and enjoy a variety of attractions.

Soaring over the Bernina Pass and climbing to a dizzying 7,392 feet (2,253 meters) above sea level, the famous Bernina Express is one of Europe’s most beautiful railway routes. Running for 75 miles (122 kilometers) from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy, it’s the only railway that connects the North and South Alps, and offers dramatic mountain views.

Dating back to 1898, Switzerland’s Gornergrat Railway (Gornergrat Bahn) continues today as Europe’s highest open-air railway. Its train whisks sightseers and skiers from the resort town of Zermatt to the mountain’s 10,135-foot (3,089-meter) station, while providing views of Alpine hamlets, colossal glaciers, and the iconic Matterhorn.

Towering 13,025 feet (3,970 meters) above the town of Grindelwald, Eiger (German for ogre) is one of Switzerland’s most recognizable and fearsome mountains. Scaling the near-vertical north face is a notoriously challenging feat, one that has claimed a number of lives since the first successful ascent in 1938.

It might not be a household name, but with a panorama spanning some of Europe's most iconic peaks—including Jungfrau, the Eiger, and even the distant Mont Blanc—the Schilthorn summit offers one of Switzerland's most spectacular mountain views. The 9,744-foot (2,970-meter) mountain lies in the Bernese Alps and is famous for its revolving mountaintop restaurant, Piz Gloria, which was featured in the 1969 James Bond movieOn Her Majesty's Secret Service.

A series of suspended walkways and cave tunnels make this limestone gorge easily accessible for explorers after an intimate glimpse of the Alpine landscape. Formed by Ice Age glaciation, the mile-long Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht) ranges in width from three to 100 feet and flanks the Aare all the way from the Grimsel Pass to Lake Brienz.

Lake Walen (Walensee is a lake in eastern Switzerland, separating the cantons Glarus and St. Gallen. It is part of a region known as Heidiland, which is named after the famous story by Johanna Spyri. The mountains rise almost vertically on all sides of the lake, and nestled on little plateaus and along the shores are several traditional Swiss towns.