Top Things to do in Swiss Alps
Things to do in Swiss Alps, Switzerland: The Best Lookouts
Discover the best top things to do in Swiss Alps, Switzerland including Burg Hohen Ratien, Gebidum, Gornergrat, Ferrovia Monte Generoso, Diavolezza, Muottas Muragl, Monte Bre, Piz Nair, Monte San Salvatore, Aussichtsplattform Il Spir Conn.
Restaurants in Swiss Alps
1. Burg Hohen Ratien
2. Gebidum
3. Gornergrat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,925 reviews
The Gornergrat (3,089 m) is one of those places that everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. The mountain panorama and the glorious view of the Matterhorn are unforgettable. With its sunny observation platform accessible all year, the Gornergrat, at an altitude of 3,089 m, has been one of Switzerland’s top excursion destinations since 1898. The Gornergrat Bahn was the world’s first fully electrified cog railway. Today it is a modern, eco-friendly railway, equipped with a regenerative braking system that generates electricity on the descent and so saves energy. All year: •Photo subject: 29 mountains above 4,000 m in view (Switzerland, Italy) •Shops •Restaurants: self-service and waiter-served, indoors and out •Large sun terrace •“Bernhard von Aosta” chapel •Panoramic viewing platform Summer: •Wild ibex near the viewing platform of the station •Starting point for hikes •Sunrise trips (bookable offer) •Sunset dinners (bookable offer) •For families: “Wolli and the climate detectives” (audio guides available from Zermatt Tourism and the Gornergrat Bahn cog railway) Winter: •Dining with the stars (bookable offer) •Moonlight visit (bookable offer) •Direct access to the pistes and winter hiking paths •Highest sledging slope in Switzerland (Rotenboden 2815 m - Riffelberg 2582 m) •Igloo village on 2727 m
Reviewed By heraldofhope - Lausanne, Switzerland
Gornergrat is the place to go if you want to take a look at a jaw-dropping view of the Southern Swiss Alps in the canton Valais. With the best view of the famous Matterhorn and the surrounding mountains and glaciers, a 360 degree view offers a fantastic panorama featuring the highest Swiss peaks, the Pointe Dufour, the Mont Rose with its impressive glacier, The Weisshorn, The Dent Blanche, and many more, most rising from 14,000 feet (4500m) to up to 16,000 feet(4800m) above sea level. Take the Gornergrat Bahn train from the town of Zermatt just across from the Zermatt train station. You’ll want to sit on the right-side of the train (with respect to the direction of its forward movement) to get the best views as it climbs to its summit of 10,285 feet (3135m). Excellent facilities at its summit offer a restaurant, hotel, self-service restaurant, and several shops. It’s a sports-lover’s paradise in every season where hiking, sking, snowboarding, mountain climbing, paragliding, wing-suit jumping, all-terrain biking, and much more will suit the whims and fancies of many a sports fan. This is one place in the World you will never forget!!
4. Ferrovia Monte Generoso
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 298 reviews
Monte Generoso is situated in the heart of a nature park known beyond Switzerland’s borders. Standing majestically on the mountain’s rugged plateau is the new “Fiore di pietra“ (stone flower). The building was created by the famous architect Mario Botta and features picture windows that frame the breathtaking panorama. Two restaurants flooded with light and a conference room with magnificent mountain views provide the ideal setting for fine dining, unforgettable family celebrations and exceptional corporate events. The “Fiore di pietra” is designed so that a partition wall can section off a separate room for up to thirty guests. Since 1890, a rack railway has provided transport along a picturesque nine-kilometre stretch of mountain scenery carrying passengers from Capolago on Lake Lugano to the mountain summit at 1704 m altitude. Monte Generoso offers visitors plenty of opportunities for relaxing strolls, more demanding hikes and for delving into history.
Reviewed By D3215SBjohnm
There are numerous well-marked trails from the summit, some of which extend down old smuggling routes into Italy. We hiked from the trailhead in Orimento, Italy, about 6 kilometers to the summit. The trail winds uphill through active grazing land (some inhabited by a herd of wild horses), through abandoned ancient villages, and across high pastues with beautiful views. A constant sound along the trail is the clang of cow bells used by local farmers to locate their animals. As you near the summit, you can catch glimpses of both Lake Como and Lake Lugano if the weather is clear. Once on top, there is a cafeteria and full service restaurant with full bar service with an outdoor deck in an ultra modern structure that is reminiscent of a James Bond villian's hideout. The summit is serviced by the Monte Generoso cog railway that carries passengers to and from Capolago at the base of the mountain on the Swiss side.
5. Diavolezza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 570 reviews
Reviewed By Graido - Zurich, Switzerland
already open for skiing on the weekend and Wednesday afternoon. As well without skiing a cool peak to enjoy the view on the glacier and get something to eat and drink. A great place to start early into the ski season:)
6. Muottas Muragl
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 789 reviews
Reviewed By Swissbulgarican - Lausanne, Switzerland
Excellent ending destination from our hike starting in Alp Languard - we took the Panorama Trail, which was very doable with our five year-old. Just be sure to have smaller children have good walking shoes and hold a hand in areas where there is little protection/steep inclines on side of mountain. The trail, however, is fairly flat. It took us about 4 hours including breaks. The walk could also be down in the reverse direction (Muottas Muragl-->Alp Languard and down with the chair lift). The restaurant has a wonderful playground in the back and offers a seated area restaurant as well as a self-service area with tables on a huge terrace. If you are looking for a slightly cheaper option, I would highly recommend the self-service food. The food was excellent - we had a lovely lentil soup and wurstsalat. Cake and coffee were also excellent. As others have mentioned, the scenery is magnificent looking out on the lakes of St. Moritz, Sils and Silvaplana. The ride down with the furnicular is fun and unique. An excellent outing and very much worth it - our hotel included this excursion in the card with access to all local cable cars/transport.
7. Monte Bre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 868 reviews
Reviewed By MandyAndMark_13 - Adelaide, Australia
We caught the funicular railway to the top - amazing views. Had a coffee there at one of the cafes and just took in the views. We then walked to Bre village (about 2km) and had lunch at a restaurant there - it was well sign posted and a fairly easy walk. We caught no.12 bus back to Lugano. Great day out and the weather was perfect.
8. Piz Nair
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 439 reviews
Reviewed By 579pimg - Rotterdam, The Netherlands
When skiing in the area, certainty go up Piz Nair, enjoy the view and have fun on the slope down. One of the nicest trips to make.
9. Monte San Salvatore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,260 reviews
Reviewed By italiauno2017 - Cincinnati, United States
Beautiful cloudless skies provided an excellent day for the funicular ride to overlook the Lugano area for miles in all directions. I opted not to walk down because of the steepness of the path, but a number of hikers were coming up and I do mean steep.
10. Aussichtsplattform Il Spir Conn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 262 reviews
Reviewed By 708wernerw - Zurich, Switzerland
We visited the Il Spir for the first time. What a surprise, I was not aware, Switzerland has his own little Grand Canyon. A really amazing place and a nice walk from the village to the place.
