City: Switzerland
Top Things to do in Switzerland
What to do and see in Switzerland, Switzerland: The Best Bodies of Water
in Europe (green & dark grey)
Restaurants in Switzerland
1. Pfaffikersee Lake
2. Lac de Tanay
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By dannekah2016 - Nyon, Switzerland
Lac de Tanay provides a wonderful Swiss hiking experience. It is a decent elevation (~1,300ft over >2 miles) hike up to the top, where it levels out and opens up to a quintessential little Swiss hamlet on a beautiful alpine lake. There are two restaurants at the top with outdoor and indoor seating and traditional Swiss offerings like fondue, providing the ideal way to rest and refuel after the hike. There is also plenty of space for picnics along the lake and a few barbecue grills installed as well. The parking lot at the trail head (Parking du Flon) fills up fast on the weekend, and there are no toilets at the bottom (there are at the top), so plan accordingly. If doing this hike with small children would highly recommend a carrier option if they get tired during the ascent up.
3. Oeschinen Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 682 reviews
Oeschinensee is accessible by foot from Kandersteg within 1.5 hours. The cable car operates in summer and winter season daily from mornings till evenings - non stop. In summer enjoy swimming in the lake, boat rides on the blue and clear water or just have fun with the toboggan run at the top station of the cable car. Several hotels around the lake offer rooms in summer. Restaurants are open in winter and summer. The region belongs to the Unesco heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch.
Reviewed By Irrequieta - Geneva, Switzerland
Easily accessible for families with small children. The lake can be reached after a 30min walk or in 5min via a small electric bus (8CHF each way). The views are breathtaking and there is a nice restaurant by the lake to enjoy a meal. Not to be missed!
4. Lago Di Saoseo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
An activity not to be missed, when in Poschiavo, is a hike to the Lago di Saoseo in the side valley Val di Campo. Start is in Sfazú with a restaurant and with a stop of the yellow Swiss postbus between Bernina and Poschiavo. From here a small bus can take one up to the Alp Camp, from where it is only a half hour walk to the lake. Since this is a very popular excursion reservations have to be made in advance for the small bus and when there we saw that it was packed with people. My wife and me though had chosen to hike from Sfazú to the lake and then walk down another way, thus making a loop. For this one has to count with about 4 hours, but naturally some time has to be added spent at the beautiful little mountain lake. En route one passes through meadows, through forests and past mountain huts. Up we went on the Val di Camp river's lefthand side, down - mostly on a small road - on the righthand side. On the way down, with great views of the Palü glacier in front, one will encounter at a spot called Lungacqua the Rifugio Saoseo of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), which also functions as a restaurant. The Lago ('Lagh' in the local Lombardian dialect) is surrounded by forest with plenty of rocks around and mountains at the back. The lake's water is crystal clear and one can well see the bottom, but most special are its colours in varying shades of blue and green, depending on the light. The lake is at an altitude of 2028m, thus almost exactly 400m higher than Sfazú by the main road, the start and end of our hike.
5. Aare River
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 284 reviews
Reviewed By 674pavelk - Redmond, United States
In august, we could see people swimming in it, and even standing on a high bridge, we could see through it to the very bottom of the river. It's greenish clear waters together with the scenery around it gives you this calm and peaceful feeling. Very relaxing.
6. Walensee
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 76 reviews
This beautiful mountain lake offers a scenic environment for relaxation and recreation.
Reviewed By tomasot735
The lake is beautiful all around the year, Walenstadt is a pretty town with a nice park and walk along the shore , you can bike side to side.
7. Lake Lucerne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,152 reviews
Reviewed By BruceM147 - Carlsbad, United States
We have traveled a bit on Switzerland’s lake steamers and love the relaxing, scenic hour or two on the way to a walk, lift, or village. Lucern’s lake is beautiful and varied. Take a picnic.
8. Lake Zurich
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,034 reviews
Reviewed By GrahamB67 - Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
The 85 minute short cruise from Bürkliplatz to Thalwil is a relaxing way to see both sides of the lake. Excellent price for the trip, and food and drink on board was sensibly priced, too. Quite busy in the low season, as less boats are operating, so there were few spare seats
9. Lake Geneva
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,580 reviews
A scenic mountain lake situated alongside the city of Geneva, it empties into the Rhone River.
Reviewed By greekcypriot2009 - Athens, Greece
One of the gems of Geneva is its Lake which is a year-round hotspot for outdoor activities and nice restaurants. The northern shore covers picturesque villages terraced vineyards and medieval castles. It is easy to explore lakeside landmarks such as the medieval bastion of Chillon Castle (Château de Chillon). Soaking up the scenery on a Lake Geneva cruise was a marvel. Time permitting visitors can enjoy a ride by the GoldenPass panoramic train into the Swiss Alps, take a Geneva sightseeing tour, or hop over the French border to explore Annecy, Chamonix, or Mont Blanc.
10. Bachalpsee Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 632 reviews
He painted the Jungfrau and the Schynige Platte, but Ferdinand Hodler never committed Lake Bachalpsee to canvas. The glacial water reflecting the Schreckhorn in the calm air would have been entirely in keeping with the taste of the well-known symbolist. Many others discovered the beauty of the "blue jewel". Lake Bachalpsee travels around the world as a postcard. However: no photo are able capture the radiance of the lake. You need to go there and see it for yourself. That doesn't require much effort. Lake Bachalpsee can be reached from First on foot in less than an hour.
Reviewed By Xabbu - Zurich, Switzerland
Bachalpsee is an extremely scenic lake and can be reached by an easy hike from First. Definitely worth visiting.
