11 Best Places To Visit In Switzerland In Winter
Switzerland transforms into a magical winter wonderland as soon as the snowflakes start to fall.
Switzerland is renowned for its picturesque alpine villages, world-class ski resorts, and breathtaking landscapes in the winter season.
It’s definitely a great idea to visit Switzerland in winter.
Today, I will show you the 11 best places to visit in Switzerland to create unforgettable memories in winter.
Table of Contents
Grindelwald First
Grindelwald First is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Switzerland.
Countless tourists come here for a visit during any time of the year.
While the village is worth a visit, the best place is actually higher up at the First.
To get there, you will have to take two cable car rides.
Grindelwald is part of one of the largest winter and ski resorts in Switzerland, which also includes Lauberhorn and Schilthorn.
If you don’t ski, a visit to Grindelwald First is still very much worth it, even if you come with your toddlers.
At the First, you may enjoy a breathtaking view over the Swiss Alps, including the iconic trio of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau.
The highlight at the First is the cliff walk, for which you won’t need an extra ticket.
Walking on the trail is very enjoyable and a little bit thrilling at the same time.
At the end, there is a small balcony, which has become one of the most popular Instagram photo spots.
The ski resort is not very snow-covered but is also perfect for skiing.
In particular, the uppermost part of the First is very exciting.
A big highlight is the snow park with all its ramps, halfpipe, and rails.
I was also very lucky to bump into some professional snowboarders who really did some amazing tricks.
Lauterbrunnen
You are probably used to seeing Lauterbrunnen in the summer season, with its 72 powerful waterfalls.
During winter, things are a little bit different.
Most of the waterfalls are frozen or just have little water.
I find the waterfalls even more impressive when they are frozen; they look like giant organs.
The village of Lauterbrunnen is very much worth visiting in winter.
A major reason is that it is a lot less touristy than in the summer.
You can enjoy the beautiful village without too many cars and other visitors, and booking a hotel is, in general, a lot easier too.
If you want to maximize your chances of benefiting from a low number of tourists, I recommend coming here in January.
The go-to spots in Lauterbrunnen are the trail through the valley, Staubbachfall, the church.
And then my favorite spot: the arch below the train bridge, where you can take some beautiful photos.
I find the spot very magical when you hear the church bells in the background.
Bear in mind that Lauterbrunnen might not always be snowy, but certainly, at the nearby higher-altitude places, the chance for snow is quite high.
Murren
In Murren, you can experience the best activities combined in just one day.
Similarly to Zermatt and Saas-Fee, Murren is car-free.
However, due to its smaller size, it feels a lot more relaxed up there, and you won’t see any of the electric vehicles that are common in other destinations.
Murren is quiet, but I think that is exactly what gives this village its charm.
In addition, being higher up than Lauterbrunnen, the chance of snow is quite increased.
When covered with snow, Murren is a true winter wonderland, both during the day and at night.
There are a couple of hotels to stay in, and you can also visit some restaurants that serve traditional Swiss dishes like fondue.
Murren is a small and quickly explored place.
The views down to the valley, seeing the many traditional wooden houses typical of the Bernese Oberland, and looking up at the summits of the Swiss Alps are very enjoyable.
I personally love the road with the village and Mount Eiger in the background.
You will often see this photo spot all over Instagram.
Visiting the village of Murren is one of the activities.
You can make your day more memorable by heading up to the Allmendhubel and trying out the toboggan run.
This run is very beginner-friendly and takes roughly 20 minutes.
You can rent sledges directly in the town of Murren.
The toboggan run is really fun, especially the last part where you enter the village.
Schilthorn
It takes two cable car rides and about 20 minutes to reach Schilthorn from Murren.
The Schilthorn is one of the most famous summits that tourists can visit in Switzerland.
This is because the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was filmed here.
From the Schilthorn, you will get a beautiful panorama over the Swiss Alps, as well as the famous trio of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau.
On the other side, you may see Thun and its lake as well as the northern Swiss Alps.
If you feel cold or do not like to stay outside for too long during winter, you can go inside and have tea or lunch at the revolving restaurant.
From there, you can enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views from indoors, which is definitely very cozy.
The Schilthorn is not only among the most famous summits in Switzerland but also one of the best ones you can visit.
I know many of you wonder whether it’s more worth it to go up to the Jungfraujoch or the Schilthorn.
A ticket to the Schilthorn costs even less than half of that for visiting the Jungfraujoch.
Verbier
If you are a winter-lover, especially if you are into skiing, then I’m sure you have heard about Verbier and 4-Vallées.
Verbier is one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in the world.
What is really great about Verbier is that it’s not only a place for skiers but also a destination for any tourist who loves being up in the Alps.
Starting from Bagnes, you will have to take a cable car ride up to the village of Verbier.
I always find the upper part very fascinating, where you enter the village.
Although the village is very nice and après-ski and partying are a lot of fun.
Mont Fort
The very highlight of Verbier is much further up on Mont Fort.
From Verbier, it will take you four cable car rides to reach over 3,000 meters above sea level.
This will take a lot of your time ⎯ at least an hour ⎯ so you need to ensure that you start your trip early enough.
I would say, come here by 11 am to make sure you have enough time and can thoroughly enjoy your day.
The last two cabins do not operate as frequently, so you might have to queue for them.
When you arrive at the Col des Gentianes, that’s the last station before the very top at Mont Fort.
There is an office where you can purchase tickets for the zipline up at Mont Fort. the ticket price is around CHF 43.
From the top, you may enjoy probably the best 360° panorama over the Alps.
On sunny days, you may spot over 50 peaks of the Alps, including Mont Blanc, Dents du Midi, Dent Blanche, Dent d’Herens, Matterhorn, and many more in the French and Italian Alps.
At the top station, you might also want to go for a meal.
The absolute must-do, especially if you need the ultimate thrill, is the zipline down to the Col des Gentianes.
This is Europe’s highest-located zipline and offers over 1,400 meters of adrenaline rush.
You will be properly instructed, and then your adventure begins. I loved the zipline so much that I ended up going twice.
Bosco Gurin
Bosco Gurin is the perfect village for those who prefer it a little bit more relaxed.
Certainly, there are enough places in Switzerland that can be quite crowded during the winter season.
However, not so in Bosco Gurin.
This village is far away in Switzerland as it really takes a lot of time for you to reach there.
After an hour’s drive from Locarno, you will finally arrive at this slightly different village in Ticino.
Bosco Gurin feels a little bit like an open-air museum as you will pass by many beautiful houses, corners, and alleys.
So, it will take a longer time to explore the village, which I think is quite okay considering the long trip to get here.
My Favorite Sports
My favorite corners of Bosco Gurin are:
- The alley just at the entrance of the village
- The one in front of the church
- The road at the upper part of the village
- Roaming in the middle of the houses near the road
- The lower part with the many stadel houses
- The museum, and the row of houses built to protect the village from avalanches
- The bottom part where you can get a nice overall impression of the village
During winter, the days are short, so the amount of sunlight is limited.
Also, keep in mind that because of the surrounding mountains, there are periods when the village does not receive any sunlight even in the early afternoon.
Since the sun sets earlier in winter, consider staying here until the evening.
The village becomes particularly charming during that time, with the snow absorbing all the colors, which really looks like a perfect Swiss winter wonderland.
Zermatt
I have to say: it’s always very special being up in Zermatt.
It’s a major tourist destination in Switzerland, and it can be a bit crowded at times, but none of that takes away the magic from this place.
Zermatt is located in the canton of Valais near the border of Italy.
It’s a car-free village, and only local electric vehicles are allowed. Travelers will have to arrive here by train.
Zermatt is the kind of place where you certainly need to spend more than just one day.
There are many great panoramas to be seen, and even the village is very beautiful to explore on a walking tour.
Zermatt is full of wooden chalets and hotels that blend together nicely.
The points that you definitely should visit are the river promenade along the Vispa, the old town at the Hinterdorfstrasse, the Bahnhofstrasse, and the upper part after the church.
There are, of course, more beautiful corners to be discovered.
I would suggest at least giving it one hour to tour around.
Zermatt is, of course, very beautiful when there is a lot of sun, but I prefer it during snowfall, as I feel there is something very magical about it.
Especially during the night, it’s very enchanting to walk in the alleys watching the falling snowflakes.
Zermatt has multiple attractions, with the most well-known being the Gornergrat.
To head up there, you will have to take a magical train ride that first crosses the village and then ascends over multiple curves up to over 3,000 meters.
During the train ride, you will get to see the Matterhorn and the village from various perspectives.
Upon arriving on the ridge, you will get a perfect side view of the Matterhorn.
There is more to see up here, like the massive Gorner Glacier, the Klein Matterhorn, and the Dufourspitze.
The train stops at multiple stations. I recommend you go to Rotenboden.
From there, you can hike down to the Riffelsee, which only takes about 10 minutes.
If you are lucky, the ice on the lake is sufficiently thick so you can go for some sliding.
During the winter season, you may also rent a sledge at the Rotenboden station and go for the toboggan run down to Riffelberg.
The toboggan is really fun, quite fast, and thrilling for beginners.
My favorite viewpoint is up at the Rothorn.
You can ascend there by taking the underground funicular followed by two cabin car rides.
Remember, the Rothorn is not accessible every day, so plan properly before going there.
From the Rothhorn, you will get a perfect frontal view of the Matterhorn; it looks like a pyramid.
The most thrilling attraction, in my opinion, is the Klein Matterhorn, which is the highest station in all of Europe.
It’s very windy on the platform and cold, but you might enjoy it a little more quietly inside the Klein Matterhorn glacier.
Zinal Glacier
This is my favorite secret spot in winter.
Although it was quite popular in 2021, the Zinal Ice Cave is less busy these days.
You will need to go for a winter hike, starting in Zinal, and then walking about 90 minutes uphill through the snow.
The hike is not too difficult and is quite enjoyable. I suggest starting early, around 9 am, to ensure have good light during your visit to the cave.
Once you reach the ice cave, you will find yourself in an environment that could be from the movie Frozen.
The ice cave is truly enchanting, especially because it is natural and not man-made, and definitely a major highlight in Switzerland in winter.
Don’t forget to bring your crampons; you may rent them at ski shops.
With these, you will be able to walk on the ice inside the glacier cave.
Otherwise, it will be very slippery.
Blausee
Blausee is another attraction that is very much hyped during the summer season.
However, Blausee is no less beautiful during winter, especially when there is a lot of snow.
The best time to visit is during the late morning to ensure good sunlight.
My favorite viewpoints are right at the place you first reach and along the left shore, where you will find more great photo spots.
The bridge is also very nice.
Although not every year, there is a Christmas market held on one weekend in mid-December.
It can be very busy, but if there is snowfall, you will experience one of the most beautiful Christmas markets you can imagine.
It is a rare kind of Christmas market where you are fully immersed in nature, far from the cities, and I think this makes Blausee a perfect location to experience the magic spirit of Christmas.
I visited in 2022 and had a wonderful time at the Christmas market, which was certainly enhanced by the heavy snowfall that day.
The market isn’t much for foodies; instead, you can buy beautiful handmade products from artisans in Switzerland and its neighboring countries.
You can also explore the forest, which is very unique.
There are many rocks around, which I find makes this forest very interesting to explore.
Arosa
Arosa is one of the most famous ski resorts in Switzerland.
It has been a popular winter destination for many decades.
Arosa is fantastic for skiing.
Even better, it’s very snow-sure, so your chances for good skiing are high, even when the snowfall in Switzerland is not very satisfying or quite good.
It’s not only great for skiers; it’s also a very family-friendly tourist destination.
You can go up to the Weisshorn for a breathtaking view over the surrounding summits and valleys.
You might also try walking on the squirrel trail.
Usually, hotels will provide small bags with hazelnuts to attract and feed the squirrels.
It’s best to come here during the late morning or early afternoon when there will be many squirrels.
You will be surprised; the squirrels here are not very shy ⎯ just stand still and allow them to approach you.
Arosa also has various great hotels.
I stayed at the Arosa Kulm Hotel, which has a long tradition.
The hotel is perfect for solo travelers, groups of friends, and families.
Engelberg
This is a place you might already have considered visiting.
Engelberg is no doubt one of the biggest tourist magnets of the Swiss Alps.
It is a perfect location for a day trip from Zurich, taking less than hours by train to reach the village.
The go-to spot in Engelberg is, of course, Mount Titlis.
To get there, you will need to take three cable car rides.
This will take a bit of time, but it’s really worth it.
At the first station, called Trubsee, you can go snow tubing.
However, before expanding on that, I recommend heading directly to the Titlis.
The last ride is special, as the cabin rotates, giving you a panoramic view of the central Swiss Alps.
At the top, there are multiple things to do.
First, there is a small glacier cave that you can visit for free.
You can then have lunch at the restaurant, and of course, the highlight is going outside to enjoy a breathtaking view.
I have to say, I was not overly enthusiastic about going up to Mount Titlis.
Now I’m thankful for having been convinced. The view from 3,000 meters is incredible.
You can see so many snow-covered summits all at once; the perfect sunny weather made the day even more enjoyable.
There is also a cliff walk with a bridge that you can take.
The bridge is a little shaky, which makes the experience extra thrilling.
But no worries, it’s very safe!
After enjoying the perfect panorama over the Swiss Alps, you can go snow tubing at Trubsee.
This is a really fun activity, and I personally love it.
What’s really great about snow tubing is that you won’t have to pay extra for it.
At the end of the visit, consider going for a quick Après ski party at the nearby bars at the bottom station in Engelberg.
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