Destinations

The Lake Thun between Thun and Interlaken is lined with several castles, including Oberhofen Castle right on the shore. Above the lake rises the Niesen, the striking pyramid with the longest staircase in the world. On the northern shore, the St Beatus Caves lead into the mountain.HighlightsOberhofen Castle on the lakeshoreNiesen, the “Swiss pyramid”St Beatus CavesBoat trips before a mountain backdropGood…

The Lake Brienz east of Interlaken captivates with its intense turquoise-blue. On the shore the Giessbach Falls tumble into the lake over several tiers, and the historic Brienz Rothorn Railway, the last steam cog railway in Switzerland, leads up. Near the village of Brienz lies the Ballenberg open-air museum.HighlightsIntensely turquoise-blue waterGiessbach Falls right by the lakeBrienz Rothorn Railway (steam cog railway)Ballenberg open-air museumGood to knowLocationBernese…

First at 2,168 m above Grindelwald is an adventure mountain set against the backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The First Cliff Walk, a walkway suspended from the rock face, and attractions such as the First Flyer and Trottibike complement classic high-altitude hikes. A popular destination is the mountain lake Bachalpsee.HighlightsFirst Cliff Walk on the rock faceView of…

The Lötschental is considered one of the most unspoilt high valleys in the Alps. Long reachable only by mule tracks, it preserved old customs such as the terrifying Tschäggättä masks of carnival. Today trails and the Lötschberg open up the valley before the backdrop of the Bietschhorn and glaciers.HighlightsUnspoilt valley landscape and customsTschäggättä carnival masksHigh trail with glacier viewsKühmatt pilgrimage siteGood to knowLocationnorthern…

Leukerbad is the largest thermal-bath village in the Alps; every day millions of litres of around 51-degree spring water bubble out of the mountain into numerous baths. Above the village, the historic Gemmi Pass leads on foot or by cable car into the Bernese Oberland. A backdrop of vertical rock faces frames the village.HighlightsLargest alpine thermal-bath offeringAround 51 °C warm…

At 3,089 m above Zermatt, the Gornergrat offers one of the grandest mountain panoramas in the Alps, with views of the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and a ring of over 20 four-thousanders. The Gornergrat Railway, the highest open-air cog railway in Europe, has led up since 1898. At the top stand a hotel and an observatory.HighlightsPanorama of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa massifGornergrat Railway (highest…

Linderhof Palace in the Graswang valley is the smallest of King Ludwig II's three palaces and the only one completed in his lifetime, with an artificial Venus Grotto. Highlights: the only one of his palaces completed in his lifetime, lavish…

The Eibsee at the foot of the Zugspitze is, with its turquoise-green water and small islands, one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Bavaria. Highlights: turquoise-green water with small islands, shore loop…

The Partnachklamm near Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a roughly 700 m long, up to 80 m deep gorge through which the Partnach roars. Highlights: around…

The Alpsee lies nestled between Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein and is one of the cleanest lakes in Bavaria, with a roughly one-hour shore path. Highlights: very clear lake before the castle backdrop, shore loop in barely an hour, bathing and…

The Breitachklamm near Oberstdorf is considered the deepest rock gorge in Central Europe, with the Breitach cut up to 150 m into the rock. Highlights: deepest rock gorge in Central Europe…

The Nebelhorn above Oberstdorf, at 2,224 m, offers a view over more than 400 peaks and is reached comfortably by the Nebelhorn cable car. Highlights: panorama over more than 400 peaks, Nebelhorn cable car…