Now more than ever, everyone deserves to visit a dreamy destination where you can blissfully lose yourself. And when it comes to wistful destinations, nothing can beat Switzerland and its quaint villages and towns.
The following are just some of the most enchanting Swiss villages that you should definitely visit and see to believe:
Adelboden is nestled in the Bernese Alps and is one of the country’s most popular alpine villages. A famous ski destination during the winter months, Adelboden is acclaimed for the FIS Ski World World Cup hosted in January every year with its impressive ski terrain of 53 miles perfect for skiing, sledding, and snowboarding.
Adelboden in Switzerland is a place where the population lives mainly from agriculture and tourism
During the summer months, the village also offers more activities to try for its visitors, including mountain biking, hiking, and riding a Trotti bike down the paved mountain trails. The alpine area surrounding the village features an extensive network of hiking trails for all ages and abilities, including the famous Vogellisi trail made for families and children, as well as the hike that will take you on top of the majestic Engstligenalp waterfall.
After spending a day breathing in the fresh and rejuvenating mountain air, the visitors can also spend time at one of the many cafés or restaurant patios in the charming main street of the village, or Dorf. While there, don’t miss the chance to relish a delicious fruit tart or an apero and follow it with a traditional alpine dinner of raclette or cheese fondue.
Getting to Adelboden is very easy because it is only 90 minutes by bus and train from Bern, the Swiss capital.
Champex-Lac
Snuggled in the stunning Val D’Arpette, the tiny Champex-Lac only has 500 permanent residents but is currently popular among visitors who come to enjoy a lovely hike in summer, fantastic skiing in winter, and the scenic views all year long.
The perfect time to visit this village in Switzerland (read more) depends on the activities you plan to do. During winter, Champex-Lac transforms into a wonderful ski resort both for cross-country and downhill, as well as skating on the lake water’s gorgeous reflective ice.
Lac Champex is the main attraction of the Swiss village of Champex
Fall and spring are the quietest times of the year here although it might be a bit tricky to predict the transition between these seasons so it would always be best to keep your mind open to any activities suitable for the weather.
Once the summer season comes, Champex-Lac becomes a phenomenal hiking destination and is among the most critical stages of the outstanding Tour do Mont Blanc, the 105-mile trek around the mountain dubbed as one of the greatest hikes in the world.
The village also got an exciting selection of excellent dining spots, such as the acclaimed Restaurant La Table du Glacier where you can bask in the mountains’ stunning views while enjoying the delish local specialties.
Gimmelwald
Usually mistaken for the frequented Grindelwald town, Gimmelwald is a village located in Lauterbrunnen Valley that deserves to be on top of your list if you are looking for destinations that are off the beaten path.
It is a mountain gem that is exactly what you would imagine when talking about beautiful Swiss villages: remote, free from traffic, and drop-dead gorgeous. Sitting perched on a cliffside, Gimmelwald is a small village perfect for lingering, day hikes, or simply chatting with the locals. You can spend your whole day sitting for hours here just to take the surrounding towering majestic peaks, meadows, and green valleys.
Gimmelwald – a Paradise Village in the Heart of the Swiss Alps
With its location that is only half an hour south of Interlaken by train or car, most of Gimmeldwald’s visitors come here to hike. You will find several challenging trails here with amazing scenery and incredible views, including the nearby Jungfrau Mountain.
If you are up for more thrill, you can ride the gondola that will take you to the 10,000-foot peak of Schilthorn towering over the area. From Gimmelwald, board the LSMS or Luftseilbahn Stechelberg-Mürren-Schilthorn aerial tramway and connect in Murren before you take the cable car that will take you to the summit.
Once you reach the peak, stay there for a while and grab lunch or sip a cup of coffee at the scenic and fun revolving restaurant of Piz Gloria.
Interlaken
Interlaken is a small town perched on the narrow spit of land beside the Aare River. Based on its name, it is located between two scenic lakes, Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west.
Originally developed around the 12th century Interlaken Monastery, Interlaken is now a traditional resort town in Switzerland and is a popular destination right in the center of the Swiss Alps. Its strategic location is the reason why it is the main starting point to the nearby mountains from both of the town’s two train stations.
If you have always dreamed of visiting a traditional European Christmas market but have no idea where to go, you are in luck because Interlaken is one of the country’s best Christmas market towns.
It is also a true paradise on earth for all outdoor enthusiasts thanks to its access to cross-country and downhill skiing, mountaineering, and hiking, as well as several heart-thumping activities that are guaranteed to give you that coveted adrenaline rush.
Along the lakes, you will find the east-west routes while the southern route will lead you to resorts in the popular higher mountains including Jungfrau and Eiger.
The region speaks a Swiss-German dialect that may be a bit cumbersome even for people who are fluent in German. Probably more splendid than the rest of the Swiss mountain villages, the village of Interlaken is the perfect combination of gorgeous traditional log-style houses and restaurants, shops, and buildings in bright colors all surrounded by snowcapped mountains, upland meadows, and verdant woodlands.
Zermatt
Zermatt is a tiny resort town in the Valais canton surrounded by a wide expanse of natural beauty. Serving as the home to some of the tallest peaks of Switzerland that overlook the town and the small alpine lakes and sprawling glaciers, there is a plethora of stunning scenery here waiting for you to admire during your visit.
The unique Matterhorn Mountain is perhaps the most wonderful sight here that you can enjoy from several spots around and in town. Further enhancing the scenic natural setting of Zermatt are the traditional wooden chalets adorned with flower-decorated terraces lining the streets.
Which of these whimsical Switzerland villages would you like to see to believe first?
There has always been something magical about castles. These edifices that look like they came straight out of fairy tales are often enshrouded in the rich history of the distant past. The Bojnice Castle is one perfect example of these mystical castles.
