Great things to do in Switzerland this summer

It’s tricky to find the perfect setting for a romantic break, meaning that it becomes all-too-easy to put off. So, give your break the special setting it deserves by heading to a wine-themed accommodation that oozes romance, all as part of the Grape Escapes project. We’ve selected some highlights, including Switzerland’s first ‘boutique boatel’ and a kooky bubble hotel that’s perfect for gazing up at the stars. Click through to find out more.

Located 3,883 metres above one of Switzerland’s best ski resorts, Snowpark Zermatt offers a summer skiing adventure, and the best part is that you can do it in your beach wear.  

James Bond doesn’t get much time for spas, but if he did, he’d need a seriously relaxing one – a spa that’s calming enough to make him forget about saving the world for a few hours. Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne houses such a spa. Click through to find out more.

The only thing better than getting out and about to explore Switzerland is getting out and about to explore Switzerland with a picnic. Now that summer’s here, it’s the perfect excuse to find some space, relax and start devouring the food you’ve carefully prepared or just chucked into a tote bag. Click through for our pick of the picnicking spots from around the country.

Escaping to the Swiss countryside is a restorative experience, but why not go deeper into Swiss rural living and spend the night in the middle of a vineyard? This is what Grape Escapes offer, providing the chance to immerse yourself in Swiss wine culture through 60 accommodations around wine-producing hotspots. Bed down for the night in a wine barrel, ancient castles, former monasteries and even out in the middle of those luscious vines – all transformed into indulgent, cosy lodgings.

Don't just stand there on the promenade admiring the lake, get out and enjoy it. Pedalos can be hired from the lake's many boat hire companies and although it may look like you're messing around with an oversized child's toy, you'll be burning more calories than on a bike ride up an Alpine pass.

Once you’ve seen the big-draw sights, how do you get deeper into Zurich? How do you learn about its achievements, its vibrant neighbourhoods and its secrets? By booking on to Zürich Tourism’s insightful guided tours. Subjects covered include anything from architecture to local love stories to conceptual art, revealing fascinating tales from incredible places and tucked-away locations.

Need to cool off from the summer heat? Thankfully, Switzerland is blessed with all manner of premium swimming spots. Click through for our pick of ten cool spots for a summer swim and get ready to make a splash at the best badis, beaches and pools around the country.

Using Swiss-engineered, electrically-powered bikes, you can explore the beauty of Lucerne and its surrounding areas in a three-hour tour. The tour winds up at the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Visitor Centre, where you'll be able to assemble your very own knife. 

Whether you want to go glamping, sleep under canvas, relax in a cosy wooden pod or even sleep in a giant bubble while gazing at the stars, Switzerland has a huge range of camping experiences. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites to help you start planning for summer, which you can read about by clicking below.

‘SolarBob’ is a nifty no-snow-required bobsled in Basel’s leafy outskirts which allows you to hurtle down a one-kilometre track before being carried back to the top by a solar-powered lift. Fun and ecology? We like it.

Lean back, relax and get pampered in the most scenic of settings. When it comes to spas and thermal baths, you’re spoilt for choice in Switzerland, but two of many highlights are the Bergoase Spa in Tschuggen Grand Hotel and Thermalbad & Spa Zurich. Click through below for more spa tips.

The UNESCO-protected vineyards of Lavaux are perfect for a stroll and a spot of wine tasting. Make the short bus ride from Lausanne into the Lavaux vineyards and you’ll be in wine heaven.

Hawaii's love of stand-up paddleboarding comes to Lake Geneva. The idea is to stand upright on a long surfboard and use a paddle to propel yourself across the water. There are also plenty of other watersports available to try on the lake, such as windsurfing and wakeboarding. Book lessons at Tropical Geneva and reward yourself afterwards with a drink on the palm-fringed beach, a more secluded location than the main yacht-crammed marina.

Fancy a meal with a setting epic enough for a James Bond movie? Simply travel 3,000 metres up to the peak of the Schilthorn Mountain and enjoy the 360-degree panoramic views from what’s claimed to be the world’s first revolving restaurant. The Schilthorn cableway offers a smooth and scenic 7,000 metre journey to the summit and warmer summer weather means the opportunity to experience all kinds of seasonal activities, including hiking trails, a via ferrata route and a journey out to the mighty glacier waterfalls of the Trümmelbach.

A short ride from Bern city centre by tram and the funicular Gurtenbahn sits this low mountain. At 858 metres above sea level, the Gurten sports fabulous views over Bern on a clear day and makes for a welcome getaway from the city. The leafy offering at the top includes a viewing tower, several restaurants and a children’s play area, plus hiking and mountain biking trails.

With two courtyards surrounding open-air pools, luxury surrounds the crystal clear waters of one of the world's most beautiful lakes. There’s food and drink in the open-air bistro and bar, which also has great views, plus dance and yoga classes on offer.

Hewn into chestnut woodland high above glistening Lake Maggiore in Canton Ticino, the ‘Sentiero dello Yoga’ is a self-guided outdoor yoga trail that incorporates nine exercises in the structure of a yoga class.

On Saturday mornings in Geneva there’s no better place to be than the Plaine de Plainpalais, which hosts one of Switzerland’s biggest and best flea markets. From bric-a-brac to vintage clothes, second-hand toys to ethnic jewellery, plus larger pieces of furniture, a regular rummage among the hundreds of stalls could rustle you up a real one-off. 

Be an early bird and start the day with a bang by heading 3,000 metres above sea level to watch the sunrise. Take a cable car up Piz Nair in the Engadine Valley for a healthy dose of spectacular views and sunshine before the crowds hit the summit. 

Standing at a towering at 4,478 metres, the Matterhorn is an iconic Zermatt landmark, making it an essential part of any visit to the region. The best way to see the most-photographed mountain in the world is via the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe at 3,883 metres-above-sea-level. For more great things to do around Zermatt, click below.

The outstanding International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva is unmissable for its moving and sometimes shocking permanent exhibition, which charts the vital humanitarian work carried out by the organisation for the past 150 years. Combine this with a guided tour of the Palais des Nations, the European seat of the United Nations, for an insight into how the biggest issues facing the world today are tackled. 

Wine and cycling: sounds like a dangerous mix, right? Not in Valais, where local athletes, politicians, cultural figures and the public gather to taste the region’s wine and cycle through the vineyards. It's not just locals that get involved, tourists are also welcome to join in the festivities. 

Among the most famous monuments of Ticino are the impressive collection of Medieval castles at Bellinzona, north of Lugano. Castelgrande (home to an archaeological museum), Castello di Montebello and Castello di Sasso Corbaro are strung out along the original defensive wall spanning the Ticino valley. It's a reminder of the region's historic past at the centre of Europe and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Depart on a train from Zurich and head all the way up to the city’s local mountain, the Uetliberg. Complete the journey by making your way to the summit, where you can climb the observation tower and enjoy stunning views in all directions.