I was always keen to go to Switzerland during the winter season but I am not a skier. While wintertime is often associated with skiing in the Swiss Alps, Switzerland offers no shortage of winter activities for non-skiers as well.
Among the top rated snow plays the travellers recommend are the ice-skating, snowshoeing, sledging, visiting fairy-tale villages and enjoying sumptuous food. Here are the most enchanting options for enjoying the Swiss fairy-tale landscapes in winter without hitting the slopes:
Night Sledding to blend an adventure and cultural exploration
Imagine taking a funicular or cable car up to the mountain in the late afternoon, after the sunset. At the top, you are provided with sledges and you descent down the illuminated sledging trail. The combination of the breathtaking alpine scenery, sound of the crunching snow under the sledge and the illuminated track make for an unforgettable experience.
Night sledding is special because it’s less crowded, making it more enjoyable. Snow conditions might be better at night. Nighttime temperatures keep snow from becoming too soft. Sliding under a starry sky offers a calm experience. Remember safety with proper lighting and equipment.
There are a few high rated places in Switzerland to enjoy the night sledding during the winter season such as Preda-Bergün (6km long). The unique aspect of this sledging run is that it starts at the Preda train station, making it easily accessible by train. You can take the train ride from Bergün to Preda and then sled down to Bergün. Most of the participants review this track as great for the whole family.
The Rinerhorn-Schlittelbahn in Davos, in the canton of Graubünden, is the second top-rated sledding trail on Google Maps. It’s not the longest, at 3km, but it’s well-prepared and quite challenging. The Rinerhornbahn transports you from Glaris village to the summit in about ten minutes. On clear days, you can see all the way to the historic Schatzalp.
The curves are steep, demanding good steering skills. Fun with proper equipment, but helmets and brake stoppers are crucial. The steep curves persist till the end of the track. Fortunately, a local bus ensures safe return, even late at night.
Natural Ice Skating to connect with nature
Do you remember when people had fun on frozen ponds and lakes during the winter time? It’s a sort of tradition that adds an extra layer to the ice skating experience. Frozen lakes and Alpine Glaciers in Switzerland offer an opportunity to glide surrounded by a stunning mountain scenery.
You can enjoy the activity during sunset or sunrise for the magical experience. Outdoor natural ice surfaces are usually way larger than indoor ones, providing skaters with a liberating experience.
Lake Obersee located near the village of Arosa, in the canton of Graubünden, transforms into a magical ice rink during winter. Surrounded by snow-covered trees and with views of the surrounding mountains, it feels like a scene from a winter fairy tale. It’s even more magical in the evening. You can experience it directly on the lake or at the artificial ice rink in Ochsenbühl every Monday and Thursday from 8 p.m – 10 p.m.
Aletsch Glacier is located in the canton of Valais (Wallis) near to the cities such as Brig or Bettmeralp. It offers a natural ice rink close to Bachtla Sports Centre on Bettmeralp where you can rent ice skates. Creating natural ice spaces involves a mix of natural conditions and human intervention. The ice on the glacier should be thick enough to support such activities.
Aletsch Glacier is part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest glacier in the Alps. Ice skating at almost 2,000 metres above sea, surrounded with breathtaking views seems to me like a dream place for relaxation.
Winter wildlife watching for more authentic experience
The winterscape in Swiss Alps offers unique opportunities for wildlife watching. Some animals don’t hibernate during the colder months, others are easier to get spotted against the snowy weather. Consider the key tips when preparing for winter wildlife watching. Find the right location which are more abundant with wildlife.
Take binoculars and good camera with you to enhance the viewing experience. There is a huge advantage of observing animals in their natural habitats. It invites to a deeper connection with nature and fosters a sense of responsibility towards the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity.
Respect the environment and the animals. You can enjoy watching them without disturbing them by keeping the distance or using spotting scopes to see them better. Before going on any winter trail, make sure you are aware of the latest trail conditions and closures.
The most remarkable species you might encounter and tips for winter wildlife watching in Switzerland include Golden Eagle, Alpine Ibex, Red Deer, Alpine Marmots or Ptarmigans.
What are the best locations for the wildlife watching in Switzerland in winter? The Engadine Valley in the canton of Graubünden in Eastern Switzerland. It’s a perfect habitat for various bird species, including eagles. If you are lucky you might spot here ibex, chamois or red deers.
In Jura Vaudois Nature Park you can find deers, foxes, and a variety of bird species. Compared to the alpine regions the park offers a unique setting with rolling hills, meadows and forests. Among the moderate, shortest and picturesque loop trails the top rated among visitors are Crest Trail (Sentier des Crêtes), Ladder Trail (Sentier des Echelles), Loop of Lake Gruère (Boucle de l’Etang de la Gruère).
The nature setting of Swiss thermal baths and spas
Imagine the light snow while you stay in the outdoor pool. The Gruyère Baths (Les Bains de la Gruyère), located in Charmey near Le Lac de la Gruyère, have baths indoor and outdoor with a breathtaking landscape. It’s not a big place but with all facilities you can think of. Nice saunas, turkish baths, hamman, outdoor pool with massage streams an great views.
Outdoor swimming is really lovely, even when it’s -3 outside. The candles and outdoor lighting make it a beautiful setting to lie in the jacuzzi and enjoy the view of the snowy mountains. I always pay attention to the architecture which in this case is really modern. The circular design allows for 360° views from many of its pools.
Another very peaceful place is Europa Therme Bad Füssing with various pools inside and a huge thermal. There are not many tourists, most of visitors are local and regional, well except weekends! You can choose from many pools with different temperature. The inside of the building is perhaps less innovative as the one in Gruyere but still wins from the activities perspective.
Bains de Lavey (Lavey-les-Bains) is a lovely spa in a gorgeous location where you won’t feel crowded. It has a historical significance dating back to the Roman era when the therapeutic properties of the hot springs were first recognized. Over the centuries, the site has evolved into the modern thermal spa that it is today.
This place wins due to the amazing views and multiple water treatments and services. You can very easily move between pools, sauna and steam rooms.
Scenic Train Journey
You might think that it’s just another train journey that will take you from point A to point B, but Swiss trains prove the opposite. Panoramic trains feature large, panoramic windows that let travellers enjoy uninterrupted views. Viaducts and Tunnels add more diversity to the journey. The train staff often provide commentary on the scenery. Combining these experiences makes the train journeys in Switzerland a truly rich and immersive experience.
The panoramic trains are quite demanded in winter season therefore it’s recommended to make a seat reservation in advance, max 3 months prior to your trip. The seats availability is the biggest challenge while the tickets you can actually buy later. Don’t try to spontinuously jump on the train and try to find a free seat as it won’t work. Many passengers also recommend printing your tickets upfront as it happens that there is no internet connection onboard. It’s better to take the panoramic train ride one way and stay there as long as possible, then get back with the regional train for the hop on and hop off experience.
Glacier Express is one of the four panoramic train rides in Switzerland. It connects the cities of Zermatt and St. Moritz and it takes around 8 hours that is why many people call it the slowest express train in the world.
The key highlights are the panoramic windows, delicious meals and the diversified scenery. Just imagine that during 8 hours the train crosses 99 tunnels and over 200 bridges! Landwasser Viaduct and the Oberalp Pass add so much charm that surely makes the journey unforgettable. If you think the high altitude might be a problem, it should not be, as the train runs so slow that you hardly feel the altitude. Among the regional culinary delights you can try the Viamala, Graubünden and Aletsch cheese, Graubünden barley soup, Engadiner nut tart. There are of course as well daily menu options with regional specialities.
The most picturesque part of the journey is between St. Mortiz and Chur for most frequent passengers. Among the on board experiences most travellers enjoyed is the excellent class and meals included. Of course you are not forced to order the meals in the train, you can also bring your own food, but it’s really worth it. I would feel tempted with the tea time in the train when you look outside the windows! The good news is that here is no good or bad side to sit on in the train.
Bernina Express travels through the Rhaetian Railway providing passengers with the amazing panoramic views of glaciers, meadows, and cute villages. The journey starts in Chur and ends in Tirano in 4 hours. It stands out by being the highest railway line in the Alps. The most unique feature of Bernina Express is the Brusio Viaduct. The train travels around the circular viaduct creating a breathtaking experience for passengers. The passengers may have even better travel experience by booking the Panoramic Excellence Class for more legroom and more comfort seats. Compared to Glacier Express there is no meal served on board but the trip is also shorter.
Snowshoeing as an eco-friendly alternative to skiing
The snowshoeing has gained popularity as an alternative to skiing or snowboarding that allows for a more immersive connection with the landscape. Besides this activity has a minimal impact on the environment. The most scenic and easy snowshoeing trails in Switzerland are:
- Trübsee Loop is a 3.4 km long route around the lake near Engelberg in the canton of Obwalden. It’s well-marked and suitable for beginners. The majority of visitors enjoyed the picturesque views on the frozen lake and surrounding mountains. There are a lot of themed play parks along the route for children.
- In the village of Mürren, in the Bernese Oberland region you can start the Chänelegg Trail that runs via Chänelegg to Allmendhubel and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. You can even enjoy the views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau during the guided snowshoe hike.
- There is also another easy 1 hour route in the Bernese Oberland region. It starts in the Sunnbüel mountain station to the Stock viewpoint where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the snowy Gasteretal valley and the village of Kandersteg.
Culinary delights for food lovers
“Fondue”is not only a dish, it’s one of the most multisensory foodie experience in Switzerland. The smell of aromatic cheese blends, the texture of it when it’s melting melted and stirred in the fondue dish makes it a truly experience. The original version featured stale bread dipped in melted Gruyère. Nowadays the recipe blends in as well various other Swiss cheese types such as Emmentaler, Vacherin Fribourgeois, Appenzeller, and Raclette depending on the region.
Switzerland features a variety of reasons to visit in winter, even if you’re not a skiing enthusiast. Those listed above are just the key highlights to choose this country for a winter escape. The cosy Alpine villages, beautiful sceneries and people living in Switzerland provide so much more to enjoy during this magical season.
Experience Switzerland uniquely, stay in unique accommodations
Staying in glamping sites during winter in Switzerland is worthwhile for the unique experience of enjoying the country’s stunning snowy landscapes while still indulging in luxurious accommodations and amenities, providing a cozy and memorable retreat amidst the picturesque winter scenery.
Additionally, many glamping sites provide amenities such as heated tents, hot tubs, and access to winter activities like skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding, enhancing the overall winter vacation experience.
