35 great things to do in Switzerland this summer

Summer is definitely the best time to experience Lausanne in all its glory. Make the most of the handsome scenery and ample waterfront hotspots that open out across Lake Geneva, before indulging in all that Lausanne has to offer: sample local wine in Lavaux’s beautiful wine-growing terraces, get sporty at the Olympic Museum, hit the water on a cruise across the lake or go gothic at Lausanne Cathedral. For more Lausanne highlights, click through below.

Who says you need weeks to see Switzerland at its best? Some of the most memorable and exciting parts of the country can be experienced perfectly on a day trip, such as the ace excursions available in the Lucerne and Pilatus regions. Take five different modes of transport in the Pilatus Golden Round Trip or get active at Pilatus Rope Park for starters. Click below for more day trip inspiration.

There's a lot to do in Lucerne, but whatever you do with your time there, you’ll need a great place to stay. That’s where Art Deco Hotel Montana comes in. Perched high up on a hilltop above Lake Lucerne, this gorgeous 4* hotel has everything you need for a memorable and luxurious trip, including lakeside spa suites on the penthouse floors, featuring an alfresco whirlpool bath set on a roof terrace and your own private sauna.

Despite the famous, glitzy Art Basel expo each year, art in Basel isn’t a once-a-year happening – culture is part of the city's lifeblood, year-round. This can be seen and experienced wherever you go, thanks to a superb selection of museums, galleries and other cultural hubs.

Nestled in the Bernese Oberland, the gorgeous town of Interlaken isn’t just a pretty face, as it’s also known to be a hub for active pursuits and thrilling sports. This is the place to be if you want to tick off some bucket-list activities on land, in the water or even up in the air. Click through to read about ten of our favourites.

Sometimes, all you really need to make your day is a sun-kissed terrace, where you can relax and do as little as possible. Luckily, Lausanne has some gems in this field. Enjoy premium views of Lake Geneva’s endless blue expanse from the show-stopping terrace at Le Deck or plant yourself amongst the buzzy atmosphere of popular local hotspot Jetée de la Compagnie – just two of the city’s many treasured terraces, and there are plenty more waiting to be discovered on your visit.

Those seeking cultural enlightenment should head straight to Plateforme 10, Lausanne’s new arts district. This new area is an amalgamation of Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA), the Photo Elysée photography museum, and the mudac (museum of contemporary design and applied arts). Visitors to this lively new district can look forward to a joint exhibition from all three museums on the subject of railways until September 25, as well as MCBA’s extensive permanent collection and an exhibition on nature and environmental issues at the mudac.

Lace up those shoes and sprint over to The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, where visitors can re-live the greatest moments in sporting history across 3,000m² of exhibition space and more than 1,500 exhibits.

If you’re looking to raise your brunch game to a new level, try eating it at 2,970 metres high, looking out across some of Switzerland’s most spectacular mountains. This is what you’ll encounter at Piz Gloria, the renowned revolving restaurant attached to the famous Schilthorn mountain peak.

The mighty Hoher Kasten, in the Appenzell Alps, has a lot going for it, including that fact that you can see an incredible six countries from one spot when you’re at the summit: Germany, France, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy and, of course, Switzerland. And that’s just the tip of the mountain, because there are lots more awesome activities available in the region. Click below to find out more.

If you’ve never explored the Engelberg-Titlis region, this summer is the time to do it. Jump straight in at the deep end by trying the Titlis Cliff Walk, a nerve-wracking 150 steps across a bridge suspended 500 metres from the ground, which itself is 3,041 metres-above-sea-level. If that’s whet your appetite for more adventures, click below for other exciting Engelberg-Titlis activities.

Thrill-seekers will love the opportunity to go canyoning in the Région Dents du Midi. This exhilarating outdoor pursuit involves making your way down various rocky gorges and through waterfalls into flowing water below. As for how you get down there, it could be abseiling, climbing, scrambling or even leaping into the water. For more fantastic activities that showcase what the Région Dents du Midi is all about, click below.

It makes sense to explore a country as beautiful and varied as Switzerland as much as you can. And a great way of doing that is through Hotelcard, an affordable to get exploring. The good news is there’s an exclusive offer for Time Out readers, who can grab a discounted one-year Hotelcard subscription, making it easier than ever to explore, whether you want to sightsee your way across Geneva, relax in a wellness oasis or get active in the Alps. Click through below for more adventure ideas and info on how to grab a discounted Hotelcard.

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.  

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.

Did you know that Switzerland has its own pyramid? Head to the Niesen in the Bernese Alps and you’ll see what we mean. At 2,362 metres-above-sea-level, this much-loved mountain offers an unrivalled panorama, which you can travel to in style via the delightful funicular railway. Time your visit shortly before sunset and you’ll witness the pyramid of Niesen’s shadow reflected on Lake Thun – a truly memorable sight. For more awe-inspiring activities around Thun, click below.

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.