The best picnic spots in Switzerland

As one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Europe, the spectacular Rhine Falls provide an epic setting for a picnic. There are various scenic spots around this mighty landmark, but you’ll find picnic tables, a fire pit and a playground on Neuhausen am Rheinfall’s northern banks.This is one meal you won’t forget in a hurry.

Why settle for a view of just one lake on your picnic when you can enjoy a vista featuring three? Head 653 metres above sea level to the top of the Mont Vully (where there are picnic tables, benches and grills) and you can eat while gazing at Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Murten and Lake Biel, as well as the Jura Mountains and the Alps.

The trail leading around this impossibly turquoise lake makes a great hike to walk-off whatever treats you’ve filled-up on during your picnic. It’s also an impressively well-equipped area, with tables and other facilities, plus a large restaurant if you need something extra. If you want to go off-piste, there are plenty of other gorgeous spots to set up culinary camp for a few hours.

This gorgeous, tranquil lake near the Engelberg Valley is only an hour’s drive from Zurich, but feels a world away. Gaze at towering mountain peaks as you munch from the dedicated picnic area and make use of the fireplaces if you want to really cook up a storm. This is an especially good choice for families with children, thanks to the Dwarf Trail, which kids will enjoy following to uncover a story.

Okay, these are two separate lakes, but they’re very close neighbours and they’re both beautiful picnic spots. Both have picnic tables and various facilities scattered around their perimeters, and if you fancy turning your daytrip into an overnight stay, Hotel Neuhaus is directly  on the shore of Lake Thun, meaning you don’t have to give up those views when you turn in for the night.

Set at 1,777 metres above sea level, this tucked-away artificial lake is always a good bet for a peaceful picnic. The flat surface makes an ideal hiking route (walking around the whole thing is about 5km) and there are plenty of good spots to stop at along the way for refuelling, plus the mountain views in the distance are phenomenal in places. There are also a few restaurants nearby, including Restaurant du Rawyl, which faces out on to the lake.

This grassy expanse on the north-west shore of Lake Zurich screams ‘PRIME PICNICKING SPOT’ loud and clear in warmer months. And it’s a good spot if you want some activities to keep you busy: Seebad Enge offers a swimming area and sauna, and elsewhere there’s a bird conservation centre for something a little different. But if you’re simply seeking sunbathing and munching whatever goodies you’ve bought with you, there’s more than enough potential to do just that, too.

Geneva’s local mountain, as it’s known (even though it’s actually just over the border in France), is a dreamy place for a picnic with a view. You’ll be eating at 1,379m above sea level (that’s where those views come in), and if you’re feeling active there’s the opportunity for biking or paragliding. And all this is available just 20 minutes from the city centre by bus or car.

The pretty medieval town of Hermance, 30 minutes from Geneva by car, makes for a serene day out in the countryside, completed only by a hearty picnic, of course. It’s a wonderful place to walk around and grassy lakefront strip is a popular spot on warm weekends, giving you the chance to picnic in the heart of a truly splendid setting. The beach has a small playground and diving facilities on-site, and if you need to stay longer there’s a campsite nearby.

This park in the heart of Lausanne spreads out from Casino de Montbenon and is always a popular spot for locals to picnic, sunbathe, relax and generally lounge about on sunny days. The views across both the city and Lake Geneva are impressive, and when you’re done there’s no huge journey to undertake to get back home – as long as you live in Geneva, of course.

The ever-popular promenade in Lake Zurich’s Seefeld district, known as the Zurich Horn, is rarely to be seen without collections of people picnicking in warmer months. It’s no surprise, considering the park’s blissful waterfront location overlooking Lake Zurich, and with gorgeous Alpine scenery looming in the background. The perfect spot if you want to be in the middle of the action while working your way through your picnic.

Nestled above Lausanne’s Medieval Cité, this well-tended park blooms in spring and summer, making it a beautiful spot for picnicking, relaxing with a book or kicking a ball around – or all three over the course of a day. At its centre is the Hermitage Foundation, which offers a lovely view over the lake and mountains beyond.