Winter season usually resonates with snow and fairy tales (at least for me!). So, what better place than Switzerland to enjoy a winter wonderland? The following guide gathers one of the best spots in Switzerland to experience snowy landscapes and get your eyes full of magic!
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How to get to Switzerland?
In the case, you are visiting from abroad, note that Switzerland has two international airports: one located in Zurich and the other one located in Geneva. Otherwise, because of the country’s geographical location (which borders France, Germany, Austria, and Italy), it is also easy to come to Switzerland by car/public transportation.
Afterward, if you decide to travel around Switzerland by public transportation, you can find all the trains schedule here.
“If you can choose, I would suggest landing at the Geneva airport as the places mentioned below are closer to there.”
Why you should visit Switzerland in winter?
Switzerland can be visited all year round. Each season has its particularities and activities which makes the country super attractive at any time of the year. For instance, from Spring to Autumn, you will be able to discover Switzerland by hiking with colorful hiking trails while during winter, you will enjoy some of the best ski slopes in the world!
In Switzerland, the winter season takes place from December to February. Wintertime is the ideal period of the year to experience typical Swiss snowy scenery combined with winter activities like skiing or snowshoeing. Switzerland is famously known for its ski slopes and mountainous landscapes, so what is a better time of the year to visit the country? On top of that, it is the perfect moment to try Swiss culinary specialties such as cheese fondue and raclette. So, if this is something you want to experience, I highly recommend visiting the country during January and February.
Where to go to enjoy a winter wonderland in switzerland?
Throughout this section, I share the best spots to experience a winter wonderland in Switzerland. No worries, no need to ski to enjoy breathtaking scenery and fresh snow. Indeed, all the places mentioned above can be enjoyable on foot!
- Lauenen lake
- Taney lake
- Zermatt
- Oeschinen lake
- Leysin
- Mürren
- Schilthorn – Piz Gloria
Lauenen lake
Located in the canton of Bern, Lauenen is a quiet village in the middle of the mountains. If you are looking for a typical winter picture, I highly advise you to go hiking around the area. Lauenensee loop trail is the perfect hike to enjoy magical snowy landscapes. In fact, during 3,1 kilometers / 1,9 miles, you will be surrounded by imposing mountains and fir trees packed with fresh snow. The walk is considered easy so it can be ideal for families as well. Moreover, there are few public parking lots around the village, including one that is located at the trailhead here.
In addition, not far away from Lauenen village, there is the renowned ski resort called Gstaad (20 minutes away) which is also filled with great hiking trails and ski slopes for all levels, not to mention the 5-stars hotels. Therefore, if you have time, I advise you to stay around the region for a few days to practice one of the most beautiful ski slopes in the country. Find more details about the ski slopes here.
“Be aware that Lauenen lake might be covered by snow the day after a snowfall, so you would not be able to see it (it was our case), but the area is still magical!”
Taney lake
Situated in the heart of the Alps, Taney lake is an idyllic mountain lake surrounded by magnificent peaks and forests. During winter, the lake is only accessible by foot from Miex village (except for permanent residents). There are different ways to reach the lake:
- from Miex, Le Vésenand: about 5 kilometers / 3,1 miles and 500 meters of ascent to the lake
- from Miex, Le Flon: 2,1 kilometers / 1,3 miles and 400 meters of ascent to the lake
Whatever starting point you choose, you can let your car at the few parking lots available (for free). Once you get to Taney lake, you can hike around it and then go back to your car from the other side or complete the loop and go back from the same way. Find the map of the hiking trail here.
“I highly recommend going to Taney lake once there is enough snow on the trail. Otherwise, the hike can be very slippery and even impractical. Take hiking sticks to help you!”
Zermatt
Zermatt is a charming mountain village located in the canton of Valais. In addition to its special location at the foot of the amazing Matterhorn peak (Switzerland’s iconic landmark), this altitude town is also the ultimate hub to experience mountain activities such as skiing and hiking. And what better place to experience a true winter wonderland?
Read my ultimate Zermatt travel guide here to get all details on the best hikes in the region!
“Most of the hikes can be done without snowshoes as they are well-marked and maintained.”
Oeschinen lake
Oeschinen lake (also known as Oeschinensee) is an altitude lake close to Kandersteg village. During the winter season, there is only one way to get to the lake: by gondola from Kandersteg station to Oeschinen station (about 10 minutes). Subsequently, you still need to walk 20 minutes or so to get to the frozen lake. The trail is pretty flat and easy, even though you need to cross ski slopes sometimes.
To enjoy the complete Swiss experience, you should rent a cheese fondue set at the Oeschinen station’s restaurant and enjoy it at the foot of the lake. On top of that, you can even walk on the frozen lake! What a great adventure!
Click here to read my complete guide for this specific region of Switzerland!
“If you are more into skiing, no worries there are also ski slopes in the area which offer also breathtaking scenery.”
Leysin
Leysin is a small village in the canton of Vaud filled with more than 20 kilometers of marked trails which makes the place super attractive for families. Indeed, no need to put on snowshoes to enjoy the beauty of a true winter wonderland! I recommend hitting the Le Renardeau trail to experience the wonders of winter for 4 kilometers / 2,4 miles. You will be immersed in an enchanted forest! The hike is considered easy and suitable for anyone.
“You can park your car at the Sports Center for free with no limited time.”
Mürren
Located in the Bernese Oberland region, Mürren is the perfect place to combine winter activities and beautiful surroundings. There are different ways to get to Mürren, but to enjoy the most of it, I strongly advise you to start your journey from Lauterbrunnen station. Park your car in one of the public parking lots in Lauterbrunnen village and take a cable car to Grütschalp station. Then, you can start hiking to Mürren, which is 5 kilometers / 3,1 miles (one way) and takes approximately 1 hour. The scenic trail allows you to enjoy the sun all the way and cross magnificent forests.
“If you want to continue enjoying a winter wonderland, you should head to Schiltorn once in Mürren. Read the section below for more details!”
Schilthorn - Piz gloria
Schiltorn – Piz Gloria offers a magnificent 360° panoramic view of nearly 200 Swiss summits. Piz Gloria sits at an altitude of 2’970 meters which allows you to see the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch peaks as well as Thun lake. Furthermore, Big Thrill Walk is the ideal stopover to or back Schilthorn to enjoy the impressive 200 meters walkway clinging to and around the cliff.
Read my full experience at Schilthorn – Piz Gloria here.
In conclusion
To summarize, if you want to immerse yourself in a true winter wonderland, you should head to Switzerland and visit these magical places. My hubby and I had the best time chasing snowy enchanting landscapes through Switzerland! That is to say, I hope you will enjoy this winter scenery as much as we did!
Moreover, you should click here to check out my posts related to Switzerland, which include notably detailed itineraries day by day.
Feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions. It would be a pleasure to share with you!
Sending you love,
