Looking for the most beautiful villages in Switzerland to explore and discover? Keep reading to find out the top villages in the French part, German part, and Italian part of Switzerland that you must see!
Switzerland is one of the most beautiful (and expensive) countries on earth. It is incredibly diverse with virtually anything you could ask for: beaches, mountains, snow, lakes, old towns and more! Although the big cities like Zurich and Lucerne are stunning and exciting to explore, some of the best adventures in Switzerland come from the small undiscovered villages. With so many beautiful small villages to explore and venture to, planning a visit here is a must.
Keep reading for a compete list of the 12 most beautiful villages in Switzerland that will blow you away!
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12 Most Beautiful Villages in Switzerland
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most magical and beautiful villages in Switzerland. It is located in a valley surrounded by the Bernese Alps, huge rocky cliffs and various waterfalls. This combined with the quintessential Swiss-style village makes it a must-see while in Switzerland. Visiting Lauterbrunnen feels like stepping onto a movie set, its beauty and natural wonderment is something you have to experience yourself.
Although all of Lauterbrunnen is stunning, the real highlights are the waterfalls. Lauterbrunnen is also known as the ‘Valley of 72 Waterfalls’ which you will understand as you explore the valley and see the numerous misty waterfalls cascading down the slides of the cliffs. Beyond the waterfalls, Lauterbrunnen is a great place for biking, hiking, and many more fun activities.
TIP: In order to see the main waterfall at its most magnificent it is best to arrive before 12 in the afternoon. Once the sun goes behind the cliffs, there are no sun rays to reflect off the water which dulls it slightly.
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland that is also the perfect place for adventure travellers. It is located just a short distance from Lauterbrunnen (20 minutes by car) and is another magical Swiss village complete with huge snowcapped mountains, chalet-lined streets, and lush greenery. The highlight of Grindelwald is the absolutely massive mountains that surround it. These provide plenty of opportunities for adventurous actives to engage in.
The best thing to do in Grindelwald is to make your way up into the mountains to enjoy a thrilling day in and above the clouds. There are many adventures to be had here like hiking, snow sports, zip-lining, cliff walks, sky divings and more! Find some of the adventures to be had in Grindelwald below and get planning!
Saint-Saphorin
Saint-Saphorin is a stunning and magical wine-growing village located in the French part of Switzerland. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland for many reasons. The charming cobblestone streets and colourful houses are special to this region and look like something from a fairy tale. Accompanied by the views of the French Alps and the vivid blue waters of Lake Geneva it really is something to admire.
However, the most unique part of Saint-Saphorin is the vineyards. This village is located in the heart of the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the views of the vineyards are some of the most unique in the world. The stretching grape vines built into the mountains are something very unique to Saint-Saphorin, especially in the fall harvest month. It is the perfect place to go wine tasting or try some famous Saint-Saphorin wine!
Read More: 4 Days in Switzerland
Morschach
Morschach is a small hidden village that offers beauty, magic and your own special getaway. It is located in central Switzerland amongst the founding villages of Switzerland and is a place of tons of history! If you are seeking some of the most magical birds-eye views of the Swiss alps and the blue waters of Lake Lucerne then a visit to Morschach is just for you.
As one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, you can expect stunning views and the perfect quintessential Swiss experience. Morschach is great for outdoor experiences like hiking, boating, cablecar summits, sledding and more. Hiking around this area will show you some of Switzerland’s first villages and how their locations deep in the Alps made them virtually impenetrable.
Gersau
Gersau is a small lakeside village located in central Switzerland. All of Morschach, Gersau, Schwyz, and Brunnen are within 20 minutes of one another ad together make up the perfect central Switzerland small village tour. Although all villages are close they differ greatly with their own unique quirks. As for Gersau, its special selling point is its tropical experience within Switzerland. The city has palm trees growing all around, and when they tried to grow palm trees in neighbouring cities they died.
Gersau is a special small village that is a little bit sleepy but so beautiful. Its location along Lake Lucerne provides a wonderful backdrop in addition to the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Gersau is the ideal place to stop for a lakeside drink to enjoy the calm and relaxed village life.
Schwyz – Brunnen
Schwyz and Brunnen are two different villages in Switzerland located right beside each other. To make it simpler it is best to combine them as you can easily see both in one day! These are two of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland located in the middle of the country. Right by Morschach and Gersau these villages are a little more lively and have some more going on like busy terraces and restaurants, more popular village streets and Brunnen even has a promenade walking along Lake Lucerne.
Because Brunnen and Schwyz are more lively they tend to be great places to go for drinks and food so you can soak in the environment. While here you can admire the rolling mountains full of greenery with houses scattered about as well as the huge pointed alps covered in snow.
Ascona
Ascona is easily one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland located in the Italian part of the country. A visit here feels like you’ve left Switzerland and went straight to Italy – with everyone speaking Italian, the weather, and the architecture. Experiencing the diversity that is Switzerland is one of the best ways to discover the country and jumping from all the Swiss villages located in different parts shows you the true magic of Switzerland
Ascona is the perfect village for an Italian getaway full of sunny warm weather, palm tree-lined streets, and brightly coloured buildings. The village has a beautiful promenade complete with Lake Maggiore views, mountain views, and tons of restaurants. All of the restaurants serve delicious Italian dishes which only adds to the greatness of Ascona!
Gandria
Gandria is a magical mountainside village in the Italian part of Switzerland that sits along Lake Lugano. The entire village is built into the mountainside and you can only get around through the maze of stairs and passage ways that make up the village. It is easily one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland that is both unique and relatively untouched by tourism.
Gandria looks like a postcard-perfect Italian village. Complete with colourful houses, cobblestone streets, and a relaxed vibe. There is not much to do here other than walking around to explore, discover old churches and historic sites, and eat at one of the local restaurants. Finding a restaurant with a lake and mountain view is the best way to enjoy your morning coffee.
Read More: 22 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Switzerland
Stein am Rhein
Stein am Rhein is one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland located in the German part of the country. Here you will find the super unique convergence of Swiss lifestyle and prices along with the strong influence of German architecture. It is known for its stunning old town and architecture made up of half-timbered houses and painted facades. It is the perfect place to venture to for a taste of Germany in Switzerland.
Zermatt
Zermatt is one of the most famous places to visit in Switzerland. Made so by the iconic pyramid-shaped Matterhorn peak that this area is characterized by. A visit to Zermatt will not only show you one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, but also one of the most quintessential Swiss travel destinations.
Zermatt is the perfect place to visit for all kinds of travellers. If you are seeking a Swiss adventure you can hike in various places in this region to enjoy the stunning Swiss nature. While Zermatt is also full of local boutiques, restaurants and more!
Iseltwald
On the way to the beautiful Interlaken sits the small and stunning village of Iseltwald. As one of the most beautiful villages located in the Swiss Alps along Lake Brienz, it is the perfect place to visit for an authentic Swiss experience. Iseltwald is one of the less busy and touristy Swiss villages, so you can expect a day of exploring and adventures with fewer people. Upon arrival you will be welcomed by the vivid blue waters that look almost unnatural, cows grazing on the grass and beauty beyond compare!
Morcote
Morcote is one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland located just a short distance from Lugano in the Italian part of Switzerland. It is one of the most picturesque places in Ticino (the canton it is located in) mainly due to voting that named it the most beautiful Swiss village in 2016. You can see the medieval origins all around this stunning village as you walk the cobblestone streets and admire the historic buildings.
Morcote is one of the top places to visit in Switzerland, especially if you are in the Italian part. While here be sure to walk up the mountain to the pilgrimage church of Santa Maria del Sasso which is one of the highlights of the village. The views from above of the village and lake are breathtaking!
This list of the most beautiful places to visit in Switzerland is not even close to complete! However, with these stunning villages in mind, you can begin your adventures through Switzerland and along the way discover even more beautiful villages of your own.
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Incredible images and information! Saving for my bucketlist!
OMG!!! This is dreamy! One of the top places I want to visit is Switzerland and these villages are incredibly gorgeous! Saving it on my Bucket list for when finally I get to go, with incredible pictures and packed with great tips. Thank you!
WOW!!! I love that this is not touristy, I’ve added this to my international trip bookmarks for the future. Switzerland has been on the top of my list for a while now.