Switzerland has a large network of mountain huts and hotels, enabling you to stay overnight in beautiful remote places in comfort and safety. Although alpine huts are mostly frequented by serious mountaineers and rock climbers, casual hikers and families are also welcome.
To help you get started, we have gathered this list of ten fantastic family-friendly mountain huts in Switzerland. For more info about Swiss mountain huts, see our post: How to stay in a Swiss mountain hut with kids
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The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) has 153 huts which are open to any hiker. But some huts are better for families for various reasons: easier hikes to reach the hut, family rooms so your kids don’t have to sleep next to a bunch of strangers, games and books at the hut, family-friendly hikes near the hut, etc.
Most huts are open only during summer hiking season from about mid-June to September/October, depending on the elevation and the arrival of snow. Please note that reservations are required at many huts and can often be made online or by phone. Many huts book out before summer even starts, especially during summer 2021, when many huts have reduced capacity due to the pandemic.
We are delighted to include three suggestions from Robert and Melinda Schoutens, authors of the book series Fresh Air Kids Switzerland. They have recently published the excellent book Fresh Air Kids Switzerland: Hikes to Huts, with 32 hikes with overnight stays in huts, mountain hotels and other special mountain accommodations. This book is a must buy if you are looking for special overnight experiences in the Swiss alps for your family.
Near Lucerne
1. Lidernen Hut
This hut is very popular with families with small children because it’s only a 500 m walk from the top of the gondola to the hut. The hut has a swing set and games and toys inside for nighttime. I liked that the bunks had separators about every 4 places, so our family was slightly separate from the other guests (mostly for their benefit, they probably wouldn’t like my 5 year old kicking them in the middle of the night). For daytime, there is a short hike to a beautiful alpine lake or continue up to the ridge for a more challenging loop.
To reach the hut: easy • 15 mins • 500 m • ↗ 30 m
See our full review of the Lidernen Hut
2. Bergsee Hut
This was our first mountain hut experience when my kids were 5 and 8. It’s a good choice for young kids because the hike is short but a tough climb for little legs. So the kids feel a real sense of accomplishment when they reach the hut. Gorgeous views from the hut overlooking a lake and lots of mountains. Near the hut, there is a short “learning trail” (20 mins) and a Kinderklettergarten, or rock climbing garden for kids.
To reach the hut: moderate • 2 h • 2.8 km • ↗ 540 m
See our full review of the Bergsee Hut
3. Albert Heim Hut
Although this hut feels very remote, it’s relatively easy to reach with a short hike. It’s near the base of a small glacier and the trailhead for other beautiful hikes. We did this in fall when the hills were bright orange and red with blueberry bushes.
To reach the hut: moderate • 1.2h • 3.5 km • ↗ 490 m
Graubünden Mountain Huts
4. Boval Mountain Hut & Morteratsch Glacier
Hike along the beautiful Morteratsch glacier to reach this hut, where you can swap stories with serious mountaineers who get up before dawn to trek on the glacial ice.
To reach the hut: Moderate • 2.5 h • 5 km • ↗ 560 m
See my detailed post about Boval Hut
5. Chamonna Tuoi Hut
This hut is near the Schellen Urseli theme trail, with activities scattered along the way related to the famous Swiss children’s book. We did half of the trail on the way to the hut and the other half on the way back. The hut is at the end of a long valley, with mountains circling around it. There is a rushing river near the hut, a nice place to explore with the kids before bedtime.
To reach this hut: moderate • 2h • 4.7 km • ↗ 410 m • see trail map
For details, see the Tuoi hut website.
Bernese Oberland Mountain Huts
6. Bächlital Hut
A bit like a stair machine to reach a gorgeous high alpine river valley surrounded by mountains, with the hut is perched on a cliff at the valley. The Bächlitalhütte is one of the huts recommended for families, because the hike to access the hut is relatively short and not technically difficult. We went when our kids were 5 and 8 years old and really enjoyed it.
To reach the hut: challenging • 1.5 h • 4 km • ↗ 520 m
See our full review of the Bächlital Hut
Valais/Wallis Mountain Huts
7. Auberge Refuge La Vouivre
Get ready for a steady, but short uphill climb to reach the small haven that surrounds Lac de Taney. The lake and its peaceful surroundings will make you long to swim in the refreshing water. Auberge Refuge La Vouivre offers a cozy charm with outdoor seating, tiny rooms and easy lake access.
To reach the hut: moderate • 1h45 • 4.6 km • ↗ 390 m
For details, see Fresh Air Kids Switzerland – Hikes to Huts
8. Anen Hut
The Anenhütte is located in the Lötschental Valley, which is particularly beautiful in fall when the larch trees turn yellow. This hike is relatively short, but gets quite steep in the end, gaining a lot of elevation to reach the hut.
Many people come here for the popular Via Ferrata climbing routes. This mountain hut is a considered a bit more luxurious than other huts, with a sauna, nicer bedding, and finer food and wine.
To reach the hut: challenging • 3h30 • 5.2 km • ↗ 670 m – see trail map
See Anenhütte website.
Eastern Switzerland
9. Berggasthaus Forelle – Appenzell
The route to Berggasthaus Forelle is scenic, but the true reward is obvious upon your arrival at Seealpsee. The lake is picturesque and the guesthouse provides the perfect overnight accommodation to maximize the views and tranquility of the area. Don’t forget to take a walk around the lake early in the morning.
To reach the hut: Moderate – 2 h • 3 km • ↗ 280 m – see Seealpsee trail info
10. Legler Hut in Glarnerland
We love the hike to this hut and plan every summer to stay overnight here. But they are super popular and book out early in the season. So definitely book way in advance.
This hut is on the top of a mountain with panorama views around the Glarus region, an amazing place to watch the sunrise and sunset. In addition to the mattress bunks, the hut has double and single rooms for more privacy.
To reach the hut: moderate • 3 h • 5.8 km • ↗ 700 m
See the complete list of SAC Huts here: https://www.sac-cas.ch/
4 responses
Hi, I love your post. Friends of ours in northern Italy regularly hike up to a hut in the winter, spend the night and go sledging the next day. Do you know of anything like this in the Lake Geneva area? Thank you.
Most ski resorts have a sledding route, so look at the resorts that are near you. You might try Les Diablerets (we’ve done this one and it’s really fun, but we rode the gondola up and did it at night with a headlamp) and Le Moleson. Check out the sledding routes on https://map.schweizmobil.ch/.
I love your posts, thanks for sharing all your wisdom! Can you recommend any huts for an easy ski trip? We are moving to Switzerland from Colorado with our children, 8 and 11, and we love skiing into the 10th Mountain Huts in our home state. We would love to find something similar in Switzerland!
Mountain huts generally aren’t open during winter. However there are lots of mountain hotels on the ski pistes at most resorts, which may be more of what you are looking for. If you let me know more of what you are looking for, maybe I can point you in the right direction.