With plentiful mountain transport, Switzerland makes it easy for everyone to enjoy the big views even if you don’t want to hike.
Cable cars, gondolas, mountain trains, funiculars and chair lifts whisk you up to the most stunning viewpoints and all you need to do is open your wallet.
Below are all our favorite easy to reach mountain viewpoints, no hike required.
Jungfrau Region
1. Grindelwald First
From Grindelwald, ride a gondola 25 mins up the mountain. Then walk along a narrow steel pathway bolted to the rock face of the Grindelwald First mountain peak. You’ll cross a suspension bridge and walk out on a glass floored viewing platform 45 m (148 ft) above the ground.
The entire time, you’ll have spectacular views of the Eiger and other peaks around the Jungfrau Region. You’ll feel like you’re standing on top of the world!
Learn more about visiting Grindelwald First Cliff Walk.
2. Jungfraujoch – 3454m
This glacier viewpoint is one of the most popular tourist excursions in Switzerland. From Grindelwald, you ride the Eiger Express cable car up the mountain. Then transfer to a cogwheel train that runs through a tunnel up to the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454m.
The visitor center includes indoor and outdoor platforms where you can view the famous peaks and Aletsch glacier, the longest in the alps at 20 km. You can also explore the Ice Palace, a series of tunnels and cave carved into the glacier ice. They have a nice multimedia tour of the history of this area, restaurants, and gift shops. In summer, you can sled on the glacier and hike across the glacier to a mountain hut.
This is an expensive outing at over CHF 200 per person (price varies by season). But you get a discount with the various travel cards and passes including the Swiss Travel Pass, Jungfrau Travel Pass, Berner Oberland Region Pass, GA and SBB Half-fare card.
Learn more about visiting Jungfraujoch
3. Schilthorn – 2970m
From the Lauterbrunnen valley, ride a series of cable cars to the Schilthorn Piz Gloria observation deck at 2970m. From here, you can admire the three famous peaks: Jungfrau, Eiger, Monch as well as a 360 panoramic view of the entire region.
There is a short 007 walk at the top with information about James Bond, since scenes from one of the movies was filmed here. Ride one station down to do the “Birg Cliff Walk” with a fun metal walkway built into the side of the cliff wall.
Learn more about visiting Schilthorn
4. Schynige Platte – 2099m
Just south of Interlaken, ride a slow vintage cogwheel train to the top of this mountain at the entrance of the Jungfrau Region. At the top, there is a restaurant with an outdoor terrace on the edge the mountain.
If you feel like walking a bit, you can wander the alpine garden with over 700 varieties of plants and flowers.
We usually visit when doing the Schynige Platte ridge trail, which starts here and takes about 2 hours.
Learn more about visiting Schynige Platte
Bernese Oberland (near Interlaken)
5. Harder Kulm – 1322m
Harder Kulm is a tall mountain viewpoint right next to Interlaken. It’s only a 5 min walk from the Interlaken Ost train station to the Harder Kulm funicular.
It’s a steep ride and exciting ride to the top, then a short walk to the panorama terrace overlooking Interlaken, the two lakes and mountains in every direction.
At the top, there is also a restaurant with a big outdoor terrace. Just above this, there is a nice playground and picnic area. This is one of the least expensive mountains to visit in the region.
Learn more about visiting Harder Kulm.
6. Hasliberg Alpen Tower – 2250m
Just east of Interlaken, you can ride a series of cable cars up from the Meiringen village to the Alpen Tower at 2250m. At the top, there is a restaurant with big panorama windows so you can enjoy the view from a warm space. There is a short path leading out to a viewpoint near the edge of the mountain, as shown below.
We usually visit this viewpoint before doing a hike in this area, either the Horizontweg Skyline trail or Muggestutz theme trail for children.
Learn more about visiting Hasliberg Alpen Tower
7. Niederhorn – 1963m
Niederhorn is tall mountain near Interlaken with panoramic views over Lake Thun and the Bernese Oberland peaks. From the lake, you ride a funicular and gondola up the mountain. At the top, there is a restaurant and nice playground with spectacular views.
Above the restaurant, there is a fenced path along the cliffs, where you can safely enjoy the views. There’s also a nice picnic area and several lounge chairs in the alpine meadows where you can relax. This is a great place for non-hikers to enjoy the views without a lot of work.
If you like to hike, you can wander along the ridge, with options from 2 to 11 km long (learn more about the trails here).
Niederhorn is a good choice for spring and fall since the mountain transport here is usually open from late April to early November.
Learn more about visiting Niederhorn
8. Brienzer Rothorn – 2351m
Ride a cogwheel train an hour up the mountain to this spectacular lookout over the Berner Oberland region, with gorgeous views of the bright blue lake below and dozens of mountains. There are two restaurants at the top with outdoor terraces.
This is the starting point for an epic ridge trail (no, not the Hardergrat!).
Learn more about visiting Brienzer Rothorn
9. Mt Niesen – 2362m
Ride two funicular trains to the top of Mt. Niesen 2363m near Interlaken where you can admire the view from the panorama terrace, playground or restaurant. Optional hike to the middle station so you can enjoy the views longer.
Learn more about visiting Mt Niesen
Near Lucerne
10. Mt Pilatus – 2128m
Mt. Pilatus is a tall mountain peak near Lucerne, one of our favorite places to take our visitors. From the big observation deck at the top, you can enjoy stunning panorama views over Lake Lucerne and many mountains without hiking at all.
The most popular way to get to Mt. Pilatus is the self-guided Golden Round Trip, which includes a boat ride from Lucerne city, cogwheel mountain train to the top, and cable car down the other side of the mountain.
On the way back down, we usually stop at the middle station to ride a 1350m summer toboggan run, fun for both adults and kids. If you have lots of time, we also love the adventure ropes course in the forest with ziplines and free fall jumps.
Learn more about visiting Mt Pilatus
11. Mt Rigi – 1797m
This mountain near Lucerne is a perfect choice for a classic Swiss experience. We usually take our visitors on the Rigi Classic Round Trip, starting with a boat ride from Lucerne to the base of the mountain. Then you ride a cogwheel train to the top, where you can stroll to different viewpoints along the cliffs (safely behind a fence!).
There is a restaurant at the top with a big outdoor terrace and lounge chairs for relaxing. In summer, we highly recommend the hiking along the easy Panorama Trail. You can walk as little as 1 km to the next mountain train station, just to get a little taste of the trail.
Learn more about visiting Mt Rigi
12. Stanserhorn – 1898m
Ride a funicular, then a special cable car with an open air roof to the top of Stanserhorn at 1898m, with spectacular panorama views overlooking Lucerne Switzerland. There is a restaurant at the top, picnic areas with grills and a short easy loop just to admire the views.
Learn more about visiting Stanserhorn
13. Mt Titlis – 3239
Mt Titlis is the tallest mountain peak near Lucerne, with a glacier at the top, so you can play in the snow even in summer. Ride a rotating cable car to this mountain peak and glacier near Lucerne where you can walk on snow even in summer. Amusements include an ice cave, suspension bridge, and summer sledding and skiing.
At the top, you’ll find a suspension bridge, ice cave, restaurants and large snowy plateau where you can enjoy the view and throw snowballs.
On the way back down, you can get off the cable car at the middle station, where there’s a short and easy walk around an alpine lake, possible in summer and winter. For kids, in summer, there are fun activities along the trail, large playground, and big air jump into inflated bouncy pillows.
Learn more about visiting Mt Titlis
14. Stoos Fronalpstock – 1921m
Ride the steepest funicular train Europe up to a quiet alpine village. Then two chair lifts up to this viewpoint over the cliffs, overlooking Lake Lucerne. There is a viewing platform safely enclosed by a fence, a playground and restaurant with an outdoor terrace. You can optionally stroll along the cliffs on an easy panorama trail along the cliffs.
Learn more about visiting Stoos Fronalpstock
Zurich & Eastern Switzerland
15. Chäserrugg – 2262m
Ride a funicular train then cable car to reach this viewpoint over the cliffs down the beautiful Walensee lake. At the top, there is a restaurant and short alpine flower trail with signboards informing you about the flowers. If you feel like hiking, there is a short loop on the high plateau to give you more views of the region.
Learn more about visiting Chäserrugg
16. Hoher Kasten – 1791m
Ride a cable car up to this viewpoint over the Alpstein mountain range in the Appenzell region. The rotating restaurant to enjoy 360 views while you eat.
Learn more about visiting Hoher Kasten
17. Mt Säntis – 2501m
Mt. Säntis is a mountain peak in eastern Switzerland with a large complex built on the rocky peak, where average humans can safely enjoy the views from multiple observation decks.
Learn more about visiting Mt Säntis
Engadin St Moritz
18. Diavolezza – 2958m
Ride a cable car to a view point over the Morteratsch glacier and some dramatic peaks. Have lunch at the restaurant with a view or a short hike up to the “Highest Fire Pit in Europe” where you can grill up a picnic.
Learn more about Diavolezza
19. Piz Nair – 3056m
A funicular and cable car whisk you to this spectacular rocky viewpoint across the Engadin region. An optional tiny climb to the actual peak or settle in with a snack at the restaurant terrace.
Learn more about Piz Nair 3057m
Ticino
20. San Salvotore – 912m
From Lugano, ride a vintage funicular train up the mountain. Then a short walk up to a panorama terrace overlooking Lake Lugano and the surrounding mountains. The best views near the city in our opinion.
Learn more about San Salvatore
21. Monte Generoso – 1701m
A long mountain train ride up to a panorama overlook where you can lounge at the restaurant or picnic area with small playground or venture out on the ridge trail.
Learn more about Monte Generoso
Zermatt & Valais Region
22. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise – 3883m
Epic views of an immense glacier and the Matterhorn as you ride to this rocky outcrop, where you can visit an ice cave and admire the Italian side of the alps.
Learn more about Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
23. Gornergrat – 3135 m
The Gornergrat at 3089m is our favorite place for families to enjoy Matterhorn views. It’s easy to access, has plenty of services, and has lots of room to safely wander and soak in the views. To escape the crowds, add on one of the easy family hikes in the area. This railway runs year round, allowing you to access this viewpoint in winter.
Hiking season in Zermatt ends in early October and most mountain transport closes. But the Gornergrat mountain railway runs year round, with spectacular views of the Matterhorn on a clear day. If snow has been light, it’s sometimes still possible to hike a bit in the Gornergrat area.
Learn more about Gornergrat
24. Bettmerhorn (Aletsch Arena) – 2872m
Ride a cable car to the alpine village of Bettmeralp, then a gondola to Bettmerhorn and a spectacular viewpoint over the Aletsch glacier. You can lounge in the panorama restaurant, wander around the top, or set off on a hike along the ridge.
Learn more about Bettmerhorn
25. Mont Fort 3328m
Take the easy way up to this glacier viewpoint by riding a series of gondolas and cable cars from Verbier up to the Mont Fort. You can hike down from here on a rocky landscape. But we chose a milder stroll from the middle station along a Bisse, or ancient waterway.
Learn more about Mont Fort
Lake Geneva Region
26. Rochers de Naye – 2040m
Ride a cogwheel train to the highest point overlooking Montreux, where you can peer over the cliffs, visit an alpine flower garden, and make friends with the resident marmots.
Learn more about Rochers de Naye
27. Glacier 3000
Ride two cable cars up to a large complex next to the glacier, with a restaurant, suspension bridge, and an alpine coaster. You can ride a chair lift down to the glacier where you can sled on summer snow and hike on the glacier without special equipment.
Learn more about Glacier 3000
Map of viewpoints
You can see a map of these viewpoints in my Swiss Summer Guide, which includes 500+ things to do and sample itineraries. Preview the map here…
If you have kids, see also Best Alpine Playgrounds with a View.
