15 Best Budget Hikes in Switzerland

Visiting the Swiss alps can be very expensive, especially if you use the mountain transport and visit the most famous places. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to see fantastic alpine views.

After a dozen years of hiking here almost every weekend, we’ve found lots of affordable hikes to balance out the occasional splurge. This is particularly helpful when we have visitors, who don’t have the travel discount cards like we do. Here are the best mountain hikes in Switzerland by region that both you and your wallet will like.

See also Best free hikes in Switzerland – no cable car required

How much do Swiss mountain hikes cost?

Switzerland does not charge to visit mountain areas or require permits for hiking. Instead, the mountain railway fees cover the costs of trail maintenance and other services in the mountain areas that you may use during your visit. If you skip the mountain transport and simply hike, there’s no cost, except perhaps a train/bus ticket back to your starting point.

The most famous and popular mountains cost CHF 100+ for one adult return trip. Most average mountains charge about CHF 45. Smaller resorts charge around CHF 15-30.

Children under 6 are always free. Children 6 to 16 are typically half-price. Seniors often get a discount as well. Sometimes resorts offer family discounts.

There are lots of discount and travel passes that can reduce these prices as well. See more on this topic here: Tips for making Swiss hiking more affordable

Budget hikes near Interlaken

1. Mürren Mountain View Trail

This top notch hike is strangely affordable for the Jungfrau region, which is notoriously pricey. The cable cars that access this hike are inexpensive and also covered by the Jungfrau and Berner Oberland travel pass. The views are amazing and it’s a bit quieter than other hikes in the area. Families will like that this hike ends at a fantastic Allmendhubel Flower Park playground with views of the Jungfrau and Eiger.

Cost 2021: Round trip from Lauterbrunnen about CHF 25/adult, SBB Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices Jungfrau Region and Schilthorn.

Get details for Mürren Mountain View Trail

2. Oeschinensee

Still quite affordable despite it’s popularity. After riding the gondola up, it’s an easy 2 km to the lake, a great place for a picnic. Or you can do a more challenging 8.5 km loop in the mountains above and reward yourself with a quick dip in the icy water. You can spend the bit you saved on the summer toboggan ride.

Cost 2021: Return gondola Adult CHF 30. SBB Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices.

Get details for Oeschinensee Panorama Hike

3. Grimmialp

The Diemtigal nature park is small, but it has lots of beautiful mountain hiking, including this Grimmialp area. A chair lift takes you up to a panorama trail with several interactive stations for children, including a zip line, climbing wall, bowling, & memory game. Big views for a small price.

Cost 2021: One way hiking ticket CHF 12/adult, CHF 6/child, under 6 free. See current prices.

Get details for Grimmialp hike

Budget hikes near Lucerne

4. Fürenalp Engelberg

Stunning panorama hike for families in the Engelberg, Switzerland area that passes through fields of wildflowers and leads to a roaring waterfall. Plus a playground and restaurant with a view. The cable car is tiny so you might have to wait a bit.

Cost 2020: One way cable car Adult CHF 14, Child CHF 7. SBB Half-fare or Junior Cards not accepted

Details for Fürenalp hike

5. Hoch Ybrig

One of our favorite mountain resorts close to Zurich, with fantastic panorama views and an easy hike for little kids and strollers. This is a good choice for visitors since all kids up to 16 years old ride free, even without a Junior card. There’s a playground with bouncy castles and a little pond with fire pits for a picnic.

Cost 2021: Return trip adult CHF 28, children free with adult. SBB Half-fare cards not accepted. Current prices.

Get details for Hoch Ybrig Panorama hike

6. Bannalp

This little mountain area is a bit hidden from the rest of Switzerland but the beauty speaks for itself. There’s a short theme trail for kids telling a story on picture boards, about children searching for a magic crystal and the dwarfs who protected it. There are interactive play elements along the trail to help motivate little ones to keep walking. The trail circles a beautiful lake surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks, with a nice picnic area next to the lake. For older children, there are longer hikes that go up in the mountains from here.

Cost 2021: Return cable car Adult CHF 21, Child CHF 10.50. SBB Half-fare and Junior cards not accepted

Get details for Bannalp hike

Budget hikes near Zürich

7. Flumserberg

This mountain resort has lots of hiking options accessed with a few different lifts. Depending on which hike you choose, it will cost at the most CHF 32. We like the alpine flower trail which is bursting with flowers mid July to mid August. 

Cost 2021: Hiking ticket Adult CHF 32. SBB Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices.

Get details for Flumserberg Alpine Flower Trail

8. Mettmenalp

It’s easy to reach this hidden alpine with a tiny gondola. There’s a short hike around the lake with several lovely picnic areas. If you want more of a challenge, there’s a longer loop up the mountains surrounding the lake. There’s a restaurant and little theme trail for kids.

Cost 2021: Return gondola Adult CHF 18, Child CHF 9. SBB Half-fare and Junior cards not accepted. See current prices.

Details for Mettmenalp lake walk

9. Elm

This gorgeous mountain area has lots of amusements for the kids, including a theme trail, playground with trampolines, and a long mountain scooter run. If you ride the scooters down the mountain, the total cost with rental is about the same as ride the gondola both ways.

Cost 2021: Return gondola Adult CHF 18, Child CHF 9. No half-fare or Junior cards. See current prices.

Details for Elm Giant Forest trail

Budget hikes near Locarno & Lugano (Ticino)

10. Ritom Piotta

One of our favorite mountain lakes that most people have never heard of. It used to have the steepest funicular until Stoos took that record a couple years ago. But it’s half the price of Stoos and much less crowded. You can walk around the lake and lunch at a mountain hut in the foothills.

Cost 2021: Return funicular Adult CHF 24. Small discount for SBB Half-fare. See current prices.

Get details for Ritom-Piora

11. Monte Tamaro

It’s relatively affordable to ride up this mountain. Then you’ll spend the money you save on the all the fun amusements: mountain coaster, ropes course and water park. The hikes are tough here since the gondola only takes you up partway up the mountain. But great views even if you don’t hike up the peak.

Cost 2021: Return funicular Adult CHF 29. SBB GA, Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices.

12. Cardada-Cimetta

Ride to the top of this mountain overlooking Locarno and Lago Maggiore. There is a free theme trail for children and a nice playground. You can reduce your cost by hiking the last section to the top.

Cost 2021: Return fare Adult CHF 36. SBB GA, Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices.

See details for Locarno Cardada & Treasure Hunt Trail

Budget hikes in Zermatt & Valais region

The Valais is an expensive region, but here a few more affordable options that are good value for the views.

13. Zermatt Sunnegga

The Sunnegga funicular is the most affordable lift in the Zermatt region. At the top of the funicular, you’ll find small lake with Matterhorn views with a picnic area, big playground, and lounge chairs. We like the nature path from Riffelalp to Sunnegga, which costs a bit more at CHF 44, but still one of the least expensive mountain hikes in the area.

Cost 2021: Return fare to Sunnegga Adult CHF 27.50 in July & August. SBB GA, Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices.

See details for Riffelalp-Sunegga Three Lakes trail

14. Nendaz • Panorama hike to Lake Cleuson

Lifts in small villages that are much more affordable than the big resorts. This hike to the beautiful Lake Cleuson is just one example. You only need a cheep one way ride on the chair lift to access this beautiful mountain hike, then hike mostly down hill to the lake.

Cost 2021: Chair lift one way Adult CHF 12. SBB GA, Half-fare and Junior cards not accepted. See current prices.

See details for Panorama hike to Lake Cleuson

15. Saas Fee Almagelleralp Höhenweg • Panorama Hike & Cliff Walk

So close to Zermatt, but so much cheaper. Plus if you stay overnight in the Saastal area, you can ride everything for free! Of the many great hikes here, one of our favorites was the Almagelleralp Panorama hike that includes a short “adventure” path with two suspension bridges, narrow wooden walkways built into the rock walls, steep ladders and other slightly scary obstalces (safety equipment not necessary).

Cost 2021: For Almagelleralp hike CHF 38/adult or free with guest card. SBB GA, Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices.

See details for Saastal Almagelleralp Höhenweg

Honorable mention: Aletsch Arena

This one is a little more expensive than others on this list, but still cheaper than most lifts in Zermatt. Plus it’s a much more affordable way to see the famous Aletsch Glacier (the view from the Jungfraujoch costs over CHF 200!). The day pass costs CHF 55, which covers unlimited use of all lifts in the Aletsch Arena. They offer a family discount so with two full fare adults, all children up to 19 ride free. 

Cost 2021: Day pass Adult CHF 55. SBB GA, Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. See current prices.

See details for Riederalp Aletsch Glacier Panorama Trail

Map of budget hikes in Switzerland

So many great options! I hope you enjoy them.