There are so many fun ways to enjoy the Swiss alps, even if you don’t like hiking or if anyone in your group has mobility issues that make hiking difficult or impossible. So here are a bunch of non-hiking ideas for both on the mountains and around the mountains, so you can soak in the views without breaking a sweat.
See also Best Swiss trails for beginners
Activities in the Swiss mountains
In Switzerland, you don’t have to hike up a mountain to get the big views. Instead, cable cars, mountain trains and funiculars will take you straight to the best views without any work besides opening your wallet (budget tips here). Most mountain transport can carry strollers and some can accommodate wheelchairs, but best to call ahead to verify. Once at the top, here are a few ways to enjoy the views without hiking.
1. Eat at a mountain restaurant
Most mountain resorts have a restaurant at the top of the cable car or mountain train, usually with outdoor terraces so you can soak in the views while you eat. The food varies widely. Some just have beverages (soda, coffee, beer, wine) and packaged snacks. Others have simple self-service cafeterias, typically with pasta, sausages, fries and salads. Others have full service restaurants with Swiss classics and regional specialties. Prices are high, expect about CHF 25-40 per person plus drinks. Many only take cash, so best to bring enough cash just in case.
See our favorite mountain restaurants with a view
2. Lounge at an alpine playground
If you have children, you’ll be happy to find that many mountain resorts have playgrounds right next to the cable car station. So the kids can run around while you relax with a view, perhaps at the adjacent restaurant. At most, you’ll find a swing or slide, a sandbox, and maybe a trampoline. But some mountains have huge play areas with lots of special amusements, making it so much easier for families to enjoy a day in the Swiss alps.
See our favorite alpine playgrounds with a view
3. Host an epic picnic
If you want a more authentic Swiss experience, best to bring a picnic and find a quiet spot away from the amusements. You won’t have to walk far; the alps are full of big grassy meadows perfect for picnicking. However mind the cows and set up outside active grazing areas. Remember to bring a bag for your trash and leave no trace.
4. Build a fire
If you prefer a hot lunch, look for a “Feuerstelle,” which is a picnic area with fire pits, typically with wood for burning and picnic tables, sometimes a shelter, so civilized. These are very common in Switzerland, found frequently along trails and marked clearly on maps and trail signs. Sometimes they are very close to the mountain transport, so you don’t have to walk far to reach them. Note: if the summer is very hot and dry, there may be a temporary fire ban, so look for notices about that and follow the rules.
See our favorite places to grill in Switzerland
Learn how to build a fire Swiss style
Most groceries and gas station convenience stores have a grilling section, with easy options like bratwurst, pre-marinated meat, grilling cheese. Otherwise, check out my post about what food the Swiss typically grill.
5. Get sporty
If you want to be active but not necessarily hike, there are other fun amusements you’ll often find in the alps. We love the “Trotti” scooters that you can ride a few km down the mountain, faster and easier than walking down. Some areas have alpine slides (aka summer toboggans) and others have rope adventure parks, where even beginners and children can safely climb with epic views in the background. So many options, so little time!
6. Stroll instead of hike
OK, I promised no hikes, but I will encourage you to try just a little stroll for a true Swiss experience. Many mountains have short, easy panorama strolls for non-hikers. The “trails” are usually wide gravel or dirt paths, mostly flat, often obstacle free for strollers and sometimes wheelchairs. It’s just as easy as walking around the mall, but so much prettier.
Activities with Swiss mountain views
You don’t have to go up a mountain to enjoy the Swiss alps. The types of mountains we have here shoot up dramatically from the lowlands, so you can easily see many mountains from the valleys without have to trek into the interior. Switzerland is also quite civilized, meaning that there are roads and villages even in very remote places. So you can see quite a lot of the Swiss mountains by simply traveling around by various modes of transportation as suggested below.
7. Ride the train
Public transportation in Switzerland is clean, safe, punctual, and a convenient and relaxing way to see the Swiss scenery. If you use the train to reach your various destinations and activities, you will see a lot of pretty stuff along the way, no extra effort.
If you want to make your train trip the main event, there are some particularly beautiful routes in Switzerland. These routes are serviced by both regular trains and special trains with big panorama windows and nicer meal service, including Glacier Express, Bernina Express Gotthard Panorama Express, and GoldenPass Panorama. Tickets for these special trains often cost the same as normal trains, but you must pay extra for a seat reservation.
Image by Champer, zughalt.de licensed through WikiCommons
8. Drive over mountain passes
If you don’t mind narrow winding roads, driving around Switzerland is one of the best ways to see a huge variety of Swiss landscape in a short amount of time. Here is my favorite tour where I often take visitors. We start in Zurich through Luzern to Brienz, looping back over the Susten pass, the back along Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug.
On this tour, you drive past seven gorgeous lakes, over two mountain passes, though darling mountain villages and past one enormous glacier. You can stop as often as you like to take pics and breathe in the mountain air and picnic with a view.
I’m working on a full post about this tour, but for now, here is the map.
9. Cruise a lake
If you prefer to have the wind in your hair, enjoying the alps by boat is a great choice. Switzerland has tons of lakes, many with ferries and leisure boat cruises. There are lots of options, from straightforward A-to-B rides to half-day or evening cruises with meals and/or special themes like music or wine. It’s also nice to combine a boat tour with a train or driving tour, mixing up your experiences for the day. My current favorite lakes for cruising: Walensee, Vierwaldstättersee, Brienzersee.
10. Go on eBike tour
eBikes are super popular in Switzerland, making it easy and fun to ride up and down the rolling Swiss landscape without much effort. There is a huge network of cycling routes in Switzerland, mostly through the countryside, but some by lakes and mountains. Many train stations have bike rentals, making it easy to rent bikes at your destination for the day. More about renting bikes >
I have a few routes to recommend below that we’ve done as a family. But for longer, more epic tours, check out Switzerland Mobility for all the official cycling routes. There are also plenty of tour companies that can help you find the right route for your group.
I hope you found something you like!
See also Best Swiss trails for beginners
