This is Lake Neuchâtel
Lake Neuchâtel is situated in the west of Switzerland, in the
Jura & Three-Lakes region. The largest lake to be entirely in Switzerland is a popular destination thanks to its charming towns and wine-growing villages, its nature reserves and its sandy beaches.
Discover Lake Neuchâtel
Begin your journey of discovery in
Neuchâtel. In the
old town, you can enjoy a wonderful stroll and then the ambience in a café. Your
boat tour – one of the most beautiful ways to discover Lake Neuchâtel – will begin at the harbour. And even more beautiful still: you can combine the boat trip with a
bike tour. Or drive up the
Chaumont and enjoy the views of Lake Neuchâtel,
Lake Biel and
Lake Murten from the
panorama tower.
Vineyards and wine-growing villages on the northern shore
The area around
Lake Neuchâtel’s northern shore is characterised by vineyards and wine-growing villages such as Boudry or
Auvernier. In Boudry, a visit to the
castle with its vine and wine museum is well worthwhile. Sticking to roughly the same topic, you can also go on a
panoramic hike through the vineyards. Another highlight on the northern shore is the
Laténium, Switzerland’s largest archaeological museum, featuring
prehistoric pile dwellings.
Nature reserve and sandy beaches on the southern shore
East of
Yverdon-les-Bains, together with its
thermal centre, lies the
Grande Cariçaie. Explore the nature reserve on
beautiful footpaths or as part of a
canoe tour. You can deepen your knowledge of the fauna and flora at the
Pro Natura Centre in Champ-Pittet. Take a detour to
Estavayer-le-Lac, the pretty medieval town with the
Château de Chenaux. In summer, the
sandy beaches are an ideal place for swimming and water sports. The highlight here is Switzerland’s longest
water skiing lift.
Around Lake Neuchâtel
Experience an uninterrupted three-lake cruise across Lake Neuchâtel,
Lake Biel and
Lake Murten. The lakes are connected by the Zihl and Broye canals, so you do not even have to disembark. A popular destination on Lake Murten is the
Murten’s old town, with its imposing circular wall. Other top excursion destinations include the wild
Areuse Gorge or the imposing
Creux du Van natural rock arena in the Jura.
Experience Lake Neuchâtel for less
With the
Neuchâtel Tourist Card, public transport, admission to museums and numerous leisure activities such as bike rental are free of charge when you stay for one night or more.
