Parks, Gardens and Squares

The Uferpark recreational area on the outskirts of Solothurn invites old and young alike to linger, relax and enjoy themselves. With a wide bike path, a promenade for those out for a stroll, barbecue areas complete with wooden benches, as well as windows to nature with access to the Aare river and a beach, who could ask for more?

Just a few minutes from the city centre, shady green spaces, tall trees and a pebble beach offer the perfect spot for fun in the water and relaxation. Walking trails wind their way through the expansive lawned areas, and the view of the Bernese Alps is simply marvellous.

In the green parks around the lower basin of the lake, there’s always something going on in the summer months. Inline skaters, water sports enthusiasts, jewellery sellers and street artists all gather here to create a colourful scene. Anyone looking for peace and quiet will be able to escape the hustle and bustle on the Zürichhorn at the end of the lakeside promenade, in the wonderful Chinese Garden.

The “Ufschötti” – the extensive expanse of greenery by the lake – is the place half of Lucerne heads for in the summer A 200-metre-long strip of sandy beach gives all its visitors real seaside vibes.

This gem among the parks of Zurich was built in the middle of the beautiful park for a high-classicist style villa at the start of the 19th century. Today, this villa is home to the renowned Belvoirpark hotel management school and a restaurant.

Originally a private landscape garden, the City Park is today the largest contiguous green space in the St. Gallen inner city area. With its lawned areas under beautiful old trees, it is the epitome of a peaceful oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. It is surrounded by Theater St. Gallen, the Museum of Art, and the Historical and Folklore Museum.

The Verbier 3-D Foundation Sculpture Park is a free, year-round open-air museum at 2,300 meters in the Swiss Alps. It showcases contemporary art created during artist residencies, blending seamlessly with the alpine landscape between La Chaux and Les Ruinettes list stations above Verbier.

Time seems to have stood still in the impressive 18th-century Palais with its smartened-up French garden, despite its close proximity to the busy city centre. The Hotel DuPeyrou was once surrounded by vineyards, and the gardens that belonged to it stretched all the way to Lake Neuchâtel.

Piazza della Riforma in Lugano is the vibrant center of the city, surrounded by historic buildings, cafés and restaurants. Cultural events take place here and the square is the ideal starting point for exploring sights such as Lake Lugano and Parco Ciani.

Im schweizweit einzigartigen Homöopathie-Garten in Zug kann man zwischen Giftpflanzen wie Belladonna, gemeinem Schöllkraut und purpurrotem Fingerhut spazieren.

Each year, there are some 2,900 roses, of which there are 300 varieties, blooming in Winterthur’s Rose Garden. These also include rare and historic roses such as the French rose, which is the oldest cultivated species still available today, or the deep-pink Queen of Denmark rose. Aside from all the flowers that are in bloom, you’ll also find a place of relaxation here, and glorious views over the city of Winterthur.

Tropenluft schnuppern? Staunen über fremdartige Pflanzen? Düfte des Mittelmeers einatmen? Blühende Alpenrosen bewundern? Dann nichts wie los in den Botanischen Garten der Universität Zürich.

Richard Wagner lived here on the shores of Lake Lucerne for six years. The museum named after him is surrounded by an extensive park right by the lake, offering unique views of the mountains. The park can be reached within a 30-minute walk from Lucerne, along a wonderful lakeside path.

Vullierens Castle, together with its magnificent gardens and sculpture park, constitutes one of Switzerland’s most remarkable heritage sites with a superb 180° view of the Alps, Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva.

The Minster Terrace with its green spaces and large chestnut trees is perfect for picnics, playing and relaxing. The breathtaking view of the Aare river, the Alps and Bern’s Matte neighbourhood make the old churchyard a popular place to meet and hang out.

Located on the shores of Lake Lugano, this 63,000 square metre park constitutes the city’s green lung. Here you can recover from the hustle and bustle of the city as you walk along paths lined by magnificent centuries-old trees.

From Ouchy, the quays open out into a vast public park with extensive lawned areas and magnificent age-old trees. The grounds are graced by a 16-metre-high Thai pavilion.

A natural haven of peace located on Montriond hill in the heart of Lausanne. In this little green paradise, full of brightly coloured flowers and large trees, you’ll be able to escape into a haven of relaxation – even though you’re practically in the city centre still.

Der Alte Botanische Garten ist eine idyllische Oase inmitten der Zürcher Innenstadt. Seine Geschichte geht bis in das Jahr 1837 zurück.

This landscape park, designed along Romantic lines, consists of a combination of strictly laid-out avenues and Mediterranean flair. The park is picturesquely situated above the old town and is dominated by an avenue of lime trees that leads to a pulpit with beautiful views over the pristine landscape of the Rhine.

Roses and dahlias, medicinal plants, exotic blossoms and undemanding herbs: the Botanical Garden of Geneva houses over 16,000 species of plants. The exotic bird species in the zoo within the Botanical Garden are just as colorful as the flowers.

Tracing the origin of the Tête de Moine AOP: Set in the heart of the Chasseral Nature Park, this culinary treasure hunt is all about solving riddles, meeting local producers and trying regional specialties. Away from the crowded tourist haunts, this enjoyable hike takes visitors through the culinary heritage of an enchanting region.

Villa Langmatt Park is a total work of art and is the perfect refuge for a romantic picnic. Order, in advance, a basket of gourmet delicacies including the traditional Spanischbrödli.

Hikers can admire the Japanese garden perched atop a glacial moraine deep in the Tortin Valley, south of Nendaz.

The pond with a belt of reeds in the north of Winterthur is a perfect place to take a stroll, relax, play, or simply watch the world go by. Around the pond itself, you can watch the various bird species and admire the giant water lilies growing in the pond. Swimming is not permitted, however, due to its murky waters and dangerous depths.

Where circus artists and people running stalls once entertained people, there is now what is without a doubt one of the most popular green spaces in the city of Lucerne: the Vögeligärtli. Its name – meaning the “bird garden” – comes from the aviary that was built in the park in 1901.

On the hills above Lausanne, Sauvabelin Park is a popular destination with families and nature lovers. Anyone who scales the 302 steps up to the platform of the Tower of Sauvabelin will be rewarded with stunning panoramic views.

This magnificent country park boasts one of the best vantage points in Lausanne. But the panoramic views are by no means the only attribute that attracts visitors. There is a tree here that is worth a visit all on its own. This is a unique weeping willow, situated some 50 metres from the manor house, that was planted in the middle of the 19th century.

Fontana Park is set in the heart of Chur. It is the perfect place to escape the bustle of the city, to enjoy the atmosphere, or to read a book.

Parc des Bastions is a wonderful park in the heart of Geneva. Along its shady avenues, you can find some of the city’s most beautiful monuments, including the well-known Reformation Wall. The giant chessboards that are regularly used by the locals will immediately catch your eye.

The Vernex Park is set on the shores of Lake Geneva next to the Auditorium Stravinsky and offers walkers a green area along the extension of the flourishing quays of the Montreux Riviera. Each July, one of the stages for the Montreux Jazz Festival is set up in this park.

Feed the ducks on the shores of Lake Thun or read and rest on a bench in the sun. Or take a walk along the paths leading through the woods, along the avenue and across the meadows that are so inviting to sunbathers in the summer (although there is no direct access to the water).

The castle at the foot of the Calanda is the highlight of Haldenstein. When the roses flower in the spring, the castle garden is a visual and olfactory feast.

Der romantische Rosengarten auf der «Guggiwiese» inmitten der Stadt Zug ist ein Geheimtipp für Rosenliebhaber.

The Botanical Garden in Neuchâtel lies high above the city and is a fantastic spot for relaxing strolls at any time of year. A great excuse to get some fresh air and get acquainted with native and exotic kinds of plants, just a stone’s throw from the city centre.