Rivers and lakes

The Rhine provides the Schaffhauserland with refreshing water. On hot days, refreshment is not only to be found at the Rhine Falls. There is also a lot to discover in the medieval towns of Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein.

Experience the beauty of the Bernese Oberland on Lake Thun. Historic castles, romantic lakeside towns and the view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau will inspire you. Combine a boat trip with an excursion to the St. Beatus Caves, the Niederhorn or the city of Thun.

In the middle of the Vallée de La Brévine, just half an hour from La Chaux-de-Fonds, lies the picturesque Lac des Taillères. The lake is impressive all year round, with an atmosphere that changes with the seasons and that touch of Jura magic, combining landscape with nature.

The Reuss is Central Switzerland’s quintessential river. Starting in the Gotthard region, it steadily flows northward, through Lake Lucerne, and after 160 kiliometers it ultimately flows near Windisch into the Aare River.

The deep blue water of Lake Walen and the steeply rising Churfirsten: An unbeatable combination. To be experienced on a boat trip to Quinten and to the Seerenbach Falls. The leisure activities on offer range from water sports to hiking and biking to winter sports in Flumserberg.

The idyllic hilly countryside around the lake, the medieval castle of Hallwyl with its heritage exhibitions, and the romantic boat trips round the lake make Lake Hallwil and the nearby Seetal valley a small but popular tourist area.

The Schwendi Lakes are situated above Unterwasser in the Upper Toggenburg region.

The Golzernsee lake is located in the rugged Maderaner Valley and beckons for a refreshing dip in the water when the weather is warm.

The Crestasee offers an astounding experience of authenticity and natural serenity. The blue-green waters are surrounded by luxuriant vegetation on the shores, and a deep green crown of trees. This is indeed a fairy-tale view!

The Lai Barnagn in Savognin is a bathing lake not unlike those in the picture books. The crystal-clear water makes for summer refreshment and fun for all the family.

Lake Biel/Bienne in the Jura & Three-Lakes area of Switzerland is situated on the border between the French and German speaking parts. It borders the southern edge of the Jura, where the slopes are used for intensive cultivation of vines.

Inspired by the Niagara Falls and created over seven years of painstaking manual labour: the rock gallery of the Roffla Gorge.

A water spectacle of the three-tiered Zillibach Falls in Braunwald. A natural spectacle to behold, especially in spring!

The shores of Lake Neuchâtel are characterised by vines, sandy beaches and reed belts. Discover the unique natural landscape on a boat trip or canoe tour. Visit Neuchâtel and Estavayer-le-Lac with their castles or Yverdon-les-Bains with its thermal baths.

Between Les Brenets and the Maison Monsieur, the Doubs river is constantly changing - a trip along the river is full of surprises.

Dare to cross the bridge as our ancestors did. Take the time to admire the vertiginous view and continue along the path that leads straight to the magnificent Ramaclé Waterfall before opening onto the majestic gorges of Gérignoz.

Turn off your worries, inhale deeply and enjoy the comforting effect of alpine waters. This theme trail invites hikers to discover at first hand unique water scenery at the end of the Adelboden Valley

Lake Cauma is a turquoise oasis in the middle of the Grisons Alps. Surrounded by dense forests, it invites you to relax and explore. Thanks to its sheltered location, the water warms up to a pleasant temperature in summer – ideal for a refreshing break with a view of the Alps.

The Greifensee is a pearl in the heavily built-up Glatt valley. This small lake, which has a water expanse of just under 9 square kilometres, and its shore areas of diverse flora and fauna are a favourite excursion destination for people from the conurbation of Zurich city.

Idyllic Lake Bannalp lies above the Engelberg Valley. The alp of the same name can be reached by cable car from Oberrickenbach and is irresistible to summiteers, families with children and people searching for relaxation.

The Giessbach plunges over 14 steps into the turquoise Lake Brienz. Follow the hiking trail behind the waterfall and feel the refreshing spray on your skin. In the background sits the historic Grandhotel Giessbach.

Nestled between the Rigi and the Grosser and Kleiner Mythen mountains in the canton of Schwyz lies Lake Lauerz and its pleasure island of Schwanau that is about 200m long.

Lake Arnen is known as the “Pearl of the Saanenland”. The name suits: framed by the wild woods of the Tschärzis valley, the lake sparkles like a piece of jewellery.

At an altitude of 2,757 metres, this mountain lake sits below the Matterhorn at the foot of the Gorner Ridge in Zermatt. The lake is best known for its mirror surface, which reflects the beautiful Matterhorn. This is a popular spot that’s easily accessible thanks to its location right next to the middle station of the Gornergrat mountain railway, which is a vantage point offering spectacular views.

The Diesbachfall is a rare nature experience and the region’s landmark. Many profess it to be one of Switzerland’s most beautiful waterfalls.

The mild climate at Lago Maggiore is unique in Switzerland, and enables subtropical plants to flourish in the open air on Isola Grande, the large island. The Botanical Gardens of the Canton of Ticino house around 1,700 plant species.

Lac de Joux in the Vaud Jura is located at 1,000 metres in the valley of the same name (Vallée de Joux). The stark beauty and unspoilt nature of the high valley and the lake attract countless visitors all year round; in summer mainly for water sports, biking and hiking and in winter for ice-skating and cross-country skiing.

Though there are many mountain lakes at higher altitudes, Lake Sils is the only one with daily scheduled passenger boats in summer that carry tourists and hikers from Sils Maria to Maloja via Chastè, Plaun da Lej and Isola. This is Europe's highest passenger boat service.

Visit the Staubbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Experience one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe, which falls almost 300 meters into the depths.

A jewel of a lake, embedded between the steep rock cliffs of Widderalpstöcke, and the peaks of the Hundstein in the north, the Altmann, Saxerfirst and the Kreuzberge mountains in the east, Lake Fälen's nearly black water and its constantly changing kaleidoscope of reflections never fails to enchant its visitors.

The rear Glarus valley is a place awash with water: mighty torrents cascade from the mountains all around. Not far from the former «Bergli» restaurant on the road to the Klausen Pass, you can soon hear the thundering sound, and suddenly the rushing waterfall is in front of you.