Rivers and lakes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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 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 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.

Anne-Marie, a local hiking guide, leads her group of hikers across gentle Alpine meadows and forests to the Sprutz waterfall which lives up to its Swiss name: to splash.

Those who look towards Wildstrubel from Adelboden know little of the peaceful Alp that lies almost hidden at half-height in the valley basin. The entrance leads past the 600 meter-high Engstligenfälle.

Lake Sarnen occupies 7.5 square kilometers in the beautiful landscape between Sarnen (a major town in the region of Obwald) and the ascent to the Brünig Pass.

“... nowhere have I felt so truly happy as on St. Peter's Island in the middle of Lake Biel,” wrote Jean-Jacques Rousseau shortly before his death, wistfully recalling his all too short stay on the island in the autumn of 1765.

Lago Nero and Lago Bianco provide visitors with striking spectacles of colour in both summer and winter.

The Palfries cable car offers a unique view of large parts of the Heidiland and beyond. The cable car runs directly above an impressive waterfall, one of the highest in Switzerland. After passengers arrive at 1,728 metres above sea level, the imposing Palfries plateau is revealed in all its glory.

The Thur is Eastern Switzerland’s predominant river. Coming from Toggenburg, the river flows in a large arc beside the rich cultural and scenic landscapes of the Cantons of St. Gallen and Thurgau and parts of the Canton of Zürich.

The small and fjord-like Lake Schiffenen at Düdingen is a popular excursion destination for young and old.

The unique Macun lake plateau lies high up between Zernez and Lavin. There, 23 mountain lakes of various sizes lie like dark pearls scattered across the plateau. This is a particularly magical place and a real highlight of the Swiss National Park.

Lake Lucerne is both diverse and beautiful. A lake basin filled with deep-blue water, surrounded by destination mountains such as the Rigi and the Pilatus, and with picturesque villages and the city of Lucerne on its shores: this unique combination is nothing short of inspiring.

Lake Ägeri is nestled in a hilly moraine landscape and offers a wide range of hiking, mountain biking and water sports activities. Its shores were the site of the famous Battle of Morgarten in 1315, the first battle between the Confederates and the Habsburgs.