Rivers and lakes

Visit the Trümmelbach Falls, the largest underground waterfalls in Europe in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Feel the power of the glacier water of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau up close.

With wonderful surroundings, unique charm and plenty of things to do and see, Lake Geneva is quite enchanting: Enjoy a cruise or take a stroll through the vineyard terraces of Lavaux. Discover Geneva, Lausanne and the Montreux Riviera with Chillon Castle.

Lake Gruyère will enchant you: Hike along the shores of the beautiful reservoir, paddle to the other shore or to Ogoz Island. Around the lake, you will discover sights worth seeing such as the town of Gruyères with its castle, the Maison Cailler in Broc or the Gruyère Museum in Bulle.

With a length of 375 kilometers, the Rhine is the longest river in Switzerland. Although the Rhine flows far to the east of the country, thanks to mighty tributaries it drains 80 per cent of Switzerland’s surface. Now it’s time to leave the water for a short while, because at Neuhausen the mightily grown river plunges at the Rhine Falls into the depth. In the summer about 700 cubic meters of water gush downwards per second, the record quantity, however, is twice as high. The fearless climb under the Rhine Falls into one of the boats that travel very close to the roaring waters.

To stand high above Europe's largest waterfall, feeling the roar and vibration of the water over one's entire body - this can be experienced at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen. By ship one can reach castles, the Rhine Falls Basin and even the mighty rock in the midst of the waterfall.

Plunging more than 100 metres, the Iffigfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Bernese Oberland.

Seven springs feed the Simme, a 55km-long river in the Bernese Oberland that flows into Lake Thun at Wimmis. The waterfalls that cascade over rocks several metres high are also well worth a visit.

A walk of approximately ten minutes conveys you comfortably from the village square to the Chämmerlitobel.

The waterfall near Jaun remained an unsolved mystery for many years. No one knew where the vast quantities of water came from. In June, up to 6,000 litres of water flow over the Jaun waterfall every second – it is an exceptional thing of natural beauty.

The River Inn begins its life in the Engadin, Graubünden’s high mountain valley. Once past the Upper Engadin’s top destination of St. Moritz. the Inn – known in Romansch as the “En” – flows eastwards and on through the Lower Engadin.

Between Maloja and St. Moritz, the Upper Engadine lake plateau presents itself sometimes almost as a kitschy tableau. Besides the four big lakes (St. Moritz, Silvaplana, Champfèrer and Silser) a large number of romantic mountain lakes are hidden in the forests.

North of St. Maurice and the abbey, high above the castle at the Rhone narrows, the Fairies' Grotto has carved its way more than half a kilometre into the mountain. At the end of their walk, visitors will find a small subterranean lake and a 50 metre-high waterfall.

A culinary voyage of discovery between mountains and lakes on lake Brienz. This allows you to discover the Bernese Oberland.

Lake Lugano in Ticino enchants with its Mediterranean flair and the Alps in the background. From idyllic villages such as Morcote to spectacular views from Monte San Salvatore - a paradise for nature and culture lovers, ideal for boat trips, hikes and water sports.

The Saane is not one of the very large rivers in Switzerland, but it offers a great variety of experiences and adventure potential. The river, here sometimes called “Rösti ditch”, is the dividing line between the German-speaking and French-speaking parts of Switzerland.

Lake Leisee, situated below the Sunnega, offers a place for young and old to recuperate, relax, sunbathe, cool down, play and grill.

Almost as soon as your trip begins at the Rhine Falls, you will experience the Rhine Falls from up close before gliding down the Rhine into the “Rhineland Amazon”. After around 30 minutes, your party will reach the Rheinau power station, where your boat will have to pass the first weir. This requires you to leave the boat and walk 100 metres along the track while the ship is pulled to the other side on a trolley – a truly unique spectacle!

Seelisberg is located high above Lake Lucerne and offers you a fantastic view of the lake and mountains. The small village is a place of peace – with historic paths, green meadows and exciting excursion destinations in central Switzerland.

This beautiful lake is situated 962 metres above sea level in the heart of the Poschiavo Valley, surrounded by mountains. The lake is a natural reservoir in the middle of the Poschiavino river. Its calm and clear surface reflects the surrounding mountains just like a mirror.

Far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, but still within easy reach, the Walensee boat trip entices with an unforgettable experience in a dramatic setting. Let yourself be enchanted by the imposing Churfirsten, the wildly romantic nature and the crystal-clear water. Whether you want to relax, enjoy or celebrate – the Walensee ship makes everything possible.

A natural spectacle in a class of their own are the 600m long Engstligen waterfalls. Under preservation since 1948, these are the second longest falls in Switzerland

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 Giessbach brook tumbles in 14 stages, over a length of 500 meters and out of the high valleys of the Faulhorn area down to Lake Brienz. Historic Grand Hotel Giessbach is located at the foot of this nature spectacle. The hotel is accessible by means of Europe's oldest funicular.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.