8 Of The Most Adorable Small Towns In Switzerland
Switzerland's landscape seems to change character from one town to the next. Appenzell brings traditional crafts and cheese-making into its vibrant town center. Lauterbrunnen sits beneath cliffs and waterfalls in one of the country's most dramatic valleys. In Sils-Maria, the place is quieter, with lakes, hay meadows, and the Fex Valley creating a very different Alpine setting. Zermatt puts the mountain that inspired the Swiss chocolate, Toblerone, at the center of the experience. Together, these towns offer a closer look at the everyday places, landscapes, and traditions that make Switzerland much more than a collection of famous Alpine peaks.
Appenzell
Appenzell is a picturesque town located at the foot of the Alpstein Mountains and has a myriad of must-see places that should be on your list. Watch hair braiders and hand embroiderers at work at Museum Appenzell, discover objects related to these traditional crafts and learn about their history.
Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius Catholic church is the oldest and largest parish in Appenzell Innerrhoden. Over 950 years old, the church’s stone tower and Alpine architecture are an exquisite sight. Admission is free, making the peaceful visit even more blessed. At the heart of Appenzell’s car-free town center, there is some seriously good cheese. Appenzeller Käseladen is the original place for Appenzeller cheese, and not only can you sample some, but you can also check out the cheese factory. No need to “curd” your enthusiasm here; enjoy all the dairy deliciousness!
Wengen
Wengen is located at the edge of the Jungfrau Mountains and is accessible by train, serving as a frosty Shangri-La for winter sports lovers. Luftseilbahn Wengen Männlichen is your transport friend, a mountain cable car that offers glorious views of the town, mountains, and Lauterbrunnen Valley. There is a Royal Walk that you can hop off at, which takes you to the peak of Männlichen, 2,343 meters high!
Head into town to Bäckerei-Konditorei Vincenz AG, a bakery that cooks up the yummiest apple strudels and Berliner donuts. Take them with you to Wengen Aussichtspunkt, a pleasant stroll away, which has the most magnificent sunsets and scenery of the entire region. It’ll stop you in your tracks with how gorgeous it is.
Sion
Sion lies along the Rhône River, at the mouth of the La Sionne River, and the population is predominantly French-speaking. You may while away a few hours at Sion Cathedral, a Gothic church that includes tombs and a video explaining all about the striking stained-glass windows. For a lake with a view, Lac du Mont d’Orge is a tranquil place with mountain vistas on the horizon and cozy benches to drink it all in. You can walk the entire lake loop in under 2 hours, and it’s a spot that locals frequent with their furry friends on a leash.
Les Celliers de Sion is a winery with a wide selection of Valais wines, and if you want to be a bit adventurous, do the Mystery Wine tasting, a blind tasting of four wines, and team it with finger foods so that you don’t get too merry!
Andermatt
Andermatt, set at 4,737 feet elevation with mountains on all sides, was among the earliest Alpine resorts in Switzerland, skiing arriving with Swiss army trainees around 1890. Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis is a luxury ski resort that has multiple ski areas, so you can zig-zag along the mountains and stop off at one of the cozy pubs once you’re ready to call it a day.
Evoke your inner daredevil by heading to Teufelsbrücke "Devil’s Bridge", a site of Swiss folklore where legend has it the bridge was “built by the devil himself”. The Old Bridge area, both a bridge and a U-turn as the road winds along the sheer cliffs of the gorge and crosses the river, this bridge replaced a previous 16th-century stone bridge that collapsed in a storm in 1888. After that chilling experience, get warmed up at the quaint Ochsen and order the notoriously good cheese fondue.
Morcote
Morcote sits above Lake Lugano and has deep-rooted Italian and Latin influences. Parco Scherrer, the botanical gardens, is part of the prestigious “Gardens of Switzerland” and “Grandi Giardini Italiani” networks, complete with plants from the Ticino landscape, Mediterranean, and subtropical regions, including oleander, magnolias and cypresses. This serene retreat is a lovely way to spend your morning.
Torre del Capitano, the Captain’s Tower, stands 15 meters tall and is a historical landmark that, until 1861, housed the municipal girls’ school and then, until 1934, the Town Hall. The most significant feature of the tower is the Gothic mullioned window overlooking the lake, its sparkling waters on the horizon. Since it’s an Italian fest up here in Morcote, Osteria La Terrazza sul Lago is where a “molto bene” (very good) meal will greet you. Carbonara, gnocchi, fried anchovy fillets from the Mediterranean Sea, take your pick, or just have them all!
Sils-Maria
Sils-Maria, known by its Romansh name Segl, lies between Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils, with around 700 residents. A town this size cannot operate the same way as a resort town, and its slower pace is a welcome breath of fresh air. It’s all aboard the boathouse at Sils-Maria, a boat service that takes you onto Lake Sils, where you can see the majestic mountain peaks of Piz Lagrev.
Once you’ve finished taking in the sea breeze, head to Nietzsche-Haus, a site added to UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” register that philosopher and poet Friedrich Nietzsche spent several summers at. Discover Nietzsche’s original manuscripts, letters, and childhood photographs. The Fextal Wanderung, the walk into Fex Valley, rewards you with views as you pass hay meadows and a scattering of hamlets, ending beneath a glacier. It’s just over an hour’s walk starting from the edge of town, but it’s worth it.
Lauterbrunnen
Nestled in Lauterbrunnen Valley, which is known for its 72 waterfalls, is Lauterbrunnen. Get close to the sounds of roaring waters at Staubbach Falls, a famed highland waterfall dropping around 300 meters from a vertical rock face. This is a rushing cascade that you won’t want to miss!
Afterward, head into the center of town and grab a hot chocolate, crepe, or full breakfast from Base Cafe to refuel. Talmuseum is a great way to learn about the history of Lauterbrunnen Valley, delving into the politically turbulent era during the rule of Interlaken Abbey until the Reformation in 1528, and the peaceful centuries until the collapse of the Old Swiss Confederacy in 1798 under the Bernese patriciate. Fascinating stuff!
Zermatt
Located in southern Switzerland at the cusp of the Matterhorn Mountain is Zermatt, an Alpine haven. The mountain cable car operated by the Zermatt Bergbahnen AG is one of the most spectacular mountain experiences in Switzerland. Starting from Zermatt Valley, it takes you high into the Alps. You can take in glorious views at the Klein Matterhorn summit, known as the “Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.” Along the way, you’ll spot the pyramid-shaped mountains, the inspiration behind the Swiss Toblerone chocolate.
For some activities on slightly lower ground, go for a hike on the 5 Lakes Walk, a trail that leads to Lakes Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee. There are rare flowers at Grindjisee, and you can jump into the waters at Leisee. You deserve some fine food after all that, so rock on over to Findlerhof. The menu includes Swiss Premium Spareribs, fillet of lamb, and apple strudel with ice cream. Delicious!
Where Alpine Beauty Knows No Bounds
Whether you’re staring at the tumbling waters rolling 300 meters from Lauterbrunnen’s Staubbach Falls, passing hay meadows in Sils-Maria’s Fex Valley, or getting stuck into Swiss cheese at Appenzeller Käseladen in Appenzell, there are only good times ahead in these captivating pockets of Switzerland. Pack your bags and head on over to the Alps!
