5 Charming Villages In Switzerland You Must Visit

5 Charming Villages In Switzerland You Must Visit. From dazzling medieval castles to luxurious ski resorts, mountainside thermal baths and epic zip-lines, Switzerland is a country of many frivolous haunts and fancy pastimes. Its cities may be beautiful, but its villages are even more so. Leave the guidebook at home and skip over Zurich, Geneva and Basel on your next visit, and instead, explore one of these ten magical villages.

Grindelwald

Mount Eiger

Also known as the glacier village, Grindelwald is a popular holiday spot for hikers and keen adventurers in the summer months and skiers in the winter. A popular hiking route up the north face of Eiger mountain starts from Grindelwald, and a beautiful glacial gorge, Gletscherschlucht, lies just outside the village. One of the best ways to appreciate the sheer beauty that makes up Grindelwald is to take a ride on the First Flyer. A seated zip-wire ride that allows four people to fly side by side, the First Flyer is just over 750m in length and reaches speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.

Guarda

Having been awarded the Wakker Prize for the preservation of its architectural heritage in 1975, Guarda is now on the shortlist to be named the best historical village in Switzerland by a national magazine. During the summer months, visitors can embark on a fairly easy hike to Piz Buin – the mountain made famous by the suntan lotion brand. In winter, the village comes alive with toboggan runs, ice rinks and cross-country ski routes to keep all of its visitors entertained. A village of national importance, the sheer beauty of this picture-perfect place is not to be underestimated.

Morcote

A hypnotically picturesque lakeside village in the Lugano region of Switzerland, Morcote is referred to as ‘the pearl of Ceresio.’ Ceresio comes from Ceresius lacus, meaning Lugano Lake. Morcote is home to several architectural wonders listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. Amongst these are the ornate chapel of San Antonio Abate, known for its gigantic staircase, and Scherrer Park, where visitors can enjoy the luscious greenery whilst simultaneously admiring a Siamese tea house, an Egyptian temple and an abundance of Greek sculptures.

Gimmelwald

Famous for its locally made cheeses, Gimmelwald lies halfway up a mountain in the Bernese Oberland. One of the last car-free villages in Switzerland, Gimmelwald is a completely pedestrianized village making it a truly idyllic retreat from urban life. Take the cable car from Stechelberg and enjoy the spectacular views of mountains and waterfalls as you make the ascent to Gimmelwald. Once there, a potter around the village is called for as well as a cheese fondue. Those staying the night can attempt one of the stunning hikes the next day from Grindelwald to Allmendhubel to hear Alphorns being played or have a go at river rafting, canyoning, or even do a sky dive.

Andermatt

Situated in the heart of Alpine Switzerland, there is an abundance of activities and attractions to keep visitors returning to Andermatt. A typical summer tourist itinerary here would include hiking, mountain biking, climbing, fishing and golf, whereas winter is the season for horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and tobogganing. Geologists and anyone with an eye for shiny things will enjoy a day at Crystal World, and keen photographers and appreciators of stunningly peaceful panoramas will love a ride on the slowest express train in the world: The Glacier Express, which will take you all the way to Zermatt.