If you’re looking to substitute skis for sunkissed days spent exploring, then there’s no better time to discover the Swiss Alps than in summer. While Switzerland may be best known as a winter wonderland, there’s abundant adventure, luxury and relaxation to be had during the summer months.
Read on as we explore the best of the Swiss Alps in the summer, including the prettiest towns to visit, the finest hotels and the most rewarding experiences.
Image: Adobe Stock Images - Eva Bocek
Discover the best swiss alps towns to visit in summer
Many of Switzerland’s peaceful mountain towns excel all year round, although some are at their best in summer. Here are the best Swiss Alps towns to enjoy in the warmer months.
Andermatt
In the Ursen Valley, Andermatt is a gorgeous and quintessentially Swiss village. Surrounded by high mountain peaks, sparkling lakes and an abundance of trails, it’s perfect for sightseeing, hiking and biking during the summer. It also offers easy access to Switzerland’s most iconic alpine passes including Gotthard, Furka and Oberalp, which are among our favourites to drive. Keen golfers will also enjoy splitting the fairway on Andermatt’s spectacular 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course.
Interlaken
The resort town of Interlaken bursts into life in the summer. A ride on the Schynige Platte Railway provides picturesque landscapes of towering mountains and azure lakes, on which you can enjoy activities such as kayaking and paddleboarding. Interlaken is equally as impressive from the air, with paragliding and hot air ballooning both options should you want to enjoy bird’s-eye views. The town is also a haven for high-end shopping and fine dining, while the International Street Artists Festival (Gauklerfest) comes to town in late July, filling the streets with clowns, comedians, magicians and musicians.
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Lucerne
While Lucerne is not situated in the high Alps, it’s an incredibly picturesque city on the shores of the famous lake, and is one of the best Swiss Alps towns. The lake hosts many summer activities including swimming and sailing, and it’s a pleasure to meander the streets of the gorgeous cobblestoned city, ice cream in hand. Lucerne is also the ideal base for exploring many of Switzerland’s most scenic drives and alpine passes, including Susten, Grimsel and the peaceful Klausen, with magnificent mountain vistas and fewer tourists.
Davos
The annual host of the World Economic Forum, Davos is a scenic town in the canton of Graubünden. While it’s a major winter sports destination, it’s equally beautiful in summer, offering opportunities for hiking, biking, high-wiring and golf, and a sizable lake on which you can enjoy sailing, wakeboarding and wind-surfing. Davos is also close to the Flüela Pass, which connects the town to Susch in the Lower Engadine Valley, for a breathtaking drive packed with panoramic mountain views.
Grindelwald
The charming village of Grindelwald is a haven for summer relaxation – a peaceful retreat to enjoy a glass of local Swiss wine and soak up the sublime views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. If you prefer to up the tempo, there are ample hiking and trail-running opportunities, plus paragliding, a canyon swing and toboggan rides. This idyllic village also offers easy access to the scenic Grosse Scheidegg pass, although this is only accessible to bikes and buses.
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Unique experiences in the Swiss Alps during summer
Summer is arguably the best time of year to visit Switzerland because the weather is warm, the scenery is inspiring, and the landscape is more accessible.
Hiking trails
Hiking boots are a must, with the Swiss Alps renowned for their extensive network of hiking trails that cater to all levels of experience. Popular hiking destinations include the Matterhorn region, Jungfrau region, and the Engadine Valley. Trails like the Five Lakes Walk in Zermatt – with extraordinary views of the Matterhorn – the iconic Eiger Trail in Grindelwald, and the Panorama Trail in Engelberg offer breathtaking scenery and diverse landscapes.
Mountain biking
If you prefer bikes to hikes, there’s plenty of reasons to visit the Swiss alps in the summer. Many alpine resorts offer excellent mountain biking trails, with both easy family-friendly routes and pulsating downhill tracks for seasoned riders. Areas around Davos, St. Moritz, and the Valais region are respected for their well-maintained biking trails and stunning backdrops.
Scenic trains
Of course, if all that sounds like too much hard work, Switzerland has many scenic train routes for a more relaxed way to absorb the scenery. The Glacier Express, Bernina Express, and GoldenPass Express are among the most famous, boasting panoramas of snow-capped peaks, deep gorges and charming mountain villages.
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Driving tours
Perhaps the best way to enjoy a Swiss Alps summer is from behind the wheel of a supercar. Switzerland’s roads are as beautiful as its scenery, with wide lanes and well-maintained surfaces that enhance the joy of driving an exotic car. Our Swiss Supercar Tour delivers the best experience of these roads, with a fleet of supercars, curated routes and all the luxury you could ever wish for.
Sightseeing
Exploring little alpine villages is always an enriching experience in summer. Strolling through the best Swiss Alps towns will give you the opportunity to experience traditional Swiss culture, architecture and hospitality. Whether you stay or just pass through, these villages often serve as gateways to many outdoor activities.
Music festivals
Finally, summer is when music festivals hit Switzerland, with many taking place in and around the Alps. In June, you’ll find the annual three-day Fête de la Musique festival in Geneva, while July is when the Montreux Jazz Festival comes to the resort town of Montreux. Then in late July, the Gurten Music Festival arrives in Bern – a four-day event with 60 live acts.
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Fabulous hotels in the Swiss Alps for your summer adventure
There’s no shortage of excellent accommodation in Switzerland, but which can claim to be the best hotels in the Swiss Alps?
A long-time favourite is The Chedi – a sumptuous five-star hotel in the town of Andermatt. Marrying alpine chic with Asian design, this unique resort boasts an opulent interior, state-of-the-art spa, stunning Japanese restaurant, and even a 5-metre cheese tower.
Deeper in the Swiss Alps, The Omnia is a luxe hotel overlooking the town of Zermatt. This opulent five-star property has just 30 rooms, each of which is stylish and sophisticated. When you can peel yourself away from the hotel’s exceptional wellness spa, The Omnia is an excellent base from which to explore this renowned area.
Elsewhere, the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown in the town of Interlaken. This highly-rated Belle Époque hotel offers palatial rooms, an outstanding spa and excellent dining options.
Finally, we also adore the Park Hotel Vitznau, on the shores of Lake Lucerne. The incredible location is just the start – this five-star hotel shows off award-winning restaurants, an exclusive spa and heated outdoor infinity pool, not to mention a 32,000-bottle wine cellar.
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Adventure always awaits: why we love the Swiss Alps as a destination
We rarely need an excuse to visit the Swiss Alps. The scenery alone is worth the trip, as being surrounded by colossal mountains, pristine lakes and chocolate box villages always stokes a sense of wonder.
Of course, visiting Switzerland is about so much more than simply admiring the views. If you love adventure travel, the Swiss Alps is the ideal destination. The skiing and winter sports are naturally world-class, while the hiking, biking and watersports in the summer months are equally first-rate.
As we highlight in our showcase of the alpine drive to Lucerne, driving in Switzerland is also difficult to top. The roads are perfect, both in terms of how they handle and where they are situated. Cruising along velvety Swiss roads flanked by the finest scenery in one of our awesome supercars is a pleasure that’s difficult to put into words.
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Explore the majestic Swiss Alps in summer with Ultimate Driving Tours
Whether it’s the lure of top-class hiking or a thrilling day in a supercar, there’s plenty of reason to explore the Swiss Alps in summer – and you can do it in true style by joining us on our luxury supercar adventure in Switzerland, complete with latest-release supercars, lavish accommodation and the height of Swiss fine dining.
Book now to secure your place on our 2025 tour. If you want to learn more about this luxury tour or any of our bucket-list driving adventures, speak with our friendly travel concierge team today.
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