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Switzerland is home to many beautiful lakeside resorts worth visiting. If you’re looking for a relaxing environment, you can enjoy the soothing waters and the gentle breeze blowing across them. These lakeside resorts boast stunning scenery, with many of them offering breathtaking views of high alpine peaks.
Additionally, these resorts are great for outdoor enthusiasts, especially in summer when you can swim, boat, kayak, and paddleboard. They are a great treat for families, especially with smaller children who can safely play close to the water. Lakeside promenades are well-suited for leisurely walks, offering an enjoyable experience for everyone.
In this article, we present eight of the most beautiful lakeside resorts in Switzerland. Let’s go.
1. Lucerne
Lucerne is one of the most beautiful lakeside resorts in Switzerland. This small city is in the heart of Switzerland amidst the fjord-like blue lake and majestic mountains. With its scenic setting, accessibility, and huge variety of activities, it appeals to people of all ages.
Popular for visitors is to cruise on one of the five steamboats in service. The oldest one in the country, Steamboat Uri, had its maiden voyage in 1901.
For those who wish to swim, there are many swimming and bathing sites around Lucerne particularly Ufschötti, the Lucerne Lido near the Verkehrshaus, and the Seebad Lucerne between Grand Casino and the Hotel Palace Luzern. Further away from Lucerne, you have the Winkelbadi Horw, Neuseeland in Buochs, and Lido Weggis.
| Lake | Lake Lucerne |
| Location | Central Switzerland |
| Water-based Activities | Swimming, Cruises, Stand-Up Paddleboarding |
Recommended Hotels in Lucerne: Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern, Grand Hotel National Luzern, Hermitage Lake Lucerne
2. Montreux
Montreux is the most popular spa town on Lake Geneva with a relaxed, touristy feeling. Its mild climate and Riviera make it seem like miniature Cannes. It has a picturesque promenade along the lake dotted by Belle Époque hotels like Fairmont Le Montreux Palace and Hotel Eden Palace au Lac.
Montreux was made popular by the novel Julie ou La Nouvelle Héloïse by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Other prominent visitors include Lord Byron, Mary Shelly, Igor Strawinsky, Edgar Wallace, and Vladimir Nabokov.
Montreux has an eight-kilometer-long riviera, proximity to the beautiful Chillon Castle, and a scenic train to the Rochers-de-Naye summit.
Those interested in swimming can go to the Clarens, Chillon, and Villeneuve beaches. Outdoor enthusiasts can check out the Vevey Nautic Center, Watersports Montreux, Geneva Boats, Wave Club Vevey, and Nautic Loisirs.
| Lake | Lake Geneva |
| Canton | Vaud |
| Outdoor Activities | Swimming, Cruises, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding |
Recommended Hotels in Montreux: Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Montreux Grand Rue – Swiss Hotel Apartments, Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Autograph Collection
3. Sils im Engadin
Switzerland boasts some of the most stunning lakeside resorts in the world, with one located in the Lakes Region of the Engadine Valley worth mentioning.
Sils is considered one of the most picturesque and tranquil areas in the region. Located amidst picturesque lakes and mountains, it’s no wonder that artists and poets have sought refuge in this area.
Among the numerous lakes that you can find here are Lake Sils, Lake Silvaplana, and Lej da Champfèr. At a further distance, you will find the famous town of St. Moritz on the shores of St. Moritz Lake.
There are a variety of outdoor activities you can do in Lake Sils, including rowing, paddling, windsurfing, and more. If you’re looking for a bathing lake in the Engadine region, try Lej da Staz, Lej Nair, or Lej Marsch.
| Lake | Lake Sils, Lake Silvaplana, Lej da Champfèr, Lej da Staz, Lej Nair, Lej Marsch |
| Canton | Graubünden |
| Outdoor Activities | Cruising from Sils Maria to Maloja, Sailing, Rowing, Pedalo, Kayak, Stand-Up Paddling, Windsurfing, Kiting, Diving, Fishing, Swimming (Lej da Staz, Lej Nair, Lej Marsch) |
Recommended Hotels in Sils im Engadin: Hotel Waldhaus, Parkhotel Margna Superior, Edelweiss Swiss Quality Hotel
4. Ascona
Located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, Ascona is a popular lakeside resort along Lake Maggiore. Along with its neighboring town of Locarno, Ascona stands out for its beautiful lakeside promenade, proximity to the gorgeous valleys of the region, magnificent climate, and stunning old town. If you’re looking for a tranquil getaway, the hotels in this area are an excellent choice.
Watersports enthusiasts will appreciate the many pools and bathing areas around Lake Maggiore, particularly in nearby Locarno. The Yacht Club Ascona offers sailing courses for young people at https://www.ycas.ch/.
| Lake | Lake Maggiore |
| Canton | Ticino |
| Outdoor Activities | Swimming, Sailing, Diving, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding, Wakesurf, Stand-Up Paddling |
Recommended Hotels in Ascona: Castello del Sole Beach Resort & Spa, Hotel Eden Roc – The Leading Hotels of the World, Art Hotel Riposo, Parkhotel Delta, Wellbeing Resort, Hapimag Resort Ascona
5. Thun
Described as the gateway to Bernese Oberland, Thun in Switzerland is also one of the biggest cities in Canton Bern. You can find this lakeside resort on the northern part of Bernese Oberland sitting on the northern edge of Lake Thun. It is a stunning town definitely worth a visit.
Thun has been settled since the Neolithic Age and the lake was mentioned as “lacus dunesis” in 660. It boasts beautiful castles, the reformed town church on the Schlossberg, an old church, a park, an accessible lower bridge, and majestic views of the mountains.
Lake Thun, located in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region, is one of the most stunning lakes in the country. 558 meters above sea level, the lake is around eighteen kilometers long and four kilometers wide. It is a fantastic place to visit, especially in summer.
| Lake | Lake Thun |
| Canton | Bern |
| Outdoor Activities | Cruising, Boating, Stand-Up Paddling, Sailing, Swimming |
Recommended Hotels in Thun: Boutique Hotel Schlossberg, Deltapark Vitalresort, Congress Hotel Seepark
6. Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel is a picture-perfect city with a medieval center. It lies at the northern end of Lake Neuchâtel, the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland. As home to creative watchmakers, it is also an established Swiss watchmaking center.
There are many historical landmarks in the city, including Neuchâtel Castle, the entire old city, and the urban village of Corcelles. Located here is the Laténium, a museum dedicated to prehistoric times in Neuchâtel and Hauterive, focusing primarily on La Tène culture.
Chaumont, a mountain peak easily accessible from the city, provides fantastic panoramic views of the region.
Lake Neuchâtel offers many beautiful beaches, Stand-Up Paddling, Surfing, and more.
| Lake | Lake Neuchâtel |
| Canton | Neuchâtel |
| Outdoor Activities | Swimming, Stand-Up Paddling, Surfing, Kayaking, Diving |
Recommended Hotels in Neuchâtel: Hotel Palafitte, Beau Rivage Hotel, Best Western Premier Hotel Beaulac
7. Vevey
The town of Vevey is in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. Despite being smaller than Lausanne and Geneva, there are lots of beautiful buildings and interesting museums to explore on this lakeside resort on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Vevey features the Alimentarium – an interesting food museum designed by and presenting Nestlé. The company Nestlé is an international food and beverage company founded in 1867 and based in Vevey. In 1665, Jean-Pierre Zaug marked the Alimentarium’s tenth anniversary by installing a giant 8-meter-tall fork on Lake Geneva. You can see this in the picture above.
From 1952 to 1977, Charlie Chaplin lived in Vevey. If you are into his life or works, you can also drop by Chaplin’s World, a museum honoring Charline Chaplin located in Corsier-sur-Vevey.
Those interested in swimming can go to the Vevey, La Tour-de-Peilz, Chardonne, Corseaux, Saint-saphorin, and Rivas beaches. Outdoor enthusiasts can check out the Vevey Nautic Center, Watersports Montreux, Geneva Boats, Wave Club Vevey, and Nautic Loisirs.
| Lake | Lake Geneva |
| Canton | Vaud |
| Outdoor Activities | Swimming, Cruises, Stand-Up Paddleboarding, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding |
Recommended Hotels in Vevey: Grand Hotel du Lac Vevey, Hôtel Des Trois Couronnes & Spa – The Leading Hotels of the World, Le Mirador Resort & Spa, Base Vevey
8. Lugano
Lugano is the largest town in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino and the ninth-largest in Switzerland. It has the largest Italian-speaking majority outside of Italy. The lakeside resort lies right along Lake Lugano. 15 minutes away is the Province of Varese in the Italian region of Lombardy.
There are 17 heritage sites around Lugano that are designated as Swiss heritage sites. The city of Lugano as well as the districts of Barbengo, Brè, Gandria, and Biogno. Likewise, Cantine di Gandra and Castagnola are all part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.
With Lugano’s lidos, sports and leisure activities seem to go on Lake Lugano. The lake is ideal for windsurfing, sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, and waterskiing.
| Lake | Lake Lugano |
| Canton | Ticino |
| Outdoor Activities | Swimming, Windsurfing, Sailing, Stand-Up Paddling, Waterskiing |
Recommended Hotels in Lugano: Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola, Hotel Splendide Royal, Swiss Hotel Apartments, LUGANODANTE, Hotel Federale
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- Is Ascona Worth Visiting?
- Make the Most of a Long Weekend in Lugano
- 8 Best Things to Do in Lake Thun, Switzerland
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