Favorite Lake Towns in Switzerland
 

We're going to Switzerland in July/August and are trying to decide which lake town to stay in. We're looking for one where we can stay on a lake, take a boat/ferry, walk/bike around the lake, etc. Any region of Switzerland works for us. Anybody have any favorites?

There's a lot! Locarno, from which you can boat, bike down the Centovalli, visit Bellinzona, and hike anywhere; Vevey/Montreux, with the wonderful lakeside promenade and the vineyards climbing up the hillsides, Sils, Silvaplana and the Engadina. So from those you can choose Italian, French or German. What's your preference?

I loved Montreux and the surrounding towns. The paths along the lake have such beautiful flowers and the Chateux de Chillon is stunning. A bike ride option from Montreux is to ride around to Evian. It is a full day trip but worth it.

Hi constancelloyd,

As Grasshopper says, there really are a lot!!

On Lake Geneva: Montreux, Vevey, & Morges.

On Lake Lucerne: Weggis, Vitznau, & Lucerne.

On Lake Thun: Spiez & Thun.

On Lake Brienz: Brienz.

In the Engadin: St Moritz (on St Moritzersee) and Sils (on Silvaplanersee).

You'll find that there are more trails in Switzerland than an average human can complete in a lifetime!! Every hamlet seems to have a nest of trails leading in every direction -- your best bet is to find the spot that makes your heart happy, and then go to the local tourist office (or to your hotel's staff) and ask about the most scenic trails. You can rent bicycles at many train stations in Switzerland -- information (and routes & maps) at www.rent-a-bike.ch.

If you can give us more information, we may be able to narrow this down for you. Where are you coming from & going to (ease of access may be a factor); do you want a town (Montreux, Sils, Spiez), a city (Lucerne, St. Moritz, Thun), or a village (Weggis, Morges); do you want rugged (Weggis) or refined (Montreux); do you also want shopping; do you want French, German, Italian, or Romansch architecture & culture, etc & etc.

s

Our ideal place would be: right next to the lake; a balcony or patio overlooking the lake; a pedestrian or bike path where we could walk right along the lake; a place where our children could either splash around in the lake or where our hotel would have a pool; a lake where we could rent a row boat for ourselves or, if that's not possible a lake where we can take a boat ride on the lake (we have a car so we could drive to another town for the boat. We don't need shopping; museums; or fancy restraunts (although if they come with the territory that's ok). We're hoping to spend less than $500 per night (there's two adults and three children (5,7,10) so probably two rooms or one big room. We're willing to spend more if we have to. This is going to be a short three day break in the middle of a 24 day trip.

Our plans have changed slightly and we are going to be coming from Venice through Milan and are looking to stop at one of the lakes around Lago di Lugano; Lago Maggiore; Lago di Como area. Since most of the towns around those lakes are in Italy I'm hoping one of you could still help me.

You have described Albergo Navegna in Minusio on Lago Maggiore. www.navegna.ch They even provide the bikes. Great promenade/bike path, right on the lake, wonderful restaurant, very quiet. You can visit the castles of Bellinzona. Be sure to take the train in the Centovalli and hop off at one of the gondolas to ride to the top of a mountain for lunch and a hike. My favorite destination.

ttt

Hello there Constance and LLoyd.
It's a few years ago but after having three trips to Switzerland, we would recommend the village of 'Spiez' on Lake Thun. Ideal for transport by boat or train/bus to Interlaken and most areas of Switzerland. Quiet place with an interesting Castle. Good luck. Jack

Ascona is a beautiful town on the Swiss side of one of those Italian lakes (don't remember which one). You go to Locarno and can take a bus or cab there. There are ferries there too and you can rent boats etc.

Hello C & L:

You also have described Hotel Spendide Royal in Lugano. It doen't get any better IMO. Good luck. Gradyghost

From your original post I was going to chime in with my favorites of Morges, Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux along Lac Leman outside Geneva.

But from your later, it sounds more like you are wanting a smaller lake up in the mountains.

I also recommend Spiez. We stayed at a restaurant with rooms right on the water, Aqua Welle. Not elegant, but very nice. Spiez is on a very major rail line, so has easy access to anywhere. Lake steamer stops there. It is on Thunersee, with Thun at west end, Interlaken on east end.

Thanks for all the great ideas!

ttt

In no particular order

1. Ascona
2. Weggis
3. Lucerne
4. Brienz
5. Zug
6. Rapperswil
7. Thun

Spietz and Brienz