Day trip destinations in Switzerland – a holiday at home
Photo-worthy excursion destinations for the whole family
Beach holidays and city breaks are great, but holidays at home or nearby foreign countries also have a charm all of their own. It is not for nothing that Switzerland is considered one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world. It offers some wonderful destinations for both young and old, and I’m going to show you some of these places now. Just between us: Postcards don't always have to come from the beach! And they are even better when they are personalised anyway.
For nature lovers
Lake Partnun
Lake Partnun is located in the Partnun valley of the same name in the Grisons. The lake is pleasantly cooling on hot days. Whether as a hike or as a mountain bike tour, there is something for everyone. The valley can even be wonderfully explored with off-road pushchairs. The lake can be reached from the mountain houses in Partnun in about 25 minutes, and for the hungry among you there are also several places to build fires on the way, because the hike can be extended up to 2 hours, if you like.
More information can be found here.
Or you could visit another lake near you – after all, Switzerland
is known as the lake capital of Europe!
- Caumasee
On the road in Switzerland’s sun lounge
Monte Brè in Lugano is considered to be Switzerland's sunniest mountain. A cable car takes you from the outskirts of Lugano up the mountain with its panoramic views. Once you reach the summit, two restaurants with sun terraces invite you to enjoy the wonderful view. But also the walk down to the lake or Lugano pleases every nature and also art lover, as the picturesque village of Brè, which is about 20 minutes from the top station, was the residence of numerous artists like the painter Wilhelm Schmid, the sculptor Marco Prati or the Hungarian painter Joseph Birò.
Other great destinations here.
St Beatus Caves
The St Beatus Caves are near Interlaken and are one of the most popular destinations on Lake Thun. To date, around 14 kilometres of the many different branches of the cave system have been explored, with around one kilometre easily accessible thanks to electric lighting. The tour through the grottos leads visitors through impressive stalactite formations, wide open caverns and gorges. Cool and refreshing on hot days!
A visit to the cave museum is the perfect way to round off a tour through the St Beatus Caves. The exciting, impressive story and facts about how the cave was formed are explained in a clear, interesting way.
More information can be found on their website at https://www.beatushoehlen.swiss/en/
If you prefer something a little smaller, I can also recommend the Höllgrotten caves in Zug. This wonderful underground world has stalactites in all sorts of colours, and a whole host of little lakes. https://www.hoellgrotten.ch/
And if you are a fan of dinosaurs, I recommend the Caves of Réclère in Swiss Jura. They were described by those who discovered them as the most beautiful caves in the world, and are wonderful to visit together with the Prehistoric Park! For more information click here
For the more active among us
Hiking is all well and good, but some people need a little more action on their holidays. And Switzerland has plenty to offer the more adventurous traveller too! Have you ever been canoeing? Because this is something that can be enjoyed by beginners too. There are now plenty of operators offering tours or short basic courses, making kayaking a perfect option and safe even for children. Whether you opt for a leisurely paddle down the Aare or near picture-perfect Stein am Rhein, fun is guaranteed along the way!
If you want adventure but still prefer to play it safe, try a rope park. Thrills and spills and fun are guaranteed, and there are different levels and plenty of safety measures, making it an exciting, challenging activity that is suitable even for your little ones. You will often be rewarded with fabulous views over the countryside. It is also normally pleasantly cool among the trees, and there is less risk of getting sunburn!
Swiss rope parks:
- Adventure Park at the Rhine Falls
- Fräckmüntegg rope park
- ROPETECH adventure park Berne
- Balmberg rope park
- Arosa rope park
Find out more at: https://www.seilparks.ch/asp/default.asp
Or grab your bike and discover Switzerland at your own pace. Even if you don't have a bike of your own, you can now hire all kinds of bikes (even electric bikes) for relatively short routes. If you want something a little more energetic, you can opt for a tour on inline skates instead. With guaranteed aching muscles the next day!
You can find some of the best cycle trails at: velotouren.ch
The most well-known inline skating routes in Switzerland are here.
Pedalos on the lake
Pedalos are fun for all ages! There is nowhere better to enjoy the summer sun than on the lake. Pedalos are now available in all shapes and sizes – the ones with a built-in slide are particularly fun! But make sure any children are wearing appropriate life jackets or water wings. Pedalos can be hired from most of the boat hire companies on the bigger lakes.
If you don't have a lake nearby or it is too far to travel, you could try a dinghy ride on the river! Get in at one point, drift gently down the Aare or the Rhone and return to dry land further down the river. A barbecue afterwards is the perfect way to end the adventure. At travelnews.ch, you can not only find the best routes, but also the important safety rules - safety first, after all!
Bad weather options
Even if the weather is not that great, you can still enjoy your holiday not far from home!
Escape rooms are all the rage right now. Immerse yourself in a new world and master tasks that you can only solve as a team. Various missions and puzzles lead to the goal, boosting the brain cells through play.
You can find an overview of the Escape Rooms at https://www.swissescape.ch/
Papiliorama
Papiliorama is home to over 1,000 exotic butterflies, which flutter around visitors in a tropical garden. You can learn about all the fascinating stages in the life cycle of a butterfly, from cute little caterpillars to butterflies emerging from their cocoons. The plant world is also represented, with more than 120 different species of plants. Enjoy the magic of nature! More at https://papiliorama.ch/en/
You will probably only find a greater learning effect in the Technorama – a classic Swiss excursion destination! The Technorama provides experiences with innumerable phenomena from nature and technology. It’s not just the little ones who will learn new things from everyday life, but adults will also experience one or two WOW moments. And unlike in other places, touching, playing and experimenting is a must in the Technorama!
Need more tips? Then I can also recommend these places:
Share the fun with family and friends
During their holidays, people like to send postcards to friends and family and later they put together a great photo book from the most beautiful snapshots. Just because you’re staying at home doesn't mean you have to do without this.
And anyway: personalised greeting cards are usually much nicer than purchased ones! The funniest snapshots of the family for the grandparents or the most beautiful view for your friends. Memories are there to be shared and to spread joy.
Even a photo book can be created with the best snapshots. Collect the best, most beautiful and funniest photos all summer long and create a photo book as a memento for your kids. Or do you already have enough photos from your last day trip to fill an entire book? Then you can start right away and get creative!
Feeling inspired? Then you can start your unforgettable staycation right now! Incidentally: our new app makes the design process easier than ever. You can design and order your personal booklet in no time at all.
Samira Hammami
Samira is actually an art history student, but she has always had a passion for writing. It all started with small blog articles about her biggest hobby: traveling.
Now she writes about all sorts of creative aspects of life, and for some time she has also been supporting ifolor with her articles. Because she is most drawn towards reporting she is especially happy to be starting a master degree course in Cultural Journalism in September.