Spring Day Trips in Switzerland and Surroundings: 10 Ideas for Every Taste

The days are finally getting longer again and it won’t be long before the landscape is bathed in rich spring green. For me this awakens the desire for spring outings anew every year. Do you feel the same? In the almost 14 years this blog has existed now (where has the time gone?!), a veritable collection of excursion tips has accumulated.

For the coming sunny spring days I’ve therefore put together 10 ideas that really make you want to be outdoors. From hikes through green vineyards to boat trips on Ticino lakes to bike tours on Lake Constance or architectural forays in the Bregenzerwald, there’s sure to be something for you.

1. Trip to Lake Hallwil

The Seetal between Lenzburg and Emmen, with its landscape shaped by fruit trees and vineyards, is a particularly attractive destination in spring. On the hike from Mosen at the southern end of Lake Hallwil via Aesch and Hitzkirch to Heidegg Castle in Gelfingen you can experience the blossom display especially beautifully. The route is just right for a spring day—flat enough for a relaxed walk and at the same time varied enough for an enjoyable half-day outing.

The path passes three wineries—the Klosterhof in Aesch, Weinbau Kaiserspan in Hitzkirch and the Heidegg winery—and repeatedly opens up unobstructed views of Lake Hallwil and the Central Swiss Alps. A particular highlight is the baroque Heidegg Castle with its romantic rose garden, which is usually in full bloom from May into June.

→ More info: travelita.ch/hallwilersee-schloss-heidegg-top-wanderung-seetal/

2. Boat trip to the Brissago Islands

When spring is still slow to get going on the northern side of the Alps, a detour to Ticino is worth it. The boat trip on Lake Maggiore to the Brissago Islands is one of my favorite spring outings. The botanical garden on Isola Grande shows itself at its best in March and April, when subtropical plants, palms and a profusion of flowers compete around the historic villa.

Even more spring magic can be found on a boat trip on Lake Lugano to Morcote: the small village on the lakeshore is one of the most beautiful in Switzerland and can be wonderfully combined with a descent through its terraced lanes and an espresso on the lakeside promenade. For a guarantee of sun, just don’t forget to check the weather beforehand.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/schifffahrten-tessin-brissago-morcote/

3. A spring day in Stans

Why not take a trip to a small Central Swiss town? Stans, for example, is only a stone’s throw from Lake Lucerne and is often overlooked. Yet the main town of Nidwalden has plenty to offer, from charming lanes to surprising stories to culinary discoveries. On various «listening walks» Stans can be experienced from different perspectives. The short, entertaining routes lead through the town center and provide exciting insights into everyday life and history. In between it’s worth taking a coffee break at the Kafiversum or some action with disc golf on the grounds of Kollegi St. Fidelis. To finish, a visit to the Culinarium Alpinum is recommended, where a walk through the edible garden and a seasonal menu round off the outing deliciously.

→ More info: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBPBuRoIJlc/?img_index=1

4. Views and panoramas in the Three-Lakes Region

Between Lake Murten and Lake Neuchâtel, Mont Vully rises as a distinctive landmark out of the wide landscape of the Three-Lakes Region. At 653 meters it may not be an alpine giant, but it offers one of the most beautiful views in the Swiss Midlands. On a clear day the view stretches from Lake Murten across the Jura chain to the peaks of the French Alps.

The hike on the Trans Swiss Trail from Murten via Sugiez over Mont Vully to Cudrefin is one of the most beautiful routes in the Three Lakes Region. At first the path runs flat along Lake Murten, before the climb through the vineyards up Mont Vully begins at Sugiez. A detour into Murten’s medieval old town with its almost completely preserved ring wall is also worthwhile.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/mont-vully-wanderung/

5. Spring outing to the Riviera of Eastern Switzerland

The car-free little wine village of Quinten on the south shore of the Walensee is only accessible by boat or on foot, and that is precisely what gives this place its special charm — it’s not called the “Riviera of Eastern Switzerland” for nothing. Thanks to its sheltered location, a mild microclimate already prevails here in March. Vines, blooming plum trees and fig trees almost make you forget you’re still in Switzerland.

The hike from Quinten to Weesen is one of the most impressive spring hikes in German-speaking Switzerland. The cliff path passes the imposing Seerenbach Falls, which, with a total height of almost 600 meters, are among the highest waterfalls in Europe. You can reach the starting point by boat from Murg. Alternatively, you can combine the outing with a round trip on the Walensee.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/walenstadt-quinten-weesen-wanderung/

6. A detour to a (nearly) unknown corner of Vaud

Lucens in the Broye Valley of Vaud is something of a real insider tip for German-speaking Swiss. The imposing château perched on a rocky spur, however, is probably not reason enough on its own to travel there. Fortunately, the excursion can be perfectly combined with a hike.

The Sentier Aventures leads through a mixed deciduous forest up to a plateau around the hamlet of Cremin. By the end of March at the latest the air here is full of wild garlic, and just before you reach the plateau a suspension bridge provides the necessary thrill. Up in Cremin there is a swingolf course (Loisirs à la Ferme), which pairs perfectly with the hike. A fun half-day activity for the whole family.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/wandertipps-fuer-ostern/

7. Cycling the Lake Constance cycle route

260 kilometers, three countries, hardly any elevation and always the blue of the lake in view: the Lake Constance cycle route is one of the most beautiful multi-day bike tours in Central Europe. No wonder the route around Europe’s third-largest lake by area is one of the most popular long-distance cycling routes. Thanks to the good signage, the loop can comfortably be ridden in three to five days — depending on pace and appetite for breaks.

Spring is especially appealing: the shores are still pleasantly quiet, the fruit trees are in full bloom and regional asparagus makes its way onto menus on the sunny lake terraces. If time is tight, the section Überlingen – Meersburg – Friedrichshafen is especially worthwhile, with its charming towns and cultural highlights like the pile dwellings in Unteruhldingen. Equally recommendable is the stretch between Romanshorn and Kreuzlingen, which is at its most beautiful during the apple blossom.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/bodensee-radweg-velotour/

8. A day on the Vitra Campus near Basel

A stone’s throw from Basel in Weil am Rhein lies one of the most extraordinary architectural sites in Europe: the Vitra Campus, with buildings by Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron and SANAA — set within an extensive, publicly accessible park. A particular highlight is the garden designed by Piet Oudolf, whose naturalistic planting forms a striking contrast to the iconic architecture. In spring the campus shows itself at its best: cherry trees bloom, Oudolf’s garden awakens in ever-new layers of color, and the terraces invite you to linger.

The campus is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Whether it’s a tour of the Schaudepot, a guided architecture tour or a coffee at the Depot Deli, it’s best to plan at least half a day, because there’s more to discover than you might first expect.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/vitra-campus-tagesausflug/

9. On the trail of building culture in the Bregenzerwald

If you want to combine nature and building culture, the Bregenzerwald is the place to be. The 23 villages of the Vorarlberg region have developed into a remarkable laboratory for contemporary timber architecture. Bus stops by Sou Fujimoto, chapels, community buildings and homes demonstrate a careful approach to materials and the landscape.

The Bregenzerwald Architecture Trail links outstanding examples of architecture with varied hikes across five day-long stages from Krumbach to Au. If you only have a weekend, choose one or two stages, for example the first stage, which leads from Krumbach through moorlands, wooded ravines and over the scenic Schweizberg to Lingenau.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/bregenzerwald-architekturwanderweg/

10. On historical trails along the Urnersee

Laid out for the 700th anniversary of the Confederation in 1991, the Weg der Schweiz leads in four stages over 35 kilometers from Seelisberg around the Urnersee to Brunnen. Especially appealing in spring are stages three and four from Flüelen via Sisikon and the Tellskapelle to Brunnen: the water glows deep blue, the mountain slopes are a rich green, and the peaks in the background are often still snow-covered.

The route alternates between shoreline paths, forest trails and shorter paved sections. The stages are deliberately kept short, so two of them can be easily combined in a single day. If you like, you can round off the outing, depending on your starting point, with a boat trip back to Brunnen or Flüelen.

→ More info: https://www.travelita.ch/weg-der-schweiz-wanderung/