Spring Outings 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 lush spring green. That awakens my desire for spring outings anew every year. Do you feel the same? In the almost 14 years that this blog has been around (where has the time gone?!), a veritable collection of excursion tips has accumulated.

For the upcoming sunny spring days I’ve put together 10 ideas for you that will really make you want to be outdoors. From hikes through green vineyard slopes to boat trips on Ticino lakes, to bike tours on Lake Constance or architecture rambles 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 vineyard slopes, 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 enjoy the floral display especially well. The route is just right for a spring day—flat enough for a relaxed walk and varied enough for an enjoyable half-day outing.

The path passes three wineries—the Klosterhof in Aesch, Weinbau Kaiserspan in Hitzkirch and Weingut Heidegg—and repeatedly opens up free views of Lake Hallwil and the Central Swiss Alps. A special 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

If spring is still slow to arrive on the northern side of the Alps, a detour to Ticino is well worth it. The boat trip on Lago Maggiore to the Brissago Islands is one of my favorite spring outings. The botanical garden on Isola Grande is at its best in March and April, when subtropical plants, palms and a profusion of flowers vie for attention around the historic villa.

Even more spring magic awaits 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 the terraced lanes and an espresso on the lakeside promenade. For guaranteed sun, just don’t forget to check the weather in advance.

→ 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 capital of Nidwalden has a lot to offer, from charming lanes and surprising stories to delightful discoveries. On various «listening walks» Stans can be experienced from different perspectives. The short, entertaining routes lead through the town center and provide fascinating insights into everyday life and history. In between, a coffee break at Kafiversum or some action with disc golf on the grounds of Kollegium St. Fidelis is worth it. To finish, a visit to the Culinarium Alpinum is recommended, where a stroll through the edible garden and a seasonal menu round off the outing in a delightful way.

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

4. View and panorama in the Three Lakes Region

Between Lake Murten and Lake Neuchâtel, Mont Vully rises as a distinctive landmark from the wide landscape of the Three Lakes Region. At 653 meters it is no Alpine giant, but it offers one of the most beautiful views in the Swiss Plateau. On clear days the view stretches from Lake Murten over 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 tours in the Three Lakes Region. The route first runs flat along Lake Murten before the climb through the vineyards to Mont Vully begins at Sugiez. A detour into the medieval old town of Murten with its nearly 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 wine village of Quinten on the southern shore of the Walensee is only accessible by boat or on foot, and that’s exactly what gives this place its special charm—no wonder it is known as the “Riviera of Eastern Switzerland.” Thanks to its sheltered location, a mild microclimate prevails here as early as March. Vineyards, 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 impressive Seerenbach Falls, which, with a total height of almost 600 meters, are among the highest waterfalls in Europe. You 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 (almost) unknown corner of Vaud

Lucens in the canton of Vaud’s Broye valley is something of a real insider tip for German-speaking Swiss. The imposing château perched on a rocky outcrop is probably not the only reason to travel there after all. Fortunately, the trip can be perfectly combined with a hike.

The Sentier Aventures leads through a mixed deciduous forest to a high plateau around the hamlet of Cremin. By the end of March you can usually smell wild garlic intensely here, and just before you reach the plateau a suspension bridge provides the necessary thrill. Up in Cremin you’ll find a swingolf course (Loisirs à la Ferme), which goes well with the hike. A short, entertaining half-day outing for the whole family.

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

7. Cycling on the Lake Constance Cycle Path

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

Spring is particularly appealing: the shores are still pleasantly quiet, the fruit trees are in full bloom and regional asparagus is appearing on the sunny lakeside 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. Also recommended is the stretch between Romanshorn and Kreuzlingen, which is at its best during the apple blossom.

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

8. A day on the Vitra Campus near Basel

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

The campus is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. Whether a tour through 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 initially expect.

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

9. Exploring architectural culture in the Bregenzerwald

If you want to combine nature and building culture, the Bregenzerwald is the right place. The region’s 23 villages in Vorarlberg have developed into a remarkable laboratory for contemporary wood architecture. Bus stops by Sou Fujimoto, chapels, community buildings and houses show a careful handling of material and landscape.

The Architekturweg Bregenzerwald connects outstanding building examples with varied hikes over five day 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 moor landscapes, forest ravines and over the panoramic Schweizberg to Lingenau.

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

10. Along historic paths around Lake Uri

Created for the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation in 1991, the Weg der Schweiz leads in four stages over 35 kilometers from Seelisberg around Lake Uri to Brunnen. Particularly appealing in spring are stages three and four from Flüelen via Sisikon and the Tellskapelle to Brunnen: the water gleams deep blue, the mountain slopes appear lush green and the peaks in the background are often still snow-capped.

The path alternates between lakeside trails, forest paths and shorter paved sections. The stages are deliberately kept short so that two of them can be combined well in one day. If you like, you can supplement the outing depending on the starting point with a boat trip back to Brunnen or Flüelen.

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