Relaxed Exploring: 10 Stunning Places to Visit in Switzerland Without Hiking

1) Oberhofen Castle

Oberhofen Castle feels like a real-life Disney castle — stunning and opulent both inside and out!

• Outside, you can admire the beautiful lake tower leaning gracefully into the blue waters of Lake Thun. The castle gardens are open to the public for free, offering lovely walking paths and gorgeous views of the lake.
• Inside, the experience is truly unforgettable. Having visited many castles, I thought nothing could impress me anymore — but Oberhofen quickly climbed to the top of my list! The rooms take you on a journey through centuries of wealth and lavish living.
  You’ll find classic rooms like the salon, music room, bedrooms, and servants’ quarters. But the castle also features unique highlights such as a chapel, the exotic oriental smoking room decorated in Moorish style, and even a modern bathroom with a flushing toilet—a rare luxury in the 19th century!

Visiting the gardens is free, while entry inside the castle costs CHF 14 for adults and CHF 6 for children.

Located near the city of Thun, Oberhofen Castle is easily accessible by public transport, car, or even by boat during the summer months.

For up-to-date opening hours and more details, check out schlossoberhofen.ch.

2) Beatus Caves

Beatus Caves is another fantastic attraction on the shore of Lake Thun, located just a stone’s throw from Oberhofen Castle—making it easy to combine visits to both.

These vast limestone caves stretch over 1.5 kilometers, with visitors able to explore around 1 km inside. Inside, you’ll find dramatic stalactites, stalagmites, and underground waterfalls that transport you into a magical, hidden fairy-tale world.

What sets Beatus apart from other stalactite & stalagmite caves worldwide is:

• Its sheer size — it’s quite a walk inside!
• Multiple underground bodies of water, ranging from small, reflective pools to roaring waterfalls, all fully inside the cave.

You can explore the caves via a self-guided tour (entrance fee: CHF 20 for adults, CHF 12 for children) or opt for a guided tour at an additional cost.

Be mindful that the temperature inside the caves is a cool 10°C year-round, so bring warm layers. Given the distance you'll walk, expect to spend at least an hour inside.

For up-to-date opening hours and more details, visit beatushoehlen.swiss.

Bonus: If you walk just a bit outside of the Beatus caves, you'll get to the following view! 

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EcrJ3fDxaD1bQdVJ7

3) Landwasser Viaduct

This iconic railway bridge was built over 100 years ago and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its harmonious integration into the alpine landscape. The viaduct’s graceful curve and towering arches dramatically span the steep Landwasser River canyon, making it one of the most photogenic railway bridges in the world.

While many visitors cross the viaduct aboard the scenic Bernina Express or Glacier Express, I highly recommend viewing this architectural marvel from the ground. The viewing decks offer a unique—and, in my opinion, more impressive—perspective.

Here’s a map showing how to reach the Landwasser Viaduct viewing point from above (don’t worry, it’s just a short walk, not a hike):

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/switzerland/grisons/landwasserviadukt-nord

If you want to get even closer, you can walk down to the base of the viaduct, where you can admire it from directly beneath. During the summer months, food trucks are available nearby for refreshments.

Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/om255D3k9EkoBKUv9

4) Adelboden Giant Swing

After exploring castles, caves, and trains, it's time to head for the mountains! But don’t worry—I’m still keeping the view-to-effort ratio high.

We’re off to the Adelboden Giant Swing, perched on the scenic Tschentenalp plateau (yes, it’s a bit of a tongue twister). This alpine swing offers jaw-dropping views and is just a 2-minute walk from the Tschentenalp mountain station, which you can easily reach by gondola from Adelboden village.

Sitting at around 2,000 meters above sea level, the swing lets you soar above the valley with sweeping views of the Lohner mountain massif and the stunning alpine landscape below.

📸 Let the photos do the talking—this spot is truly unforgettable.

5) Mount Pilatus – The Dragon Mountain

Mount Pilatus is one of Switzerland’s most legendary peaks—and luckily, you don’t have to hike a single step to enjoy it! Soaring 2,128 meters above sea level, this iconic mountain offers panoramic views over Lake Lucerne, the Alps, and even the Black Forest on clear days.

The summit is easily reachable by public transport—and getting there is half the fun! You can choose between two scenic routes:

🚠 Option 1: The Golden Round Trip

• Take a boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad
• Ride the world’s steepest cogwheel railway up to Pilatus Kulm
• Descend by aerial cableway and gondola to Kriens
• Return to Lucerne by bus or tram
  (or do it the other way around)

🚡 Option 2: Direct Route

• Take a bus from Lucerne to Kriens
• Ride the Panorama Gondola and Cable Car straight up to the top

At the summit, you'll find viewing platforms, short panorama trails, a restaurant, and even a hotel—so you can spend a whole day (or night!) soaking up the alpine atmosphere.

Why Dragon Mountain? In the medieval times locals believed that fiery, winged dragons inhabited the mountain slopes and people avoided climbing the mountain out of fear or respect for the dragons!

6) Aescher - The Cliffside Guesthouse

Continuing the mountain theme, here's another view for the postcards. Tucked dramatically into the side of a sheer cliff in the Appenzell Alps, Aescher Guesthouse is one of Switzerland’s most unique and photogenic mountain restaurants.

Perched at 1,454 meters above sea level, this centuries-old wooden hut seems almost impossibly carved into the rock face—making it feel like a scene straight out of a fantasy movie.

You don’t need to be a hiker to reach this alpine gem either. Simply take the Ebenalp cable car from Wasserauen, and from the top, it’s an easy 15-minute downhill walk along a scenic cliff path (it also includes passing through a prehistoric cave chapel!).

Once there, you can enjoy traditional Swiss food like rösti and sausages, all while soaking in breathtaking views of the Alpstein region.

Once you get back to Wasserhauen, I'd encourage you to take one exception from the "no hiking" rule and hike one hour to Seealpsee lake. While it is uphill, the paved route is broad , stable and family friendly. Let's be honest, these views are worth a little bit of sweat! 

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/switzerland/appenzell-inner-rhodes/wasserauen-seealpsee 

7) Aare Gorge - Nature’s Canyon Walk

Have you seen enough of the mountains? Let's change the theme to gorges and valleys. The Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht) is your perfect Swiss stop, if you’re looking for something dramatic but totally doable without breaking a sweat.

 This narrow limestone canyon has been carved over thousands of years by the turquoise waters of the Aare River, slicing through vertical cliffs that rise up to 50 meters high.

The best part? You can walk right through the heart of it on a safe and easy wooden walkway. The whole route is just under 1.5 kilometers and completely flat, making it accessible for families, casual strollers, and anyone avoiding steep hiking.

You'll pass through tunnels, rock formations, and glassy river views.  The walk is especially refreshing on hot summer days—thanks to the cool air and misty gorge microclimate.

🛤️ Getting there is easy: Take a train to Meiringen, then either walk or hop on a short local bus to the West Entrance of the gorge. You can walk all the way through and return from the East Entrance, where there's a train station too! Since you'll get out on the opposite side than you got in, taking public transport rather than a car makes it more convenient.

Ticket price for adults is 12 CHF and 7.5 CHF for children.

For up-to-date opening hours and more details, check out https://aareschlucht.ch/en/welcome.

8) Lauterbrunnen Valley

Since I promised you both gorges and valley, let's head to Lauterbrunnen Valley - one of the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring places in all of Switzerland—and arguably the world. Picture a lush green valley flanked by towering rock walls, dotted with quaint wooden chalets, and pierced by 72 waterfalls cascading from dizzying heights. It's no surprise that this magical landscape inspired Tolkien’s Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings.

The most iconic of the waterfalls is Staubbach Falls, plunging nearly 300 meters right next to the village. You can even walk behind the spray on a short uphill path (don’t worry, it’s a quick stroll—not a hike).

The village of Lauterbrunnen is straight out of a storybook. It’s the perfect place to sip coffee with a view, browse alpine boutiques, or hop on a scenic train deeper into the Jungfrau region.

🛤️ Getting there is easy: Simply take the train to Lauterbrunnen station—well-connected via Interlaken. From there, everything in the valley is accessible by foot or local bus.

You don’t need to summit a mountain to feel like you're walking through a fantasy landscape here.

9) Morcote village

Let's finish the magical views theme with Morcote village, that was voted "Most Beautiful Village in Switzerland" in 2016. When you get there, it's not hard to see why - Morcote looks like it was plucked straight from an Italian dream (it's located in Ticino - Italian speaking part of Switzerland). The village features pastel-colored houses, flower-draped balconies, narrow cobblestone alleys and lake promenade is lined with charming cafés, and artisan shops.

However, don't stop there—climb the picturesque staircase up to the Santa Maria del Sasso Church, and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views over Lake Lugano, backed by the Swiss-Italian Alps.

It actually gets even better, if you're a fan of panoramic swings after Adelboden (wink, wink). Morcote has it's own swing, part of the Swing the World initiative*. The swing is located near the Santa Maria del Sasso Church and lets you sway above the lake with the romantic village of Morcote beneath your feet.

Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/gnGELxMi1P5cfhYd6

*The Swing the World initiative is a creative project founded by two young Ticino-based photographers and videographers, Elisa Cappelletti and Fabio Balassi. The project involves handcrafting swings and installing them in picturesque, often overlooked locations across Ticino, Switzerland to encourage people to spend more time outdoors.

10) Oeschinen Lake

Last but certainly not least on this list is Oeschinen Lake (Oeschinensee). Situated at around 1,578 meters above sea level, this stunning turquoise lake is framed by towering cliffs and snow-capped peaks.

What sets Oeschinen apart from other mountain lakes is its dramatic location, combining rugged terrain with gentle alpine meadows nearby. It’s an easy spot to access without strenuous hiking: take the cable car from Kandersteg up to Oeschinenalp (note, cable car reservation required!) , then enjoy a short 10–15 minute walk down to the water’s edge.

Once you're there, you can relax and barbecue by the water, take a refreshing (but chilly!) swim, rent a rowing boat  or ride a Mountain Coaster (Rodelbahn) to get your adrenaline pumping.