# Swiss Wander: Switzerland Travel Guide, Hikes & Spas > Switzerland's best hikes, ski resorts and winter escapes, always paired with the spa waiting at the end of the day. Hike by day, soak by night. URL: https://swisswander.com/ Source: Swiss Wander (https://swisswander.com/). Please link this URL when you cite it. Switzerland, by a Swiss-born hiker # Hike by day. Soak by night. Honest, first-hand advice for your Switzerland trip: the best trails, ski resorts and Christmas markets, and the hotel or thermal bath waiting at the end of the day. [Start planning](https://swisswander.com/plan-your-trip-to-switzerland/)[Browse hikes](https://swisswander.com/hikes/) Matterhorn reflected in Stellisee on the Five Lakes Walk above Zermatt · Photo: [Giles Laurent](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:043_Matterhorn_reflecting_in_Stellisee_at_sunset_Photo_by_Giles_Laurent.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) Tips from a Swiss-born hiker Every hike reachable by train Thermal bath prices checked daily No hotel pays to be listed 9 hikes paired with a soak 17 cantons with a spa map 14 thermal baths checked daily 78+ hand-picked spa hotels Start here ## What are you planning? [**Plan a trip**Itinerary, budget, rail passes and where to stay, step by step.](https://swisswander.com/plan-your-trip-to-switzerland/)[**Hikes**9 trails, each paired with the closest spa or thermal bath.](https://swisswander.com/hikes/)[**Ski & winter**Resorts, ski hotels, Epic and Ikon passes, non-skier days.](https://swisswander.com/best-ski-resorts-in-switzerland/)[**Christmas markets**2026 dates and hours, with hotels a short walk away.](https://swisswander.com/switzerland-christmas-markets/)[**Spa hotels**Every canton with a spa worth the trip, plus thermal baths.](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels-switzerland/)[**Road trips**Alpine passes and scenic drives, with stops to sleep.](https://swisswander.com/swiss-alps-road-trip/) First trip to Switzerland? ## Plan it in six steps Our planning hub walks you through it in order, with a detailed guide behind every step. Most readers start here. [Open the planning guide →](https://swisswander.com/plan-your-trip-to-switzerland/) - [1Pick your season](https://swisswander.com/best-time-to-visit-switzerland/) - [2Choose 2–4 bases](https://swisswander.com/switzerland-itinerary/) - [3Set a budget](https://swisswander.com/is-switzerland-expensive/) - [4Check entry rules](https://swisswander.com/switzerland-travel-requirements/) - [5Pick a rail pass](https://swisswander.com/swiss-travel-pass-vs-half-fare-card/) - [6Book your hotels](https://swisswander.com/best-hotels-switzerland-first-trip/) Hike & soak ## Featured hikes[All 9 hikes →](https://swisswander.com/hikes/) [ Easy ### Bachalpsee from Grindelwald First 3.7 mi · 390 ft up · 2 hours round trip ♨ Soak after: Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel, Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald](https://swisswander.com/bachalpsee-hike-grindelwald-first/)[ Easy ### Five Lakes Walk, Zermatt 5.6 mi · 790 ft up · About 2.5 hours ♨ Soak after: Mont Cervin Palace, The Omnia](https://swisswander.com/five-lakes-walk-zermatt/)[ Easy ### Gemmi Pass & Daubensee, Leukerbad 4.0 mi · 260 ft up · 1.5–2 hours ♨ Soak after: Leukerbad Therme, Walliser Alpentherme & Spa](https://swisswander.com/gemmi-pass-daubensee-hike/)[ Easy ### Lavaux Vineyard Terraces 3.7 mi · 490 ft up · 2 hours (plus tastings) ♨ Soak after: Le Mirador Resort & Spa, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace](https://swisswander.com/lavaux-vineyard-hike/)[ Easy ### Mürren to Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunnen Valley 1.9 mi · 70 ft up · 45 minutes to 1 hour ♨ Soak after: Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel](https://swisswander.com/murren-gimmelwald-lauterbrunnen-hike/)[ Moderate ### Oeschinensee Panorama Trail 5.6 mi · 1,640 ft up · 3–3.5 hours with photo stops ♨ Soak after: The Cambrian, Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa](https://swisswander.com/oeschinensee-hike/) Where to stay ## Find the right base[Best hotels for a first trip →](https://swisswander.com/best-hotels-switzerland-first-trip/) [ Where to stay ### Where to Stay in Interlaken: Best Areas & Villages Compared (2026) Stay in central Interlaken, between the Ost and West stations along the Höheweg, for a first short visit with easy trains,… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/where-to-stay-in-interlaken/)[ Where to stay ### Where to Stay in Zurich: Best Areas & Hotels for Every Budget (2026) Stay in Zurich's old town (Altstadt), especially the Niederdorf on the right bank, for a first visit: everything is walkable… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/where-to-stay-in-zurich/)[ Where to stay ### Where to Stay in Switzerland for Hiking: 5 Best Bases (2026) The best bases for hiking in Switzerland are Grindelwald (most trails by gondola, great spa hotels), Zermatt (Matterhorn,… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/where-to-stay-in-switzerland-for-hiking/)[ Where to stay ### Best Budget & Airport Hotels in Switzerland: 10 Smart Picks (2026) The smartest value hotels in Switzerland are in the cities and at the airports, where most trips start and end. In Zurich,… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/best-budget-hotels-switzerland/) December 2026 ## Christmas markets[All Swiss Christmas markets →](https://swisswander.com/switzerland-christmas-markets/) [ Nov 19 – Dec 24 ### Zurich](https://swisswander.com/zurich-christmas-market/)[ Nov 26 – Dec 23 ### Basel](https://swisswander.com/basel-christmas-market/)[ Nov 20 – Dec 24 ### Montreux](https://swisswander.com/montreux-christmas-market/)[ Dec 3 – 21 ### Lucerne](https://swisswander.com/lucerne-christmas-market/)[ about Nov 28 – Dec 24 ### Bern](https://swisswander.com/bern-christmas-market/)[ Nov 19 – Dec 24 ### Geneva](https://swisswander.com/geneva-christmas-market/)[ Nov 27 – Dec 6 ### Einsiedeln](https://swisswander.com/einsiedeln-christmas-market/)[ about Nov 26 – Dec 24 (to confirm) ### St. Gallen](https://swisswander.com/st-gallen-christmas-market/) Ski by day, soak by night ## Winter in Switzerland [ Ski ### The Best Ski Resorts in Switzerland (2026–27) The best ski resorts in Switzerland are Zermatt (Matterhorn views, about 360 km of runs with Cervinia, on the Ikon Pass),… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/best-ski-resorts-in-switzerland/)[ Where to stay ### Best Ski Hotels in Switzerland: Ski-In/Ski-Out & Spa (2026–27) The best ski hotels in Switzerland combine lift access with a real spa: Six Senses Crans-Montana and LeCrans… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/best-ski-hotels-switzerland/)[ Winter ### 15 Best Things to Do in Switzerland in Winter (Without Skiing) — 2026–27 The best things to do in Switzerland in winter besides skiing: soak in outdoor thermal baths (Leukerbad, Vals, Bad Ragaz),… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/things-to-do-in-switzerland-in-winter/) Soak ## Spa hotels by canton[Thermal bath prices →](https://swisswander.com/swiss-thermal-baths-prices/) Every canton with a spa worth the trip, on a live price map. [VS ### Valais 12 spa hotels · 4 thermal baths](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/valais/)[BE ### Bern (Bernese Oberland) 14 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/bern/)[GR ### Graubünden 12 spa hotels · 2 thermal baths](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/graubunden/)[VD ### Vaud 8 spa hotels · 1 thermal bath](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/vaud/)[LU ### Lucerne 4 spa hotels · 1 thermal bath](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/lucerne/)[ZH ### Zurich 4 spa hotels · 1 thermal bath](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/zurich/)[TI ### Ticino 5 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/ticino/)[AG ### Aargau 2 spa hotels · 2 thermal baths](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/aargau/)[GE ### Geneva 4 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/geneva/)[NW ### Nidwalden 2 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/nidwalden/)[UR ### Uri 2 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/uri/)[OW ### Obwalden 2 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/obwalden/)[SZ ### Schwyz 2 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/schwyz/)[SG ### St. Gallen 1 spa hotel · 1 thermal bath](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/st-gallen/)[FR ### Fribourg 1 spa hotel · 1 thermal bath](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/fribourg/)[NE ### Neuchâtel 2 spa hotels](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/neuchatel/)[AI ### Appenzell Innerrhoden 1 spa hotel](https://swisswander.com/spa-hotels/appenzell/) Fresh off the trail ## Latest guides [ Plan your trip ### Day Trips from Geneva: 8 Easy Train Trips by Time (2026) The best day trips from Geneva are by train along Lake Geneva: Nyon and Coppet in 10 to 15 minutes, Lausanne in 35 to 45 minutes, the Lavaux vineyards in about an hour, and Montreux with Chillon Castle in about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Gruyères takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the Yverdon thermal baths about 50 minutes. Across the border, Annecy is about an hour by bus. Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/day-trips-from-geneva/)[ Plan your trip ### 12 Best Things to Do in Grindelwald, Switzerland (2026 Guide + 2-Day Plan) The best things to do in Grindelwald are riding the First gondola and walking to Bachalpsee, taking the Eiger Express toward… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/things-to-do-in-grindelwald/)[ Plan your trip ### How to Get to Zermatt: Closest Airport, Trains & Driving (2026) Zermatt is car-free, so almost everyone arrives by train, changing at Visp: about 3 hours 15 minutes from Zurich main… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/how-to-get-to-zermatt/)[ Plan your trip ### 13 Best Things to Do in Lucerne, Switzerland (2026 Guide + 2-Day Plan) The best things to do in Lucerne are walking the Chapel Bridge and the old town, seeing the Lion Monument, climbing the… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/things-to-do-in-lucerne/)[ Ski ### Magic Pass 2026/27: Price, Resorts & Is It Worth It? The Magic Pass 2026/27 is a season pass for over 100 ski areas, most of them in western Switzerland, valid in winter and… Read the guide →](https://swisswander.com/magic-pass-guide/) Why this site exists ## Hi, I'm Elisa. Born in Lausanne, raised in the south of France from age five, and back in Switzerland every single year to hike. Every trail on this site is one I've walked, and every soak is one I've earned. Most Switzerland guides treat the mountains and the spas as two different trips. They're not: the best day in the Alps ends in 36°C thermal water with your boots drying by the door. Swiss Wander pairs every trail, ski resort and winter day with the closest place to soak, with US-friendly units, transit details and honest notes on cost. [More about me and how I choose places →](https://swisswander.com/about/)