Best 16 Adventure Activities in Switzerland

Tandem Paragliding

This is probably the most popular activity in Interlaken. There are various adventure sports companies that offer scenic tandem paragliding rides, allowing you to soar high above the scenic town, its turquoise lakes and surrounding mountains. Typically, you are picked up from your hotel or a central point in Interlaken and driven to a launch site in a nearby village such as Beatenberg, where you receive a briefing before takeoff. The airborne time is between 10 and 20 minutes and the views over Lake Thun and the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains are absolutely fantastic.

If you have the whole day to spend in Interlaken, combine this with an excursion to the lovely Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe.

Jetboat Ride

Interlaken's lakes beckon to be explored. You can opt for a leisurely ferry ride across them or for a real adrenaline-pumping 45-minute Jetboat ride. The Jetboat pier located at Bonigen, is a short bus ride from Interlaken. Before takeoff, you are given a briefing and the necessary waterproof gear for the ride. Taking off with your captain, the ride takes you past scenic points like Iseltwald (now also famous as the location for various scenes from Crash Landing On You) and the thundering Giessbach Falls. Be prepared to have a blast and get splashed as the boat takes swift turns and 360-degree spins before getting you back to the starting point. Since almost any program to Switzerland will include Interlaken, you can easily incorporate this short but thrilling activity into any program.

JetBoat

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Helicopter

While this activity may not be for everyone (definitely not for this writer 😣), if you have the nerves needed, it is something you will cherish forever. Gliding down over Interlaken with your parachute will give you the most unique views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau and the two glistening lakes Thun and Brienz. A typical helicopter skydive program would offer a central pick-up point or a hotel pick-up. You are treated to a 10-minute scenic flight through the narrow Lutschental valley and the Schynige Platte mountain ridge before you get ready for your jump from roughly 14000 feet!! You will need approximately 2 hours in total for this activity. You can also consider adding another popular excursion, such as the Harder Kulm in Interlaken, on the same day. In fact, an evening drink and snack atop the Harder Kulm would be the perfect end to an exhilarating day.

Helicopter Skydive from Interlaken

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Ropes Park Interlaken

Feel like Tarzan and Jane as you spend a great day with your family on this forest adventure. The park can be reached via a comfortable 15-minute walk from Interlaken West station or by bus from Interlaken East station. It offers nine courses of varying difficulty and over 150 different challenges, ranging from ground level to 23 metres. From toddlers to teenagers, there is something for everyone here.

Grindelwald First

Grindelwald First is also known as the Top of Adventure and definitely lives up to its moniker. It is the only mountain excursion that offers one way to ascend (by cable car) but four different and exciting ways to descend from it, and you have the option of choosing either one or all.
Start with the First Flyer, a zipline that has you securely fastened and flying through the 800m cable at 84 km/h.

The First Glider has you flying under the enormous wings of an eagle while being horizontally harnessed under it.

The Mountain Cart is similar to a go-cart but really close to the ground and with very wide tyres for safety. You can control the speed with the hydraulic brakes, but hey, don't forget you are here for the thrill.

Finally, the Trottibike will remind you of the bike that you rode as a child and will take you down the last leg of the descent.

Note: Make sure you have purchased the correct ticket inclusive of the number of activities that you want to do at the Grindelwald First.

Grindelwald First

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Glacier Canyon

A short bus ride from Grindelwald town centre (or a roughly 35-minute walk) takes you to the Glacier Canyon, an amazing natural attraction carved by nature over centuries. Inside the gorge, there is an elevated walkway that allows you to take a sensory walk through its exposed rock galleries and tunnels. If you have the nerves to take a wobbly walk (or crawl), you can try to cross a spider web stretched 170m2 across the gorge and 7 metres over the flowing Lutschine River.
The big thrill here however, is the Canyon Swing. The swing platform sits on the edge of the canyon wall 90 metres above the glacier melt below. Once you have passed the safety briefing and crossed the safety barrier, it's time to take the leap of faith, step off and swing at 120 km/h between the canyon walls. The few seconds of this swing may just be the most exhilarating ones of your life.

Five Lakes Hike

Whilst many may not see this as an adventurous or tough hiking trail, it is definitely one of the most popular activities in the area. The hike takes you to 5 different lakes, each one unique in its own way. You start by taking the mountain train to Sunnegga and then the gondola to Blauherd (the tickets are part of the Top discounts on the Swiss Travel Pass). From here, you simply follow the well-marked ‘5 Seenweg’ trail. The entire hike takes between 2.30 to 3 hours. If you are lucky, you will see the monumental Matterhorn massif all along the way and also as a reflection in the lakes (which makes for some really memorable photos). Witnessing the changing hues of the water as you pass by the five lakes (Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grunsee, Mossjisee, Leisee) is a visual treat.

Skiing

Zermatt is arguably the best all-round Ski resort in the Alps with over 200 kms of pistes. Its three main mountains offer enough and more for every level of skier. To ski with the best views of the Matterhorn, one can head to the Sunnegga-Rothorn area. For intermediate skiers, the Gornergrat sector offers long cruising runs with fantastic views. For more advanced skiers seeking a real adrenaline rush, the Kleine Matterhorn area, with its numerous options, is the place to test their skills. This area is also the highest and largest summer ski area in Europe, offering almost 21 km of slopes. Zermatt’s varied terrain and snow conditions also make it the ideal spot for those wishing to explore off-piste options.

Snowshoe Hike

If you are not a ski fan but still want a snow activity, a snowshoe hike is the perfect fit. The route between Trockener Steg and Schwarzsee on the trail of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is a popular area for this hike. There are other trails along the Sunnegga-Rothorn area too. Keep in mind that you will need to travel to the start point of these trails by cable car, for which you will receive discounts if you hold a Swiss Travel Pass.

Heliski

For the avid adventure seeker wanting to take the skiing experience one notch further, there is heliskiing. The heliski operators either fly you to one of the mountain landing sites or to one of the off-piste spots from where you drop on fresh powder snow to descend through the most beautiful alpine landscapes with a mountain guide. Popular on-piste landing points are Monte Rosa landing area (4200 metres) and the Aeschihorn landing area (3600 metres).

Sledging

One of the most fun activities to do with the family is sledging (also called Luge in Zermatt). You can do it solo or even with kids riding along with an adult. The most popular run in the Zermatt area is the Rotenboden toboggan run, which is the highest run in the Alps, starting at 2815 metres. There are also husky dog sledge rides where a pack of well-trained and super-friendly huskies pulls the sledge. You can do this near Trockener Steg on the way to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. Yet another form is using a snooc, which is a seat fixed atop a short ski. There are runs with varying degrees of difficulty and speed but rest assured, every one of them is a treat.

Bobsledding

St Moritz is home to the Olympia Bob Run, the world's oldest and natural bobsleigh track. The 1722-metre track with some really challenging curves has been in operation since 1904 and hosted events for two Winter Olympics and numerous other European and international competitions. Unlike all other bobsleigh tracks, which are artificially iced, this one is the last remaining naturally iced track in the world.

Hiking

With the pristine lake St Moritz and the lush forests and Alpine peaks surrounding it, there are plenty of scenic hiking trails around St Moritz. Leisure walkers can walk around the lake and explore the area and town. The more serious hikers can head to popular trails like the Muottas Muragl to Alp Languard trail (6.3 km, roughly 2 hours), the Corvatsch Panorama Trail (6 km, roughly 2 hours), and the Morteratsch Glacier Walk, which is perfect for families since it is an easy 6 km round trip on a wide dirt path.

In the summer months the lake's calm waters also offer the chance of watersports like stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking.

Mount Titlis

Located in Engelberg, 45 minutes from Lucerne, Mount Titlis has something for all kinds of adventure seekers. Start the fun with a ride in the Rotair (the world’s first revolving aerial cableway) that takes you to the summit. A huge attraction on the peak at 3041 metres, is Europe’s highest suspension bridge. Gather the courage to walk on it and peer down into the icy depth below and you will be rewarded with breathtaking views. Take a ride on the Ice Flyer Chair Lift and visit Glacier Park, where you can try the snake gliss, minibob or glide down on a snow tube.

Along the ascent or descent, at the midway station of Trubsee, the Adventure Park offers a plethora of activities. Try your skills at the Bagjump or the zipline. Get more adventurous at the SnowXpark with various kinds of electric vehicles like the moonbike, bobsled and the e-snowmibile. End the day with a glass of mulled wine on the balcony of your hotel or apartment in Lucerne.

Mt Titlis

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Mount Pilatus

Known as the Dragon Mountain, this mountain is replete with legends. However, today, it is better known for the amazing Golden Round Trip, which involves an exciting journey to and from it. The Golden Round Trip (possible in summer) takes you via cable car, steamer and the world’s steepest cogwheel railway with a maximum gradient of 48%!

The rope park at the midway point of Frakmuntegg offers 10 courses and exciting ziplines catering to all levels. Not to leave the kids out of the fun, there is also the Pilu Rope Park, which caters primarily to kids aged 4 to 8. The toboggan run, with its steep curves and jumps, is the longest summer run, stretching 1350 metres.

Mount Pilatus

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Aquatic activities on Lake Lucerne

As the centrepiece of the town, the shimmering Lake Lucerne offers various aquatic activities. For the leisure seeker, there are ferry cruises, yacht cruises and more. However, for those seeking something a little more active, there is kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and canoeing. There are guided services or rentals that allow you to do things at your own pace.

Of course, with Switzerland’s endless natural beauty and landscape of forests, mountains, and lakes, there are many other places and activities to enjoy. Listing them all here would be almost impossible.

For now, I hope this guide has excited you enough to plan your next ‘adventure’ to Switzerland. Wait no more-choose the next slope to ski down, the next forest trail to traverse and the next mountain to soar over. Once that is done, just grab the gear and get going!