Leysin, a guide
For all our guests, a guide to your visit on and from the Magic Mountain:
LEYSIN
campus in wintertime
fall views
local friends
Stay: You’ll stay with us, of course! Or, if you need more spacious digs, we suggest a local airbnb chalet.
Eat: Fromagerie, an old-fashioned fondue spot right in the middle of town. We suggest splitting the mushroom fondue and sausage rosti for the most authentic and delicious experience. Do not miss the double cream dessert!
Eat: La Calabre, excellent pizza from a locally-owned italian place. On Mondays, all takeaway and dine-in pizzas are only 14chf!
Eat: Temeley, an on-the-mountain hut featuring delicious fresh ice cream and cheeses. Worth the hike, or stopping on your way back down the Berneuse.
Eat: Prafandaz, an on-the-mountain hut good for dinner with a view. Classic Swiss mountain fare.
Eat: Solacyre, an on-the-mountain hut good for a leisurely mid-hike lunch or drink. Seasonal, run by different locals each weekend with a small menu and local beers.
Eat: Boutique À Pain, the best bakery in town for pastries and delights.
Play: Berneuse Telecabin — the easiest way to get up the mountain, a 15minute ride to the top from which you can explore some of the higher valleys, eat at one of the many huts / refuges, or bring a picnic and enjoy the view
Play: Riendaz (Hike 1/2 day)
Play: Tour d’Ai (Hike full day)* — slightly more technical with steep drop off; optional Via Ferrata route
Play: Tour de Mayen (Hike full day)* — slightly techincal at the top, featuring one chain-supported climb
Play: Berneuse (Hike 1/2 day) - relatively easy hike, with lots of uphill
Play: Leysin Ski Slopes - Winter activity
Play: Toboganning - Winter activity
*accessible via telecabin
DIABLERETS
Accessible from Leysin by car or bus, Diablerets is a beautiful village with lots of hiking trailheads.
Play: Glacier 3000, our nearest glacier, great for skiing and seeing the view!
Play: Waterfall hike, a mostly tree-covered trail — should be about 1/2 day hike
VEVEY
lakeside picnic
Brew
swimming at the chateu
Eat: Vevey Farmer’s Market (Tuesdays + Saturdays) features fresh produce from the local region as well as varied food trucks featuring global cuisines. Mostly cash only! Great for packing a picnic to be shared lakeside.
Eat: Gramme, a sweet coffee shop with excellent snacks (try their smoked salmon sandwich, and don’t miss the brownie!). Best matcha latte in town.
Eat: L’Imparfait, a lakeside bar run out of an airstream by Gramme in the summertime, good for coffees, cocktails and pizzas.
Eat: Hotka, another coffee shop with a neat vibe and sweet partner homegoods store. Coffee isn’t as good as at Gramme, but the aesthetic is nice, especially if you can snag the window seat!
Eat: Brew, yet another coffee shop know for great breakfast/brunch. Beware, there’s almost always a long wait for one of their cute patio tables! Fluffiest pancakes I’ve ever seen.
Eat: Sushishop isn’t the best sushi in the world by any stretch, but their to-go boxes are convenient (we love the salmon lovers box) and relatively affordable by swiss sushi standards. We often grab a box to take home after a day on the lake, or to bring as picnic food for an afternoon swim.
Eat: Artisan Boulanger “Bread Store” always has a line out the door. Great spot for a quick pastry snack or for grabbing a loaf to take home.
Eat: Le Café Littéraire, a cafe paired with a bookstore, is a lakeside spot perfect for snuggling up and reading a book over a cup of tea, or sharing brunch with friends on a Sunday morning. They maintain a cozy outdoor seating area year round from which to sip your drink and take in the lake and mountain views.
Play: Lakeside picnic and swim here, or here.
Play: Walk from Vevey to Montreux (1hr) along the lakefront, with the option to continue along to the Chateau Chillon (1.5hr) or even all the way to Villeneuve (2hr). When you’re done walking, catch the train back home!
INTERLAKEN, GRINDELWALD, LAUTERBRUNNEN
the aare, interlaken
aarburg cafe, interlaken
hiking from grindelwald first
2hrs by car, 3hrs by train, Interlaken is the entryway to a very “swiss” experience. Walk through town to explore shops and grab coffee along the canals, venture to one of the lakes, or take the train up into the alpine valleys of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen for even more fantastic views.
Stay: No.8 Interlaken, a self-check in hotel with cute, simple rooms. Affordable (by swiss standards) and located right in the heart of our favorite part of Interlaken.
Eat + Stay: Aarburg Hotel + Cafe has an excellent cappuccino, delicious baked goods and a yummy brunch. Plus, they’re right on the canal with beautiful views out their windows, and from their patio seating. Plus, they’re open early in the morning by Swiss standards, perfect for picking up your first cup of coffee to start the day.
Eat: Velo Cafe, good for snacks, smoothies, and more warm beverages. Their interior has a very cozy back room, perfect for sitting with some work or a good book.
Eat: Spatz, truly right atop the canal, this spot has good coffee, great cocktails, and an excellent cheese board. It’s opening hours are a bit funky, so be sure to check before you head for your morning caffeine uptake!
Eat: Indian food at spice village! Not the best indian food in the world, but reasonably priced and flavorful by swiss standards!
Eat: Aare Korean BBQ is a great spot for a hungry group! A funky restaurant with good food right on the river walking path.
Play: Hike or take the tram up to Harder Kulm for breathtaking views of both lakes — plus you can get a coffee or mulled wine from the restaurant at the top!
Play: Take the train from Interlaken to Grindelwald, then take the Grindelwald First lift up as high as you’d like to go! Either take a short hike from up high in the mountains, or take the long path back down all the way into Grindelwald. Bonus: cheese vendors and more have little fridges / shops along the path back down to Grindelwald! This is the adventure I’d most suggest for visitors keen to get a full Swiss alpine experience, but who aren’t interested in a massive full-day hike.
Play: From Grindelwald, take your adventure even further up into the mountains by taking the Jungfraujoch cable car to the “top of Europe” — you won’t be disappointed!
Play: Take the train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, and explore the town famous for its overhanging waterfall. I’ll admit, we like Grindelwald more than Lauterbrunnen, but if you’re keen on this insta shot, this is the spot to go!
LAUSANNE
We lack many formal “recs” for Lausanne simply due to lack of time spent exploring, but I can tell you that this hilly, small city is an urban gem along Lake Geneva! With a hefty university population, Lausanne has a permeating “hip” vibe lending itself to many cute coffee shops, interesting boutiques, and good food options. If you’re keen on a more urban exploring day but not sure about the supposed “stuffiness” of Geneva, this is your destination!
ZERMATT
streets of Zermatt
mountain hut summer snacks
ski season ft. matterhorn
The real reason to visit Zermatt is to see a very picturesque swiss village nestled beneath the famous Matterhorn. If you’re less keen on venturing into the mountains themselves, but want to see the most “swiss” view — this is your ideal destination. Accessible via 2.5hrs of trains (or 2hrs by car and 30min by train), this village is a no-car zone loved by tourists for its luxury vibe. Town is expensive, fair warning!
Eat: Petit Royal Coffee is the spot to go for an excellent cappuccino upon arriving to Zermatt, and their pastries and small bites are excellent, too.
Play: Skiing in Zermatt is WOW AMAZING, especially as you swoop and swish beneath the famous Matterhorn mountain. Plus, the mountain restaurants are abundant, so there’s plenty of spots to stop for a mulled wine, cup of soup or beer between skiing sessions.
VERBIER
Another sweet swiss town with an endless, excellent ski resort. While Zermatt had the most tremendous view, Verbier had incredible pistes to explore and meander! If you’re wanting amazing swiss skiing without all the tourism crowds, this is where we most recommend you go!
ZURICH
So, you’ve come to Switzerland for a European experience and have had your fill of the alpine landscape? Craving some city exploration with a northern European vibe? Zurich is your place! Read more about Zurich and all our recs here.
BEYOND OUR SCOPE
Other places we haven’t explored much yet but have heard great things about:
Bern (hip, small city on the way to Zurich), Gruyere (cheese, anyone?), Geneva (mixed reviews, but has an old Europe vibe), Annecy (beautiful lake town in France), Nyon (good food?), and likely more that we don’t even know about!
