The Most Beautiful Lakes In Switzerland

The truly beautiful country of Switzerland has a landscape full of magnificent mountains and an array of simply breathtaking lakes. We have picked some of the most beautiful lakes every traveler should make an effort to see.

Oeschinensee

Nestled within the Oeschinen valley, just a few miles from Kandersteg, this calm, isolated alpine lake is worth the trip. With a number of trails through the mountains that surround it, one can easily spend many hours basking in the beauty of the lake and its environs. For about half of the year it is frozen over solid. During this time ice fishing in its depths is a particularly popular activity, especially given its large population of trout.

In the canton of Berne, Seebergsee seems almost like a pond compared to the enormity of other lakes in the country, yet it is no less beautiful. Surrounding this oasis of tranquillity are a number of trails for both cyclists and hikers. These gentle paths that wind across the green foothills of the Alps offer stunning panoramic views of this wonderful landscape.

Lake Geneva

One of the largest lakes in Europe, Lake Geneva is an enormous expanse of water that dominates the city of Geneva itself. It contains the iconic Jet d’Eau, a huge fountain that is one of the main symbols of the city, and, at 140 meters high, is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The lake itself is especially lovely during the summer, when it is possible to practice several water sports, including rowing, swimming, diving and sailing.

Lake Lucerne

The fourth largest lake in Switzerland, beautiful Lake Lucerne stretches from the eponymous picturesque city right up to the gorgeous Swiss Alps. It was formed 12,000 years ago during the shrinking of the River Reuss’ glacier, the evidence of which can still be observed in the fascinating Jardin des Glaciers de Lucerne. It is well worth taking advantage of the boat rentals and boat tours here to get the full experience of this breathtaking lake.

Lake Constance

Situated on the Rhine, and part of Germany and Austria as well as Switzerland, stunning Lake Constance is the third largest lake of central Europe. It contains several picturesque islands, including the lovely Bavarian Lindau. It is also interesting from a political perspective, since there is still debate about where the borders really lie between the three countries it links, and even today there are a number of disputes about which country has the right to fish within certain parts of the lake.

Lake Lugano

Bordering with Italy, the glacial Lake Lugano is a lovely stretch of water that is named after the charming city of Lugano, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. There are boat tours available for visitors, which offer gorgeous trips to places around the lake, including the wonderful historic village of Gandria. It is also notable for having such a large variety of fish, including crayfish, carp and catfish, as well as being the site of fossils dating as far back as the Triassic period.

Thunersee

An Alpine lake situated in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, Thunersee is made especially picturesque by the magnificent mountains that surround it and the quaint villages along its banks. The town of Thun, from which the lake takes its name, is worth visiting in order to experience the grand castle and historical medieval Old Town. Also of note are the 12 beautiful churches that occupy the coastline, all dating back to the medieval period.

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