5 Reasons to Visit the Swiss Alps in Summer

As mesmerising in summer as they are in winter, the mountains of Switzerland are sure to take your breath away. From the infamous Matterhorn in Zermatt to the Jungfrau towering above Interlaken, the mountains in Switzerland make the perfect backdrop for summer adventures in the Alps. With such a high altitude, guests visiting Switzerland in the summer can even ski on the glacier in Zermatt or experience breathtaking views with walks on the Eiger.

Switzerland is renowned for its lakes which provide endless opportunities for outdoor activities in summer. One of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland, Lake Geneva, is 45 miles in length making it one of the largest lakes in Europe. From sailing to paddle-boarding, spend your summer in Switzerland by the lakes exploring Lake Lucerne, Lake Lugano and the mesmerisingly light blue Lake Thurn and Lake Brienz.

For those staying in St Moritz, three lakes in the region offer plenty of water sports to be enjoyed including sailing and kite surfing. Lake Davos is also a popular spot, with 3.8km of banks and pedalos to explore the stunning scenery. Due to its high plateau, Crans Montana also offers many lakes and ponds that delight lovers of water sports in summer. From the wake park at Etang Long to fly fishing at Lac de Chermignon, the resort's lakes provide enjoyment for all ages.

Renowned for its cheese and chocolate, why not visit the Maison du Gruyère or Maison Cailler which offer interactive exhibitions and chocolate tasting sessions. Market day is also the perfect opportunity to experience the local cuisine of the region, with cheese tasting and fresh pastries for breakfast.

Less than 2% of Swiss wine is exported, so make sure you sample what the Swiss vignerons have created during your summer holiday in Switzerland. With 15,000 hectares of vineyards, 42% of Swiss wine produced is white while 58% is red. So enjoy a glass of wine or two with the backdrop of the Swiss Alps and a delicious cheese fondue. Several of our luxury summer chalets in Switzerland also have their very own impressive wine cellars with the finest labelled wines and champagnes to be enjoyed. From the impressive wine collection in Chalet Zermatt Peak to Chalet Norte’s traditional wine cellar there is sure to be a bottle or two to satisfy everyone’s taste.

Whether you are an enthusiastic onlooker or competitive athlete, the Swiss Alps plays host to a plethora of sporting events during the summer months. With the soundtrack of cowbells, Switzerland in summer has outstanding hiking and cycling trails with something for every fitness level.

Fancy tackling the elevation of Everest in one day? Verbier’s Tour des Station (7 August) is a unique cycling race which covers 8,848 metres of cumulative elevation gain over 242 km. A new feature will allow e-bike riders to tackle one of the shorter routes (34 km) known as E-Fondo - good news for those who like to take things a little easier! Come the end of August (26 - 29), golf fanatics will be heading to Crans Montana for one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in Europe, the OMEGA European Masters. Hosted by the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, the tournament sees top players such as Rory Mcllroy compete for the coveted trophy.

With Swiss traditions playing an important role across cantons, there are certainly some rather special events to be enjoyed every year including cow beauty competitions and vintage car rallies. One of the most exciting days to be in Switzerland is on August 1st. Marking Swiss National Day, this stunning country is filled with excitement as everyone comes together to celebrate, with concerts, singing of the national anthem and spectacular firework displays.

This summer, Zermatt has also moved its famous Zermatt Unplugged festival to weekend sessions in July whilst Verbier Festival is scheduled to run through July to August with the choice of open air concerts or more intimate recitals. From 8 July to 29 August, St Moritz will transform Kulm Park into a drive-in cinema. Showing film classics from Thursday to Saturday and on selected Sundays, the audience are presented with a varied programme, enriched by culinary specialities of the Kulm Country Club.