Looking to explore Switzerland like a local and discover hidden lakes? This guide is for you if you are looking for a day adventure or a weekend escape in the South-West of Switzerland.
This guide includes various lakes worth hiking to, with restaurant available on your way, and even where to stay overnight if you wish to!
If you are looking for an app when going hiking: SwitzerlandMobility. In there you will find every information you need about hikes you want to do!
Tip: if you are a tourist (not living in Switzerland) and will be traveling by train for a few days, it is totally worth looking into buy a pass for public transportation. It might sound expensive but wait until you see single trip prices... Single trip ticket are so expensive, almost every resident has a monthly or yearly pass... Jump to the end of the post to purchase your affiliated link for your Swiss travel pass!
Always double check the weather before going! As locals say, in Switzerland, you can experience the four season in one day!
Don't hesitate to reach out for more questions! Enjoy
One of my favorite day-trip from Montreux. So worth it and you will see mostly locals. I do think it requires a car to get there more easily. Parc in the village before (Flon) and it will take you around 45 minutes to reach it (steep though). You can either go take the road or the trail.
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Where to eat?
At the lake, there are two "buvettes/restaurant", where you can eat some food. I usually take a picnic with me, as there is quite many spots to sit down around the lake?
Where to stay?
If you are visiting the area, I would stay around Montreux or so and enjoy a day trip. Camping is also possible, but not right next to the lake.
Another cute mountain lake. You can reach it directly by car, but I usually parc on the "route du Pillon" right before going up. Will take you less than an hour to reach by foot. In the summer you can even rent boats and go around. In the winter, you can walk on it!
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Where to eat?
There is a great restaurant right next to the Lake. Taking a picnic is also a good idea as there are tables where you can eat along the lake.
Where to stay?
Les Diablerets (Ormont-Dessus) is a cute town to stay if you are in the area. Or you could stay in the valley. Camping is also possible around the area. Depending on how many people are traveling, here are 2 cute stays nearby.
This is a dam (barrage de la Grande-Dixence). Switzerland is quite knows for them, I feel like they are everywhere and produce an enormous amount of energy. This one is truly breathtaking and one of the most famous. Things to do there:
- Start at the bottom and be amazed by its size
- Visit a free exhibition on its story, you can even reserve tickets and visit inside the dam
- There is a cable car you can take that brings you to the top
- Walk on the dam and around it; enjoy a picinic!
- Be on the lookout for Edelweiss or marmot
- Visit the Saint-Jean chapelle
- Ride the AlpineLine, the longest zipline in Switzerland
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Where to eat?
There is one restaurant there: Hotel-Restaurant du Barrage. Picnic is also great.
Where to stay?
If you are going for a day trip, I would stay around Sion. Here is a well situated spot you could stay at:
Easily reachable with a small train from Villars-sur-Ollon. Very accessible. Or you can walk from Villars, I love it! Or you go up with the train and walk your way down!
Most people reach this lake from Bretaye. Pretty easy walk down there. Very typical!
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Where to eat?
Lots of great options here is you don't want to picnic! If you decide to walk to the Lac de Bretaye, there are going to be two restaurant on your way, maybe a little detour: Auberge Col-de-Soud & The Restaurant du Golf. I personally love the last one, there is a terrace hard to beat, trust me! In Bretaye there is also one or two spots open and same with the lac des chavonnes.
Where to stay?
Villars-sur-Ollon is a cute typical mountain village to stay at. There are plenty of hotels or B&B to stay at (will do a guide only focused on that).
Otherwise, Ollon is also nice. Here is a great Airbnb where I stayed at in Ollon:
I love that lake as it is so nice to walk around and easily accessible. Easy walk but might take a while to reach the parking lot (with car or public transport). Probably less than an hour walk.
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Where to eat?
There is one nice restaurant there, but as usual, you can also picnic!
Where to stay?
Les Mosses would be the closest town nearby. Otherwise, you can stay in the Valley near Aigle or Ollon. You could also stay near Les Diablerets (Check lake #2 for recommendations on where to stay).
Another very nice dam and relatively easily accessible. Lots do do besides the nice views: hiking, zip-line, take the train up, etc. There is even a small lake further up that you can reach by foot!
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Where to eat?
There is the "Restaurant du Barrage d'Emosson". Nice views!
Where to stay?
The biggest village nearby is Martigny! However, there are many other small villages on your way to the lake. Here are two options nearby:
A modern and elegant Hotel nicely situated in Martigny. You will have anything you need and support a great cause: The hotel employs more than 30 people that have an intellectual deficiency (FOVAHM), working within the kitchen, restaurant, or in other services offered to the guests!
Most people reach this lake through hiking. There is also a road where you can drive. This is very local with a cute refuge/restaurant up there. Nice to walk around the area too!
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Where to eat?
At the Refuge or picnic!
Where to stay?
There are some rooms at the Refuge right next to the lake. Otherwise, I would recommend staying in the Valley, around Sion for example (see lake #3 for a spot near Sion).
A dam with nice blue glacial water. Easy to reach by car and many hikes around. There is even a via Ferrata if you are into that.
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Where to eat?
Many people just go there for the Restaurant, so it must be good! Nice terrace and good food my friend say!
Where to stay?
Grimentz is the closest town, which is very very cute! Worth staying around there to walk through town and do other activities. There are plenty of places to stay at there, here are a few options:
Very well situated, free parking, breakfast, and much more! Everything you need to to enjoy a few days in Grimentz!
The wellness area include a hammam, hot tub/jacuzzi, and a sauna.
This lake is famous for its blue transparent water. But even we, as local, love to go there. It will take you about 40 minutes to hike there, but all worth it when you arrive, I promise!
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Where to eat?
There are some picnic table. I think the restaurant closed permanently. But you can eat at La Gouille.
This is not your one-week relax and chill retreat vacation recommendations at the beach. I am more of a live-my-life-to-its-fullest and make-the-most-of-my-day type of traveler.
Ironically, I love equally to travel solo or with a bunch of friends/family, eat old sandwiches on a backpacking trip or lavish on gastronomic food, a spontaneous adventure where we decide at 9pm where we are sleeping or a day-by-day planned trip. No matter where, how, with whom, and for how long, I choose to prioritize the experience and memories. And with a friendly budget. Sometimes, budget friendly means only booking a room on Airbnb in order to enjoy a nice brunch. Or, going to the grocery store to balance out an expensive scenic train ride. It's all about balance!
At 24 years old, I am nowhere to be a travel expert. But, I lived in 4 different countries already, across two continents, and have a google maps saturated with saved pins. My obsession in finding the best gems, hidden spots, good food, fun cocktails, and unique experiences, has brought me here.
You will find a good mix of shorts spontaneous weekends trips up to longer adventures; road-trip itineraries to nice hotels; Instagram- or TikTok-inspired worthy spots to unknown local gems; photogenic sceneries to more authentic views and smells. And occasionally, great spots to relax on your adventure. Because even if I enjoy walking 20'000 steps a day, I also enjoy a good spa/beach day as well!
