Switzerland, the very word conjures images of snowcapped peaks, green vales, and transparent lakes. Most of our imagination has been fed by pictures of the Bernese Alps, from places located in and around Interlaken. But there is so much more to this tiny land-locked nation than these clichés. In our travels through Switzerland, we came across some spectacular gorges, lakes, waterfalls, and mountain passes, replete with rolling pastures and snow peaks (how else would a Swiss tale be complete), but most of which are strangely, but thankfully far from the madding crowds. In this post, we provide a sneak-peek into three such amazing destinations which are oft overlooked, but definitely should not be.
Mont Pèlerin and Vevey:
Vevey, an idyllic town of ~20,000 inhabitants, is located on the northern banks of Lac Léman or Lake Geneva and is home to the FMCG giant, Nestlé. One of the best spots near Vevey is Mont Pèlerin, from where one can get an excellent panorama of the town along with Lake Geneva and the Chablais Alps with the iconic Dents du Midi. It can be reached by funicular railway, road, or on foot from Vevey. The journey by funicular railway takes around 10 minutes, and costs CHF 7 for a one-way trip and CHF 14 for a round trip. Often overlooked by tourists, it’s a great getaway and Instagram friendly spot with hardly any crowds, hillsides flanked by vineyards, and a view that is second to none.
St. Leonard Underground Lake:
Tucked away in the French speaking part of the Canton of Valais in the Southwestern part of Switzerland is the largest underground lake in Europe. The Lac Souterrain St. Léonard is around 300m long and 20m wide and can be toured via boat, which includes a holographic show, and takes around 30 minutes. Open for eight months every year between March and November, the underground lake is best accessed by train or car. It takes around 1 hour to drive to the lake from Lausanne and around 3 hours by train from Zurich (with at least one changeover at Visp). Tickets can be purchased in advance and cost CHF 12 for everyone above the age of 15, and CHF 7 for children between the ages of 5 and 15. As it is off the beaten path, there are few international tourists, making it perfect for a stopover on the journey between Geneva and Zurich.
St. Beatus-Höhlen or St. Beatus Caves:
Barely an hour’s drive from Interlaken and Thun, and yet overlooked by many international tourists, the caves at Beatenberg, christen the St. Beatus Caves go back millions of years. Illuminated pathways enable visitors to experience the Stalactite and Stalagmite “Grottos” for eight months every year between March and November. These caves are a great getaway from Interlaken and provide a different sight to the majestic Bernese Alps which otherwise are on every tourist’s radar.
If you have more such offbeat destinations in mind, please do let us know in your comments below!
