This blog shows places that are often a side note or not found in most guide books. Let me show you my favourite spots - places that are just a bit off the beaten track in this beautiful country.
Lush green pastures, forest-covered slopes and craggy peaks surround the town of Schwyz. A trip up the Rotenflue cable car gives a great panorama of all this as well as the Alps, Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne) and Lauerezsee(Lake Lauer). All slowly come into view as you glide up to the mountain station at 1571 metres above sea level.
The cable car takes 15 minutes to climb from Rickenbach (neighbouring town of Schwyz) up to Rotenflue; the start of an idyllic natural landscape. From here it is possible to walk through nearby Moorland, meadows and forests or relax in the mountain inns, at BBQ spots or on panorama benches.
Grill spots can be found within easy walking distance of the top station. Four grill spots close to the mountain station are:
Kreuz – an official Swiss Family BBQ spot. 300m south of the cable car
Heublätz – 200m below the Restaurant Gipfelstubli
Gruebi/Chänzeli – an official Swiss Family BBQ spot 800m from cable car, direction Holzegg
Holzweid
Ordering a Picnic Basket (Picnic Korb)
In summer, it is possible to pick up a picnic basket and seat cover from the Gipfelstubli restaurant, situated at the top Rotenflue cable car station. There are currently (July 2021) three variants:
The Classic ( Klassische) incl. mineral water, home made ice tea
The Festive (Festliche) incl. Prosecco
The Love Affair… (direct translation from Die Liebelei) incl. Champagne
All offer food such as fresh fruit, dried fruit, bread, mineral water, cheese and sausages. (extras like vegetables, pasta salad and dessert for The Festive & The Love Affair). Also included are cups, picnic dishes and cutlery.
This walk is also possible as a winter walk and withsnowshoes – and from both directions. We did this one recently (Dec. 2021) from Ibergeregg. It was holiday time so reasonably busy. This was down to the perfect skiing conditions, perfect weather and was during the Christmas holidays. Was a wonderful experience with wonderful views and very entertaining watching the sledders flying past. This path also crosses some ski pistes.
The region between Ibergeregg, Holzegg and Rotenflue offers plenty of well-signposted Snowshoe trails and various skiing possibilities including a ski safari for the adventurous. It is 14 km and takes about 3 hours. Contact [email protected] for more details.
Circular Walk with lookout points, Restaurant Terraces and a BBQ spot
Mythen Region Transport Links – up to Rotenflue
Train — Bus — Rotenflue Cable Car
Train to Schwyz (offering some wonderful scenery along the way)
From Zürich – 1 hr, incl. change at Zug or Arth Goldau. Onward to Locarno.
From Lucerne – 40-50 mins; From Zug – 30 mins
Bus from Schwyz train station to Rotenflue Cable Car – summer and autumn only
Bus Nr. 503 – operates regularly in both directions, stopping at Schwyz town centre. Journey time: 12-16 mins.
Bus Nr. 505 – operates regularly in both directions, stopping at Schwyz town centre. Journey time: 9-11 mins.
Rotenflue Cable Car
Open: 8th May – 2nd July daily from 9am – 5pm; 3rd July – 31st Oct. daily from 8.30am – 5.30pm; 1st November – beginning ski season daily from 9am – 4.3 pm. (dates for 2021). For up-to-date information go here.
View of Lake Lucerne from Seelisberg Hoch Flue, Photo by A.Leggett
There are thousands of places to grill in Switzerland, guaranteeing that you will stumble across at least one on your walks or sightseeing trips. However, sometimes it can help to be guided in the right direction. I know from experience that it can be frustrating to find the perfect BBQ spot but not have the right equipment – nothing to put the meat patties, skewer, or squeaky cheese on, for example.
For this reason, I would recommend checking out websites like schweizerfeuerstellen.ch. Schweizer Familie is a long-running Swiss magazine. They have a website dedicated to advising on some of the better grill spots throughout the country. It’s in German but simple to use. Add the name of the area you wish to visit to find options with maps, pictures, facilities and a 360-degree video.
Another option is to check out the local tourism websites such aslucerne.ch. This link includes a map view, of over 150 BBQ sites in central Switzerland.
The websites also advise on whether you need to bring anything with you. Some grills have everything except the food & cutlery, whereas others are just firepits. Sometimes things like a grill plate, wood, benches, tables and shade are available, other times just a circle of stones… In both circumstances, however, you will often find a whittled-down stick, ready to disinfect in the fire then use for stabbing your sausage or marshmallows.
waldbrandgefahr.ch is a great website to find out at a glance what is happening around the country regarding up-to-date restrictions on grilling in the open with a colour-coded map and warning levels.
Over the years we have found some really nice places to grill. Below are some I consider to be extra special – however, I am still looking and will post more as I come across them.
AppenzellInnerrhoden
Sämtisersee from Hoher Kasten
Sämtisersee – This location can only be reached by foot. There are lovely walks from the top of Hoher Kasten cable car, down to the alpine lake, then back across to the cable car station at Brülisau. Wood is sometimes available and there should be a grill.
Simple BBQ grill
Lake Sämtisersee – looking towards Fählensee
Wood pile for BBQ
We recently hiked from the top of the cable car, down to the two lakes in the valley (July 2023). The BBQ is in a prime position on the lake and is also a great place for picnicking and swimming. It is close to the forested area offering a bit of shade. Another option for food and drink is the Mountain Guest House Plattenbödeli just up from the lake.
Reason to stop here: To sit and eat right beside this idyllic alpine lake nestled in a mountainous landscape.
How to get there:By Car:From Zürich, approx. 1 hr 20 mins (via A1 around Winterthur). From Appenzell, 10 mins. By Train: From Zürich, 2 hrs with 2 changes. From Appenzell, 15 mins with 1 change. Good to know: This is also a great place to picnic & there is a restaurant close by called Plattenbödeli if the firepit doesn’t work out.
It won’t take long to find several grilling spots when walking from the town of Weesen along the northern side of Walensee (Lake Walen) – some with grills, others without.
Reason to stop here: We have used the one at Betlis several times. It offers great facilities (including toilets) and a chance to walk to the impressive Seerenbach waterfalls in one direction, and some smaller, shaded firepits, a port area for boat trips and a small swimming beach in the other direction (the path in the pictures leads to the second option).
Above Walensee – Amden
The small town of Amden is a good starting point for many excursions high in the meadows and hills above Walensee. It is quintessential Switzerland – the area is even called Heidiland. You will see traditional farms, goats with bells, meadows full of wildflowers, Beizlis and mountain inns.
The Mattstock chair lift in the centre of Amden is really the only way of getting up to higher hiking tracks (apart from hiking). We tried to drive up to the top cable car station – the roads were good to a point then they narrowed and we found it very difficult to find a public road and there were no places to park – I don’t think we were supposed to go there by car… So, I recommend using the chair lift. (It wasn’t operating during our visit).
There are also plenty of walks from Amden with BBQ spots. We used two Swiss Family BBQs in great locations; Feuerstelle Rombach is a short walk up behind the village and Girengärtli is a hike towards the cliffs.
Reason to stop here: High up above the lake within a forest. Quiet area with a viewing platform and plenty of facilities. Is also a good place to stop when walking further or simply as a destination.
Getting There
By Car: Takes 1 hour (66 km)
By Train & Bus: Zürich to Weesen (lakeside) – 1 hour, incl. a change at Ziegelbrücke for 7 min. bus trip. Weesen to Amden(mountain) is a further 10/15 mins with the bus.
Klöntalersee is like a huge turquoise magnet. Its sheer beauty brings the crowds, especially at the weekend.
The alternative is this beautiful lake that we visited off-season recently – Obersee. This is also stunning and it has a restaurant right on the lakeshore. It can be more difficult to reach as Swiss public transport does not come to this lake.
The road is in good condition if a little narrow – meaning a slow drive. There are plenty of passing lanes if you meet someone coming the other way & there are biking trails starting at the valley.
Currently, both Obersee and Klöntalerseedon’thave any grilling placesorBBQswith facilities however firepits can be found around the lakes. You will need to bring your own grill, forage for firewood and have a Swiss army knife for carving sticks. Trees surround these lovely lakes with enough wood lying around for a decent fry-up – remember your matches!
Good to Know: There are 2 camping grounds at Klöntalersee and metered parking near Camping Güntlenau on the east side of the lake. This camping ground also has BBQ facilities available.
Reason to stop here:By using the firepits, you should avoid the crowds. These places are such naturally beautiful spots that it seems a shame to see it all from the distance of a terrace when you can have a front-seat view, sitting on a rock or a log.
Getting To Obersee & Klöntalersee:
Oberseeby Car:from Näfels, 17 mins – 8 km; from Zürich, 1 hour – 70 km. By Public Transport: no connection to Obersee. Klöntalersee by Car: from Glarus, 16 mins – 10 km; By Public Transport: from Glarus by bus, 18 mins to the east of the lake.
In the forests, high up above Lake Lucerne there are countless BBQ spots – my discoveries are around the small town of Seelisberg, on the west side of the lake in Canton Uri.
Marienhöhe can be found south of Seelisberg and has two grills offering great facilities including tables, benches, wood and a shelter.
Reason to stop here: The views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains, facilities and plenty of shade.
Getting There: The best way is to by boat on Lake Lucerne to Treib, then take the funicular up to Seelisberg. From here you can walk 20 minutes to Seelisberg, Oberdorf, then from the Volg mini-market go either south to the Marienhöhe – a nice walk through the forest, or turn off at Kapelle Maria Sonnenberg and go up the zig-zag trail to Hoch Flue, a much more challenging climb. If you want to visit Lake Seeli, then do the walk, take the bus from Seelisberg (funicular) to bus stop Seeli (dep. hourly – takes 4 mins).
From Zugerberg funicular, there is a signpost covered in yellow signs pointing the way to loads of different walking possibilities. One particular grill spot is great for shade and views – Brand Feuerstelle. This is situated on the edge of a forest, overlooking a meadow to the mountains in the distance. They have huge tables and benches, viewing seating, wooden sculptures for children, and good BBQ facilities.
Reason to stop here: Brand Feuerstelle and others in this area offer spacious areas on the edge of the forest giving you a chance to spread out and find your own space. The kids play areas are also spread out, not simply next to the BBQ spots and, as mentioned earlier, they have good BBQ facilities.
Getting There: From the funicular top station turn right and follow the signs to Spielplatz Schattwaldi (forest adventure playground, also with grilling possibilities), then Feuerstelle (grilling place) and Aussichtspunkt (lookout point); about 20-30 minutes walk altogether.
CantonZürich – alongside the Rhein
Eglisau
The pretty town of Eglisau is directly north of Zürich city and on the Rhein. This forested part of the Rhein has relaxing walks through a nature-protected area and vineyards. It is not possible to set up your own firepit but there are several good ones to choose from on both sides of the Rhein.
Reason to stop here: This is a peaceful part of the Rhine, covered in protected forests and partially lined with vineyards. Most BBQ spots offer a grill, seating, shade, boulders to play around and the Rhine to paddle in. When visiting Eglisau you can swim at the Strandbad (riverside baths) or go by boat to the impressive Rhine Falls. There are also some good launching sites for paddle boats.
Getting There:By Car: From Zürich city – approx. 30 minutes (26 km). By Public Transport:From Zürich HB – S9 train, direction Schaffhausen takes 32 mins (as of June 2021).
