Switzerland may be famous for its gigantic Alps, gorgeous rivers, and crystal clear lakes, but an underrated piece of this country is the remarkable waterfalls. With some of the best ones in Europe, all of Switzerland’s waterfalls flow and crash down beautiful cliffs, and they’ve become an inseparable part of any stereotypical Swiss picture.
The otherworldly Swiss beauty is gentler and deeper near waterfalls, where people can spend countless hours relaxing and listening to the white noise of water hitting rocks. Even better, if your mountain house is close, you can fall asleep to the most outstanding music known to man.
12 Best Switzerland Waterfalls
Here’s a list of all the best waterfalls in Switzerland. Whether you want to feel the earth shake by the force of Rhine Falls, the sprays of Staubbach Falls making you wet, or the fairytale that is Tine Conflens, every location listed below will captivate you and bring you closer to nature.
Staubbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen
Where is the valley of the 72 waterfalls? That’s the Lauterbrunnen Valley, right where Staubbach is located. Staubbach Falls is the third highest waterfall in Switzerland, reaching an astonishing 300 meters in height. During summer, the warm winds swirl the waters around, and the falls spray in all directions, giving the waterfall its name.
Being one of the tallest waterfalls in Europe, Staubbach falls from a tall rock surrounded by the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the peaks of Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau in the background.
If you want a closer look, you can take the steep and slippery hike to a rock balcony that serves as a great viewpoint. There are information panels about the history of these falls throughout the trail to keep visitors informed and entertained.
Reichenbach Falls, Meiringen
Reichenbach Falls is considered a one-of-a-kind waterfall due to its seven-step formation, thus making it a fascinating location to visit in Switzerland. Additionally, this is the place for Sherlock Holmes fans.
This is where the detective met his death in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book, and there are plaques throughout the trail and a museum nearby dedicated entirely to Sherlock Holmes!
As for the Reichenbach Falls, it’s 250 meters tall while on high power, and visitors can see each particular tier that has made the location so famous.
Rosenlaui Falls, Meiringen
The Rosenlaui Falls is one of the top natural attractions in Switzerland and the whole of Europe. For centuries, the water has carved rocks in shapes and lines that feel as if they’re part of a painting. Visiting it is an incredible experience, one that you’ll never forget.
The glacial gorge, the safe path, the thundering waterfalls, and mesmerizing cliff formations are everything you’d expect from a mountainous location in Switzerland. There are footpaths that lead to the ravine, where you can appreciate the powerful and breathtaking waters coming down.
Rosenlaui is open from early May to early November, with the best time to visit being between April- August.
Mürrenbach Falls, Stechelberg
Visiting the Murrenbach Falls is quite an impressive waterfall experience while in Switzerland. As the tallest waterfall in the country, standing at around 417 meters, it has water going five staircases down a steep rocky slope.
The absolute best way to see Murrenbach is from the Schilthornbahn cable car that takes people close to the water curtains for some heart-stopping views.
The waterfall flows 365 days a year; however, its maximum power is reached during spring, right after the snow melts.
Rhine Falls, Schaffhausen
Formed during the Ice Age 15,000 years ago, the Rhine Falls gives visitors the outward experience of feeling the earth vibrating from the immense power of the water. There’s a whopping amount of 600,000 liters of water per second plummeting down, making it one of the largest waterfalls in Europe.
There’s a viewing platform in the middle of the falls, on top of a cliff, accessible either by boat or by a short, steep climb. This is the single best way to feel the intensity of the water and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And just like in most cases, the 23-meter waterfall is visited best during April-May.
Engstligen Falls, Adelboden
Engstligen Falls is the second tallest waterfall in the country, with some of the most jaw-dropping magical sights available. Its thunderous water falls with such speed that even the air around you vibrates.
As a 397-meter waterfall, the Engstligen falls to the ground and transforms into a river, upon which you can ride a boat if you feel like it. The falls are also accessible by rocky footpaths with up-close water sights.
Surrounded by snowy mountains and cow-filled meadows full of fresh, green grass and colorful flowers, the waterfall looks enchanting. Due to its immense beauty, it’s considered a very significant site for Switzerland and is a top favorite excursion spot amongst locals and visitors.
It’s recommended to visit Engstligen falls from April through August, mainly because of rising levels of water during that time.
Trümmelbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen
Just like Staubbach falls, Trummelbach Falls is nestled in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It consists of 10 cascades that plunge down rocky boulders and sharp cliffs; definitely one of the most intriguing waterfalls in Switzerland.
Interestingly enough, Trummelbach is located in the mountain’s interior, making it the most extensive underground falls in Europe. They’re loud and thundering, continuously gurgling and foaming water.
They’re the world’s only glacier waterfalls that are accessible by lifts, galleries, illuminated tunnels, paths, and platforms. They carry up to 20,000 liters of water per second and over 20,000 tons of boulders, causing the entire mountain to shudder all year long. The height of Trummelbach falls is approximately 140 meters.
Foroglio Falls, Val Bavona (near Locarno)
The Foroglio Falls is a spectacular waterfall created by waters from two connected glaciers in the valleys of Bavona and Calneggia. They give visitors the chance to experience striking scenery coupled with the calming sounds of crashing and splashing of the water.
The mighty waterfall gets its name from the nearby village of Foroglio, where churches and castles of the 11th century are used and visited to this day. The trail to reach the fall is full of colorful wildflowers and simple enough for a day out in nature. The viewpoint offers beautiful sights not only of the falls but also of the Bavona Valley.
The 110-meter high falls are at their glory from April to August, so you best get to visiting them during those months.
Giessbach Falls, Lake Brienz
Sitting in the Bernese region of Switzerland, the Giessbach Falls are a preserved Swiss attraction and one of the most distinguished waterfalls in the country. The water crashes down 14 steps, all named after soldiers in the Bernese war.
Giessbach is surrounded by forests, mountains, and meadows, offering an all-alpine experience for those who visit. Moreover, you get to see stunningly beautiful views of Lake Brienz.
An 18th-century funicular takes you up to the Giessbach Hotel, a historic architectural creation offering the best vantage point to see the waterfall. A charming bridge near the hotel provides another perspective of Lake Brienz and its green waters.
The waterfall has a height of 300 to 600 meters, depending on the season and the water that comes down the steps.
Tine Conflens, La Sarraz
The Tine de Conflans is the place where rivers Venoge and Veyron meet and continue to flow together. A truly fairy-like location, Tine Conflens waterfalls, and the surrounding canyon are shaped by the sheer force of waters meeting the hollow limestone.
Located in the Canton of Vaud, Tines Conflens is like walking into a magical and colorful forest straight out of a kid’s storybook; wildflowers, trees with creeping vines, and lush grasslands make up the immediate area.
This is one gentle and bewitching waterfall, ending up in a pool that’s constantly illuminated and surrounded by small boulders. As usual, the best time to visit the 25-meter waterfall is from April to August due to the increase in water flow.
Roffla Waterfall (Andeer)
The Roffla Gorge in the Berverin Nature Park leads you up close to a thundering waterfall. What makes this one special is that it was “hand-made” by Christan Pitschen-Melchoir, who wanted to carve a passage through the gorge after returning from America.
Inspired by Niagara Falls, he wanted to make this new waterfall look precisely like it. Through challenging and detailed manual work, chiseling, and blasting nonstop, he completed his masterpiece, which remains untouched and preserved to this day. It took seven years and 8,000 explosions to finish the job fully, and we’re confident he was proud of it.
Entering the Roffla Gorge, you’ll immediately see a historic inn, a restaurant, and a museum showcasing the interesting history of the gorge. A narrow path leads towards the Roffla Gorge and passes behind the waterfall and, therefore, under the Rhine.
The whole story about Christian’s life’s work and everything around it can be visited in the House Museum.
Seerenbachfalls (near Betlis)
The Seerenbachfalls can be reached through a forest trail that leads from Betlis village to a vantage point, where a narrow opening offers an incredible spectacle.
The waterfall is formed by three tall cascades, consequently making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Europe. Waters fall down steep rocks creating massive curtains on the northern shore of Lake Walen.
The lowest cascade has been quite intriguing folklore for centuries. Once the falls meet the Rin Spring, the waters disappear into a cave system. Divers have been investigating the 3-kilometer-long canal that leads into the mountain’s bowels since the beginning of the 20th century. What happens inside, however, is a mystery to this day.
The three cascades together have a height of 585 meters. The upper one has a height of 50 meters, the middle one is around 305 meters, and the lowest is 190 meters tall.
The Bottom Line
The fun thing about Switzerland’s waterfalls is that they’re all unique and different in their own ways. No two are entirely the same, and each has a distinctive feature that makes visiting them worthwhile. Moreover, they’re pretty thrilling! They may seem peaceful and heavenly (which they are); however, they’ve been carving hard rocks since the beginning of time, so be careful.
Seeing these wonders of nature up close and feeling their refreshing energy is an unforgettable emotion, so make sure to check at least one of the waterfalls we’ve listed to grasp the entire Swiss culture and nature.
