10 Most Magnificent Mountains in Switzerland

The fact that  Switzerland is very blessed nature-wise is known worldwide. It’s blessed with lakes, rivers, and especially with mountains. The beautiful mountains make Switzerland one of the most visited places during the winter. Majestic landscapes, breathtaking views of mountains and cities, as well as fancy ski resorts, attract a massive number of visitors every year. 

We know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, we compiled a shortlist with some of the most beautiful mountains in Switzerland. The mountains are ranked from those with the lowest elevation to the highest.

1. Mount San Salvatore

Elevation: 912m

Mount San Salvatore is part of the Lepontine Alps, which are located in the northwestern part of the Alps. It is situated in the canton of Ticino, overlooking the city of Lugano. The lake of Lugano divides this mountain and the state of Italy.

Mount San Salvatore is the ideal destination for people who want to spend a day away from frantic city life and enjoy the stunning nature of this place. It offers visitors a panoramic view of the city of Lugano, the lake, and the Italian side of the land. For hiking enthusiasts, it provides the opportunity to climb the Via Ferrata which is a climbing route used to explore the mountain. If you want to climb the peak of the mountain, you have to use the funicular. At the peak, you can enjoy a 360° view of the place.

2. Mount Lema

Elevation: 1,619m

Mount Lema, the perfect destination for mountain bike riders and hang-gliding flight lovers. Part of the Lugano Prealps, the mountain isn’t limited to these two activities. It is a very welcoming place for hikers of every level, offering them several trails and tracks to walk through. Monte Lema is known as the starting point of the famous mountain hike called Traversata. This hike leads to Mount Tamaro, situated close to the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its peak can easily be reached using the cable car from the village of Miglieglia. The cable car is available from the end of March to the beginning of November.

3. Mount Rigi

Elevation: 1,798m

Mount Rigi, known by the locals as the Queen of the Mountains, is a breathtaking mountain massif in the Alps. It is located in the center of Switzerland near the cities of Zurich and Luzern. You can visit this destination any time you want as it offers the best conditions to its visitors in every season. However, if you are going to visit it, the morning would be the best time. It tends to get covered by clouds around noon.

One of the options to get to the top of the mountain is the cogwheel train. For hiking enthusiasts, this mountain provides 120 km long trails.

4. Mount Pilatus

Elevation: 2,128m

The magnificent Pilatus, or as it is referred to, Mount Pilatus, is a pretty mountain massif. It is located in the center of Switzerland. Its central position makes this mountain part of three cantons: Obwalden, Nidwalden, and Luzern. The highest peaks of this mountain area are situated on the border between Obwalden and Nidwalden.

It is easily reached in all directions. The interested tourists can reach the top of the mountain through Pilatus Railway, in a 30 minutes trip with the steepest cogwheel ever known. Pilatus Railway offers its services from May to November. One other vehicle used to go up the mountain is gondola. It takes only 30 minutes to arrive at Fräkmüntegg, where the cable car, which is known as Dragon Ride, takes you to the summit. Throughout those trips, you can enjoy the magnificent views this mountain has to offer throughout seasons.

5. Mount Parsenn

Elevation: 2,220m

As one of the fascinating mountains of Davos, Parsenn is mostly known as a ski resort by the locals as well as tourists. It is the largest one from the five ski resorts there, and it offers ski enthusiasts 35 ski runs. The best time to visit this mountain is around the time it opens its doors to ski admirers, from the last week of November to the last week of April. One of the reasons why this mountain is so popular among skiers is because its ski runs are suitable for all levels of skiers. You can access the mountain from Davos by the Parsenn’s funicular railway, and from Kloster by Gotschna cable car.

6. Mount Männlichen

Elevation: 2,343m

Part of the massif of Alps, Männlichen is located in the canton of Berne. When at the top of the mountain, it offers breathtaking views of the Bernese Alps peaks: Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch. You can get to Männlichen from Wengen with aerial cableway and from Grindelwald Grund with gondola cableway. Both aerial and gondola cableways are available for visitors from the end of May to mid-October.

Männlichen trails are one of the easiest to hike contrary to the others in this region. One of the most famous trails is Panorama Trail from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. It is suitable for hikers of all levels, even to the ones in training.

7. Mount Piz Nair

Elevation: 3,057m

Piz Nair, one of the mountains of the beautiful and fancy St. Moritz. Located in the south-east of Switzerland, St. Moritz is surrounded by heart-stopping beautiful mountains. Piz Nair happens to be one of them. Part of the Albula Alps, Piz Nair geographically, is based in the canton of  Graubünden, overlooking St. Moritz.

Early Autumn is the perfect time to hike this mountain. However, you should carefully choose the trail you want to walk because they can be slightly risky due to avalanches.  There are two funiculars and a cable car that help interested visitors to reach the summit.

8. Mount Eiger

Elevation: 3970m

Eiger has to be one of the most famous mountains in the world. Not only because of Clint Eastwood and the movie he shot there but also because of its unique beauty, and the ill fame its northern side got over the years. Eiger is part of the Bernese Alps in the canton of Berne. It offers a great view of the villages of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.

What makes this mountain one of the most known and talked about is its infamous northern side, otherwise known as Mordwand. This part of the mountain is mostly covered by rock and ice. Too many people have tried for years to climb it. Many succeeded and many have lost their lives on their journey to the top. Due to its elevation, weather conditions, and steep trails, the north side of Eiger is safer to climb on by professional hikers.

For the non-professional climbers, Eiger offers other routes to climb it, the South Ridge and the Western Flank. Even though they are considered as safer routes compared to Mordwand, you still have to prepare months before this climb.

9. Mount Piz Bernina

Elevation: 4,049m

Piz Bernina is one of the highest mountains and peaks in the eastern Alps. It’s also known as the “Mount Everest” of the Engadin. It’s located within the Engadin region of the Graubünden canton.

This mountain is considered to be a pretty tricky and exhausting climb. In case you want to join the alpinists on the journey to reach the summit, you have to prepare yourself a few months prior to the climb. There are a few routes that lead to the summit of Piz Bernina. One starts at Pontresina village, and the other is “Bianco Grat,” which is more challenging than the other.

10. Mount Matterhorn

Elevation: 4,478m

Mount Matterhorn is one of the most known and beautiful mountains in Europe and deservedly so. No mountain comes close to this one. The unique beauty that characterizes this mountain has turned it into the most photographed one in Europe. What makes this mountain even special is that it doesn’t offer alternatives to get to the top besides climbing. Not only a majestic place but also a challenging one. For the parties interested, the best time to climb it is during the summer. The climb is considered difficult for beginners. As for all the mountains with the elevation over 3000m, interested climbers need to get prepared physically and psychologically months before.

Switzerland’s countryside has so much to offer to its locals and visitors. Therefore, it’s impossible to visit them all at once. We hope that the list we provided above will make it easier for you to decide which Swiss mountain you want to see first.