One of the my favourite countries in Europe is Switzerland, and it’s also a delightful place to visit with your dog. From hiking adventures through to explore the country’s colourful history and cute towns, there’s plenty of dog-friendly attractions. Add some or all of these ideas to your itinerary…
#1 Go Hiking in the Mountains
Switzerland is synonymous with the alps, and naturally there’s plenty of dog-friendly hiking opportunities. Make sure you follow the signs and keep your dog leashed when requested – the Swiss cows can be particularly territorial during the summer months.
Even if you’re not up for a long hike, there’s plenty of fun short hikes to enjoy together with your dog. We loved the short but steep hike behind the village of Lauterbrunnen to visit Staubbachfall Waterfall, the highest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland.
#2 Take a Cable Car
Switzerland is also home to many cable cars – always a good option for heading up the mountains when you and your dog would prefer to skip climbing them on foot! Generally most cable cars in Switzerland allow dogs to join you, for no extra fee.
Further along the Lauterbrunnen Valley we took the cable car up to the car-free village of Gimmelwald. Part of the Schilthornbahn system, the cable car to Gimmelwald takes just five minutes. From Gimmelwald, you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the mountains.
No matter if hike or take a cable car, there’s also plenty of great outdoor terraces where you can enjoy a meal or just a drink with your dog by your side.
#3 Ascend to the Top of Europe
One of the highlights of a trip to Switzerland is taking the cable car and historic mountain rack railway up to Jungfraujoch, known as the “top of Europe”. This saddle high up in the mountains is home to year-round snow cover, perfect for a snowy day trip with your pup.
Dogs are welcome to join you on both the cable car and the rack railway, plus the connecting train lines. Dogs travel for free on most of the network, but there is a dog ticket required for the return trip between Eigergletscher and Jungfraujoch.
Up the top, take in the views from the Sphinx Observatory viewing platform, walk through the Ice Palace to admire the sculptures and play in the snow fun park. Our favourite part was hiking across the snow to Mönchsjochhütte, where we enjoyed a drink in the mountain hut.
Read my full guide to visiting Jungfraujoch with a dog
#4 Explore the Colourful Sculptures of Bern
While Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, the distinction of being capital belongs to Bern. It’s a fairly compact city that’s perfect for spending a day exploring on foot.
One of our favourite features of Bern were the many colourful sculptures adorning the historic fountains in the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The sculptures in the main portal of the late Gothic Bern Münster Cathedral are also vivid.
The vividly blue Aare River loops around the city centre (and is a popular spot for inner tubing in summer). Don’t miss crossing the river to the bear pit on its eastern bank – just follow the signs to keep your dog leashed around the bears.
#5 Enjoy a Scenic Train Ride
Switzerland is famous for its excellent trains. The country is criss crossed by trains, making it easy to explore the country by public transport, and they are truly world class when it comes to punctuality.
Naturally, dogs are allowed on trains in Switzerland. For the trains operated by SBB, smaller dogs under 30cm high at the shoulder in a carrier can travel for free, while large dogs require either a second-class half fare or dog pass. In Jungfrau Railways, all dogs travel for free except on the mountain rack railway.
Two of the most famous train routes in Switzerland are the Glacier Express and Bernina Express. Both pass through stunning countryside with panoramic views. The latter even passes along the World Heritage listed Rhaetian Railway.
#6 Go Wine Tasting at Lake Geneva
Switzerland has long been home to vineyards, mainly in the southern and western parts of the country, although virtually none of it is exported. To find out more about Swiss wine and sample some of it, make a booking to visit a cellar door or two in Switzerland.
We visited a couple of cellar doors along the shores of Lake Geneva, where the stone walls along the vineyard terraces help create a microclimate. Our dog was welcome to join us inside for a wine tasting at Lavaux Vinorama, with a terrace also outside. Choose from multiple wine tastings, with no reservation required.
#7 Be Wowed by the Rhine Falls
Close to the northern border with Germany, head to Rhine Falls for a spectacular sight. Here along the High Rhine, not long after it leaves behind Lake Constance, the river cascades down a waterfall.
The Rhine Falls is the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. Although only 23m high, the waterfall is 150m wide, and it was certainly thundering when we visited on a rainy morning after a late summer storm the night before! We just enjoyed the view from the viewing platforms. Boat trips are also available, although our dog was grateful to stay on dry-ish land during our visit.
#8 Stroll Along the Geneva Waterfront
On the other side of Switzerland, close to the French border, lies the city of Geneva. A global hub for diplomacy and banking, it’s also worth visiting for its beautiful scenery.
The city is located at the southern end of Lake Geneva. A great way to appreciate the city is by taking a stroll along the waterfront, where you can also view the water jets shooting up into the air. Just be ware of the swans if you have a small dog – they took a strong dislike to my Mini Dachshund, Schnitzel!
#9 Explore Cute Villages
Switzerland is also home to many picturesque villages, the perfect spot for a wander past historic houses with painted facades, and enjoy a local beer on a terrace.
Close to Rhine Falls, Stein Am Rhein has a delightful old town, although the weather was quite gloomy during our visit. The town is well-known for its many well-preserved half-timbered medieval houses clustered around the Rathausplatz.
We also loved Appenzell, located in the northeast of the country and surrounded by bucolic countryside. Don’t miss trying some of the local Appenzeller cheese, with the town also famous for its yodelling.
You May Also Like
- Dog-Friendly Switzerland: Travelling with a Dog
- Visiting Jungfraujoch by Train with a Dog
- Dog-Friendly Austria: Travelling in Austria with a Dog
About the Author
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.