Cycle
paths are numerous in Switzerland. You can rent a bike in many Swiss towns.
For bike rental at two locations at Zurich HB, as well as at Globus City,
Bürkliplatz and Bahnhof Enge, see this link: http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/aoz/de/index/shop/veloverleih/standorte.html
Also
SBB has details about bike hire
throughout Switzerland: http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/car-bike/hire-or-borrow/rent-a-bike.html
And
there you can also find details about taking your bike on the train. See this link: http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/car-bike/on-the-move-by-bike.html
For
an organised bike tour in Zürich,
have a look at this website: http://www.zuerichbybike.ch/touren_e.htm
Organisations
such as HEKS run free bikes, in
Wädenswil for example. See this link:
http://www.heks.ch/en/switzerland/zurichschaffhausen-regional-office/heks-rollt/
http://www.heks.ch/en/switzerland/zurichschaffhausen-regional-office/heks-rollt/
Slow-up Zürichsee is on the last Saturday in September, when the streets of the city and
also the stretch round the lake between Schmerikon and Meilen are closed to
motorized traffic for cyclists to enjoy a family day out.
For
bike rental in Geneva, see this link: http://www.bikeswitzerlandrentals.com/index.php
Another
country-wide bike rental organisation: http://www.veloland.ch/en/page.cfm/318349
For
more bike rental in the French part of Switzerland, see this link: http://www.suisseroule.ch/
For
bike routes in Switzerland, see this link: http://www.bikemap.net/
Walks and hikes
Switzerland
is a hiker’s paradise with numerous well-marked walking trails in cities,
mountain areas, lake and riversides and through country villages. Here are just
a few suggestions:
Ütliberg to Felsenegg (ZH). The
Planetenweg takes about one and a half hours in either direction. You can get a
round trip ticket to take the train up to Ütliberg (871m.), admire the view,
and take a leisurely walk along the route marked by proportionally sized
planets starting from the sun. At Felsenegg take the cablecar down to Adliswil
and there’s a short walk down to the station for the train back into Zurich HB.
Schanzengraben (ZH) Walk
along the old moat around Zürich from Bürkliplatz to the Sihl. Historic signs
give information along the route. Takes one hour.
Weg der Schweiz near the
lake of Luzern, the Vierwaldstättersee, takes about 2 days to cover in total.
The stages of the walk represent the Swiss cantons in terms of size and population.
For a short section, take a half-day trip from Brunnen, by boat to Treib,
cablecar up to Seelisberg and a downhill walk to Rütli where the Swiss
Confederation was signed in 1291, thence by boat back to Brunnen. The view over
the Urnersee is spectacular.
Pilgerweg This
street name crops up in many Swiss villages as part of the pilgrims’ way from Zürich
to Einsiedeln and further afield as Jakobsweg to Santiago de Compostelo in
Spain. The stretch from Schwarzenburg to Fribourg (FR) can be walked in half a
day: www.myswitzerland.com
code 57249
Grindelwald and Mürren (BE) Deb B
says these are her favourite hiking areas.
Mühlehorn to Walenstadt (SG) – level 2 walk – beautiful walk
along the Walensee. About 12 k, but flat (and along tarmac roads, which, like
marmite, some love and some hate). We have done it twice this year, with folk
for whom views and conversation and coffee pauses are more important than
training for next year’s Olympics. Great for people who have just arrived in
Switzerland and want a taste of the mountain views and lakes and like ice cream
at the end. Takes 3 hours. Colin Hawker.
Flims/Laax area– Crap Sogn Gion to Naraus (GR) - Level 3
walk. This starts at 2,200 m (having taken the cablecar up from Laax), and
walks around two valleys, finishing at 1,800m. Although predominantly downhill,
it is undulating and although along marked paths, conditions underfoot are
tricky and slow (but not difficult). In decent condition, very rewarding
(fantastic actually) in terms of the views into the valleys and potential
sighting of marmots. Colin Hawker.
Be your own tour guide!
No
need to pay for an expensive guided tour; you can take a tour of the main
sights in any major Swiss city with the help of a good guide book and a street
map.
In
coming guides, discover these cities - see links on right:
Bern – you can also visit the Swiss Parliament on a guided tour
Basel Altstadt
St. Gallen cathedral area
Schaffhausen
Chur
Bellinzona
Murten
Schaffhausen
Konstanz
Zurich
Zug
Plus
why not explore on your own these lovely towns and cities:
Geneva
- see http://www.geneva.info/
Fribourg
– on the French/German language border
Appenzell
– an old-fashioned town
Lugano
– gateway to three lakes
Locarno
– on Lago Maggiore
And
more…
Compiled
by Julia Newton, 2 September 2011, amended April 2016
With
contributions from Amy Eber, Colin Hawker, Ewelina Pace, Gill Rüttimann, Helga
Meyer-Piening, Lindsey Carver, Otto Schreibke, Paola Cavallari, Sue Poolman,
Trudi MacDonald ,Valerie Quiblier.