Why I love walking in Switzerland

Our hiking routes are outstanding, I love everything about them – okay, almost everything. Here’s what and why.

Aug 21, 2022

1. The routes

First class hiking routes. They are well maintained, and you can easily find out who’s responsible for the upkeep if there ever is something that needs attention. There’s also a app called “Switzerland Mobility” that even tells you about detours and road closures so you don’t get caught out. I love that there are sometimes shortcuts through the forest or just off the main forest road, just to make it a bit more interesting. And very often you find historical or cultural sites along the routes and there are information points for people to read up on areas. A few stretches are paved, but these are kept to a minimum. What always cracks me up is that when steps are put in on a steep hill people always walk to the right or left of them. I don’t know if that’s a Swiss thing, but it does make me smile every single time. I’m Swiss – I totally do that to. For me it’s a matter of “you don’t tell me how to walk up/down here, I can tackle that hill without steps”. Sometimes the steps are a good idea though, I will admit that.

2. Public transport

You’re always dropped off at a bus stop or a train station. Or at least there’s signs that point you to the nearest public transport. It’s part of the Swiss walking/hiking experience. Of course, you can also drive somewhere and then walk a loop and drive back. That’s the people that you meet on top of a hill that don’t look sweaty at all. For me it’s ideal. I can just hop on/off a train or bus and start walking. About 20 minutes before I reach my destination, I will check the online timetable just to see if I need to hurry to make a train/bus or if I can take it easy. In most places there is a train/bus every hour or more frequently, depending on the time of day and day of the week. I’ve never had to look for the train station, they are clearly marked. Even bus stops are easy. 10/10 for hiking and public transport – at least in my area.

3. Signposting

There are signs that point you to the main signpost (see picture) – especially at train stations with several exits. They are yellow and I just love them. Also, they give you the elevation of where you’re at and the estimated time you need to get to your destination. Granted those times are really just estimates and if you’re a slow walker (like me) you just times them by 1.5. Maybe I’m not a slow walker as such, but I stop to read signs, for cats or other animals and to take pictures. Loads of them. Sometimes those things overlap.

Here's some examples. They are all from a hike from Zeinigen to Rheinfelden. In this case there was also a blue route.

Signposts & way markers for Swiss hiking routes

I also love that when there is just a yellow diamond shaped way marker, they often put the cantonal flag in there as well. That way you always know which canton you’re walking in. I don’t usually get confused but walking along the Rhine in certain areas it changes all the time and at one point I was walking in Germany for a short while. So, I do find them helpful.

4. Benches

There are usually plenty of benches along popular routes. Often with a nice view overlooking a valley, a river or they just sit on top of a hill. Sometimes they even match your jacket. I try to take a break at least every 1.5 hours, so if there’s no bench, I just sit on a tree stump, on the grass or on a rock. What I also like is that some benches are dedicated to certain people or organizations, makes sitting there all the more special. Those of you who know German will know the word “Bank” for bench. Now, we love our diminutives, so we make that “Bänkli” (lit. little bench, but its size does not matter). This is crucial knowledge if you want to ask somebody where the next bench is.

5. Something for everybody – in terms of length and landscapes

Short walks, day hikes, flat, mountainous – there really is something for everybody. Just pick what you want and off you go. Some days I feel like walking along a river on other days I want to hike in the hills and have a great view or I might just want to walk in a forest and take in the fresh air and listen to the birds. All is possible. I’ve started posting videos of my hikes on my YouTube channel (link see note below). I will continue to do that. I also post pictures or short videos on Instagram.

I have recently discovered long-distance hikes. I don’t mean that I walk for days on end – it’s just that the routes I walk are longer than a one-day hike. I walked from Kreuzlingen to Basel, which is 190 km – I did it in very short stages, because of some health issues that prevented me from walking more than 3h in one go. Twice I was surprised by a thunderstorm and had to cut a hike even shorter. That’s how I ended up walking it in 21 days.

You might also find some walking routes on your doorstep once you start looking. I can highly recommend it. Oh, and remember to greet people while walking – it’s important!