20 best things to do in Switzerland (other than ski)

Skiing and Switzerland go together like a hand and (ski) glove, but there is so much to do when the weather turns cool and the land is blanketed in snow…

We’ve found all the activities you can do outside of skiing in Switzerland…

1. Head up in a hot air balloon

Go hot air ballooning at Château-d’Oex, the venue for the International Hot Air Balloon Week every January, when around 90 balloon pilots take to the skies.

Flights are available all year round, and encompass the whole Alpine landscape from Mont-Blanc to the Eiger, taking in the Grand-Combin, the Matterhorn and the Jura, as well as the regions around Lake Geneva and the canton of Fribourg.

Hot air balloons festival at Chateau-D'oex — The hot air balloon festival at Château-d’Oex is incredibly beautiful.

2. Watch a White Turf horse-race

Attend White Turf, the annual horse-racing meet in St. Moritz that takes place on ice instead of turf every February. It’s a wonderful mix of skill, food, music and more all set amongst a spectacular alpine environment.

Beautiful horses playing in the barn in the snowy alps switzerland in winter — Switch up your horse racing viewing with a White Turf race.

3. Zipline with First Flyer

Reach speeds of up to 84 kilometres an hour ziplining on the First Flyer down Grindlewald First. With 800 metres of steel cable and up to 50 metres high, ziplining provides an exciting journey through stunning winter scenery and comes to an end thanks to a giant spring device.

People Standing On Cliff Walk, The Famous Walkway Of Grindelwald First, Switzerland — Ziplining on the First Flyer will give you a birds-eye view of Grindlewald First.

4. Ice-skate on Lake Zurich

Ice-skate at Lake Zurich at the Seehotel Sonne’s Live on Ice. Located in the gardens of the hotel, right next to Lake Zurich, the rink is open from early November until early February. After you are finished on the ice, you can warm up at the mulled wine stand.

Seehotel Sonne’s Live on Ice is fun for all the family.

5. Hike with a Saint Bernard

Try hiking with a Saint Bernard; every weekend from the end of December until the end of February, the Barry Foundation (owner of the 300-year-old breeding kennel from the Great Saint Bernard Pass Hospice – the Holy Order of the Great Saint Bernard Monastery) organises walks accompanied by Saint Bernard dogs in the Valais mountain village of Champex-Lac. You walk the dog, and little people can take a sled ride pulled by them.

St Bernard sheepdog watching Swiss Alps over Verbier — The Barry Foundation organises walks with St Bernard dogs in Champex-Lac.

6. Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride

Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride to Lake Lauenen in the Bernese Oberland. Leaving from the pretty village of Lauenen, the tour takes roughly one hour and fifteen minutes, gliding through the pristine Rohr nature conservation area to Lake Lauenen and then back again. Each sleigh takes up to six months to make by master craftsmen Ernst and Ueli Reichenbach; sheepskin rugs keep you cosy on route.

Try a horse-drawn sleigh ride to Lake Lauenen.

7. Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum

Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen, close to the fateful Reichenbach Falls where the fictional detective met his end. The museum is located in the basement of the old English church in the heart of the village.

It features exhibits relating to the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous characters, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, including a faithful reconstruction of the living room at 221B Baker Street.

Reichenbach Falls are a series of waterfalls on the Reichenbach stream in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland where Sherlock Holmes met his end.

8. Experience a dogsled ride

Jump on a dogsled in Speicherschwendi with Christine and Michael Hanselmann and learn how to handle a team of sled dogs, before experiencing the pure exhilaration of slicing through the snow behind these mighty malamutes. Also, try Huskystuff in Alt St. Johann or a Husky Lodge near Lucerne.

Dog sledding with huskies in beautiful sunrise in Swedish Lapland — Go dog sledding in Switzerland for something different.

9. Strap on snow shoes

Strap on snow shoes and go walking (not skiing) in the snow. There are endless destinations across the country where you can hike through exquisite villages and scenery for anything from a few hours to a few days. Choose a trek that involves overnighting in a mountain hut for a true Alpine experience.

Woman snowshoeing on snow field — Hike through the exquisite villages and scenery for anything from a few hours to a few days.

10. Para-glide down a mountain

Jump off the side of a mountain. After taking a gondola up Grindlewald First, you’ll strap in for a tandem paragliding flight back down again, taking in the spectacular vista of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.

Paraglider flies through clear skies in the morning with the Sunny Swiss Alps below. — Paraglide over the Swiss Alps to get the best view in the house.

11. Get on a toboggan

Toboggan through mountain scenery. After a leisurely post-bus ride through the beautiful Rosenlaui Valley, jump aboard a toboggan and start your rather more adrenalin-packed descent at the foot of the mighty Wetterhorn.

The Eiger Run, which starts at Alpiglen and ends at Brandbegg, is also a great option. Many toboggan runs are lit up at night, adding a new element of loveliness.

Little boy in funny fake fur hat sliding on his sled and yelling. Sunny winter day evening. — Toboggan through the mountainous scenery in Switzerland.

12. Try out a fatbike

Rent a fatbike and get riding. As the name implies, fatbikes have extra-wide tyres that are designed specifically for riding in the snow and on ice.

Currently taking the country by storm, there are lots of places you can indulge, including Andermatt, Valais and Gstaad.

Man and woman riding their fat bikes on snowy forest trail. — Fatbikes have extra-wide tyres for riding on snow and ice.

13. Go on a Mount Titlis Cliff Walk

Walk Europe’s highest suspension bridge, the Mount Titlis Cliff Walk, at 3041 metres above sea level and 500 metres off the ground.

Not for the faint-hearted, the bridge is just one metre wide, 100 metres long and suspended by steel cables. It even sways! This isn’t for anyone with a fear of heights!

view over misty mountains from mount titlis, engelberg, switzerland. 3200m above sea level. — Walk Europe’s highest suspension bridge on the Mount Titlis Cliff Walk.

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14. Climb a glacier in Interlaken

Go ice-climbing on a glacier in Interlaken with specially-trained mountain guides who will instruct you in the safe use of ropes, ice axes and crampons. There’s no need to be a bodybuilder: routes of differing grades will be set up on ice walls so everyone, big and small, can try it out.

After the effort of going up, rappelling down the deep crevasses is pure fun, and all gear is provided.

Brave climber facing an extreme ice terrain — Whether you’re a pro or a complete beginner, try out ice-climbing on a glacier in Interlaken.

15. Chocolate at Lindt Home of Chocolate

Stay warm with some hot chocolate at the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Zurich and learn about the fine art of chocolate-making. Visit the chocolate fountain over 9m tall and the biggest Lindt Chocolate Shop in the world, spread over 500 square metres.

16. Do a snow tube run

Launch yourself down well-groomed tracks atop an air-filled tyre. You can go snow tubing at Truebsee Snow Park which has groomed runs that have you spinning in circles before coming to a bumpy but safe stop.

winter, leisure, sport, and people concept - happy teenage girl or woman sliding down on snow tube — Snow tubing is fun for the whole family.

17. Learn about the wildlife

Go wild for wildlife in Val Müstair, where game warden Jon Gross will take you hiking through the landscape to observe the habits of numerous animals that are found there.

Road to Ofenpass - Fuorn pass in Val Mustair valley of canton Grisons, Graubunden, Switzerland. — Head to Val Müstair to learn about the wilderness.

18. Warm up at a ski resort

Enjoy some après ski action, even if you don’t ski. Ski resorts are fun places to be after dark when restaurants and bars fill up with visitors and locals and a convivial atmosphere prevails. Warm up from the inside with local staples like fondue and Glühwein.

Beaver Creek Resort Winter Skiing at Dusk - Scenic view of village illuminated at night with ski runs. — Ski resorts are the place to be as soon as the sun sets.

19. Stay at the luxurious Whitepod

Check into Whitepod, an eco-luxe hotel made up of 15 individual self-supporting pods sitting 1400 metres above sea level at Les Cerniers, with magnificent unobstructed views of Lake Geneva.

Each one has a pellet-burning stove and all the comforts of home, with breakfast served in the central pod-house, and endless nature just beyond each pod’s adjoining deck.

Morning shot of igloos on a snowy mountain — Whitepods are a must stay at least once in your life.

20. Catch the Cricket on Ice

Watch Cricket on Ice in St. Moritz at the premier event on the Swiss cricket calendar (who knew there was one?).

View of St. Moritz, the famouse resort region for winter sprot, from the high hill with the first new snow — St. Moritz is where you’ll catch some Cricket on Ice.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

20 best things to do in Switzerland (other than skiing)