Switzerland is world-famous for its gorgeous nature. Countless people travel to the Alpine country every year wishing to discover its natural sights, and most of them do it by hiking, mountain biking, and riding boats.
But discovering the beauty of Switzerland from a helicopter is an entirely different experience, and one you should plan to do if you enjoy trying new things. Take off and fly above the country’s tallest mountain peaks, admire the aerial views of its lakes, and experience bird’s eye view panoramas of its busiest cities – here’s everything you need to know about the best helicopter rides in Switzerland!
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Breathtaking Locations for Helicopter Rides
Interlaken
Interlaken is an awesome location for a helicopter tour. The town is absolutely stunning from an aerial perspective, and seeing both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz from above is just a fabulous experience that will doubtless be the highlight of your entire trip.
Also, the great thing about Interlaken is that it’s a popular destination for adventure sports, so there are multiple companies that offer helicopter rides in the area. This also means competitive pricing, so expect the tours to be slightly more affordable than in some other destinations throughout Switzerland. Skydive Interlaken is one of the most popular providers of Swiss helicopter tours, and they offer scenic tours in addition to jumps.
Zermatt
Zermatt is possibly the best destination in Switzerland for a helicopter ride. The resort village is surrounded by spectacular mountain summits, including the iconic Matterhorn. There are also many mountain lakes nearby, and you’ll get a glimpse of all of them from inside a helicopter.
Air Zermatt is the most popular operator for helicopter flights in the region, and they offer a bunch of different helicopter tours. There’s everything from a quick 20-minute flight around the Matterhorn to an hour-long panoramic flight over the Swiss Alps. It’s worth noting that their tours are competitively priced, and surprisingly enough, start at just a little over 200 CHF which is uncharacteristically affordable for Zermatt.
Zurich
Zurich is an impressive city from every angle, but tour it in a helicopter and you’ll be left with an impression you’ll unlikely forget for years to come. A helicopter ride above the city of Zurich offers a different perspective on the city’s iconic landmarks, the mesmerizing Lake Zurich, and even the wonderful surroundings mountains.
The bustling metropolis is a great place for a helicopter tour not just because of the scenic landscapes, but also because you have loads of providers to choose from. This also means competitive pricing and quick 20-minute flights above Zurich can be done for less than 200 CHF with FunFlights.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that several providers also offer day excursions from Zurich to other nearby cities by helicopter.
Bernese Oberland
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Bernese Oberland is home to the Bernese Alps, so you can imagine why it would be a good region in Switzerland for a helicopter tour. Admire some of the country’s tallest summits from above, and see what the landscape of the Alps looks like from the air – it’s certainly a fabulous experience that could easily be the highlight of your entire trip to Switzerland!
The region of Bernese Oberland is quite big, so you have loads of options for helicopter tours. Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen are a few of the towns that serve as bases for the helicopter rides, but there are plenty of others. Helikopterflug Jungfraujoch even organizes day trips to Junfrauhjoch by helicopter, and it’s easily one of the best tours to do in the region.
Basel
Basel is a beautiful town in northern Switzerland and a place where you can get a helicopter ride from the airport to your hotel – why bother with train stations and private transfers at all if that’s an option?
While it might not be the most panoramic helicopter tour of the city, it could very well be the most convenient one if it’s your first time in Basel. But if you want to experience something a bit more impressive, I would recommend a longer helicopter tour of the Jura mountains.
This is an impressive mountain range on the border of Switzerland and France, and the aerial view of it is just astonishing. Airbase Basel offers heli tours of the Jura mountains as well as airport transfers, and a few other options for aerial tours of Basel and its surroundings.
Engadin Valley
Engadine Valley is situated in Graubünden, and it’s best known for the eastern Swiss Alps. If panoramic vistas of majestic mountains are the prime reason why you’re interested in a helicopter ride in Switzerland in the first place, the Engadin Valley is without a doubt a great destination.
Helibernina AG and Swiss Helicopter AG are the two largest providers of helicopter tours in the valley. Helibernina offers some of the more affordable glacier tours, but Swiss Helicopter is the better option if you want to try something wild like heli-skiing.
No matter which provider you choose, expect to pay around 200 CHF per person for the tour (depending on the length), and be prepared for views of some of the most impressive Alpine landscapes you can imagine.
Lucerne
The waterfront town of Lucerne is another fabulous destination for a helicopter ride because you get to see so many different landscapes even if you opt for a quick 20-minute ride. You’ll get an aerial view of the city’s rooftops, the magical Lake Lucerne, and the many mountains in the city’s surroundings.
The 20-minute helicopter tour is the cheapest option you have available. You’ve also got a bunch of other options for helicopter tours from Lucerne, including an excursion to Mt. Titlis with a landing on the Sustenlimi glacier. There’s even a tour that allows you to sit in the pilot seat and take control of the aircraft!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are helicopter tours in Switzerland worth it?
A helicopter tour in Switzerland is absolutely worth it if you can easily afford it. These tours are very pricey, but they’re also unique experiences that will be the highlight of your visit.
Are helicopter tours bumpy?
Generally speaking, helicopter tours are not bumpy. For one, a helicopter flight will take place only in ideal weather conditions. Also, experiencing turbulence in a helicopter is very different from experiencing it in a place, and definitely not as bumpy, especially with a good pilot.
What time of day is best for a helicopter tour?
The best time of day for a helicopter tour is generally the morning (in good weather), especially if you want to take photos. The winds are not quite as strong, and the morning light offers the chance to take some really stunning aerial photographs. Sunset tours are also a special experience, and worth considering if you prefer the backdrop of a colorful sky.
