Staying in Zurich for a while and you want to get out of the city and explore the mountains? Then you’ve come to the right place because this detailed guide will tell you everything about the mountains near Zurich!
One of the many appeals of Switzerland’s financial capital is its proximity to lakes and mountains. The lakes – more specifically Lake Constance and Lake Lucerne – are more popular in the summer months, but the mountain peaks with their excellent ski resorts are by far the most popular destinations near Zurich in the winter!
The city is surrounded by tall peaks, some of which are easily accessible by funicular from the downtown area. Keep reading to see all the closest mountains to Zurich, and discover which ones you might be able to visit during your stay!
Table of Contents
Uetliberg
Uetliberg is the closest mountain to Zurich, easily accessible by a train ride from the heart of the city. You can reach the top of the mountain from downtown Zurich in just some 20 minutes, and it is even possible to hike to Uetliberg from the city.
The mountain is a popular city escape for many natives and tourists, especially those who want to escape the city crowds for a little while. The observation deck at the top of Uetliberg offers spectacular panoramic views of the city and Lake Zurich, which are best enjoyed on a clear, sunny day.
There’s also a restaurant at the top of the mountain, for travelers who want to enjoy the views while tasting some local delicacies. A network of hiking trails also awaits at the top, and you can easily spend hours exploring the magnificent Swiss nature just minutes outside the center of Zurich.
Titlis – Engelberg
Titlis – Engelberg is a popular ski resort area in central Switzerland about an hour and a half outside Zurich (by car). The area is popular for both summer and winter adventures, but the ski resort in particular is most popular with snowboarders and skiers during the winter season.
Mount Titlis with its many glaciers and exciting cliff walks is just a quick excursion away from the ski resort. A guided tour of the glaciers is a popular thing to do in the area, especially among mountaineers who want to discover as much of Switzerland’s magnificent nature as possible.
Cable cars run from the town of Engelberg to all the nearby mountain peaks, and they’re operational during both the summer and winter seasons. Although the area is most popular in the winter for its many amazing ski pistes, there’s a vast network of hiking trails that are popular during the warmer season.
I did the 4-Lakes Hike along the back of Engelberg some years ago. It’s a long but easy hike and takes you all the way from Melchsee-Frutt to Engelberg or vice-versa. I recommend it.
On a clear day, you can catch glimpses of the Bernese Alps summits in the distance, which should make it obvious that the Bernese Oberland should be your next destination in Switzerland!
You can also check out some of the great day-tour options there are available to the area from cities like Zurich. This saves you the hassle of organising it all yourself.
Zugerberg
Zugerberg is not surprisingly the home mountain right above Zug. It is some 40 kilometers outside of Zurich, and easily accessible by both car and public transport. You can take the train from Zurich to Zug and arrive in the city in about 25 minutes, and from there you can ride the funicular to the top of Zugerberg.
It’s worth noting that, as I am writing this, the railway is undergoing reconstruction and a bus is transporting passengers from Zug to the top of the mountain. It’s a bit slower than the funicular, but the views from the top are just as amazing as ever.
The top of the mountain boasts multiple observation decks and viewpoints, which offer spectacular panoramic views of Lake Zug and the surrounding mountain peaks. You can also explore a vast system of hiking trails up on the mountain, which although not the stunning hikes you get in the Alps, are a great way to get out in Spring before the snow melts.
There is also a challenging mountain biking downhill trail here I have been meaning to try out. So, if you are into mountain biking, it’s a no-brainer as the funicular does all the hard work getting you back to the top of Zugerberg for another run!
Those who prefer to admire the view with a drink in their hand can spend their time in the mountaintop restaurant, where they can discover the best of Swiss cuisine in an idyllic countryside setting.
Flumserberg
Situated about an hour and a half outside of the city of Zurich, Flumserberg is undoubtedly the most popular ski mountain for Zurichers! With an ever-expanding list of modern cable cars and even more ski pistes, this is pretty much paradise for all skiers and snowboarders in Switzerland. They also seem to always get some amazing snow up there, which I have always attributed to the narrowing of the valley below. Either way, skiing there is easy to get to and usually hard to beat.
The ski resort is easily accessible by car and public transport, although it’s much faster to travel by car. From Zurich, you can take the train to Sargans and then a bus to the Tannenboden gondola lift station, where you can ride the cable car to the top of the mountain.
The mountain peak overlooks Lake Walen and boasts some stunning panoramic views from the top. It’s worth noting that there’s a variety of restaurants near each of the cable car stations, so skiers and hikers have plenty of options when the time for meals and rest comes. The total length of ski pistes at the resort is 65 kilometers, plus it’s worth noting that their difficulty ranges from suitable for beginners to suitable only for very experienced and confident skiers.
These guys have also expanded their summer offerings of late. Our van builder lives under the mountain and mountain bikes there after work every day. It is also one of the better MTB trail networks within an hour or so of Zurich, if you don’t have time to get to the epic ones down south!
Chäserrugg
Chäserrugg is a mountain north of Lake Walen, about an hour and a half outside of Zurich. The mountain is accessible by both car and public transport, but it’s worth noting that traveling by car is a lot more convenient since there’s no direct train from Zurich.
It is possible to travel by train and bus from Zurich, but it takes nearly an hour longer. You’ll need to get from Zurich to Unterwasser, where you can ride the funicular to Iltios and then a cable car to Chäserrugg.
The summit rises to an elevation of 2,262 meters but has a modest prominence of only 14 meters. In the summer it’s a popular destination for hiking, and in the winter it attracts countless skiers and snowboarders to its many pistes.
The mountaintop hiking trails let hikers discover the neighboring peaks while enjoying magnificent panoramic views of Lake Walen and its surroundings. There’s a restaurant near every cable car station, so plenty of places for rest and relaxation.
Hoch-Ybrig – Spirstock
Situated some 55 kilometers outside of Zurich city, Hoch-Ybrig is another one of the mountain peaks that you can reach in less than an hour if you’ve got a car. Traveling by public transport is nearly twice as long, and it includes riding two trains and two buses. Trust me, I used to go skiing here when I first came to Switzerland and it is looooong! If you have a car, use it! Otherwise go to Flums.
This is a very popular ski area, mostly because it remains open longer than most other resorts. The record season in this ski resort was in the winter of 1974/75 when the slopes remained open for six months from October to April! If you want to go skiing in Switzerland but the conditions aren’t quite ideal, Hoch-Ybirg is your best bet near Zurich.
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Spirstock is one of the mountain peaks of Hoch-Ybirg, and it is easily accessible by a cable car ride from Seebli. Pistes run from the summit down to Seebli, and it’s worth noting that there’s even a restaurant at the summit. Overall, if you’re looking for some great ski resorts in the Zurich region, Hoch-Ybrig remains one of the best and most easily accessible options.
Of course, there are also lots of hikes and MTB routes here in summer, but they have yet to develop it as much as Flums. At least as far as I know.
Felsenegg
Felsenegg is really just an extension of the Uetliberg ridge and you can actually walk to it from there too. It is about half an hour away from Zurich, and it is easily accessible by car. Traveling by train is just as quick as driving on your own, plus you get to enjoy a ride on the Felsenegg LAF cable car.
This is more of a vantage point than a proper mountain summit since it is only 809 meters above sea level. Nonetheless, the typical Swiss pastures and numerous hiking trails manage to attract many outdoor lovers from Zurich, especially on weekends. The hiking is easy, once you are up the top. And it’s a great getaway from the city.
The Felsenegg restaurant near the top station serves authentic Swiss dishes in a homey setting. If you happen to visit Felsenegg in the summer, do your best to grab one of their terrace tables – I’d call ahead and try to book a table. The terrace offers a mesmerizing panoramic view of Lake Zurich and the towns on its shores, and it’s easily one of the highlights of a day trip to Felsenegg.
Mountain bikers also love it because of the new (actually official) downhill trail nearby. Sure, you have the Antenna Trail on Uetliberg, but this one was handmade and has only been open about a year or so.
Mount Pilatus
Mount Pilatus is less than an hour outside of Zurich city by car, and it’s one of the best places for a day trip from Zurich to central Switzerland. The mountain massif overlooks Lake Lucerne and the namesake city, offering sweeping panoramic views from the top.
The tallest peak of the massif is Tomlishorn, but it’s just one of many peaks on this mountain. Mount Pilatus is most popular with hikers and outdoor enthusiasts in the summer season, because of the variety of fun and adventurous activities. Hiking, mountain climbing, and toboggan runs are the most popular on the mountain. There are numerous scenic viewpoints and observation decks, which reward hikers with some of the most incredible views in this region.
It’s worth noting that Mount Pilatus is home to some excellent hotels and restaurants, which are perfect for travelers who want to relax and unwind in the mountains but still be pampered at their hotel.
Note: If you want to get to Pilatus as fast as possible and have it all organised for you then a tour with Viator is the perfect option.
Braunwald Gumen
Braunwald is a ski resort about an hour and a half outside of Zurich. It’s easily accessible by both car and train, so you can visit on a day trip from Zurich city. The area is most popular in the winter months when the excellent ski pistes attract avid skiers and snowboarders to the area.
When warm weather comes and the snow melts, the ski pistes turn into fun hiking trails. It’s possible to climb most mountain summits in the area and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.
Gumen is just one of the peaks in the resort, which is easily accessible by cable cars and ski lifts. It’s actually the tallest peak from which it’s possible to ski, and the two pistes leading down the mountain boast exceptional scenic views of the area.
Sattel-Hochstuckli Mostelberg
Sattel-Hochstuckli is a popular mountain about an hour away from Zurich. You can easily reach it by both car and public transport, so it’s one of the best places for a quick day trip from the big city. This is a family-friendly mountain with easy ski pistes and excellent sledding opportunities.
At 1600 meters above sea level, Hochstuckli is the tallest summit of the mountain. A cable car takes you from Sattel to Mostelberg, and then ski lifts take you to the summit. Hochstuckli is popular for skiing, snowboarding, and sledding, and it’s great fun for the entire family.
This area is equally popular in the summer months – when the snow melts, the ski pistes become exciting hiking trails. It’s still a family-friendly area in the summer, meaning that the trails aren’t extremely challenging and that kids can easily follow them.
It’s worth noting that this mountain isn’t very popular with avid skiers and experienced mountaineers. It only has some 14 kilometers of ski pistes, which don’t really pose a challenge to experienced adventurers.
Mount Rigi
Mount Rigi is situated in the heart of Switzerland and it is one of the most popular mountains in the country. It’s surrounded by three lakes – Lake Lauerz, Lake Lucerne, and Lake Zug – and it offers mesmerizing views of the water from the summit.
This mountain is also home to the oldest mountain railway in Europe, the Rigi Railway. Their cogwheel trains offer easy access to the Rigi Kulm hotel at the summit, which has long been popular with mountain lovers in the area.
Mount Rigi is equally popular in the winter and summer months. In cold weather, it’s a great spot for all sorts of winter sports and activities, and in warm weather, it’s an amazing playground for hikers and explorers.
Personally, I have walked up Mt Rigi from Vitznau probably five times, and done countless hikes to the summit, along the Rigi Panoramaweg and some snowshoeing up there as well. It is one of my go-to mountains for epic views, easy access and lots of options.
If you are pressed for time, or just want someone to organise it for you, there are some great tours from Zurich and Lucerne you can take. Viator’s website is one of the best places to find them.
Pizol – Laufboden / Pizolhütte
Pizolhütte – Laufboden is a panoramic mountain trail on the Pizol high plateau. The hike offers stunning views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tectonic Arena Sardona, and it’s truly a magnificent place you need to experience firsthand. This is a very popular destination among avid hikers and mountaineers, and it is easily accessible by public transport from Zurich.
It’s about two hours away from Zurich by car/train, so it’s not the easiest day trip you can make from the city, but it’s totally worth it. In addition to spectacular views of one of Switzerland’s greatest natural landmarks, the area is also popular for its magical five lakes trail.
The trails get covered with snow when the winter comes, and they become popular for skiing and snowboarding. Twelve lifts transport skiers to the tallest peaks in the area, allowing them to explore the 50 kilometers of slopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mountain range is near Zurich?
The mountain range nearest to Zurich is the Albis chain which includes the Uetliberg, Zurich’s home mountain. These mountains run along the western side of Lake Zurich and are clearly visible from the city center.
Are there mountains around Zurich?
Zurich has small mountains on two sides, with the home mountain of Uetliberg on the western side and Zuriberg on the eastern side. Additionally, there are countless mountains within an hour of Zurich, many of which you can ski on.
Can you hike the Alps in Zurich?
You can certainly do a lot of mountain hikes around Zurich. From smaller peaks such as the Uetliberg to more substantial hikes within an hour of the city.
Is the Matterhorn in Zurich?
No, the Matterhorn is in the south of Switzerland in a town called Zermatt, close to the Italian border.
