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The most beautiful beaches in Switzerland

Published: 11 July 2021

Switzerland is known to be the water castle of Europe. Even though Switzerland has no access to the sea, there are plenty of beautiful beaches and bathing areas on the numerous lakes. For this video, I have selected the most beautiful sandy beaches in Switzerland.

Below you will also find the content of the video in text form. More entertaining and richer in images is of course the video with English subtitles.


The most beautiful sandy beaches in western Switzerland

La Neuveville sandy beach

Idyllically situated on Lake Biel and with a view of the famous St. Peter's Island, this is a great place to spend some time. This beach is part of a campsite, but is also accessible to non-campers. If you are here for a day trip, you should also visit the pretty little old town of La Neuveville. It is only a stone's throw from the beach.
Link to the sandy beach of La Neuveville

Biel Beach

Also located on Lake Biel, the lido in Biel offers even more action. In addition to a sandy beach, a diving tower, a playground and a small water park provide even more variety. A little paradise for water rats. The lido is just a few minutes' walk from Biel railway station.
Link to the Biel Beach

Eaux-Vives beach

There's even a little Copacabana in Switzerland. In Geneva, a 400m-long city beach with a view of the famous Jet d'Eau beckons. Thanks to its central location, the beach is easily accessible on foot or by public transport. Geneva residents like to relax here on a hot summer day and cool off with a dip in Lake Geneva.
Link to Eaux-Vives beach

Préverenges beach

Also on Lake Geneva, near Lausanne, is a shallow sandy beach. The first 50 metres of the beach at Préverenges are not deep and therefore ideal for families with children. Here you will find everything you need for a successful day at the beach. Showers, toilets, changing rooms, barbecue areas, a restaurant, snack bar and boat hire.
Link to the beach of Préverenges

Gletterens beach

Holiday feeling on Lake Neuchâtel in the canton of Fribourg. Here you could almost think you were at the seaside. Fine white sand, turquoise water, a gently sloping beach and a light breeze. Thanks to the gentle current of Lake Neuchâtel, this bathing paradise is also suitable for children. Disadvantage: no shaded areas and little infrastructure. However, toilets, showers and changing rooms are available.
Link to Gletterens beach

SYvonand beaches

Many small beaches, natural coves and gently sloping beaches with fine sand. This is what makes up the sandy beaches of Yvonand on Lake Neuchâtel. The beaches are surrounded by greenery and are only a few minutes' walk from Yvonand railway station. If this is too quiet for you, you can choose one of the two larger beaches, Plage des Pins or the beach at the VD8 campsite. There are plenty of entertainment facilities and barbecue areas here.
Link to the beaches of Yvonand

Salavaux beach

Not necessarily the most beautiful beach in Switzerland, but certainly the longest natural beach. The beach stretches along Lake Murten from Salavaux to Avenches and is over 1 kilometre long. This makes it the longest natural sandy beach on a freshwater body in Europe. The beach is very gently sloping, so you can walk and stand very far into the water.
Link to Salavaux beach


The most beautiful sandy beaches in German-speaking Switzerland

Lido Bath Lucerne

300 metres of well-kept sandy beach and a fantastic view of the Swiss Alps. Admission is not exactly cheap. But there is a heated swimming pool with a diving platform. If Lake Lucerne is too cold for you, you can splash around here. Plenty of shaded areas and a very well-developed infrastructure round off the offer.
Link to Lido Bad Lucerne

Lorelei Bathing Islands in the Reuss Delta

Piled up with 3.3 million tonnes of rock from the Gotthard tunnel, the small group of islands is a very special attraction. Especially on hot summer days, the Lorelei bathing islands can give you a real South Seas feeling. The way there is not easy and the bathing islands can only be reached by swimming. Very important here! Please only use the Lorelei islands and the marked bathing spots. The Reuss delta in Uri is also an important nature reserve and only with the necessary respect can nature conservation and recreational fun function side by side here.
Link to the Lorelei bathing islands in the Reuss delta

Mythenquai lido

Also called the pearl of Zurich by some. The beach at the lido on Lake Zurich is 250 metres long. The entrance fee is not cheap but worthwhile. There is nothing lacking here. You can even borrow reading material from the book boxes of the Pestalozzi Library. The world's first vending machine for stand-up paddling boards is also located here. Another example of Swiss innovation. I'll tell you more about such curious vending machines in the first episode of "Only Switzerland has that". I'll show you the video in the top right corner of the info box and link it at the end of the video.
Link to the Mythenquai lido

Thun lido

Affectionately called "Strämu" by the locals. Unfortunately, I don't know why and what that means exactly. If any of you know, please let me know in the comments. The lido offers a beautiful sandy beach and a breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps. If you don't want to swim in the lake, there is also an Olympic pool and a pool with a 10m diving platform. Further entertainment is provided by a water slide, sports facilities and a restaurant.
Link to the lido Thun

Steckborn lido

The Steckborn lido is located in a bay between the Feldbach and Glarisegg Castle. A small but fine sandy beach invites you to spend some pleasant hours on Lake Constance. Clear and clean water ensures plenty of bathing fun. There are plenty of shady spots and a good infrastructure. It's nice that admission to such a well-developed bathing area is free.
Link to Steckborn lido

Gäsi beach

The Gäsi bathing beach is located on Lake Walen just outside the village centre of Weesen in Glarus. The spacious bathing beach is open to the public and surrounded by a protected forest. The very idyllic location on the edge of a forest makes it a great place to relax.
Link to Gäsi Beach

Untersee lido

Not very big, but high above sea level. The sandy beach of the mountain pool is located on Untersee in Arosa at 1,800 metres above sea level. A little scurrility: Until the 1920s, only men were allowed to swim in Untersee; women had to go to the colder Obersee. Fortunately, these times are over and today everyone is allowed to unroll their bathing towel on the sand and enjoy the warmer lake with its mountain panorama.
Link to Untersee lido


The most beautiful sandy beaches in Ticino

Lido Ascona

Here you will find one of the longest sandy beaches in Switzerland, at 600 metres. The Lido in Ascona is surrounded by greenery on the shore of Lake Maggiore and was built in the 1960s. A very well-developed infrastructure and a huge range of entertainment facilities round off a visit to the beach. For some, it is one of the most beautiful Lidos in Switzerland.
Link to Lido Ascona

Lido di Lugano

The Lido of Lugano has managed to retain the charm of the 1920s to this day. The centrepiece is the very fine and large sandy beach, which is still well maintained today. The Lido also has several heated swimming pools, including an Olympic one. The diving pool offers diving boards up to 10 metres high. The infrastructure here is also very well developed and the entertainment on offer leaves nothing to be desired.
Link to Lido di Lugano


Closing words

As usual, you will certainly find more tips in the comments on YouTube. As always, I'm looking forward to hearing your opinions and personal tips. What are your favourites? Let me know in the comments on YouTube. If you liked the video, you can support me by liking and subscribing to YouTube.


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