22nd Sep, 2025, Alpine Property Search
If you had a choice of your perfect holiday or second-home destination, would it be by the water’s edge or with a mountain view?
It’s a familiar dilemma for many and is often the source of disagreement within a family, “I love the mountains, but my wife/husband/kids love sailing/water sports”.
Happily, for us in Europe there are options to satisfy both requirements and one country, Switzerland, is blessed with some of the best choices for a lakeside home in the mountains.
Read on for a brief selection of our top 3 choices of the finest lakes in Switzerland for overall lifestyle.
Lac Léman, also known as Lake Geneva, is Switzerland’s most iconic lake and one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe. Covering 580 km², the lake straddles two countries, with 60% in Switzerland and 40% in France.
Along its shores, you’ll find historic towns dating back to Roman times. On the Swiss side are Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, and Montreux, while the French southern shore is home to the famous spa towns of Évian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains.
For centuries, Lac Léman has inspired some of the world’s greatest minds and artists. Painters like J.M.W. Turner, writers such as Tolstoy, Rousseau, and Lord Byron, and composers including Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky all drew inspiration from the lake’s beauty.
The region also hosts the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, which has welcomed legendary performers such as Freddie Mercury. Celebrities including David Niven, Audrey Hepburn, and Charlie Chaplin once called the area home, further enhancing its reputation as a cultural hub.
Beyond its natural beauty, Lac Léman is also a centre for international organizations. More than 200 international federations are based here, including:
From its breathtaking landscapes and historic towns to its role as a cultural and diplomatic capital, Lac Léman is much more than a lake, it’s a destination that combines natural beauty, history, and global influence.
The lake’s water temperature is high enough for swimming from June to September and the lake has 116 public beaches. The Aquaparc’s pools and slides are popular with families. Pleasure boats and passenger ferries stop from town to town and private motorboats can be hired. Canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding and water skiing are some of the active water pursuits available. The world’s longest non-stop rowing regatta, the Tour du Lac, sees competitors row once around the lake’s 160 kilometres.
Golfers will love the selection of golf courses available within a short drive, including Montreux Golf Club, The Domaine Imperial Golf Club, Golf and Country Club de Bonmont and The Golf Signal Parc Bougy which is the first public golf course to open in French speaking Switzerland. It is possible to cycle around the lake on marked cycle routes or quiet roads. Walkers can enjoy gentle strolls through the well-maintained waterfronts, such as at Montreux, dropping in to the outdoor cafés for refreshments. Excellent public transport makes it easy to visit the small villages along the lakeshore.
The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage vineyards of Lavaux, are excellent for hiking on paved roads with fantastic views of the mountains and lake. More adventurous walkers can venture into the Chablais Alps to the South of the lake or the Vaudois Alps to the east for mountain trails.
Famous ski resorts such as Villars-sur-Ollon, Leysin, Champery/Portes du Soleil, Verbier/4 Valleys and Gstaad are all within one hour by car.
Due to its climate, beauty and central European location, Lake Geneva is considered one of Europe’s most prestigious property and lifestyle destinations. Numerous villas dot the lakeside, some with their own harbours and berths. Property values are very high and non-residents are restricted to buying a holiday home in and around Montreux.
Lake Lucerne is the fourth largest lake in Switzerland covering 114km2 and sits proudly in the centre of the country. Known in German as Vierwaldstättersee and in French as Lac des Quatre-Cantons, it is bordered by three of the original cantons that formed the Swiss Confederation in the year 1291 – Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (now split into Nidwalden and Obwalden) as well as the canton of Lucerne.
The steep mountains around the lake give it a fjord-like appearance and rise to 2000 metres in parts. The most famous are Mount Pilatus (2132m) and Mount Rigi (1797m), both of which can be accessed by cable car and cogwheel railway. Indeed, Mount Pilatus also boasts the steepest cogwheel railway in the world, built in 1889 at a gradient of 48 percent. Over 70 mountain peaks and numerous lakes can be viewed from its summit. Another world first is the cable car up to the Stanserhorn (1850m), the world’s first double decker cable car with an open upper deck. Much more exciting, and healthy than an open bus tour in a polluted city!
Numerous pretty villages and towns skirt the lakeshore, such as Weggis and Vitznau. The town of Lucerne, on the lake’s north-western corner, is a popular tourist destination with its picturesque squares, churches and most famously, its medieval covered wooden Chapel Bridge.
Naturally the area’s main attraction is the lake, with boats of all kinds dotting its clear waters. Paddle steamers, motor and sailing boats make their way to and from the many ports and harbours around the lake. Lake Lucerne’s thermal wind conditions are ideal for sailing and a famous regatta, the Vierwaldstättersee Cup is organised on the lake in which both experienced racers and newcomers can take part and experience its exhilarating natural beauty. Swimmers can enjoy the lidos, inlets and open water.
For those who prefer terra firma there are numerous cycling and walking paths. The largest summer & winter holiday destination in Central Switzerland is Engelberg (1050m to 3020m) which is 25kms from Lucerne. Famous for its monastery which was founded in 1120 and is still occupied by Benedictine monks and dominated by Mount Titlis and its glacier at 3,239m, it is a summer playground with 500km of hiking trails. Other activities include biking, golf and the summer toboggan and adventure playground are hugely popular with families.
Engelberg is one of the top 10 winter sports regions in Switzerland and the largest in central Switzerland with 82km of slopes for skiers and downhill skiers. There are also 35km of cross country skiing and 53km of signposted winter hiking trails. Why not try the 3 sledging runs with a total length of 7km?
On Lake Lucerne, non-residents may purchase holiday homes in the southern areas of the lake within the cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden. Charming lakeside towns such as Stansstad, Ennetburgen, and Hergiswil offer attractive properties for sale to non-Swiss residents, combining scenic beauty with convenient access.
In the heart of the world-famous Bernese Oberland, Lake Brienz’s distinctive turquoise colour is due to the minerals in its glacial water. Covering 29.8km2 and 14km long, it is fed by the river Aare in the east which flows through a canal at the cosmopolitan town of Interlaken at its western point and into neighbouring Lake Thun. Known as the gateway to the Jungfrau region, its spectacular views of the Jungfrau mountain range have made it a popular tourist destination since the 19th century. Its hotels, restaurants, shops and cafés can easily be accessed via the regular boat services connecting the lake’s towns and pretty villages.
The village of Brienz sits on the lake’s northern shore at its eastern end. Its lakeside promenade is car free and you can meander through its little parks and linger in its cafés and restaurants enjoying the views. All of which makes Lake Brienz an increasingly attractive lifestyle destination.
Lake Brienz is a true paradise for water enthusiasts. Its pristine shoreline is dotted with natural lidos and swimming areas, perfect for a refreshing dip. Unlike Lake Lucerne, there is less sailing here, with most boating done by paddle steamer or motorboat, making it a hotspot for water skiing and wakeboarding.
The lake also attracts rowers, kayakers, paddleboarders, and windsurfers, all enjoying its clear waters and stunning alpine backdrop. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, Lake Brienz offers something for every water lover.
What better way to soak in the amazing scenery than cycling around the lake and taking a boat home? Pack a picnic and take a swim at the same time.
Numerous hiking trails snake up from the valley floor, passing through forests and by stunning waterfalls such as the Reichenbach Falls. Its fall of roughly 820 ft makes it one of the highest and largest in the Alps.
Switzerland’s oldest steam rack railway, the Brienz-Rothorn railway, dates from 1892 and still puffs you up to the 2244 metre summit through villages, tunnels and high mountain pastures.
It’s rare to find skiing and cross-country routes so close to a lake, yet Lake Brienz offers direct access from the village of Meiringen on the eastern shore to the Meiringen-Hasliberg ski area. The ski slopes range from 1,055 to 2,433 meters, with 64 km of runs and 25 pistes suitable for all abilities. Additionally, there are 8 km of cross-country trails and a terrain park for snowboarders.
For those seeking more famous alpine resorts, Wengen, Mürren, and Grindelwald are all easily reachable by car, making Lake Brienz a prime dual-season property destination for winter sports enthusiasts and investors alike.
The lakeside area of Lake Brienz is protected by strict development regulations, making property for sale rare and highly sought-after. For non-Swiss residents, a handful of second homes are available, offering a unique opportunity to own a home in one of Switzerland’s most scenic and exclusive lakefront locations.
At Alpine Property Search, we specialise in helping buyers find their perfect lakeside home, guiding you through every step to make the process seamless and rewarding. Contact us today for an informal chat and discover how we can help make it a reality.
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