Weekend in Switzerland: Leukerbad Getaway
Updated: Aug 22, 2023
Have you ever wondered, where to go for a weekend in Switzerland to fully recharge your batteries and forget about your office routine? One of the best places to spend a weekend in the Swiss Alps is Leukerbad - a charming village known for its natural hot springs and stunning mountain scenery.
Here's a suggested weekend itinerary for your weekend getaway in Leukerbad, based on our recent experience:
Day 1: Arrival & Exploring the Village
Leukerbad is located in Canton Valais, from Luxembourg it took us around 7 hours by car, crossing Alsace, Basel, Bern and Montreux. The road was amazing!
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Leukerbad is located around 180-190 km from both Geneva and Bern: you can reach this place from any of these Swiss cities in around 2 hours by car or take a train to a station Leuk (1,5h from Bern and 2h from Geneve) and then take a bus to Leukerbad (around 20-30 min).
Check in to your accommodation: there are plenty of nice hotels and B&Bs to stay in this village, choose one that suits your budget and preferences. After settling in, have a relaxing stroll through the village, enjoying stunning Alpine views, breathing fresh mountain air and observing traditional architecture.
For dinner, check out the menu at one of the numerous local restaurants (try traditional fondue or raclette), which attract your attention.
Day 2, morning: Exploring Amazing Hiking Trails
If you are into running, start your day with a morning run in the village to enjoy the fresh mountain air and observe stunning Alpine landscapes when no one is there yet (except for a few cows). Do not exhaust all your energy reserves though, as you will have a hiking on your agenda later in the day.
On your way back, stop near one of the boulangeries to get fresh bread and croissants (if you do not have breakfast at your hotel), enjoy breakfast and get ready for a hike!
There are plenty of fantastic hiking trails for nature lovers of different levels of fitness, check out them on the official website of Leukerbad, or any other sources that you normally use for these purposes.
We have chosen a small, but very beautiful round trail called Thermal Canyon Walk that is suitable for almost everyone as it's only 3 km in length and of moderate complexity. The views are amazing, and as a bonus, you have a chance to observe a rainbow in the waterfall.
After the hike, which you can prolong for the extent you want at any direction and merge with other trails, spend some time in a village and stop for a nice late lunch or early dinner.
Day 2, afternoon: Relaxing in Natural Hot Springs
The best option to unwind the brain and soothe the muscles after a day of physical activities is to indulge in hot natural waters at the Leukerbad Therme - one of the best thermal baths in Switzerland, at the same level as Lavey-les-Bains and Gruyeres, which I mentioned in my other post.
Check out the website of Leukerbad to learn more about Leukerbad Therme, its facilities, opening hours and prices. For dinner, come back to the centre of Leukerbad. Do not forget to try one of the local wines, produced in Canton Valais, from the Fendant variety, for example.
Day 3: Exploring the Surroundings on Your Way Home
Depending on when and how you are planning to go back home, you can have different ways to spend the last few hours in this amazing Alpine village: another hike, relaxation in Thermal baths, leisure stroll around the village.
We decided to depart after breakfast and made a few stops on our way back to Luxembourg enjoy the amazing views around, walk along the Geneva Lake and fall in love with the Chillon Castle - famous for Lord Byron's poem. To find out more, check out my other post.
On our way to Luxembourg, we also stopped in Colmar, a charming town of Alsace, the region of France that borders Switzerland. For more information about what to do and see in Alsace, check out my other post.
Overall, the weekend in Leukerbad was amazing. Isn't Switzerland one of the most beautiful countries in the world? For sure, it's one of those countries where you want to come back to explore the endless beauties of its nature regardless of the season and the weather.
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