Explore the beautiful nature of Switzerland in the Swiss National Park. Located in the Engadine, in the eastern part of Switzerland. The Swiss National Park is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Park is the largest nature reserve in Switzerland.
The park is the oldest national park in the Alps and in the whole of Central Europe. This beautiful park is full of alpine animals, and flourishing plants in a pristine landscape. Visiting the national park is a lovely and unforgettable experience. In this blog we will give a complete overview of the Swiss National Park, this post hopefully answers all of your questions! Let’s dive into it!
What is the Swiss National Park famous for?
The Swiss National Park located in the Engadine was founded in 1914. In 2014 it celebrated its 100 years anniversary. The park offers a total of 100 kilometres of hiking paths, excursions for children and families and nature trails. You can have a lovely time here. The Swiss National Park is the oldest nature reserve in the Alps.
The Swiss National Park is famous for a few reasons, it is the oldest reserve in the Alps, it offers an abundance of beautiful plants and animals. The alpine scenery is so overwhelming and wonderful. The park is with 172 square kilometres the largest nature preserve in the whole of Switzerland.
How to get to the Swiss National Park?
There are several ways to reach the Swiss National Park, one of them is by travelling to St Moritz, and then driving to the park by car in around 39 minutes. You will drive through Zernez, here is an information centre for the park.
Is the Swiss National Park open for visitors?
Yes! The Swiss National Park is open for tourists, there is no entry fee for There is no admission fee for the information area of the visitor centre. The park is open throughout the whole year, although it might be handy to check the weather before travelling to the Swiss National Park.
The prices for the entrance of the Swiss National Park are:
- Adults CHF 7
- Children (6 – 16) CHF 3.00
- Family ticket CHF 15.00
- Groups (10 or more) CHF 6
- Children under 6 free
Are there hotels in the Swiss National Park?
Yes, there are two ways to stay in the Swiss National Park, there is an overnight stay possibility in a mountain hut called: Chamanna Cluozza, which is a wooden mountain hut, but there is a hotel too, called: Hotel Parc Naziunal Il Fuorn.
But of course, you can also stay near the Swiss National Park, there are many hotels for example in the nearest city: Zernez.
Where is the Swiss National Park located?
The national park is located in the eastern part of Switzerland. The Swiss National Park lies in Engadin also known as Munstertal. The nearest town is Zernez, in this town is a visitors centre, with an interactive display about the National Park. Here you can view actual information about the park.
Camping in the Swiss National Park
It is not allowed to camp in the Swiss National Park, making a fire/campfire is not allowed too! Also not allowed at the resting places. You can only stay in the Chamanna Cluozza or the only hotel in the park: Naziunal Il Fuorn.
Hikes in the Swiss National Park
With over 100 kilometres of hiking trails, this is such a beautiful place to go! There are 21 routes to choose from, something for everyone, shorter routes, and harder routes. Perfect routes for families and more! The Swiss National Park is located at an altitude of around 1400 to 3200 meters, most walks go above the treeline.
As we already mentioned above, it is really important to check the weather before visiting the park. The weather can change rapidly, so take some rain clothes with you, or an umbrella. It may be smart to check the condition of the paths too, with much rain, some paths may be closed. This website shows the current status of the paths.
Some tips when you are going to visit the Swiss National Park:
- take rain-protective clothes/umbrellas with you
- warm clothes
- maybe a dry hoodie to change if it rains
- take sufficient food/water with you
- on sunny days, do not forget sunscreen
- take some good hiking shoes with you
- a hat for your kids, to protect them from the sun
- take binoculars with you!
Camping is not allowed, and making a campfire is not allowed! Unfortunately, it is not possible to access the hiking trails with a wheelchair.
Top things to do in the Swiss National Park
As mentioned earlier in this blog there are around 100 kilometres of hiking paths in the Swiss National Park. A total of 21 walking routes make it quite difficult to choose one as they all offer something unique.
Please check out this website for all the routes, here you can easily filter for distance, but also for how hard the trail is and the time which is required. Super handy!
The best time to visit the Swiss National Park
After the winter is over, and spring starts, the National Park is getting more and more beautiful. The best time to visit the Swiss National Park is during the spring season and the summer season.
During these seasons the landscape is so beautiful and unique. Tip: take some binoculars with you, definitely a must on a hike through the park!
Guided walks in the Swiss National Park
Of course, you can explore the park on your own, by following a hiking trail of your choice. But there is a possibility to be guided by an expert guide. This may make your visit even more special as the expert knows the most beautiful sights and observations.
The experts explain in detail about nature, plants and animals. One thing is important to consider, most guides only speak German, but some may speak some English!
If you prefer a guided tour, privately with a guide who speaks English, it’s possible. There is an option for a 6/7 hours trip including a lunch break, which costs 380 CHF. The group guided tours are way cheaper, around 35 CHF for adults and 15 CHF for children till the age of 16 years old. You can find more specific information and up-to-date COVID news on this website.
Conclusion
All in all, we can conclude that the Swiss National Park offers breathtaking sceneries, and allow you to experience the protected nature of the Swiss Alps. The total of 100 kilometres of hiking trails creates a total of 21 hiking trail routes to choose from.
These routes vary in distance and complexity. There is a route for everyone. Visiting the Swiss National Park is a lovely experience, to explore the beautiful nature of Switzerland. If you have any questions, leave a comment below!