The Via Alpina is the major long-distance hiking route crossing Switzerland from east to west, running from Vaduz in the Principality of Liechtenstein to Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. The Swiss section covers approximately 390 kilometres in 24 stages, traversing the full range of Swiss Alpine landscapes from the Rhine valley to the Bernese Alps and the Vaud pre-Alps.

The Route Overview

The Via Alpina is one of three European long-distance Alpine routes. The Swiss route (also designated as part of the Via Alpina red route crossing the Alps from Trieste to Monaco) is maintained by the Swiss Hiking Federation and marked throughout with the standard white-red-white Alpine route markings.

The 24 Swiss stages average 17 to 22 kilometres per day, with average ascent of 1,000 to 1,500 metres per stage. The complete route is typically completed in 24 to 28 days by experienced hikers; most visitors undertake sections of the route rather than the complete crossing.

The Stages and Regions

Eastern section (Stages 1 to 8, Vaduz to Davos): The route enters Switzerland through the Liechtenstein Alps and crosses the Graubünden highlands. The Sarganserland and the Prättigau valley provide excellent Alpine scenery with limited tourist infrastructure; these are among the least-visited sections of the route.

Central section (Stages 9 to 16, Davos to Lauterbrunnen): The highest and most spectacular section. The route crosses the Silvretta massif, the Engadine, the Gotthard region, and the Haslital. The Gotthard crossing includes the Uri Alps and the headwaters of the Reuss; the descent into the Bernese Oberland is one of the most dramatic sections.

Western section (Stages 17 to 24, Lauterbrunnen to Montreux): The route descends through the Bernese Oberland, crosses into the Vaud canton, and follows the pre-Alpine ridge above Lake Geneva. The final stages traverse the vineyards above Vevey and Montreux in a descent toward the lake that provides views across to the French Alps.

Doing Sections of the Via Alpina

Most visitors undertake the Via Alpina in sections of 3 to 7 stages rather than as a complete crossing. The most rewarding sections for visitors with limited time:

Stages 10 to 12 (Arosa to Ilanz through the Graubünden highlands): The most dramatic section of the eastern route; traversing the Schanfigg valley and the Calanda massif with connections to the SBB rail network at both ends.

Stages 19 to 21 (Kandersteg to Lenk through the Bernese Alps): The Lötschberg area crossing, with the Gasterntal, the Gemmipass (2,322 metres), and the high ridge above Leukerbad.

Stages 22 to 24 (Les Mosses to Montreux): The final stages through the Vaud pre-Alps, accessible from the Goldenpass railway and ending at the most accessible termination point on the route.

Logistics: Huts and Accommodation

The Via Alpina stages are designed to end at villages or SAC (Swiss Alpine Club) mountain huts. SAC hut accommodation is excellent by Alpine standards: dormitories with blankets (bring a sleeping bag liner), hot food, and the specific social environment of hikers at the end of a long day. SAC huts require advance reservation during the July to August peak and should be booked several days in advance for the more popular stages.

The Swiss Hiking Federation’s Via Alpina website (via-alpina.org) provides the authoritative stage-by-stage logistics, current accommodation availability, and transport connections at each stage end.

Fitness, Preparation, and What to Carry

The Via Alpina’s daily stages, averaging 17 to 22 kilometres with 1,000 to 1,500 metres of ascent, require a genuinely solid level of hiking fitness sustained over multiple consecutive days rather than a single strong day out. Anyone planning a multi-stage section should have completed comparable single-day hikes beforehand, since the cumulative fatigue of back-to-back mountain days is a different challenge from an isolated hard day. The Hiking in Switzerland guide covers the equipment and safety principles that apply to any Alpine route, and they apply with extra weight to a multi-day crossing where retreat options are more limited.

Written by Laura Meier from Zürich, based on nearly a decade of Swiss residence and ongoing direct experience of the places, trails, trains, and bureaucratic processes described. Updated regularly as prices and conditions change; corrections and updates welcome at contact@allaboutswiss.com.