The Best Hikes in the Alps
1. Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, Swiss Alps
This is absolutely the best hike I've ever done. Despite the fact that I can't pronounce or spell the start and end points, google exists so I luckily I don't have to learn German!!
There are trains going both ways, but the views in front and behind you are both scenic so don't be that lazy tourist that hikes one way and takes the train for the other. Seriously. I'm judging you.
At the end of the hike, you'll essentially be at the base of the Eiger, home to the world's most notorious North Face. Make sure to grab some cheesy potatoes (roasties) and a beer before your hike back.
2. Grindelwald to Jungfrau ("the top of Europe"), Swiss Alps
I have literally no idea why Jungfrau is called the top of Europe; it's not even in the top 10 highest mountains on the continent. Besides this rude and gaping lie, this hike is pretty great. Jungfrau means "virgin" (part of a mountain chain with the Eiger-"Ogre" and Mönch-"Monk") but this is not a hike for virgin hikers, as it can get pretty steep/difficult in many places. That being said, I'm not that great of a hiker (aka I'm just super fukcing lazy) and I could still do it, so give it a shot. It's definitely worth it!!
You'll see a bunch of animals on this trail including cows, sheeps, alpacas (why?), bunnies, goats, chickens, and more. In addition, many of these cows belong to farmers who use them to make excellent cheese (my favorite food!!) and chocolate, so try to seek some out if you can.
You can take go karts or ziplines down sections of the trail for a reasonableish price. Once you get back down to Grindelwald, make sure to walk around a little!! It's a cute tourist town with the added benefit of sharing a name with a ~dark wizard~ in Harry Potter.
3. Chamonix to the Mer De Glace, French Alps
Chamonix is my favorite place in the world. But as someone whose favorite countries are Switzerland and France, I might be a little biased for a town that's essentially right on the border between the two.
This hike is similar to the one in Kleine Scheidegg in that you get views of the valley that you're leaving and then you get to experience the higher snowy alps too!! Best of both worlds imo
You can expect to see goats and waterfalls on this hike. If that hasn't enticed you yet, then why are you even reading this post?
At the end of the hike you'll reach the Mer de Glace (literally sea of ice), a glacial valley (valley carved out by a glacier, in case that wasn't obvious) hidden in the alps. This glacier was the subject of Percy Shelly's poem Mont Blanc, describing the glacier descending on the Chamonix Valley. Thanks to a few years of global warming, the glacier isn't as ominously lingering over Chamonix anymore (special shout out to Donald Trump for not signing the Paris Climate Accords :/).
Anyway, this is still a super cool (literally, bring a jacket) hike and a great town. Make sure you check it out and maybe take the bus to Geneva next!!
5. Schwangau to Neuschwanstein, German Alps
I cannot emphasize enough that you should not do this hike in the morning. The first photo on the right was taken around 1 pm on the way back down from the castle, while the second was taken a few hours earlier on the way up. The fog in the alps is crazy dense, and you will literally not be able to see the fact that there are huge ass mountains back there!!
Otherwise though, I loved this hike because most people take the buses up to the castle so it's relatively quiet. The Neuschwanstein castle is actually what the Disney castle is based on!! (If you post a picture saying that you became a Disney princess for the day I will hardcore judge you though. There's way too many.)
Looking for somewhere to stay in the Swiss Alps? I recommend the Hotel Alpenruh in Mürren (get a corner room facing the Eiger!). From there you can do the North Face trail if you want to get ~snowy~ (I did this trail in the first week of their "summer season" and there were points where I was one foot deep in snow) or head up to the Schilthorn Piz Gloria for brunch on a rotating James Bond film set.