The Swiss Summer Schedule

As always, we like to bring you the best selection of events across the Swiss Alps during the summertime. The mountains are full of life and the summer schedule this season is as vibrant as ever with countless culinary, sports, and music festivals to attend. Whether you wish to get your competitive boots on and partake in the events, or prefer to sit back and watch the various shows, there’s ample entertainment ready for you.

June

June is a month full of sport starting off with the iconic Tour de Suisse between June 15 – 22nd of June. Many athletes use this 8-course race as a warm-up for the Tour de France (even though the Tour de Suisse is impressive enough as it is), meaning that top athletes can be spotted cycling through Lenzerheide and Arosa. 

Again, over in Lenzerheide from the 20 – 22nd, there is the annual iXS Downhill Cup. The event features over 26 races across 6 countries and has top bikers from all over the world showcasing their exceptional courage, ability and speed. Adrenaline runs high for both athletes and spectators.

Renowned globally as one of the toughest triathlons, the Swissman Xtreme Triathlon takes place this year on the 21st June. The elevation is a striking 5575 m across 226 km. The race begins with a fresh swim of 3.8 km in Lago Maggiore, then a 180km bike ride with breathtaking mountain views and the final leg is a marathon (42.2km)  towards the base of the Eiger. From palm trees to glaciers, the route offers a striking contrast of landscapes, making it one of the most scenic races in the world. The challenge is intense, but the celebrations awaiting at Jungfraujoch make every step worth it.

Less challenging, but certainly still impressive is the Grindelwald Mountain Run on the 21st June. The 7.5k run offers majestic views of the Eiger, Mettenberg, and Wetterhorn. With a rise in altitude of 1111m, you can just imagine the beauty of the views from the highest point.

July

Heading into St. Moritz on the 5th July, you will be greeted by an array of world-famous, classic cars at the British Classic Car Meeting. This will be the 31st meeting and this year is called the Billionaire Edition. Expect nothing but prestige, excellence and a few Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and Aston Martins rolling around!

For some top-quality music the Montreux Jazz Festival, which takes place this year from July 4th -19th, is an absolute must. There truly is nothing better than listening to top-class musicians with a rosé in hand, and spectacular summer views of meadowed mountains all around. This year’s line-up includes the outstanding Chaka Khan, James Blake and André 3000.

Over in Grindelwald the music continues with its Eiger Music Festival also on July 5th. This festival includes more classical covers such as ABBA tribute bands and traditional Swiss folk music. Enjoy the music, sing along and dance until the sun rises. 

For some truly traditional Swiss culture, Saas Fee will host the 40th Cantonal Alphorn Players' Gathering on the 14th July and Saas Grund will hold the Yodeling Festival at Kreuzboden on the 20th. Expect traditional clothing, delicious BBQs and a glorious sun over the mountain peaks.

Just a short journey away over in Zermatt is the Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon on the 5th July. For most serious runners, this marathon is considered as a once-in-a-lifetime race with a challenging elevation gain of 1800m and mesmerising views of the Matterhorn.

The Iron Tennis will take place in Lenzerheide on July 12th. This annual tennis tournament goes on for a striking 24 hours with teams switching in between. Not only is the match fun to watch, but the after-party is also legendary.

August

As the summer heat reaches its peak in August, Crans Montana has you covered with its Water Skiing Festival on the 24th. Spend the day feeling refreshed by the pristine mountain lake either watching sports players glide through the water and display their best jumps or even bathe in it yourself!

With quite the opposite experience, you can wrap up warm again and glacier ski in Saas Fee. Ski up in the glacier and be joined by the summer sun as well as top international athletes such as Lara Gut-Behrami and Marco Odermatt as they train.

Other sporting events include the Matterhorn Ultraks in Zermatt from the 22 – 23rd August. This trail running event is one of Europe’s most popular runs featuring the iconic ‘Sky’ course which is 49km of challenging and rocky track under the Matterhorn.

Another tough and famous race is the Grand Raid which takes place between Verbier and Grimentz on the 23rd August. This mountain bike marathon is certainly not for amateurs and the participants train rigorously for it. The race is a 125km course and has an elevation gain of 5000m!

September

For those who wish to indulge in summer and relax rather than run (or maybe as well as!), the long-awaited Saas Fee Culinary Mile is taking place on the 7th September. Make sure to let us know if you’re attending as we will, of course, be there enjoying the outstanding delicacies Saas Fee has to offer. Take a stroll through a whole mile of exquisite offerings of cheeses and meats whilst admiring the traditional clothing worn by many locals.

The Omega European Master’s is of course one of the most popular events of the year taking place in Crans Montana from the 4 – 7th September. The Severiano Ballesteros course has the pleasure of seeing the best golfers in the world play, and you can too. World class golf with panoramic views of the Rhone Valley, what’s more to want!

The Zermatt Music Festival is this year between 5 – 15th September. This famous Music celebration features over 30 performances by world-class classical artists, from ensembles to soloists, each piece will leave you mesmerised. The venues range from alpine chapels to open-air stages, and the atmosphere is the perfect end to summer.

Let us know if you do attend one of the many events this summer, and we will be there to meet you. Get in touch for a property viewing, real estate advice, or for more expertise on the Alps in general.