Activities and Sightseeing

 

In and around Leysin there are a lot of activities that you can do, of course most of them are of the sporty nature.  On the urban side we cannot compete with London and NYC, but I can affirm that we are never bored here!

 

Hiking:  There are many great hikes with tremendous views you can do.  Also, the Teleleysin gondola up the mountain close to the Hotel Central Residence will be open daily until October 23, so you don't have to hike all the way up for a lovely view over the Lake of Geneva from the Berneuse. 

Biking:  Similar to hiking, there are great trails in and around the Leysin village.  Hefti Sports and Endless Ride in Leysin rent sophisticated mountain bikes and downhill bikes with all equipment, very close to the Hotel Central Residence.  For those of you who are into adrenaline, I will certainly do some downhill tracks with you.

Dining:  If you want to try typical Swiss cuisine, I recommend trying the Fromagerie restaurant in the center of Leysin old town.  It is very traditional and cosy, and also hosts a local museum.  There are several other restaurants we can recommend, for example Le Cerf in Sepey, and the seasonal Swiss dish is the "Chasse," a meat dish from local venison.

Skiing and Snowboarding:  For skiing, in this time period, Zermatt and Saas Fee will be open.  Those resorts are about 2.5 hours away from Leysin, so it could be worth a day trip, especially if the temperatures are unusually cold.

Lake of Geneva:  Villeneuve, a medieval town at the shores of the lake, is the closest to Leysin, about 30 minutes by car.  Water temperature can be close to 20C in October, so depending on the weather, still worth jumping in.  You can rent boats, kayaks and stand-up-paddle in Villeneuve and other locations at the lake.  Also, there are touristic boat trips with gorgoeus Belle Epoque boats that can be done, leaving from Villeneuve.

Castles:  There are several impressive mediaval castles in the area that are open to public, one is the famous Chateau de Chillon, and the Chateau d'Aigle.  Definitely worth a visit, both are within less than an hour drive from Leysin.

Vineyards: The area hosts several great vineyards that can be visited for winetasting.  One of them is the Aigle Les Murailles of Badoux Vins, right at the foot of the mountain.  Also, October is the best time in the year to visit them, and there will be plenty to drink for the thirsty!

Gym and Tennis:  The local sports center is reasonably priced and well-equipped, right next to the Hotel Central Residence.  Great for a bad weather day!  There is indoor tennis, racquet ball, outdoor tennis, a gym, swimming pool, and a climbing wall.  Also, it has an inexpensive local restaurant.

Rock Climbing:  Needless to say that there are an endless amount of rock cimbing spots.  Ask me for more details.  For less hardcore climbers, there are also two Via Ferrata in the mountains above Leysin that I heavily recommend doing.  Gear can be rented at Hefti Sports.

Thermal Baths and Spa:  There are several thermal baths and spa in the area.  One is Lavey-les-Bains down the valley from Leysin, and another one is in Val d'Illiez, both about 45 minutes away.  These are great locations to go on a rainy day.

Ice Skating: Leysin has one of the few ice rinks of Switzerland that are operated all year round.  You can rent iceskates there, and the rink is open until 9pm at night.

Zip Lining:  There is an action park called Park Aventure in Aigle, open from 10am to 6pm.  Its a lot of fun if you want to go there, especially with kids.