Leukerbad (Switzerland) is a resort village located high in the Alpine mountains, known for more than 1200 years for its thermal springs. One of the most picturesque corners in the west of the country is inhabited by only 1.5 thousand inhabitants who speak German or French. Thanks to the main advantages — natural thermal water, a unique mountain world and a variety of sports activities-each guest in the Leukerbad region will find an individual source of happiness. What to do in Leukerbad, what attractions to visit, how to get there and which hotels are considered the best in the resort? We will tell you everything that a traveler needs to know in this article.
How to get to Leukerbad
There is no airport near the resort, so you will have to travel from most European and Asian countries via Zurich:
- First you need to find the Zürich HB train station (the city’s central station) and take the train to the Visp stop. Travel time – 2 hours, ticket price – from 44 francs, you can buy them on the website of the Swiss railway carrier — www.sbb.ch.
- Then you must transfer to the train (runs once an hour) on line 100, which will take you to the city of Leuk in 10 minutes. The estimated fare is 5-10 francs.
- After leaving the train station, go to the Leuk stop and take the No. 471 bus. Public transport runs every hour on this route, and the 30-minute journey costs 7 francs. Your final stop is Leukerbad.
On a note! Another popular ski resort in Switzerland, Crans-Montana, is a half-hour drive from Leukerbad. You can find out about its features and beauty on this page.
Why come to Leukerbad?
Throughout the entire territory of the Leukerbad thermal resort, nature has scattered 65 hot springs (+51 degrees Celsius), which annually spew out almost 4 million liters of mineral water. In the settlement, 30 open and closed type swimming pools operate continuously, in which the water is pre-cooled to an acceptable temperature for humans – +35-40°C.
Therapeutic bathing in the springs of Leukerbad, combined with fresh Alpine air and warm sun rays, helps to get rid of many diseases. Rest at this resort is recommended for anyone who has a medical condition:
- Musculoskeletal system;
- Of the respiratory tract;
- Cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Also, bathing in enriched warm water helps with general weakness and physical exhaustion of the body after diseases and injuries.
The resort offers 250 different treatments aimed at improving the health, improving the physical and mental state of a person, maintaining beauty and youth.
Best thermal complexes in Leukerbad
Burgerbad
The largest public pavilion for therapeutic bathing in all of Europe, one of the most popular attractions in Switzerland. It has a well-developed structure and many amenities for the whole family: 10 pools with water of different temperatures, restaurants, a medical center, a solarium, a fitness club, a sauna and a sauna. In addition, you can take a course of treatment suitable for your diagnosis, attend a cycle of yoga classes or relax in a beauty salon.
Leukerbad Therme
On the territory of the complex there are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, 10 baths, an area with slides for children, cafes and saunas. In the latter, the entrance is allowed only completely without clothes, the age limit is 16+. There are also several beauty salons offering treatments ranging from massages to naturopathy, from various types of facial and body treatments to manicures and pedicures. Leukerbad Therme is family friendly.
Walliser Alpentherme
A great place for lovers of relaxing massages and gorgeous scenery. The large thermal complex includes a yin-yang pool with different water temperatures, several saunas, a massage room and hot tubs. The large outdoor thermal pool with hydro massage has a water temperature of 36°C. Indoor thermal bath with a temperature of 36° and 38° Celsius.
Walliser Alpentherme in Leukerbad is aimed at an adult audience, children under 8 years old are not allowed.
Places to stay in Leukerbad
You will not be able to relax and improve your health cheap at the Leukerbad thermal resort in Switzerland, the prices here are high for both transport services and accommodation.
The cheapest double room in a three-star hotel with a mountain view, near the cable car and with several spas will cost you 130 CHF. The most popular hotels, such as the Parkhotel Quellenhof or the Hotel Les Sources des Alpes (with a beauty salon and medical center), offer rooms starting from 210 and 340 francs, respectively.
Thrifty travelers may prefer a cheaper accommodation option – renting apartments or rooms from local residents. Prices for apartments that can accommodate two or three guests start at 120 francs, while renting a small room for a couple of people can cost only 50 CHF per day.
A tip! If you want to save an extra 100-200 francs/day, do not stay in hotels and hotel complexes with thermal pools. Having built such a “landmark” on their territory, the owners raise prices several times without changing the living conditions. Keep in mind that there are more than a dozen free public swimming pools in Leukerbad, some of them even equipped with hydro massage equipment.
Swiss Thun — Lake, mountains and castles
What else to do in Leukerbad (Switzerland)?
1. Active recreation and sports
In winter, the Leukerbad Thermal Spa can be combined with mountain or cross-country skiing on the slopes of the Torrent Pass. There are tracks designed to host world Championships.
Those who come to relax with the whole family will appreciate the Sportarena sports complex. Here you can not only teach young children to ski or snowboard on gentle slopes, but also have fun on the indoor ice rink, relax in a cafe, play tennis or mini golf. There is an opportunity to explore the region on snowmobiles.
During the summer, you can contact one of the local travel agencies and go on a mountain walking tour. There are approximately 200 km of hiking trails and 225 km of bike paths in the region.
Please note! Switzerland is famous for its high level of service in ski resorts. You can find out about the best of them by reading this article.
2. Take memorable photos in Leukerbad
Leukerbad is a photogenic resort. Mountains, lakes (frozen in winter), hot springs, pine forests, waterfalls and other beauty of the local nature will not leave indifferent even those who are not used to looking at the world through the lens of a camera.
3. Shopping experience
There are many high-quality products in Leukerbad, especially in the categories of sports goods and equipment (most of the shops are located on Kirchstrasse), underwear and home knitwear (look in the passage with boutiques at the entrance to the Alpenterma), cosmetics based on minerals and Alpine herbs. Also make sure to stop by the family-run La Ferme Gemmet shop located at Dorfstrasse 18 to buy delicious blackberry and chestnut jam (6 francs per jar), rustic milk (1,4 ₣/l), the freshest cheese and floral honey.
4. Relax in spas
Of course, even the very Alpine air and hot water from the springs will heal you inside and out, but the skillful hands of massage therapists or unique masks based on local herbs will cope with this task faster and keep the result longer. The best salons, according to tourists, are Isabelle Revitalzentrum and Therme 51°.
By the way, more detailed information about infrastructure, entertainment and thermal springs in Lakerbadi can be found on the official website of the resort www.leukerbad.ch, although only in French and German.
Leukerbad (Switzerland) is a unique thermal resort where everyone will find entertainment to their liking. Come here for health, a peaceful atmosphere and unusual views. Have a good trip!
