Prices: free of charge, freely accessible (excluding mountain railway ticket)

Infrastructure & activities. The restaurant on Lake Chavonnes serves local dishes to satisfy small appetites. If you wish, you can also spend the night there. Pedal boats are available on site for a short exploratory trip on the lake.

Access: Bex-Villars-Bretaye mountain railway. Get off at the "Bretaye" stop. From there, a 2 kilometre path leads to the lake.

Further information: www.villars-diablerets.ch > chavonnesee

Why limit yourself to just one mountain lake when you can enjoy five on the beautiful five-lake hike above Zermatt? World-famous photo motif included.

The starting point is Blauherd (2571 metres above sea level), where an impressive panorama of snow-covered peaks - and of course the world-famous Matterhorn - opens up before you. The hiking route is ideal for families with children aged 6 and over. The five-lake hike connects the Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee - mountain lakes that glisten so differently in shape, colour and size in the face of the majestic "Horu".

There is something new to discover or do at each lake station: At Lake Leisee, for example, it's time to unpack your swimming trunks and get into the fresh water. At Grünsee, you can admire the impressive Swiss stone pines that thrive despite the barren landscape. The Queen of the Alps, as the five-needled Swiss stone pine is popularly known, is perfectly adapted to the harsh mountain climate and stoically defies wind and weather. Not only rare alpine flowers grow on Lake Grindji (please don't pick them!), but also fascinating high moorland vegetation. And with a bit of luck, hikers at Lake Stellisee, Lake Grindjisee and Moosjise will be rewarded with a world-famous postcard motif, namely when the "Horu" is reflected on the surface of the lake.

Prices: free of charge, freely accessible (excluding mountain railway ticket)

Infrastructure & activities: Matterhorn reflection in Stellisee, Grindjisee and Leisee, swimming in Leisee and Grünsee (no bathing supervision). The Leisee is particularly popular with families. With a children's playground, barbecue areas, picnic areas, pavilion for picnicking, play raft and a fantastic panorama of the Matterhorn, the Leisee is a perfect family excursion destination.

How to get there: Take the funicular railway from the Zermatt valley station to Sunegga. Then it's time to change trains. The eight-seater gondolas and six-seater chairlifts take you up to Blauherd.

More info: www.zermatt.ch > Five Lakes Hike Zermatt

It is also known as the "lake on the forest ridge" because it is located in a small forest clearing. The picturesque lake is part of the inventory of protected natural monuments in the canton of Graubünden, and the water here is also crystal clear and turquoise blue. The lush shoreline vegetation invites children to go on a voyage of discovery. With a bit of luck, small crabs can be spotted. In summer, the natural pool at 844 metres above sea level is open until September with boat hire and a kiosk, and can only be reached on foot (suitable for pushchairs).

Prices: Admission adults: CHF 7 (CHF 5 with guest card), children CHF 3, family passes

Infrastructure & activities: Swimming supervision, rowing boat, stand-up paddle, restaurant, kiosk, fire pit, changing rooms, toilets, non-swimmer area, playground, dogs allowed.

Access: Shuttle bus in the evening during the summer months

Further information: www.crestasee.ch

The deep blue and, depending on the light, emerald green water is undoubtedly one of the highlights that casts its spell on visitors. According to legend, the colour of the lake comes from the blue eyes of a young girl who went into the water out of grief over the death of her lover. Since then, the blue lake has glistened in blue as a reminder of the unfortunate girl. So much for the legend. The crystal-clear mountain lake is fed by underground springs, and tree stands 12 metres below the water seem close enough to touch. Even though the lake invites you to swim: Swimming is reserved exclusively for trout, which frolic in large shoals in the mineral-rich and clean mountain spring water. There is an organic trout farm nearby, which can be visited. You can also buy fresh trout in the shop.

Prices: 8 to 12 francs for adults. For 6 to 15-year-olds between 4 and 8 francs. Prices vary according to weekday, weekend and half-day. Admission for children up to the age of 5 is free.

Infrastructure & activities: The price includes parking, boat trip (until 5 pm), visit to the organic trout farm, use of the children's playground and the barbecue areas with barbecue wood. Dogs, kept on a lead, are welcome in the park.

Overnight stay: In a small grand hotel with 17 rooms, two restaurants, spa and a large terrace with lake view.

How to get there: By car, large car park available. Public transport: Bus from Frutigen.

Information: www.blausee.ch

From the valley station, the 8-seater gondola takes visitors to the Oeschinensee mountain station, from where the UNESCO Electric Mobile travels directly to the lake. The 30-minute walk from the mountain station to Lake Oeschinen is also easily accessible with a pushchair (all-terrain). The one-hour "Walk to Oeschinensee" route is ideal for families with children: start at the mountain station via Läger to Oeschinensee and then back to the mountain station. A schnitzel and chips break is possible at any time, and there are various restaurants along the way that invite you to take a break. If you dare, you can go swimming in the very fresh and very deep (50 metres) Oeschinensee. There are simple bathing spots with pebble beaches on the southern and western shores of the lake. However, there is no bathing supervision. Instead of hiking, adventurous mountaineers of all ages can whizz back down the mountain on the world-famous toboggan run (see video at the end of the article).

Prices for the toboggan run: children 3 to 5 francs, adults 4 to 6 francs, depending on the time of day. The toboggan run is only open in summer.

Infrastructure & activities: Bathing areas with pebble beaches, no facilities such as changing rooms. No bathing supervision. There is a barbecue site on the lakeshore below the hotel. From May to October, rowing and fishing boats can be hired from the Berghaus am Oeschinensee.

How to get there: Take the train to Kandersteg and continue by chairlift. Access by car is not possible.

The region offers many family- and dog-friendly hiking and walking routes.

Information: www.oeschinensee.ch

There are many mysteries surrounding the lake: miraculously, the water warms up to 24 degrees. The lake fills up every spring as if by magic, even though it has no above-ground or underground inflow or outflow. Its water is regarded as healing water for humans and animals. As early as the 19th century, guests from abroad came to relax on these shores. In the centre of the lake is a small island that can be explored. Stand-up paddles, air mattresses, pedalo boats and swimmers float in the crystal-clear water. The restaurant with sun terrace tempts you with spaghetti Caumasee.

Infrastructure: beach volleyball, stand-up paddle, pedalo, rowing boats (boat hire), playground, paddling pool, restaurant, kiosk, barbecue. Changing rooms, WC facilities, showers

Prices: Single admission adults: CHF 12, children up to 16 years: CHF 6. 10-ticket via the Inside Laax summer app (daily admission via app costs 10 francs)

Access: funicular railway or footpath from Flims Waldhaus, bike path

Information: www.flims.com