Should I Visit the Italian Alps or Swiss Alps? [2024]
/Thinking of visiting the Italian Alps or Swiss Alps? We’ve visited the Dolomites in Italy, as well as Alpine destinations such as Grindelwald and Zermatt in Switzerland. In this short guide, we’ll compare these stunning areas of the world – see which comes out on top!
Monte Civetta, Italian Alps
Alleghe, Italian Alps
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Swiss Alps
First, Swiss Alps
Where to stay in the Italian Alps
There are a few areas I would recommend you staying in when visiting the Italian Alps (specifically, the Dolomites). These include the towns of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ortisei, Bolzano and Belluno.
Budget: B&B Hotel Bolzano
It’s hard to find anywhere truly ‘budget’ in the Dolomites, but the B&B Hotel Bolzano is definitely one of the less expensive options around. Located in Bolzano, considered the ‘Gateway to the Dolomites’, this hotel is clean, spacious and centrally located.
You can take a closer look at B&B Hotel Bolzano by clicking here.
Mid-Range: Hotel Talblick
Ortisei is another wonderful town to stay in when visiting the Dolomites, and this hotel is a great option for those who have a bit more of a budget to spend when it comes to accomodation.
You can take a closer look at Hotel Talblick by clicking here.
Luxury: Faloria Mountain Spa Resort
Cortina d’Ampezzo was my favourite town in the Dolomites, and the Faloria Mountain Spa Resort is possibly one of the best places to stay in town. What a gorgeous property!
You can take a closer look at Faloria Mountain Spa Resort by clicking here.
Where to stay in the Swiss Alps
My favourite towns to stay in the beautiful Swiss Alps were Grindelwald, Zermatt, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen. The Swiss Alps have an abundance of amazing accommodation options - here are our top picks.
Budget: Zermatt Youth Hostel
We’ve written about this hostel in our other blog posts about the Swiss Alps - and for good reason. The Zermatt Youth Hostel is extremely well reviewed, and is heralded for its affordable price and comfortable hostel rooms.
You can take a closer look at Zermatt Youth Hostel by clicking here.
Mid-Range: Hotel Alpenruhe - Vintage Design Hotel
Wengen is one of the best towns to stay in when exploring the Bernese Oberland Alpine Region, and this hotel is a standout in the area.
You can take a closer look at Hotel Alpenruhe - Vintage Design Hotel by clicking here.
Luxury: Hotel Belvedere, Grindelwald
The Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald is a historical hotel, and Grindelwald’s best rated property. We’ve written extensively about how great it is, so you should definitely stay there and see it for yourself!
You can take a closer look at Hotel Belvedere, Grindelwald by clicking here.
Comparison Categories
Zermatt, Switzerland
To come up with a fair comparison, let’s establish some categories before we get started. I’ll be comparing the Italian and Swiss Alps on these categories:
Nature
Culture
Towns
Public Transport
X Factor
Overall Winner
Please keep in mind that I haven’t travelled through all the amazing places among the Italian and Swiss Alps – so this comparison will be based on my experiences traversing through the gorgeous Italian Dolomites and alluring Swiss Alps (Zermatt, Grindelwald, Wengen).
Seceda, Italian Alps
The beautiful Monte Civetta in Italy
Lauterbrunnen, Swiss Alps
Zermatt, Swiss Alps
Nature
Beauty is totally subjective, and this one is a really close call. The Dolomites’ peaks are extremely dramatic and rugged, with a certain ‘rough’ quality to them. The Swiss Alps, on the other hand, look a little more pristine and ‘clean’-looking. The Alps in Switzerland have iconic mountains such as the Matterhorn, but Italy also has equally stunning mountains such as the Seceda and Mount Civetta area and Val de Funes.
Ralph at Monte Civetta, Italian Alps
Seceda, Italian Alps
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Both also have an abundance of lakes (which we didn’t get to see as we visited in the winter, so most of the lakes were frozen), but this is something you should keep in mind when visiting.
Seceda, Italian Alps
Gazing at the Matterhorn in Zermatt – Swiss Alps
Spiez, Switzerland
First Cliff Walk by Tissot, Switzerland
We absolutely love the nature in both destinations, and both are 10/10 when it comes to nature. I (Asher), personally love the look of the Swiss Alps a little more, while Ralph has taken a liking to the Italian Alps. You really can’t go wrong with either – so we’re calling a tie!
Winner: TIE
Culture
As you probably know, Italy’s culture is very strong and generally speaking, there’s a greater focus on family, food, liveliness and good times in Italian culture. Switzerland’s culture is marked by diversity, diplomacy, and a mix of German and French influences. So how does this tie in to the Alpine experience?
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italian Alps
Cortina at night
Zermatt town in Switzerland
Grindelwald town – Swiss Alps
Well, we found that the Italian Alps were a little livelier and exciting. There was a certain ‘buzz’ around being around Italian families excitedly hitting the slopes, and walking through towns such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, Bolzano and Ortisei felt different to walking through towns such as Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald in Switzerland.
Brixen, Italian Alps
Bolzano, Italian Alps
Bolzano Cathedral
Belluno, Italy
Wengen, Switzerland
Wengen town in Switzerland
Winner: ITALY
Towns
Speaking of the towns, Italy and Switzerland have similar Alpine towns with minor differences. Towns such as Zermatt, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald can get busy during peak season, but are generally relaxing and calming all year round.
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Church at Lauterbrunnen
Skiing in Switzerland
Ralph skiing at Grindelwald
We found that the Italian Alpine towns, such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ortisei and Bolzano were much more lively and busy. Also, while the Swiss towns are pretty, the Italian towns are a sort of attraction in itself – they’re more than just a base for the Alps.
Beautiful Ortisei in Italy
Colourful buildings in Ortisei
Cortina d’Ampezzo at night
Naz-Sciaves, Italy
The Italian Alpine towns feature beautiful churches and buildings, and generally offer a little more that the towns in Switzerland. There are busier towns in Switzerland as well though, such as St Moritz.
How pretty is Ortisei?
Ortisei, Italy
Grindelwald town, Switzerland
Zermatt town, Switzerland
Views over Zermatt town, Switzerland
Zermatt, Switzerland
This all comes down to a personal choice, but I loved the electric vibe of the Italian Alpine towns, along with the gorgeous buildings they’re home to.
Winner: ITALY
Public Transport
This one’s an easy winner to pick. Although the Dolomites does have a bus system, it’s nowhere near as easy to use and navigate compared to the intricate, efficient Swiss train network.
Its recommended you drive to get to towns such as Ortisei
Driving around the Italian Dolomites
It’s not difficult to get from destination to destination in Switzerland, as the trains there operate smoothly and quickly. The rides are really scenic too. In the Dolomites, I would highly recommend renting a car as you’ll waste too much time traveling on the public transport there.
Walking around Switzerland
Zermatt, Switzerland
Wengen, Switzerland
We would recommend you drive a car in the Dolomites
Winner: SWITZERLAND
X Factor
I didn’t know how else to label this category, but it’s referring to that ‘special something’ you just get from a place sometimes.
Seceda, Italian Alps
Ralph at Seceda
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt, Switzerland
While both destinations are amazing, the Dolomites just had a romantic, classic atmosphere to it. Don’t get me wrong, the Swiss Alps are dazzling too – but I’ll always have a special place in my heart from the Dolomites.
Monte Civetta in Italy
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Switzerland
Views over Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Switzerland
Zermatt, Switzerland
Spiez, Switzerland
Winner: ITALY
Overall Winner – Should You visit the Italian or Swiss Alps?
Zermatt town view, Switzerland
Believe me when I say that you will definitely love going to either. Both the Italian and Swiss Alps are immaculately gorgeous, have great culture and will ultimately be great places to visit.
Looking over at the gorgeous Allege Lake in Italy
Val de Funes, Italian Alps
Ralph at Monte Civetta
However, if I had to pick a winner, I would pick the Italian Alps. It’s an extremely difficult choice, but I feel like the Dolomites just edges it out with its variety of nature, towns and culture.
Views over Zermatt in Switzerland
Gornerget-Matterhorn, Switzerland
Just to play devil’s advocate, Ralph would have picked the Swiss Alps for its calming and relaxing atmosphere, as well as the iconic Matterhorn.
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
Rothorn, Swiss Alps
Which would you choose and why? Let me know in the comments below!
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Zermatt and Grindelwald are two of Switzerland’s most popular mountain towns, both in summer and winter. But which should you visit? Let’s delve deeper!