Swisstainable | Greener tourism

13 x more An electric car produces 13 times more CO2 than a railway

0.2% Railway traffic contributes only 0.2% to the total of CO2 emissions of overall traffic

90% SBB (Swiss Railways) operates with 90% hydropower

27 x less A train ride produces 27 times less CO2 than a comparable car drive

Only pedestrians and bicycles are more ecological than trains

SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) already generates 90% of the electricity needed for its trains from hydropower and should be 100% from renewable sources by 2025.

Rhaetian Railway, the operators of the world-famous Bernina Express, have been using 100% hydropower since 2013. 

The Gornergrat Railway transports you to wonderful views of the Matterhorn. Trains are equipped with 'recuperation brakes', converting the movement of the train into electrical energy which is fed back into the overhead line on the way down, ready for the next train going up! 

The e-PostBus transports you around the favourite resort of Interlaken in an environmentally-friendly way, charging its battery with renewable energy.

The majority of trams and trolleybuses in Switzerland's cities are powered by electricity: emission free and helping towards a quieter urban environment.

Mobility Every day, 9,600 trains travel along the 3,000km of the SBB network. Even small and remote locations can be reached by public transport. 

Water Switzerland invites guests to swim in the middle of its cities – a truly unique experience in remarkably clean rivers. Boasting some 1,500 lakes, Switzerland is a land of water and is home to the sources of both the Rhine and the Rhône.

Nature conservation A total of 19 Swiss national parks make up more than one eighth of the country's land area (5,269 square kilometeres). For the past 125 years, the Swiss Forest Act has also been ensuring that 30% of Switzerland remains forested – and this number is rising.

Air The air quality in Switzerland is excellent. The country has long been appreciated as a spa destination with therapeutic effects - indeed the health-promoting climate of Davos’ mountain air was discovered as far back as 1853.

Food Compared to international counterparts, the Swiss consume the most organic products per capita. And Swiss retailers have been leading the international sustainability rankings for years.

Recycling Switzerland is one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to recycling and waste management, with almost 90% of PET bottles being put to new use.

Hotels in Switzerland which are following a consciously sustainable strategy can apply for Swisstainable accreditation. We are proud to work with over 40 hotels who have been awarded with level 1 (committed), 2 (engaged) or 3 (leading) status. 

Interlaken and Lake Thun - Hotel Beausite, Hotel Metropole, Hotel Eden, Belvédère Strandhotel, Hotel Aare Thun, Beatus Wellness & Spa Hotel

Bernese mountains - Hotel Alpenrose, Beausite Park Hotel & Spa, Hotel Silberhorn, Hotel Eiger, Hotel Schweizerhof, Hotel Kreuz Und Post, Parkhotel Schoenegg, Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald, The Cambrian, Hotel Gstaaderhof

Central Switzerland - Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann, Hotel Flora, Art Deco Hotel Montana, Hotel Schweizerhof, Hotel Des Alpes, Hotel Seeburg, Hotel Cascada, Hotel Waldstatterhof, Hotel Alexander, Hotel Gerbi, Radisson Blu Hotel

Lake Geneva and Vaud alps - Hotel Mona, Hotel Villa Toscane, Hotel Mirabeau, Hotel Viu, Hotel & Residence Victoria 1894, Hotel Astra

Ticino lakes - Hotel LUGANODANTE, Hotel International au Lac, Hotel Geranio au Lac, Hotel Belvedere, Romantik Hotel Castello Seeschloss

Graubünden - Hotel Belvédère, Hotel Saratz, Sunstar Hotel Klosters, Sunstar Hotel Lenzerheide, Sunstar Hotel Arosa, Waldhotel Arosa, Waldhaus Sils, Hotel Adula, Hotel ABC

Zermatt & Saas-Fee - Romantik Hotel Julen, Chalet Hotel Schönegg, Hotel Alex, Hotel Le Mirabeau, 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat. Hotel Allalin

Eastern Switzerland - Hotel Einstein, Hotel Ruden, Park Hotel Winterthur

For Switzerland Tourism, sustainable tourism doesn’t mean doing without, but rather travelling with greater awareness and appreciation. That’s why they offer the following recommendations: 

1.Enjoy nature up-close and at first hand

2.Experience local culture in an authentic way

3.Consume regional products

4.Stay for longer and delve deeper