From charming chalet-filled hamlets in the mountains to farmsteads in the rolling hills of the Mittelland, there are many small towns and villages in Switzerland worth visiting. Two places that should be added to bucket lists worldwide are Romoos and Splügen, which were recently named as two of the 50 best tourism villages in the world.
Along with its list of World Heritage Sites, every year UN Tourism and UNESCO publish their list of the best tourism villages. The list is designed to “highlight those villages where tourism preserves cultures and traditions, celebrates diversity, provides opportunities and safeguards biodiversity,” the UN writes on its website.
The overall aim is to encourage nations to preserve their rural areas by making them more attractive to (sustainable) tourism. For 2024, 260 different villages from 60 nations around the world applied for the accolade, of which 50 were selected.
In the latest round of awards, Romoos in Entlebuch Canton Lucerne was named one of the best tourism villages in the world. The village in the heart of central Switzerland was given high praise for promoting sustainable tourism and preserving its stunning nature.
“This idyllic destination not only offers visitors a unique experience but also serves as a model for integrating environmental stewardship with community-driven tourism development,” the UN wrote.
"We are extremely happy about the title," Romoos tourism director Sandro Bucher told 20 Minuten. "Romoos remains Romoos, despite the title…I am most happy for all the committed people in Romoos who are all pulling together in the same direction," she added.
In addition, the village of Splügen, Graubünden was also recognised as one of the best for tourism by the UN. Once again it was the nature on offer which propelled the Swiss town onto the list, with the UN noting that “Splügen is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts year-round… Known for its stunning natural landscapes, including crystal-clear lakes and a glacial environment.”
With the two new additions, Switzerland is now host to nine of the best tourism villages in the world, the others being Valposchiavo (Graubünden, 2021), Saas-Fee (Valais, 2021), Gruyères (Fribourg, 2021), Murten (Fribourg, 2022), Andermatt (Uri, 2022), Saint-Ursanne (Jura, 2023) and Morcote (Ticino, 2023). Want to see which other villages in the world should be top of your bucket list? Check out the official website.