Mollis City
Swiss village in Glarus canton near Alps
Mollis sits below the Glarus peaks and serves walkers, paragliders and winter-sporters heading into alpine ridges. Expect small bakeries, valley trails and quick access to higher mountain passes.
Mollis at a Glance#
Costs: $140-260 per day (typical Switzerland) - expect high Swiss prices for food and lodging.
Safety: Exceptionally safe - extremely safe with very low crime and reliable services.
Best Time: June-September (hiking), December-February (snow) - summer offers best hiking; winter is snowy but quieter.
Why Visit Mollis?#
Nestled beneath the Glarus Alps, Mollis appeals to hikers and lake lovers seeking Swiss mountain life without the crowds. Proximity to Lake Walen (Walensee), alpine pastures and well-marked trails leads visitors to cable-car access and seasonal cheese-making demonstrations. Expect cozy guesthouses, hearty raclette evenings and easy access to panoramic routes through Glarus canton.
Best Things to Do in Mollis#
Mollis Bucket List#
Mollis railway station - Mollis railway station links the village to Glarus and regional mountain hiking trails.
Glärnisch massif trails - Trails from Mollis lead toward the Glärnisch massif offering accessible alpine hiking options nearby.
Local alpine pastures - Nearby alpine pastures invite short walks and seasonal grazing scenes above the village.
Kerenzerberg pass views - Kerenzerberg pass road provides panoramic Walensee viewpoints and peaceful roadside walking spots.
Village bakeries - Family-run bakeries sell regional breads and pastries popular with commuters and hikers alike.
Small mountain huts - Mountain huts near Mollis offer simple refreshments and sheltered spots for hikers on the routes.
Walensee and Quinten - Walensee lakeshore and Quinten village combine boat access, alpine views and hiking opportunities.
Glarus town - Glarus town centre explores textile-industry history with local museums and shops a short ride away.
Best Time to Visit Mollis#
Mollis is best from late spring to early autumn for hiking and lake views. Winters bring snow in nearby peaks and crisp, quiet days-great for winter sports.
December - February
-3-6°C (27-43°F)
Winter brings frost and snow higher up; village scenes are peaceful, great for winter sports access but many mountain routes close.
March - May
5-18°C (41-64°F)
Spring thaws trails, fills meadows with flowers and offers crisp, sunny days perfect for day hikes and lakeside coffees in comfort.
June - August
12-28°C (54-82°F)
Warm summers are ideal for hiking, swimming in alpine lakes, and long evenings-mountain weather can still be changeable, so pack layers.
Mollis's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 23°C. Abundant rainfall (1392 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -3° - 3° | -2° | 79 mm | overcast | 89% | 1.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| February | Poor | -2° - 5° | -1° | 90 mm | overcast | 90% | 2.0 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.1h |
| March | Acceptable | 1° - 10° | 4° | 89 mm | partly cloudy | 87% | 2.3 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 4° - 14° | 8° | 102 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.3 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Acceptable | 8° - 19° | 14° | 116 mm | overcast | 79% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.9h |
| June | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 157 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 2.0 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.7h |
| July | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 176 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 2.0 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.3h |
| August | Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 162 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 1.8 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| September | Good | 10° - 19° | 15° | 116 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 6° - 14° | 10° | 98 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | 1° - 8° | 3° | 108 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| December | Poor | -1° - 4° | -1° | 99 mm | overcast | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |
How to Get to Mollis#
Mollis is well served by Switzerland’s rail network via the Mollis SBB station; Zurich Airport provides the most convenient international access. Regional trains and PostBus services make onward travel straightforward and reliable.
Zurich Airport (ZRH): Switzerland’s main international gateway. From Zurich Airport you can take a direct train to Glarus or Ziegelbrücke and then a short regional train to Mollis; total rail journey time is about 60-80 minutes depending on connection. Car hire and taxis from Zurich take roughly 50-70 minutes by road.
St. Gallen-Altenrhein (ACH): A small regional airport further east; ground connections to Mollis require a combination of bus and train and are less direct than Zurich. Travel times vary considerably and typically take over 90 minutes.
Train: Mollis has an SBB railway station (Mollis) on the Ziegelbrücke-Sargans line with regular regional trains to Ziegelbrücke and Glarus; from Zurich HB the journey via regional connections takes around 60-80 minutes. Trains are frequent and reliable.
Bus: Local PostBus services connect Mollis with neighbouring villages and bus links to larger towns in Glarus canton. Buses are useful for last-mile travel where the train does not stop.
How to Get Around Mollis#
Mollis is best navigated by train and PostBus services; the local SBB station provides reliable links to Zurich and regional hubs. For flexibility, rent a car or bicycle - walking covers the village itself well.
- SBB regional train - Mollis has its own railway station with regular regional trains linking to Glarus, Ziegelbrücke and onward to Zurich. Trains are punctual and frequent; use the SBB app for timetables and ticket purchases.
- PostBus (local buses) - PostBus services connect Mollis to surrounding villages and provide useful feeder links to the rail network. Timetables are coordinated with train connections in many cases; check the PostBus site or SBB app.
- Car / Rental - Driving lets you explore Canton Glarus and mountain roads at your own pace. Roads are well maintained but can be narrow in places; winter tyres or chains may be required in snowy months.
- Taxi - Local taxis serve arrivals at Mollis station and nearby towns - convenient for luggage or off-hours travel. Prebooking is recommended for early or late journeys.
- Bicycle - Mollis and the Glarus region offer pleasant cycling routes; electric bikes are a good option for hillier terrain. Cycle paths and quiet local roads make short excursions enjoyable.
- Walking - The compact village and nearby trails are best explored on foot. Short walks to viewpoints and riverside paths are accessible and well signposted.
Where to Stay in Mollis#
Mollis / Glarus valley - CHF 50-110/night
Mollis is a small valley village; budget stays are in Glarus or nearby municipalities with straightforward guesthouses and pensions.
Hotel Glarnerhof (Glarus) - Simple town-centre rooms, short drive
Hotel Alpenblick (nearby) - Basic family-run hotel in valley
Glarus town - CHF 110-180/night
Mid-range options in the Glarus valley offer clean, comfortable hotels with good transport links and mountain views; Mollis itself has few hotels.
Hotel Glarnerhof - Comfortable mid-range with central location
Hotel Alpenblick - Good value, alpine outlook
Glarus / Swiss Alps - CHF 180+/night
Luxury hotels are limited in Mollis; for premium alpine accommodation, head deeper into Glarus canton or nearby mountain resorts.
Boutique/upper-tier hotels in Glarus region - Premium stays in the canton (limited)
Luxury alpine hotels (regional) - High-end options further into Swiss Alps
Where to Eat in Mollis#
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Mollis’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
