Näfels Travel Guide

City Town in Glarus, Switzerland, near mountains

A quiet market town in Glarus, Näfels draws hikers to alpine trails and locals to the annual Näfelser Fahrt commemoration. Expect mountain views, small inns serving cheese and rösti, and easy turns onto valley trailheads.

Costs

Typical daily budget: $140-$200

Typical Swiss prices for lodging, dining and transport; expect higher costs than many European towns.

Safety

Very safe and orderly

Very safe with low crime and reliable public services.

Best Time

Best months: May-October

Summer and early autumn offer best hiking and mountain access.

In This Guide

Why Visit
Best Things to Do
Bucket List
Best Time to Visit
How to Get There
How to Get Around
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Local Time

3:09 AM

GMT+2

Weather

49°F

Overcast

Population

3,978

Infrastructure & Convenience

Good rail and bus links for a small town, compact centre and clear German signage.

Popularity

Quiet destination popular with hikers, history buffs and regional day-trippers.

Known For

historic Battle of Näfels, mountain scenery, hiking trails, Glarus valleys, Swiss traditions, alpine walks, forestry, local churches

Näfels was the site of the 1388 Battle of Näfels, a decisive Swiss victory still commemorated annually.

Why Visit Näfels? #

Näfels appeals to travelers who appreciate alpine history and mountain access without the crowds. Commemorations of the Battle of Näfels and the annual Näfelser Fahrt link visitors to Swiss medieval history, while nearby Kerenzerberg and Glarus hiking trails provide panoramic alpine scenery. Small bakeries, local cheeses and mountain pastures round out the experience, making Näfels a compelling stop for hikers and history-minded travelers.

Best Things to Do in Näfels

All Attractions ›

Lake Zurich

Swiss lake adjacent to the city of Zurich

Lake

Gutenberg Castle

Medieval hilltop castle overlooking Balzers village

Castle

Rheinpark Stadion

National stadium in Vaduz hosting football matches

Stadium

Walensee

Deep alpine lake surrounded by steep Swiss cliffs

Lake

Glarus Alps

Swiss alpine range known for rugged peaks and valleys

Mountains

Säntis

Iconic peak in Alpstein massif with weather station

Mountain

Glarus thrust

Geological thrust fault displaying Alpine overthrust examples

Tomb

Einsiedeln Abbey

Baroque Benedictine abbey and major Swiss pilgrimage site

Temple

Näfels Bucket List

Don't Miss

Näfels battle memorial - See the Näfels battle memorial commemorating the 1388 conflict and Glarus canton history.
Näfels village centre - Wander the village centre to find traditional architecture and local cafés by the stream.
Local parish church - Visit the parish church to view historic interiors and community memorials.

Hidden Gems

Sernftal valley hikes - Hike the nearby Sernftal valley for waterfalls, alpine meadows, and quiet forest paths.
Wiggis ridge viewpoints - Hike Wiggis ridge for panoramic views over Walensee and the Churfirsten peaks.
Small alpine cheese producers - Seek out small dairies to sample locally made alpine cheeses and farm products.

Day Trips

Flumserberg - Reach Flumserberg for year-round alpine recreation, slopes, and lakeside viewpoints.
Zurich - Take a train to Zürich for museums, shopping, and lakeside promenades.

Best Time to Visit Näfels #

Näfels is nicest from late spring through summer when alpine paths and valley scenery are accessible and warm. Winters bring snow and winter-sports opportunities but colder, wetter conditions for casual visitors.

Winter

December - February · -2-6°C (28-43°F)

Snowy and atmospheric in the Glarus valleys - great for nearby ski areas but expect shorter days and chilly, damp conditions.

Spring

March - May · 4-15°C (39-59°F)

Lovely, fresh and green; trails reopen and waterfalls swell - the most pleasant time for hiking before summer crowds.

Summer

June - August · 15-27°C (59-81°F)

Warm, sunny and perfect for alpine hikes, lake trips and lazy terrace evenings in the valley; busiest but most pleasant season.

Best Time to Visit Näfels #

Climate

Näfels's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 23°C. Abundant rainfall (1386 mm/year), wettest in July.

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustSeptember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

36°

Warmest Month

-29°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (78 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

0°

Feels Like Cold

0°C

Temperature

-3° – 3°

89%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

78 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.8h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-2° – 5°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

90 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.1h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

1° – 10°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

88 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.5

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

53 Acceptable

Comfort

9°

Feels Like Cold

9°C

Temperature

4° – 14°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

101 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

13.5h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 19°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

116 mm

Rainfall

2.2 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

14.9h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (158 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

61 Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

11° – 21°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

158 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.6

UV Index

Very High

15.7h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (176 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

19°

Feels Like Mild

19°C

Temperature

14° – 23°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

176 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.6

UV Index

Very High

15.3h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Significant rainfall (161 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

69 Good

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Mild

18°C

Temperature

13° – 23°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

161 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

14.1h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (115 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 19°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

115 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

12.4h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

53 Acceptable

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cool

10°C

Temperature

6° – 14°

84%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

98 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.4

UV Index

Low

10.7h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

2° – 8°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

107 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.2h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

1°

Feels Like Cold

1°C

Temperature

-1° – 4°

88%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

98 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.3h daylight

How to Get to Näfels

Näfels (Näfels-Mollis) is in the Canton of Glarus and is well connected by Swiss Federal Railways. Zurich Airport offers the quickest air-to-rail connection, with regular regional trains bringing you to Näfels-Mollis.

By Air

Zurich Airport (ZRH): The main international airport for reaching Näfels. Zurich Airport to Näfels by train takes about 55-80 minutes with a change (usually at Ziegelbrücke or Näfels-Mollis route); single fares commonly range CHF 20-CHF 40 (standard single fare depends on discounts).

Geneva (GVA) / Basel (BSL): Both are farther but offer international connections; travel times to Näfels are longer (2.5-4 hours) via Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) with integrated connections to regional trains.

By Train & Bus

Train: Näfels-Mollis railway station serves Näfels with SBB regional trains on the Ziegelbrücke-Sargans line. Trains connect to regional hubs such as Ziegelbrücke, Glarus and Zürich; travel to Zurich takes just under an hour depending on connections.

Bus: PostAuto services and local buses provide onward links to nearby villages and towns in the Canton of Glarus. Short local fares are a few Swiss francs; check SBB for integrated tickets and connection times.

How to Get Around Näfels #

Näfels is compact and easy to walk, with the main amenities clustered close together. It’s practical to explore on foot for a short stay, and cycling is common for nearby routes. The village is served by regional trains and bus services that connect to Glarus and larger Swiss hubs; fares depend on distance and ticket type. Taxis are available but not as frequent as in cities.

Where to Stay in Näfels #

Budget

Näfels centre - CHF 60-140/night

Näfels has a few family-run guesthouses and budget pensions; broader choice appears in Glarus town a short drive away.

Local pensions & guesthouses (Näfels) - Small family-run rooms listed online
Budget stays in Glarus - More options in Glarus town, short drive away

Mid-Range

Glarus valley - CHF 120-220/night

Mid-range hotels cluster in Glarus and along the valley - convenient for exploring the region and rail links.

Hotel Glarnerhof (Glarus) - Comfortable regional hotel in Glarus
Hotel Linthpark (Näfels area) - Modern mid-range conference hotel nearby

Luxury

Zurich / Lucerne for luxury - CHF 250+/night

Näfels itself lacks luxury hotels; travellers seeking upscale rooms usually base in Zurich or Lucerne and visit by train.

Luxury options: regional high-end hotels - Higher-end stays found in larger canton towns
Top-tier hotels in Zurich & Lucerne - For true luxury, head to major Swiss cities

Where to Eat in Näfels #

Alpine Inns & Hearty Cooking

Glarus-region inns serve rösti, sausages, and creamy cheese dishes; mountain-style meals and family-run restaurants are common after hiking or skiing.

Bakeries & Cafés

Local bakeries produce buttery pastries and dense rye loaves; cafés pair espresso with regional cheese slices and simple cakes for afternoon breaks.

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Näfels's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Regional

Pizza

Italian

Kebab

Burger

Turkish

Local

Indian

Tea

Cake

Pide

Thai

Asian

Greek

French

German

Sausage

Tibetan

Barbecue

European

Nightlife in Näfels #

Evenings are quiet with a small selection of restaurants and bars. You’ll find friendly local spots rather than a late-night entertainment district; larger nightlife offerings are in nearby cities.

Shopping in Näfels #

Shopping in Näfels is small-scale: local bakeries, grocers and modest specialty shops meet everyday needs. For a wider retail selection, neighbouring towns and regional centres are the usual destinations.

Nearby Cities #