Leukerbad Thermal Baths, Spas and Alpine Resort in Switzerland

The small Alpine resort town Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) claims to have the largest hot mineral water spas in the Alps. The town has various hot springs and thermal water spa baths ranging from exclusive adults-only facilities to very family-friendly pools and water park complexes with water slides. Leukerbad is a fantastic day-trip destination or weekend retreat from Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Zürich, and ski resorts in the Valais (Wallis) region of Switzerland.

Leukerbad is a beautifully located small town in the Alps with wonderful views of the mountains lining the Swiss Rhone River valley in Canton Valais (Wallis). Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains), at 1411 m above sea level, claims to be the largest and highest hot thermal water spa resort in the Alps. It certainly has a reasonable claim to be the best spa resort town for families. It offers wonderful winter sports facilities as well as popular summertime hiking routes. Cable cars transport skiers and hikers up into the mountains, where it is possible to cross the Alps on foot to Kandersteg. The main pools and thermal springs are open daily, year-round.

Staying overnight? Leukerbad hotel guests receive the Guest Card, with discounts of up to 15% at the three public thermal baths, up to 10% on pedestrian cable-car tickets, free local buses, and other benefits.

Hot Water Springs and Day Spas in Leukerbad

Endless warm water is what mostly distinguishes Leukerbad from other resort towns in the Valais Alps in Switzerland. Around 3.9 million liters of thermal water at temperatures of up to 51°C flow daily from 65 springs in and around Leukerbad to feed more than 30 hot water pools of different spa facilities. In addition to the two largest hot spring baths open to the general public, many Leukerbad hotels also have their own private spa area and treatment rooms only open to overnight guests.

The best thermal baths for families are at Leukerbad Therme (formerly Burgerbad) with indoor pools, steam rooms, outdoor pools, water slides, and an optional sauna area. Many package deals include daily admission or at least discounted admission for guests to the Leukerbad Therme.

The large pool complex is very family-friendly, with special discounts. Young children under 6 usually enter for free. The kids-friendly facilities include special pools and play areas for small children. Children also love the toboggan water slides.

The modern Walliser Alpentherme & Spa Leukerbad (previously Lindner Alpentherme) is an upmarket spa and wellness center more aimed at adults. In addition to the large thermal pools, major attractions are the extensive sauna village and a special eleven-step Roman-Irish bath treatment. As a luxurious and relaxing day spa, Walliser Alpentherme is hard to beat. Overnight guests at the adjoined luxury hotel receive a variety of discounts on admission and spa treatments.

Further public hot water spa facilities are available at the Therme 51° (previously Volksheilbad), but reservations for time slots are essential. Casual visitors, and especially families, will enjoy the other two public thermal bath resorts more.

Several hotels in Leukerbad have their own spas with thermal pools, steam baths, massage jets, beauty treatments, and other facilities. Some are also open to day visitors.

• See also Top Day Spas in Leukerbad, the Exclusive Walliser Alpentherme, and the Family-Friendly Leukerbad Therme for more details.

Gemmi and Torrent Cable Cars in Leukerbad, Valais

Two cable car lines depart from Leukerbad. Dynamic prices are increasingly used, making it worth planning and comparing prices on different dates. The Swiss Half Fare Card and Junior Card reductions are available on many pedestrian cable-car fares, although ski passes and special offers have different conditions.

The Gemmi Bahn goes up the rock face to 2350 m – almost a kilometer higher than Leukerbad itself. In winter, the Gemmi plateau also offers winter hiking, cross-country skiing, and tobogganing when conditions permit.

It is also possible to hike through the Gemmi Pass to Sunnbüel, from where a cable car goes down the Alps to Kandersteg on the northern side of the mountains. This hike, through the historic pass crossing from Leukerbad to the Bernese Oberland, is possible both in summer (around 3 hours) and in the winter season (3-4 hours).

The Torrent cable car gives access to the Rinderhütte ski area (2350 m), while ski lifts go higher up to 2610 m. In addition to ski slopes, a winter panorama hiking trail provides visitors with spectacular views of the highest Swiss Alpine peaks on the opposite side of the Rhone Valley. In summer, it is possible to use large scooters for fast descents back to Leukerbad.

Mountain biking is also increasingly popular in the Leukerbad area and may be taken on some cable cars.

Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) in Switzerland

Leukerbad is a small resort town whose economy is strongly focused on tourism, with a wide choice of hotels, holiday apartments, restaurants, and shops. The permanent inhabitants are around 1,500, but around 9,000 guest beds are available.

Leukerbad has many fine hotels but holiday chalets and apartments (flats) are even more numerous. Modern booking platforms have made it much easier to reserve holiday rentals, with fewer insisting on week-long bookings with changeover on Saturday only. Hotel prices are often lower for arrivals on Sunday and Monday, with the added bonus of fewer visitors at spa facilities.

If traveling from the Lake Geneva area, Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) is just inside the German-speaking part of Valais (Wallis). However, many locals effortlessly switch from German to French, English, or Italian as required.

Transportation to Leukerbad in Switzerland

Getting to Leukerbad is very easy by car or public transportation. Drivers simply follow the main highway from Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) past Sion to Leuk, which is a small village next to the Rhone River on the floor of the Valais Valley. From Leuk, a well-maintained but narrow, winding road goes up the mountain to Leukerbad. Drivers arriving from Central Switzerland could use the Lötschberg car train tunnel.

If using public transportation, use the train to Leuk and change here at the train station for the bus to Leukerbad. The LLB buses frequently link the two towns in around half an hour. (Half Fare Card and Junior Card are accepted on the bus.)

→ See Swiss Railways (SBB) for online public transportation timetables. Trainline sometimes has good deals too.

Almost anywhere in Leukerbad is within walking distance, which is fortunate as parking is at a premium and the old town center is closed off to cars. Many streets may also not be used between 10 pm and 5 am — Leukerbad is not a party town and is quiet at night. A local bus (Ortsbus / Navette Ring-Jet) follows a circular route through Leukerbad — free for guests staying overnight and qualifying for the Leukerbad Guest Card.

• See also Transportation to Leukerbad for more details on driving and public transportation to Leukerbad.

Best Hot Water Spring Resorts and Spas in the Lake Geneva Region

• The Best Hot Mineral Water Thermal Baths near Lake Geneva — mostly in Switzerland but also some in France
• Leukerbad — the best weekend getaway in the Alps. Fantastic family-friendly thermal baths and many good hotel options.
• Les Bains de Lavey — Hottest Mineral Waters in Switzerland
• Aquaparc – Water Fun Park with Slides on Lake Geneva near Montreux
• Les Bains de la Gruyère in Fribourg — near medieval Gruyères and the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory.
• Yverdon-les-Bains on Lake Neuchâtel