The greatest vertical range in Switzerland
Swiss municipality rankings →Anniviers (VS) has the greatest vertical range in Switzerland: 3'847 m between its lowest and highest terrain. Next come Val de Bagnes (3'621 m) and Naters (3'522 m). Anniviers drops nearly 3,900 m from valley to peak; Lauterbrunnen owes its range to the sheer wall above its valley floor. Source: swisstopo swissALTIRegio 2026.
Top 100
swisstopo · swissALTIRegio 2026| Rank | Municipality | Vertical range | Canton | Residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anniviers | 3'847 m | VS | 2'785 |
| 2 | Val de Bagnes | 3'621 m | VS | 11'044 |
| 3 | Naters | 3'522 m | VS | 10'791 |
| 4 | Turtmann-Unterems | 3'522 m | VS | 1'193 |
| 5 | Guttannen | 3'489 m | BE | 236 |
| 6 | Lauterbrunnen | 3'429 m | BE | 2'356 |
| 7 | St. Niklaus | 3'348 m | VS | 2'347 |
| 8 | Grindelwald | 3'344 m | BE | 3'942 |
| 9 | Raron | 3'294 m | VS | 2'030 |
| 10 | Baltschieder | 3'285 m | VS | 1'406 |
| 11 | Evolène | 3'244 m | VS | 1'673 |
| 12 | Randa | 3'241 m | VS | 448 |
| 13 | Bettmeralp | 3'226 m | VS | 468 |
| 14 | Fieschertal | 3'189 m | VS | 359 |
| 15 | Zermatt | 3'150 m | VS | 6'113 |
| 16 | Hérémence | 3'149 m | VS | 1'553 |
| 17 | Zwischbergen | 3'137 m | VS | 75 |
| 18 | Glarus Süd | 3'120 m | GL | 9'634 |
| 19 | Orsières | 3'089 m | VS | 3'339 |
| 20 | Innertkirchen | 3'074 m | BE | 1'079 |
| 21 | Täsch | 3'063 m | VS | 1'341 |
| 22 | Oberems | 3'060 m | VS | 141 |
| 23 | Simplon | 2'986 m | VS | 287 |
| 24 | Serravalle | 2'982 m | TI | 2'052 |
| 25 | Saas-Fee | 2'972 m | VS | 1'637 |
| 26 | Poschiavo | 2'937 m | GR | 3'494 |
| 27 | Eisten | 2'933 m | VS | 189 |
| 28 | Reichenbach im Kandertal | 2'887 m | BE | 3'850 |
| 29 | Bourg-Saint-Pierre | 2'874 m | VS | 242 |
| 30 | Cevio | 2'873 m | TI | 1'083 |
| 31 | Nendaz | 2'856 m | VS | 7'354 |
| 32 | Silenen | 2'838 m | UR | 2'080 |
| 33 | Evionnaz | 2'800 m | VS | 1'535 |
| 34 | Blenio | 2'789 m | TI | 1'752 |
| 35 | Bex | 2'778 m | VD | 8'933 |
| 36 | Saint-Maurice | 2'772 m | VS | 4'656 |
| 37 | Conthey | 2'737 m | VS | 9'661 |
| 38 | Ayent | 2'736 m | VS | 4'509 |
| 39 | Erstfeld | 2'727 m | UR | 3'985 |
| 40 | Sumvitg | 2'727 m | GR | 1'053 |
| 41 | Visperterminen | 2'710 m | VS | 1'301 |
| 42 | Attinghausen | 2'707 m | UR | 1'781 |
| 43 | Trient | 2'700 m | VS | 181 |
| 44 | Bregaglia | 2'696 m | GR | 1'602 |
| 45 | Breil/Brigels | 2'680 m | GR | 1'738 |
| 46 | Salvan | 2'678 m | VS | 1'521 |
| 47 | Engelberg | 2'669 m | OW | 4'377 |
| 48 | Niedergesteln | 2'667 m | VS | 731 |
| 49 | Savièse | 2'666 m | VS | 8'453 |
| 50 | Riviera | 2'659 m | TI | 4'262 |
| 51 | Mesocco | 2'655 m | GR | 1'432 |
| 52 | Pfäfers | 2'651 m | SG | 1'647 |
| 53 | Liddes | 2'651 m | VS | 790 |
| 54 | Tamins | 2'647 m | GR | 1'225 |
| 55 | Biasca | 2'644 m | TI | 6'213 |
| 56 | Disentis/Mustér | 2'642 m | GR | 2'163 |
| 57 | Göschenen | 2'629 m | UR | 482 |
| 58 | Crans-Montana | 2'628 m | VS | 10'782 |
| 59 | Wassen | 2'620 m | UR | 425 |
| 60 | Gurtnellen | 2'616 m | UR | 501 |
| 61 | Trin | 2'616 m | GR | 1'574 |
| 62 | Saas-Balen | 2'610 m | VS | 340 |
| 63 | Faido | 2'604 m | TI | 2'706 |
| 64 | Vérossaz | 2'591 m | VS | 945 |
| 65 | Saas-Almagell | 2'588 m | VS | 376 |
| 66 | Trun | 2'586 m | GR | 1'136 |
| 67 | Meiringen | 2'582 m | BE | 4'791 |
| 68 | Ried-Brig | 2'582 m | VS | 2'327 |
| 69 | Schattenhalb | 2'579 m | BE | 580 |
| 70 | Leytron | 2'579 m | VS | 3'594 |
| 71 | Kandersteg | 2'573 m | BE | 1'298 |
| 72 | Lavizzara | 2'565 m | TI | 504 |
| 73 | Mont-Noble | 2'556 m | VS | 1'188 |
| 74 | Chamoson | 2'551 m | VS | 4'486 |
| 75 | Collonges | 2'527 m | VS | 866 |
| 76 | Riddes | 2'517 m | VS | 3'831 |
| 77 | Bellinzona | 2'504 m | TI | 45'828 |
| 78 | Isenthal | 2'499 m | UR | 461 |
| 79 | Spiringen | 2'499 m | UR | 872 |
| 80 | Soazza | 2'498 m | GR | 320 |
| 81 | Fully | 2'498 m | VS | 9'407 |
| 82 | Val-d'Illiez | 2'496 m | VS | 2'149 |
| 83 | Lavey-Morcles | 2'491 m | VD | 1'024 |
| 84 | Ilanz/Glion | 2'480 m | GR | 5'101 |
| 85 | Ardon | 2'479 m | VS | 3'938 |
| 86 | Ergisch | 2'477 m | VS | 184 |
| 87 | Grengiols | 2'473 m | VS | 409 |
| 88 | Flims | 2'467 m | GR | 2'954 |
| 89 | San Vittore | 2'465 m | GR | 946 |
| 90 | Saas-Grund | 2'460 m | VS | 1'043 |
| 91 | Glarus | 2'459 m | GL | 12'968 |
| 92 | Mels | 2'454 m | SG | 9'581 |
| 93 | Bergün Filisur | 2'452 m | GR | 894 |
| 94 | Blatten | 2'451 m | VS | 291 |
| 95 | Vals | 2'450 m | GR | 948 |
| 96 | Klosters | 2'446 m | GR | 4'499 |
| 97 | Verzasca | 2'441 m | TI | 749 |
| 98 | Leukerbad | 2'439 m | VS | 1'401 |
| 99 | Giornico | 2'433 m | TI | 1'761 |
| 100 | Safiental | 2'432 m | GR | 972 |
How we measure this
swisstopoThe vertical range is the highest terrain point minus the lowest, in metres, across the whole municipal area, from the swisstopo swissALTIRegio digital elevation model (swissALTIRegio 2026). It captures the valley-to-summit drop a territory spans — Anniviers leads at 3,865 m, and Lauterbrunnen ranks high because of the near-vertical wall rising from its valley floor. A large range usually goes hand in hand with steep terrain; see the steepest-municipalities ranking for the average gradient.
Frequently asked questions
- How is vertical range calculated?
- It is the highest terrain point within the municipal area minus the lowest, both taken from the swisstopo elevation model. It measures the total height difference the territory spans, from valley floor to summit.