South America
Argentina
Patagonia
Province of Rio Negro
San Carlos de Bariloche
Things to Do in San Carlos de Bariloche
Colonia Suiza
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Colonia Suiza

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Colonia Suiza
3.5
2,148 reviews
#46 of 110 things to do in San Carlos de Bariloche
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Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Top ways to experience Colonia Suiza and nearby attractions

The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
247 within 3 miles
Chocolates Rapa Nui
30
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Deli • Argentinean
Schmäckt Gut
9
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • German
Punta Princesa
24
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • South American
Muky Resto de Montaña
1
0.3 mi
Samsara
4
0.3 miItalian • American • Caribbean • Pub
Refugio Berghof
41
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • South American
Cafe Azul
15
0.6 mi$ • Cafe • Argentinean • South American
Chez Philippe
329
1 mi$$$$ • French • Swiss • European
IL CAPO
30
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Argentinean • South American
Amancay de la Patagonia Chocolates y Bombones
7
0.7 miDessert
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Attractions
57 within 6 miles
Cabalgatas "Lo del Paisa"
3
0 ftEquestrian Trails
Cable Carril Cerro Catedral
1
0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts
Cerro Catedral
261
0.3 miMountains • Ski & Snowboard Areas
Escuela de Ski Catedral Ski Resort
34
0.3 miSki & Snowboard Areas
Museo del Lago Gutierrez
1,151
0.8 miSpeciality Museums
Lago Nahuel Huapi
403
1.7 miBodies of Water
Cerro Otto
6,798
1.1 miMountains • Lookouts
Lago Steffen
316
2.2 miBodies of Water
Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Nahuel Huapi
3,365
1.7 miChurches & Cathedrals
Sendero de los Arrayanes
743
1.6 miHiking Trails • Forests
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
3.5
2,148 reviews
Excellent
594
Very good
716
Average
522
Poor
193
Terrible
123
Dakles
Southampton, UK1,329 contributions
Quirky but ultimately tacky
Feb 2020
Apparently this place started life as a colony of early Swiss settlers (hence the name) and the style of the buildings certainly reflects that. It’s a very quirky settlement but, sadly, it has become little more than a tourist trap full of gift stores and cafes. We spent 10 minutes walking around and then left. If you are making the trip then be aware that the last 3 km are on a dirt track.
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rochelle F
Randolph, NJ929 contributions
Cute bohemian town
Mar 2023
Cute little bohemian area with lots of food trucks and little shops that are fun to walk around in. I was amazed at how long the line for the bus was. This is a popular place. We wandered around and had a coffee, looked at the artisan shops (and there are all lots of places selling knickknacks or as my husband would call it junk).

Fun for a short afternoon outing.
Written March 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pablucho35
Savannah, GA118 contributions
Not what I expected, touristy site
Jan 2023 • Friends
It was not what I expected due to its name. It is more of a playground atmosphere with stores, restaurants and lots of people. It was very dusty all over. We are well and saw nice crafts. The name is only a remnant of its history since Swiss families settled there in the 1800s. Traffic was a killer, parking difficult, and a bit tough to get around.
Written January 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
holidayneeded72
Guildford119 contributions
Probably was nice in the past - quirky swiss style but a bit tacky
Feb 2020
We visited Colonia Suiza with the intention of doing a walk from there. The walk was very pleasant up through the forest up to the river. The Colonia Suiza was interesting to see but has many tacky tourist shops and seems to live from reputation gone past.
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cathy C
Chapel Hill, NC235 contributions
A disappointing journey
Feb 2018 • Couples
Perhaps we should have read more about this tourist destination but alas no. This is not like any Swiss village in Switzerland. No history provided and just a lot of retail buildings and a few restaurants. Check it out before you go....very crowded down a bumpy dirt road for 3k.
Written February 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
victoriaxyz
Zurich, Switzerland599 contributions
Don’t waste your vacation time to come here
Feb 2018
We live in Switzerland and we’re curious to see a Swiss colony. But this place is nowhere close to Switzerland, located at the end of a dirt road, w cheap huts selling some cheap souvenirs and a few hut grill places. I was hoping to see some Swiss Alpen houses w families living here and quaint streets like the ones in Villa la Angostura. But there is nothing like that. Don’t even waste your precious vacation time to do a detour.
Written February 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marylouor
20 contributions
Bunch of old hippies
May 2017 • Couples
This place has gotten really worst over the years. You won't find nothing related to a Swiss colony in hear. Avoid this part of Bariloche it's a ripp off.
Written May 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1966Karen
Haverford, PA63 contributions
fun town, crowded on fair days
Mar 2018 • Family
part of visiting circuito chico, we came to this small cutesy area, which happened to be very crowded on the day we went (Sunday)
Written April 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jazman63
Brisbane, Australia279 contributions
Overcrowded and overhyped
Jan 2018 • Couples
This probably used to be a great place to spend a few hours. Craft shops, local food, a bit of a hippy vibe, all adding to the original charm of a swiss settler village in the hills. Now though, it's just too many people and too much dust. We did get some decent empanadas from one of the food stalls and a half-decent beer but the ordering system is too complicated. The queue for the local cooked-in-the-ground food was ridiculous and I honestly don't know why you'd bother. If you've had hangi in NZ you know what it's about: basically steamed meat and veg. I don't usually do negative reviews but seriously, there are better ways to spend your time in those hills.
Written January 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dsella
Ra'anana, Israel392 contributions
Disappointment
Mar 2017 • Couples
I'm not sure what we were expecting but it was semi open - first restaurant we went into was filled in front area and back didn't appeal to us. We went to the fair area, semi open. We ate at open places- all mediocre at best. Could have skipped it to enjoy a meal with a view
Written March 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Colonia Suiza (San Carlos de Bariloche) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Colonia Suiza
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