Camping Under Star-Filled Skies | Two Nights in Disentis, Switzerland
Living in Switzerland, it can be easy to take the mountains and the closeness of nature for granted. Yet spending a night outdoors, away from town, can reveal a different side to familiar surroundings.
My first camping trip in Switzerland did just that.
We visited TCS Camping Disentis in the canton of Graubünden, spending two nights at a campsite surrounded by the Alps. Our first camping adventure began with gathering the gear. What awaited us after all that preparation was a little place of our own—and a sky full of stars.
A Campsite Between Mountains and Water
TCS Camping Disentis sits at an altitude of around 1,050 metres. Surrounded by mountains, the campsite has a natural swimming lake and a children’s water play area, with pitches spread across grassy areas and among spruce trees. Its appeal lies in the chance to enjoy both mountain scenery and time by the water.
Disentis is also known for its monastery. Hiking opportunities in the surrounding area make it possible to combine time in nature with visits to the town and its cultural sights. Whether heading out for a walk or spending a leisurely day at the campsite, you can plan your stay at your own pace.
For this trip, we stayed in our own tent. Unlike a hotel stay, our journey began with gathering the equipment we would need to make ourselves at home outdoors.
Sleeping Comfortably in a Tent
Preparing for a first camping trip meant gathering plenty of equipment: a tent, sleeping bags, lanterns and cooking gear. Of all these essentials, bedding proved particularly important.
For anyone considering camping, the prospect of an uncomfortable night may be a concern. I had imagined that sleeping in a sleeping bag on hard ground would be difficult.
An inflatable mattress made the experience more comfortable than I had expected. The trip brought home how much a good night’s rest matters when spending time outdoors.
Getting equipped takes time and an initial investment, and campsite fees remain an ongoing expense. Budgeting separately for equipment and accommodation makes it easier to plan the cost of future trips.
Once everything was ready, though, a new way of travelling opened up. Packing familiar gear into the car and deciding where to stay next became part of the pleasure—a freedom I had not experienced on previous holidays.
Choosing the Right Camping Accommodation
When choosing a campsite, it is worth looking beyond the scenery to the facilities available where you will be staying.
At TCS Camping Disentis, the unmarked tent meadow has no electrical hook-ups, and cars cannot be parked beside tents. The “Comfort” pitches, meanwhile, come with a private kitchen and a covered table. Even within the same campsite, your choice of pitch can shape both your packing list and your stay.
Before booking for the first time, check not only the permitted tent size but also electricity access and parking arrangements. These details help you plan how you will set up and move around the site.There are also alternatives to bringing your own tent, including the “Family POD”, a compact cabin with a kitchenette, and furnished, pre-pitched tents with lighting. These options are worth considering for anyone keen to experience a stay in nature without first investing in a full camping setup.
Camping does not have to mean supplying every piece of equipment yourself. How much preparation you want to take on, and which comforts matter to you, can help guide your choice of accommodation.
As Night Falls in Disentis
The evenings were the most memorable part of our stay.
Days were spent walking in the mountains, followed by meals outdoors in the early evening. Whenever we needed a rest, we could return to the tent. Having pitched it ourselves, we had a little place to retreat to throughout the day.
We prepared our own meals and washed up afterwards. There was no hotel room waiting with everything ready, but the space we had put together had a comfort of its own.
As the sun set, the surrounding landscape began to take on a different character. We gathered around the campfire, talking and sipping warm drinks. Watching the flames offered a quiet moment away from the rush of everyday life.
Then I happened to look up. Above us, the sky was filled with stars.
A Sky Full of Stars, a View Like No Other
A city hotel can offer beautiful views of lights after dark. In Disentis, the night revealed a different kind of beauty. With few lights around us, the mountains stood dark against a sky filled with countless stars.
The sight made me stop and gaze upwards for a while.
Could there be a more beautiful view at night? At that moment, it was hard to imagine one.
During the day, the mountain scenery had held my attention. After dark, my eyes were drawn naturally to the sky. Spending a whole day in one place allowed us to appreciate that change.
And when we had finished watching the stars, there was no journey back to our accommodation. Our tent was right beside us. That simple closeness was another part of what made sleeping outdoors so memorable.
Let the Scenery Inspire Your Next Stay
After our first camping trip, choosing where to go became a pleasure in itself. Would the next stay be beside a lake, or somewhere with a different mountain view?
There are still many campsites in Switzerland I would like to visit. A new location brings a different view beyond the tent and a different way to spend the day.
“Where shall we go this weekend?”
The fact that this question now comes up so naturally is one of the reasons I am glad we started camping.
Of course, setting up and packing away take effort. Yet pitching a tent, preparing meals and spending time outdoors until sunset had a quiet appeal that made me want to do it again. During our two nights in Disentis, there was no need for a packed itinerary. Walking in the mountains by day and watching the stars at night felt like enough.
Mountain walks, meals outdoors and a sky full of stars: for your next trip to Switzerland or weekend away, consider adding camping to your accommodation options.
Surrounded by the Alps, Disentis is a rewarding choice for anyone looking to spend more time in nature.
Visitor Information
TCS Camping Disentis
Address:
Via Fontanivas 9, 7180 Disentis/Mustér
Phone:
+41 81 947 44 22
Website:
The campsite is approximately 130 metres from the nearest bus stop, “Disentis/Mustér, Camping Fontanivas”. Please check the official website for opening dates, rates and available facilities before booking.
About Author
Marina Betschart
Originally from Kobe, Japan, Marina has been living in Switzerland since 2014 and is a mother of two. Her interests range from beauty, health and cooking to parenting, travel, food, languages and camping.
Sociable by nature, she enjoys connecting with people, while also valuing time on her own—whether reading, cooking or watching her favorite TV series.
Drawing on her experiences of life in Switzerland and the discoveries she makes in everyday life, Marina shares a variety of topics in a thoughtful, approachable and easy-to-understand way.
