Where to go in Switzerland on a short trip: Alps, lakes, and cities
Switzerland is an extremely popular country for those planning multi-stop tours around Europe, yet very few potential first-time visitors actually know specifically where they want to go. Everyone seems to know that it has the most beautiful views of the Alps and some very impressive cities, but there are actually many misconceptions among casual trip planners, so I’d like to clear most of that up below. The places to visit in Switzerland are not obvious until you’ve been there yourself or done many hours of research, so the list below should be a short cut.
I get hundreds if not thousands of itinerary questions for people who are considering a Eurail trip around Europe, and most people just include the word “Switzerland” among a list of cities like Paris, Rome, and Berlin that they want to visit. So where in Switzerland should you go if you can only make a few stops at most? I’ll answer that question below. You’ll mostly want to focus on the best choices for Swiss Alps trips, which I’ll go over below.
Note: This article was expanded and updated in February, 2024.
Switzerland is about outdoor views rather than city visits
The first situation we usually run into is that people who want to visit “Switzerland” assume that the first and best (and sometimes only) stop should be its largest city, which is Zurich. Unfortunately, Zurich is the most expensive city in the world for travelers, and it’s not really very interesting.
Geneva is a very famous city (though not for tourism reasons) on a lovely lake of the same name, but it’s also notoriously dull and lacking distinction. Rick Steves puts it well by saying that “Geneva is pleasantly situated on a lake, like Buffalo or Cleveland.” The point is, you don’t want to go to Geneva unless you’ve got something specific in mind that you want to see there. There are much better places to visit in Switzerland if your time is limited, or even if it’s not.
Switzerland's cities in summary
Zurich – The largest city, very expensive, geared towards business travelers. It’s generally a pretty and very well-run city that you would enjoy if you visited, but it’s not nearly as interesting as the likes of Vienna, Munich, or of course Paris.
Geneva – Second largest city, in the French part of the country, no major sights. Again, if you visited you’d be very impressed by it and get some great photos, but it’s not worth your time unless you know someone there. There’s an impressive fountain in the lake and you can usually see it from the train as you go through the city, but it’s not really worth going there and staying more than an hour or so.
Basel – Bordering France and Germany, no major sights. It has the famous art market each year, and aside from that it’s even duller than the ones above. Again, if you visited you’d be impressed, but if you later compared photos with friends who went to the Lauterbrunnen Valley instead, you’d kick yourself for going to Basel.
Lausanne – Near Geneva in the French part of the country, very hilly, and certainly more interesting than Geneva.
Bern – The capital, compact, on a lovely river, some interesting sights and the best Swiss city to get a feel for the culture. Bern is fairly close to Interlaken (which we will discuss below) and it can be a great day trip from there, especially on a day where it is foggy and/or rainy in the mountains (and this happens a LOT).
How much time and which Swiss cities to visit?
If you have 4 or fewer days in Switzerland I wouldn’t visit any of the cities listed above. If you have 5 or more days and especially if you want to include a proper city then I’d recommend 1 day in Bern or a day trip there from Interlaken. For a longer trip, and especially if you want to visit the French part of the country, then a day in Lausanne could be worthwhile.
Many people (me included) don’t feel as if they’ve scratched the surface of a new country if they haven’t spent at least a day or two in the largest city. Zurich is certainly pleasant and a useful transit hub so spending one or two nights there wouldn’t be a major mistake. But Zurich isn’t even close to being a city like Paris, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, or even Vienna. If you skip it in favor of spending more time in the Swiss Alps, you won’t be missing much.
The 2 Best places to visit in Switzerland for short visits
Interlaken – If you want the best possible Alpine views and activities, head to the Interlaken area, which will be described in detail below. This is my favorite of all places to visit in Switzerland and it will probably be yours as well.
Lucerne – The traditional Swiss tourist retreat, Lucerne is a small city with interesting culture and sights, that is gorgeously set on a lake with plenty of top activities surrounding it.
If you have 4 or 5 days and want to see the very best of Switzerland, then divide your days between those cities. They are less than 2 hours apart by direct train, so it’s easy to visit both of them even if you only have 3 days. If you only have two days, I’d pick one or the other.
>>>Interlaken and Lucerne: Which to choose and how long to stay in each?
The article linked above will give you more details on which to choose and how long to spend in each place.
What about Zermatt for Alpine views?
Zermatt is a remote car-free village in southern Switzerland that is famous for being the place to see the Matterhorn mountain. It’s also a busy ski resort area, and aside from that, there isn’t much to see or do here. It’s on a private rail line, so it’s more complicated and usually more expensive to reach than Interlaken.
In other words, unless you’ve irrationally placed “Seeing the Matterhorn in person” on your so-called bucket list, skip Zermatt and head to Interlaken on a shorter visit. You won’t be sorry. If you already have enough time in your visit for the main sights around Interlaken and Lucerne and you want to also see the Matterhorn, then by all means go and you’ll enjoy it. There are quite a few other car-free villages in the Lauterbrunnen Valley near Interlaken, so they are not as novel in Switzerland as one might expect.
A weekend in Switzerland? What to see in 3 days
Switzerland is justifiably popular for weekend breaks among those living in Europe and if you’ve only got 2 or maybe 3 days to spend in the country and this is your first visit I highly recommend focusing a weekend in Switzerland on the two places mentioned just above, namely the Interlaken area and especially the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and Lucerne.
One challenge is that neither has an international airport so you’ll either be flying into Zurich or perhaps Geneva.
Train times from Zurich to Lucerne to Interlaken and back
- Zurich Airport to Lucerne: 1 hour 10 minutes by train
- Lucerne to Interlaken: 2 hours by train
- Interlaken to Zurich Airport: 2 hours 15 minutes by train
As you can see with the travel times above, Zurich Airport to Lucerne is a fairly short trip, but once you add Interlaken into the mix (even if you skip Lucerne) the travel time starts to add up for a weekend visit. With this in mind it’s probably best to just choose one of them and save the other one for another trip.
Lucerne is gorgeous, but the Lauterbrunnen Valley near Interlaken is really the star of the show, so I’d recommend going there first and doing Lucerne on another trip.
What about the Swiss Travel Pass?
Easily the most confusing travel or city pass out there, the Swiss Travel Pass seems expensive at first, but is actually a very good deal for many people wanting to take the scenic and panoramic trains. Read our full Swiss Travel Pass review for all the details and information on where to buy.
The bottom line is that if you are coming to Switzerland for at least 3 days and you want to take 2 or more of the amazing scenic rail journeys that the country is famous for, the travel pass is probably a good deal. It also provides 50% discounts on the Schilthorn cable car and 25% off the Jungfraujoch mountain railway. Both of those are quite expensive on their own, but extremely worthwhile, so the discount is helpful.
The Half Fare Card is probably a better deal for most people
The Swiss Travel Pass is a good deal for those who are going to be spending at least 2 or 3 days riding the rails and seeing Switzerland that way. But if you are mostly going to be focusing on Interlaken and Lucerne and the mountain sights, the Half Fare Card is the best option. For CHF120 (about US$134) you get the card that is good for 30 days and gives you a 50% discount on all trains, cable cars, mountain railways, and other sights and attractions. If you are doing either Schilthorn or Jungfraujoch, the Half Fare Card practically pays for itself with just one of those.
>>>Buy the Swiss Half Fare Card
Many people have questions about the Swiss Half Fare Card so I will explain it a bit here. You can actually buy half price train tickets for travel within Switzerland any time you want and you will see that option when you go to buy them online. The only thing is you have to have and present a valid Half Fare Card when you get on the train and are asked to see your ticket. In other words, you can buy a half fare train ticket today and buy a Half Fare Card just before you get on that train months in the future, and you are fine.
How and why visit the area around Interlaken
Even though I keep referring to the city of Interlaken (pronounced inter-LOCK-en) in this article, it’s really the villages in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, just above Interlaken, that you want to visit. Interlaken itself is a pleasant and scenic town that is dominated by tourism and feels more than a little out of date. A longer version with more recommendations can be found on our new article about things to do in Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
You can see everything discussed below by actually staying in a hotel in Interlaken, but it’s not the Alpine experience that you get if you stay in one of the small villages nearby. You can reach those villages in 20 to 40 minutes from the Interlaken Ost (East) train station, and it’s much easier than it sounds.
The 3 best places to stay to visit the Swiss Alps
Lauterbrunnen – A private train line runs from Interlaken Ost station to the end of its line in Lauterbrunnen. There’s a lovely waterfall here and great hiking trails, but you should probably only stay here if you can’t get to one of the villages mentioned just below. It’s a great little transit hub and it’s definitely gorgeous, so it can be worth a night if you’ve got one to spare.
Gimmelwald – THIS is where you want to stay if you can manage it. This tiny village has one of the most stunning natural mountain settings you’ll ever see, and it feels like a time capsule that is twice as wonderful as you thought possible. If you’ve ever seen Rick Steves discussing Alpine villages, this is the one he always refers to, and his readers are some of the only guests.
Mürren – Just one stop above Gimmelwald by cable car, Mürren has a nearly identical mountain setting, but it also has about 20 times more hotels and tourist shops than Gimmelwald. Many people will feel more comfortable here with more choices and a bit of possible nightlife, but Gimmelwald is still the perfect choice for most nature lovers on short visits to the Alps.
Where to stay in Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley (with pics)
I get so many questions about where to stay in the Interlaken area that I decided to write a longer version of it and load it with huge photos so readers can get a better feel for each option. I also included recommendations for affordable and well-located photos in each area.
>>>Where to stay in Interlaken and the Lauterbrunnen Valley New for 2024!
The unforgettable things to see here (if the weather is decent)
Schilthorn observation deck and restaurant
The cable cars (mountain lifts that carry up to 80 people at a time) from Lauterbrunnen to Gimmelwald and from Gimmelwald up to Mürren are short and fairly cheap, but if you keep going up two more segments to the top, you reach the Schilthorn observation deck. It’s expensive (around US$100 round-trip from Lauterbrunnen to Schilthorn) but if the weather is clear this is very worthwhile and may be your single best memory of Switzerland.
There is a rotating restaurant (with prices similar to normal Swiss restaurants) and a bizarre and anachronistic James Bond attraction based on it being a key location in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The Bond thing is included with the lift, and it’s worth a look.
But the main thing you come here for is the 360-degree view from one of the highest peaks in Europe. Again, the weather here is key, but fortunately all the locals track the visibility on a minute-by-minute basis. If it’s clear up top while you are in the area, it would be a terrible shame to skip it based on the high price. But even if it’s cloudy up top, there are still plenty of wonderful things to see and do in the villages below.
Jungfraujoch observation area
This is famously the highest railway line and station in Europe, and it’s another privately-run line that is priced as a tourist attraction rather than as transportation. The train leaves from Lauterbrunnen and takes about two chilly hours to get up to the top, including a change of trains halfway up in Kleine Sheidegg.
The views from the top are similar to the views from Schilthorn, from the other side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Once on top you can have lunch, hike, or even go sledding. It’s also quite expensive at nearly US$200 round-trip unless you have a Swiss Pass or a Eurail Pass for discounts, and it takes most of your day, but you’ll never forget the views from the top.
Harder Kulm mountain and Two Lakes Bridge Observation Deck
Interlaken is named after the fact that it’s located between two lakes (Brienz Lake and Thun Lake) and the best way to see them both at the same time is to take the funicular up 10 minutes to Harder Kulm and the Two Lakes Bridge Observation Deck. It costs CHF20 each way so you can take it up and walk down or vice versa to save a bit of money and have a memorable hike.
There’s a revolving restaurant about 10 minutes’ walk from the station at the top, which is definitely an unforgettable place for lunch if you’ve got time. It’s not as expensive as you might expect, at least compared to normal restaurants in Switzerland.
The Harder Kulm Railway goes from early April through late November each year. If you are only in Interlaken for one day and/or you are on a strict budget, this is the fastest and best way to get amazing Alpine views in the area.
Getting from Interlaken to Gimmelwald and Mürren
Getting up to these villages sounds complicated and time consuming, but it’s actually fast and easy once you get there. This little guide should help.
Arrive in Interlaken
Interlaken has two main train stations, one in the west (closer to Bern) and one in the east (closer to Lucerne). If you are staying in Interlaken itself then most hotels are closer to the Interlaken West station, but if you are going up the mountain you’ll want to get off at the Interlaken Ost (East) station. All trains stop at both stations, and if you are staying at a local hotel then you get a card that allows free trips between the two.
Once you arrive at the Interlaken Ost train station, head for the ticket windows in the office and buy a ticket to your final destination (Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, or Mürren). Eurail passes are good for 25% discounts on the rest of the trip, but not for the whole thing.
From Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen
The private train leaves Interlaken Ost every 30 minutes and arrives in Lauterbrunnen 20 minutes later. If you are staying in Lauterbrunnen then you are probably walking distance from your hotel when you reach the station.
From Lauterbrunnen to Gimmelwald
If you are going to Gimmelwald then your combined train ticket will include the price of a shuttle bus that is waiting for each train as it arrives. Show your ticket to the driver and enjoy views of the waterfall as you pass it. A few minutes later you’ll arrive at the base of the mountain at the cable car station.
Again, the ticket you bought in Interlaken covers the whole thing, so just show your ticket at the cable car entrance and walk on in. A few minutes later the cable car will begin its fast ascent, and 5 minutes later the car lets everyone off at the base of the village of Gimmelwald. From here you are within a few minutes walk of literally the entire village and all of its hotels. The famous Mountain Hostel is directly up the path in front of you so it’s hard to miss.
From
Gimmelwald to Mürren
If you are staying in Mürren then you hop out of the cable car in Gimmelwald and then walk directly into the cable car across the platform, which is about to leave for Mürren. Once the door closes, you’ll be in Mürren in about 5 minutes. There is also another private rail line that goes to Mürren, but it’s slower and less scenic than the cable cars.
Recommended hotel and hostel in Gimmelwald
I get asked all the time about where to stay in Gimmelwald, so here it is:
Hotel: Esther’s Guesthouse
When you step off the cable car in Gimmelwald, look a little bit to the right and you’ll see a path going slightly uphill. Even if you go in the wrong direction, you’ll hit a dead end in 15 seconds, so it’s impossible to miss the road. The first thing you’ll see on your right is Esther’s Guesthouse, which is also arguably the best hotel in lovely Gimmelwald.
It’s run by Esther, as you might guess, and she is very friendly speaking excellent English. Each room is different and the place feels like a mountain cabin, because it is. She offers an excellent buffet breakfast in the morning, which you have to order the night before. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it because it’s hearty and there are no other good options nearby.
Book as early as possible because this place is often the first place to sell out in Gimmelwald.
Hostel: Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald
If you’ve ever wondered which hostel has the best view in the world, Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald would be at least in the Top 5, if not #1. Follow the path to Esther’s Guesthouse (above) and walk a few steps past it, and then look to the left for the short path down to Mountain Hostel. They offer fine dorm beds that are the cheapest accommodation in the village, and it’s quite a fun place in general.
You won’t believe the views from this place, which are the same as from Esther’s except a bit lower and more unobstructed. This place also has a busy bar and restaurant that is basically the only “nightlife” in Gimmelwald. Many hikers get to bed early in this tiny village, but if you want to have a couple drinks and order a pizza or some local options, this is the place to go.
Again, book early because this place is always sold out.
Lucerne and what to do there
Luzern, as it’s spelled locally, is the other traditional holiday destination in Switzerland. Unlike Interlaken, Lucerne actually qualifies as a small city rather than a small resort town, so it’s a very nice contrast and very worthwhile. We have a new article with advice on where to stay in Lucerne and it should be helpful.
The area around Lucerne is surrounded by small mountains, but it’s not in the Alps and it doesn’t have the sort of amazing views you get in Interlaken. The main attraction here is Lake Lucerne and the various small towns on its shores. There are excellent hikes that are mostly not too challenging, and some wonderful views from nearby peaks. Here is our recommendation for things to do in and near Lucerne.
However, unlike Interlaken, the town of Lucerne itself is a great attraction and worth at least a day of exploration. This has always been a rich area so you can expect to find all of the high-end shops and boutiques along the small streets just north of the lake, but there are also many traditional shops and things to see that will appeal to anyone.
Recommended hotel in Lucerne
>>Hotel Des Alpes (3 stars with an amazing location and view)
Hotels in Lucerne are not cheap, but you’ll probably spend only one or two nights there, so it’s worth paying a bit more for one of the hotels overlooking the prettiest part of the lake and the famous Chapel Bridge itself. The 45-room Hotel Des Alpes has rooms right on the water, in the heart of everything, and it’s a short walk from the train station and cruise dock as well. This place gets excellent reviews and is worth paying a bit more for unforgettable views from your bed.
If this place is booked, which is often the case, then book a hotel as close to it as you can find or afford. The whole historic part of town surrounding it is lovely, with restaurants, bars, and high-end shops. There are also a couple of nearby supermarkets where you can buy inexpensive alcohol and picnic supplies to keep other costs down.
Spend a day in Lucerne itself
The covered wooden bridge (Chapel Bridge) that is the signature sight of Lucerne looks just as lovely when you are near it or walking across it, but there are several other historic wooden bridges just a bit upstream as well. On the north bank of where the lake becomes a river, you’ll find a string of restaurants and bars that each have excellent views. Food and drinks all over Switzerland are expensive by most standards, and fortunately the prices of the waterfront restaurants are within the normal range even though they could charge more.
Most of the interesting part of Lucerne is in the area behind those restaurants, and it’s certainly worth doing a self-guided walking tour if not a guided one. Heading farther east you’ll come to another older part of town where the famous lion statue is located. You can’t visit Lucerne without having a look at the lion, and fortunately it’s easy and quick to reach (and it’s free).
Take a lake cruise of some kind
The main lake-cruise boats leave from just in front of the train station, and at the very least it’s worth doing the simple round-trip of about one hour where you don’t even leave the boat. If you have most of a full day you have up to 35 different options of stops to disembark and walk around before catching another boat back to Lucerne.
Especially in nice weather, even the short lake tour is lovely, and if you have more time you can jump off at Vitznau and do the scenic hike up Mount Rigi. There are also small lakeside villages that are ideal for a stroll and lunch stop. Long story short, there are dozens of interesting sightseeing options that are available using part of the boat tour, and the views all around are wonderful.
Visit Mount Pilatus
The tallest mountain around Lucerne is just behind the city, and it’s also extremely popular for hiking, although you don’t actually have to walk up or down if you don’t want to. You can take the steepest cogwheel train in the world up to near the summit (except in winter), and there is also a gondola and cable car going to the same place all year round.
You can take the cogwheel train up and have a more or less flat hike around the summit area, and then take the gondola and cable car back down again. You can do them in the other order, and the cost is the same either way. At around US$65, this is not a cheap hike, but like most everything in Switzerland, the quality is high so it doesn’t feel like a rip-off. You can reach the cable car in 10 minutes on a public trolly bus from Lucerne.
Visit Mount Rigi
Not technically part of the Alps, Mount Rigi overlooks Lake Lucerne and is the easiest peak to reach in the area. The boat tours that leave from Lucerne include stops in both Weggis and Vitznau where you can hop on or off. There is a cable car from Weggis that goes up to the Rigi summit and a train that goes between Vitznau and the summit. Many people take one up and the other down.
Unlike the other peaks mentioned in this article the Swiss Travel Pass covers both ways to get up and down for free. The others are 50% off with the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, except for Jungfraujoch, which is only 25% off with the Swiss Travel Pass and still 50% off with the Half Fare Card.
Visit Mount Titlis
A bit south of Lucerne, Mount Titlis is an Alpine peak that is the most dramatic in the area. Once up at the top you can experience the Titlis Cliff Walk, which is the highest suspension bridge in the world. It’s a free pedestrian bridge over 3,000 meters up that allows for amazing views of the area, as long as the weather is clear.
You can reach Titlis by taking a 43-minute train ride from Lucerne to Engelburg and then taking the cable car up from there. As with the others, it’s wise to check the weather immediately before you are going to depart because it can be foggy or cloudy any time of the year, but usually not for whole days at a time.
Additional photo credits
Jungfraujoch by cupweuro on Flickr, Pilatus by Tony Fernandez on Flickr, Rigi by Kosala Bandara on Flickr, Titlis by PaulSchliebs on Flickr
Hi Roger,
We are a group of 4 travelling to Europe in October. We are reaching Switzerland on 12 October and plan to stay there for 3 days. We are considering staying in Wengen/Murren/Grindelwald for all 3 days. Which place would you recommend during this time?
Also, Snow is a must, so we are planning to go to Jungfrau top but it is turning out to be very expensive. Do you think Schilltorn will have snow at this time of the year?
Navyatha,
Wengen, Murren, and Grindelwald are all nice towns. I prefer Murren due to the dramatic views all around you because it’s more or less up on a cliff with a deep valley in front of it. The other two are larger towns with car access and all that.
I was at the Schilthorn observation deck in October and there was some snow on the ground, and it actually started snowing while I was there. But it was nothing like you’d get up on Jungfraujoch. If being able to make snowballs and throw them at each other is a high priority, then Jungfraujoch is your best bet. The highest peaks all around you will have snow on them all year round. It’s just that the rest of the mountains generally only have reliable snow covers from December through March. Have a great trip. -Roger
Update:
I decided to go straight to Interlaken. Here is my sched.
Aug. 3: Arrive Interlaken at 9pm
Aug. 4: Interlaken (day and night)
Aug. 5: Up to Stechelberg/Gimmelwald
Aug. 6: Stechelberg/Gimmelwald
Aug. 7: Stay in Stechelberg/Gimmelwald or head to Lucerne?
Aug. 8: Either half or full day in Lucerne
Aug. 9: Lucerne
Aug. 10th: Zurich Airport
My two questions are whether to stay in Stechelberg or Gimmelwald. I’m leaning toward Gimmelwald – it would have one less cable car connection when traveling around and Stechelberg is small and remote, yet it looks like it gets a lot of traffic, being the last bus/car destination.
And wether I should stay in Stechelberg/Gimmelwald an extra day – I would like to maximize the chances of good weather for Shilthorn. So. . . 3 full days in Interlaken area + 2.5 days in Lucerne or 4 full days in Interlaken and 1.5 days in Lucerne.
Roger,
I didn’t see this before answering the other one. Your plan looks good and I gave my opinions in the other one. If you have more questions, let me know. -Roger
Hi Roger, I’m so glad I came across your article! I was planning on a day or two each in Geneva and Zurich. . .
I have six full days that I’m balancing with Interlaken and Lucerne.
1. I arrive in Geneva at 5:10 pm – is that a bit late to get to Gimmelwald/Murren? The first night, I’m considering going to Bern, Luasanne, or Interlaken. What would you suggest?
2. Then I have three nights in the Interlaken area. I have the option of a secluded hotel in Stechelberg or an AirBnb in Gimmelwald. Stechelberg is slightly cheaper with a free breakfast and a late 12pm late check-out – allowing a full morning. Yet, Gimmelwald has a better community atmosphere.
3. Then, it’s off to Lucerne for the last three nights.
I’m debating whether to try and get to Interlaken late the first night or stay in Bern. And, whether three nights in Stechelberg/Gimmelwald is too much.
Roger,
I’m glad you found this article too then. You’ll be much happier in Interlaken and Lucerne than in Geneva and Zurich.
1. The trains and even cable cars to Gimmelwald and Murren do run well into the evening, so you could actually get there. But they are far more spectacular during the day. I’d stay the night in Bern if you want to get a look at an interesting and photogenic Swiss city. You can get to Interlaken in an hour from there the next day.
2. Stechelberg is in a gorgeous valley with tall mountains surrounding it, and Gimmelwald is on a cliff directly above it. Gimmelwald is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in the world, and I’ve been all over. If you can stay up there, I’d highly recommend it.
Bern is really nice and places will be open fairly late there, so I think it’s your best bet for the first night. Interlaken has a few bars and restaurants open until 11pm or so, but it’s a small and quiet town. Gimmelwald is a tiny village where the only thing open at night is the bar and restaurant at the Mountain Hostel. I’d say 1 or 2 nights in Gimmelwald is ideal, but 3 might be a bit much because there are so many other places to see. If you get to Gimmelwald before noon after staying the night in Bern, even one night would be fine. It’s an incredible place to see and sleep, but it is tiny. You could spend other nights near one of the train stations in Interlaken. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi,
I would be travelling in the month of August for 5 nights in Switzerland. I have taken a 4 day swiss pass which will be activated from Day-2 of my trip.
I have booked hotel in lucerne for 3 nights since I want one place to be taken as base for my day trips to alps/towns to avoid checkin and checkout from hotel, 1 night hotel booked in zermatt and 1 night hotel in zurich for my return flight back home.
Here is my itinerary:-
Day 1 – Arrive from paris to lucerne via basel by TGV train by evening and spend time in lucerne seeing it’s sights and all
Day 2 – Travel to day trip to Mount titlis and when returning back travel to bern night life and then return back to hotel in lucerne for stay
Day 3 – Explore Lauterbrunen / Wengen / Murren area for day trip OR do some paragliding activities OR visit Mount Rigi and then return back to hotel in lucerne for stay
Day 4 – Take a train from lucerne to Zermatt and visit Matterhorn and then return back to hotel in Zermatt for stay
Day 5 – In morning explore some sights in zermatt and take train back to zurich to visit rhine falls in zurich and night stay in zurich hotel for next day return flight for home
Does my itinerary looks good or i need to make some modifications? Open for suggestions.
Should I make lucerne as base or basel – I am asking for basel because of cheap hotel rates since I want to spend less on hotels and more on travel?
PLease suggest.
Karan,
I think your itinerary looks fantastic. I wouldn’t have recommended basing yourself in Lucerne for that long, except that with the Swiss Travel Pass you’ll be able to go everywhere by train at no additional cost. And what they say is true about the punctuality of Swiss trains, so you probably won’t waste any time waiting for late trains and such.
The Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Murren area is amazing so I’d recommend going there, but paragliding would be epic as well so it’s hard to decide.
Basel is a large and rather generic city, so I wouldn’t recommend staying there at all. Lucerne, on the other hand, is gorgeous and lovely, so it’s worth paying more to stay there. If you are open to other options I’d consider staying near one of Interlaken’s train stations. It’s a smaller town and it’s very pleasant, as well as very central to the main attractions. But overall, your plan looks great. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Dear Roger,
We are visiting Switzerland and Italy in August.We are planning to buy the Eurail pass enabling us to travel in and out of these countries.We understand that we can enjoy discounts at several sightseeing areas in both countries. My question is would we be allowed to use it in the trains going to the scenic villages and mountains or would we have to still buy the Swiss rail pass for that.Please advise.Thank you so much
Jenny,
Eurail Passes are good for all of the normal trains in Switzerland, including on all of the main “scenic trains.” However, Eurail Passes are not accepted on the special tourist trains such as Jungfraujoch or the cogwheel trains to observation points. For those the Eurail Pass entitles you to a 25% discount in most cases, and you don’t even have to use a Eurail Pass day in order to get the discount. The discounts are also available on the Schilthorn cable car, and many of the others.
The Swiss Travel Pass is quite confusing so I put together a long article that discusses what the Swiss Pass covers and what it doesn’t. That should help you decide whether you want it, as I list all of the prices with or without the pass. Have a great trip. -Roger
Dear Roger,
We will be vacationing in Italy (north of Venice) and driving through Switzerland. We’ll take the first day and drive possible toward St Moritz and based on your suggestions make our way to Interlaken. If we stay in Murren – can we park the car(s) at the train station? I’d assume we could – we have 4 adults, 2 seniors and 2 children – as much as we’d love to REALLY hike, it’s more the scenery for this crew. (short hikes would work) What would you suggest coming from N. Italy with a night stop before a 2N stay in Murren (or that area) and one more stop (with a night) before we head back to Italy? Appreciate any advice you have – it seems most sights talk about train travel, but my husband wants to the driving experience through the alps and across the country. Thank you!
Sorry – forgot to mention we are traveling mid August.
Cristiana,
I haven’t driven around Interlaken myself, but it’s a very spread-out area so reasonably priced parking should be easy. Your best bet would probably be in or near the parking lot for the cable car in Stechelberg, which goes up to Gimmelwald and Murren. I definitely remember a parking lot there, and wide open spaces on either side. The train station in Lauterbrunnen is in the center of the little town, and the train station in Interlaken is also in its center. I’m sure there is parking available at both, but not sure how much it costs. Many people drive around Switzerland, so it should be easy and not too expensive.
It would be tough for me to recommend a town in particular on your way to Interlaken to stop at for the night with a car. I’m mostly familiar with the cities and towns along the train lines, and you’d probably want to avoid most of those. In other words, with your own wheels, you’ll be able to stop in one of the towns where the train doesn’t go, which will also mean modest hotel prices and free parking. So I can’t recommend one town in particular, but I can say that you’ll have many great choices, and it’s all very scenic and pleasant through that whole area. Have a great trip. -Roger
Thanks Roger. Good to know! I think we are narrowing it down a bit more – decided to stay in the Interlaken area…two night around/in Lusanne and two night in Murren. Drive via the dolomite’s to Interlaken – really get to know that area and drive back to Italy. Should be a scenic drive/vacation all around!
Hello Roger , I am very impressed with your great advices above and request your help in planning my itinerary. Me and my husband are visiting together with our parents (60+) and a son (3year) .we will be visiting in August for 8 days . Could you suggest if Lauterbrunnen is a good option to stay considering parents won’t be able to walk much esp after full day trips . We would like to do jungfrau , Lucerne ,, Interlaken,, bern .
Shilpa,
Lauterbrunnen would be a good place to stay to minimize extra walking, as long as you book a place close to the train station there. But it’s a tiny town and I don’t think I’d want to stay more than 2 or 3 nights there. For a longer stay I’d probably want to stay at least part of the time in Interlaken itself. There are quite a few hotels within a short walk of both train stations, and all trains stop at both stations. The hotels here also come with a card good for free public transportation in Interlaken during your stay, and that includes rides between the train stations.
Lauterbrunnen is a good hub for your trips to Gimmelwald, Murren, and Schilthorn, and to Wengen for the Jungfraujoch. But there are other views and activities in the Interlaken area, and Lauterbrunnen is a bit inconvenient for some of them. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Dear Roger,
Many thanks for your valuable and practical advice.
I will search for apartments in Interlaken 🙂
Best wishes and thanks again !
Regards
Shilpa
Roger,
Thanks so much for your input and advice, much appreciated.
Just a quick question. Is it worth doing a Jungfrau trip after Schilthorn and if yes, is a half-day trip from 9am to 3pm enough to enjoy all it has to offer with the kids?
Thank you.
Best regards,
Mohamed
Mohamed,
Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch are very different experiences, both with amazing scenery. If you have time and the budget to do both, I think you should do it. Schilthorn can be done in about 3 hours from Lauterbrunnen and back, while Jungfraujoch takes about 6 hours there and back. The kids should love both of them, but they are quite expensive, as you’ve probably noticed already. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I had to cancel my booking in Stechelberg and opted for another hotel in Wengen, which I believe offers better views of the Alps and is closer to the Jungfrau rail network. I hope it is a better choice though it’s a bit more expensive than the first. However, it’s the best rate I could find given the large number of travellers and tight schedule. I will certainly allow for some time to visit Schilthorn on the other side as you advised in your article above. Do you think we should need a 3-day Swiss travel pass? with that we can get 50% discount on the Jungfrau network and a similar discount to Schilthorn, I guess. Besides, all kids should be able to travel for free. Are there any particular scenic routes and panoramic trains you would recommend during our short stay?
Thanks again for your time.
Best regards,
Mohamed
Mohamed,
That sounds like a good plan. Wengen is yet another lovely little town that feels like you are walking through a postcard.
I keep getting so many questions about the confusing Swiss Travel Pass that I finally did all the research and wrote a Swiss Travel Pass review. The short version is that if you plan to take at least 2 of the expensive scenic trains, the pass will probably pay for itself. For me, pretty much all train rides in and through Switzerland are very scenic, so if you just travel between the places you want to visit you’ll love it. But if you want to spend a day or two on a train seeing a lot in a short time, those specific scenic train rides are all excellent. -Roger
Hello Roger,
Thanks for all the info and tips above.
will be visiting switzerland by mid July with family (4 adults + 7 kids) coming from Paris to Geneva by train. Interested more in the outdoors than big cities. we are on a tight budget, but wish to make the most out of our three day stay (two nights) in Interlaken and Lucerne.
Your feedback on where to stay and what to do with kids in both places is much appreciated.
Thank you.
Mohamed
Mohamed,
I’m happy that this information seems useful. Two nights is quite a short visit to include both Interlaken and Lucerne, so I’d probably recommend saving Lucerne for a future trip. It’s lovely, but Interlaken has the dramatic Alps views that you can’t see anywhere else.
And actually, the article above already pretty much answers your questions. I recommend staying in Gimmelwald or Murren, and also doing the Schilthorn cable car and/or the Jungfraujoch rail trip. There are many other hikes and sights in that area, and you could easily stay busy for a full week without getting bored. And as long as the children are able to walk around on their own, they will probably really enjoy it. There are long hikes and short hikes and cable cars to viewing areas that require little or no walking, so it will be easy to find suitable activities.
With a group that large I think you might be best off looking for an airbnb or other vacation rental. Hotels in Switzerland are fairly expensive, so one 4 or 5-bedroom house would probably be much cheaper than 4 or 5 individual rooms. It might be easier to find a house rental in the town of Interlaken, but you might also find one in Murren or even Lauterbrunnen. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger,
It’s nice to see you patiently replying to everyone! 🙂
I have some queries too.
We are planning a 10 day trip to Switzerland and below is our rough plan:-
Day 1: Arrive at Zurich at night and transfer to Lucerne to check in to hotel.
Day 2: Mt Rigi in the morning and then Lucerne local tour. We are planning to take the short boat
cruise on the way to Mt Rigi. There is also a 1-hour panoramic cruise in Lucerne. Do you recommend taking this or the boat cruise during
Mt Rigi will cover the scenic part of the lake?
Day 3: Mt. Titlis excursion.
Day 4: Lucerne to Lugano. Can you suggest any good attraction to see in Lugano in half a day?
Day 5: We take the Bernina Express and reach St Moritz. Any specific places that we shouldn’t miss seeing in St Moritz in the evening?
Day 6: We take the Glacier Express and reach Zermatt.
Day 7: We visit the Matterhorn. Can we cover Gornegrat on the same day? Which excursion do you recommend – Matterhorn or
Gornergrat? Any other attraction that we should cover in Zermatt?
Day 8: Reach Interlaken and cover Trummelbach falls in the evening. Is it better to cover in evening or morning?
What about Lake Brienz and Lake Thun cruise? Do you recommend either?
Day 9: Jungfraujoch excursion.
Day 10: Checkout from Interlaken and leave for Zurich. Is there anything in Interlaken which we shouldnt miss? Then we can cover it after checking out. Saw something called Schnige
Platte.Should we go here or is there some nicer place which we can visit?
Day 11: Planning to go to Rhine Falls. When would you recommend going here? morning or evening? Any other attraction in the Zurich area
which we shouldn’t miss?
Thanks,
Sunita
Sunita,
Your plan looks very well thought out, and by the time you have finished this trip you will be more of a Switzerland expert than me. To be honest, I haven’t been to several of the places on your list, so much of my advice would just be based on all the research I’ve done on those places, and advice from other travelers who have been there. I’ll answer what I can, and you might need to buy a guide book for some of the rest.
From Lucerne, the lake tour boats all start out in the same direction, and the longer ones go farther and make more stops. Mount Rigi is reached from the Vitznau stop, which is on the 2-hour cruises, and perhaps some of the shorter ones. In other words, if you get to Vitznau, you’ll have already done more than the 1-hour cruise.
I haven’t stopped in Lugano, although I’ve spent time in nearby Lake Como. From what I understand, Lugano has a charming historic town center and a nice location along the lake, so I think you’ll mainly just want to stroll around.
St. Moritz is mostly known as a ski resort area rather than a sightseeing area like Interlaken or Lucerne. It is a really beautiful area though, and sightseers do go there and enjoy it. I just don’t know the specifics.
As far as Zermatt and Gornegrat are concerned, it’s a similar situation. The Matterhorn is near Zermatt and it’s obviously very famous, but the area is mostly a ski resort area, and I haven’t been there since my youth.
When you take the bus from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg for the cable car up to Schilthorn, you pass right by the Trummelbach falls. I’ve done that bus several times and you get a great view without even stopping, but I haven’t stopped there. I think I’d do it during the day if I were you.
As far as Lake Brienz and Lake Thun cruises, I haven’t done either, and I think you should decide once you get there. It’s hard to imagine until you are actually there, but the whole area is just so dramatic and gorgeous that you can get great views from the trains or even just standing in the middle of Interlaken. As a result, you might not feel the need for a lake cruise, but if you do I’m sure you can book it on the spot.
As far as other recommendations, I put my best ones in the article above. If you can spend at least one night in Gimmelwald you won’t regret it. Or at least spend an hour or two in the village if the weather is nice. Aside from that, you’ll find that each thing is more amazing than the next. I think planning like you are doing is really great, and it will help you see the best things. But even if you just wander around and see the things that interest you at the moment, you’ll have a great time with no stress. -Roger
Thanks a lot, Roger for your inputs!!
Regards,
Sunita
Roger,
Thanks so much for your input and advice. I thought that three days might be enough for both Interlaken and Lucerne based on your advice earlier above. However, as you just mentioned here, we probably need to focus on just one place to make the most of our stay.
Will definitely take your feedback into consideration in my holiday plan. Do I need to book the house in advance or just walk in and book on arrival? if so is there a booking site that you particularly recommend apart from booking.com?
Thank you.
Mohamed,
If you want to book a rental house you’ll definitely want to arrange it in advance. And the same goes with several hotel rooms, because you wouldn’t want to risk not getting a desirable place for that many people. It’s probably easiest to find a rental on airbnb.com, although there are many other companies that do it including vrbo.com. You can also just Google “house rentals Interlaken” and you’ll see some popular sites to choose from. Best of luck with this. -Roger
Roger,
Thanks again for your advice and suggestions. I’ve checked the sites you suggested but could not find anything on my dates and with my number of travellers. The best I could find so far is one family suite and one family room for two nights in Hotel und Restaurant Stechelberg on booking.com for CHF 1190, including breakfast and free cancellation before July 9. Your feedback on the location is much appreciated.
Best regard,
Mohamed
Mohamed,
The location of the Hotel und Restaurant Stechelberg is excellent, as it appears to be less than a 10-minute walk (along a gorgeous country road) to the cable car station below Gimmelwald. It sounds a bit expensive, but for such a large group in Switzerland, that is probably about right. I would be happy to stay there on my next trip, so I think it’s a good choice for you. Have a great trip. -Roger