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
Dear Roger,
It was indeed very informative reading your posts.
Perhaps you can guide me for my Trip :
I will arrive from Paris and will spend 4/5 days in Switzerland. Can you please guide me on the place to stay and visit as also the transport mode to take.
Sorry, forgot to mention that will be visiting during last week of May 2017.
Many thanks in advance.
Cheers !
Sanjev,
I understand why you are asking for a bit more help. But really, the whole article above is the answer to your question. The short version is that you’ll want to travel by train, and book tickets from the Swiss Rail website.
If you have 4 or 5 days you should spend at least 2 or 3 of them in the Interlaken area, as mentioned in the article. And spend at least 1 or 2 days in the Lucerne area. There are hotel recommendations for both places above, and I highly recommend staying in Gimmelwald or Murren for at least one of your nights in the Interlaken area.
If you have any other specific questions just let me know. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Agree with Styagi’s sentiments above… am having a bit of difficulty figuring out how to plan my Switzerland trip and you are definitely very knowledgeable. My itinerary is as follows:
Arrive in Vienna on 14th Jan and have 3 days there
16th is a travel day
17th – 23 is Switzerland (fly out 23rd)
So I am trying to understand where it is in Switzerland I should go and how that location fits in with travelling from Vienna on a train (apologies if this goes beyond your jurisdiction 🙂 ).
Having read earlier posts I am sold on staying in Gimmelwald as we have 5 days in total for Switzerland and am leaving 2 for Zurich (?).
– Does coming from Vienna to Gimmelwald straight make sense or would i need to go through Zurich?
– If not, is there a different option for the Swiss Alps that might be more relevant for my scenario?
– travel is in January – I am assuming there is no real hinderance on getting to and from / doing activities at this time of the year ….specifically in the Swiss Alps?
– Is there still a lot to do in Jan in the Alps other than skiing? (I am more than okay but this will be a family trip with my parents and brother who aren’t as big on the skiing).
Appreciate any guidance you can help provide.
Thanks in advance
Gaz
Gaz,
I’ll take your questions in order…
Vienna to Zurich is almost 8 hours by train, and then another 2 hours from there to Interlaken, and then another hour from there up to Gimmelwald. That is an extremely long day and I wouldn’t recommend it. The train ride through Austria and then Switzerland is very scenic, so I highly recommend it. Still, flying from Vienna to Zurich and taking a train from Zurich Airport to Interlaken would be a much easier day.
Another option would be to take a train from Vienna to Salzburg for one memorable afternoon and evening, and then take an early train from there to Interlaken and then up the mountain to Gimmelwald.
There are a few Alps towns that are a bit closer to Vienna than Interlaken, but it’s not worth it to save an hour or maybe two to spend a few days in an inferior destination. Gimmelwald and the Interlaken area is really special, and very worthwhile.
In January all the trains will be running, and the cable cars up the mountains will be as well. There are some ski resorts in Murren, just above Gimmelwald, so all the hotels will be open and you’ll be seeing some skiers, but access should not be a problem because the Swiss are experts at that.
There are many great sights in and around Interlaken that don’t involve skiing. The Schilthorn observation deck above Gimmelwald is amazing as long as the sky is fairly clear. And there is plenty of great hiking as well. In many cases you can take a train or cable car up, and then have a pleasant walk down, so it’s easy for anyone with decent shoes. Buy the Rick Steves Switzerland guidebook if you can, and he lays out all of the best options in the whole country.
As I mention near the top of this article, it’s hard to recommend Zurich for more than a day or so. It’s very expensive and not very interesting compared to Vienna or other famous European cities. Bern is much nicer for a one-day look at a Swiss city. So if I were you I’d spend no more than one night in Zurich, or perhaps no nights at all. Since it might take more time to get there from Vienna, you could use the extra day in Interlaken or Lucerne or Bern, and then go straight to the Zurich Airport on your way out. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Thanks for the above Roger,
So my next questions will be about the trains – I believe i need to purchase the tickets from OBB website?
I am having difficulty getting the right kind of connections that give an overnight stay in Salzberg and Bern – is this not possible if I am purchasing the tickets throughout?
The timing for each “via” is restricted to 12 hours which means you never get a full day… am i going about this the wrong way? Is there a different way I should be trying…?
I was thinking :
16th Jan -Vienna >> Overnight in Salzberg >> 17TH Jan – Overnight in Bern >> 18th Jan – Gimmelwald >> 22nd Jan – Zurich as early morning flight.
thanks again!
Gaz,
It would be best to book your Austria train tickets on the Austria rail website. So just book your Vienna to Salzburg trip there. Then book a separate trip from Salzburg to Bern on either that site, or the Swiss rail site. And book all of your travel within Switzerland on the Swiss site, of course.
The domestic trains within Switzerland only sell tickets 30 days in advance and they are the same price no matter when you buy. So you can just buy those as you go when you get there. You can buy a ticket that goes from Bern (or any other station) to Interlaken Ost Station and then another train to Lauterbrunnen and then the bus (waiting just outside the station after every arrival) to the cable car station and then the cable car up to Gimmelwald, all in one ticket. There are no reservations on the parts after you arrive in Interlaken, so you can buy when you get there if you like.
Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I think I have settled on the following:
Vienna >> Salzburg >> Gimmelwald >> Interlakken >> Zurich
I was thinking stay in Gimmelwald/Murren (depending on accommodation availability) for 2 nights so it allows us to experience the Alps and then stay in Interlakken (or Lauterbrunnen?) to make any day trips to surrounds perhaps?
Are there any scenic train journeys from Interlakken that we could do as day trips?
Also just want to double check that the Swiss Pass is not the cheaper option in my case?
Gaz,
In order to reach Gimmelwald you’ll need to go to the Interlaken Ost (east) train station. If you get an early enough train from Salzburg then you could do that, but you might also consider staying in Interlaken that first night and going to Gimmelwald the following day.
As for train journeys, the Golden Pass is the most famous and it goes through Interlaken. The section that goes west from there is more interesting than the smaller portion that goes east from there. But still, I probably wouldn’t recommend it unless you had a full day free. The thing is, almost every train journey in Switzerland has amazing scenery. I think they just named and started to promote some of the better ones, but if you just take trains between the places you want to see, you’ll get incredible scenery along the way.
Similarly, the Swiss Travel Pass is really only good value for visitors who are doing at least two of those longer scenic train rides, plus at least a couple of the other attractions where discounts are offered such as Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn. If you are just doing a couple of those things, then a Swiss Travel Pass won’t save you money.
Let me know if you have other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I have been looking through various blogs, which can guide me properly for my tiny stay in Switzerland. And yours seems to be most correct and honest. So here I am. I will be landing in Geneva, Switzerland on November 01, and plan to start my expedition from November 01 to Lucerne to visit mount titlis in early morning, experience the area and try some activities like paragliding, car ride etc. step down to Lucerne town explore it till evening and head back to Geneva during night.
Next day early morning, I plan to visit Berne, and return to Geneva early and head to Laussane. I have a business purpose there. Therefore will have mostly evenings from 7:00 Pm to explore for three days.
I will be visiting this beautiful city first time, and want to experience the most but in a relaxed way. Also, my budget is not on a higher side.
Any guidance from you will be helpful. Whether I trip plan is good, or if you can suggest anything better. Also I am looking forward to buy some authentic gifts for family and friends, but again I am on tight budget and can not spend huge!I read some like swiss mini bells ?
Any help is appreciated!
One correction, I plan to start from November 02, and have two days till November 03 to explore.
Thank you
Styagi,
If you are locked into staying in Geneva then your plan could be okay, but you’d be far better off staying in Lucern and then Bern on your way to Lausanne. The trains start early and are always famously on time, so you can do your plan as you mentioned.
Switzerland is quite expensive, but they do have some modestly priced souvenirs. When you get there you’ll find some things that are meaningful and interesting, and not too expensive. I don’t have much else to say, although if you have specific questions let me know and I’ll try to answer. -Roger
Hello, I would like to visit 2 nights and 3 days, or at minimum of 2 days and one night in switzerland with my wife and 6 year old son. As this would be first visit, can you please advise of interlaken and lucerene. I know this off season, but November and December, may be even more cold.
Kindly please let me know or suggest an iternary from Milan.
Thanks,
Divakar
Divikar,
If you’ve only got 2 or 3 days and want to see the most dramatic sights in Switzerland, I highly recommend focusing on the Interlaken area. It’s all explained in the article above. Some of the hotels up in the mountains close from mid October until mid December, but plenty others stay open so you’ll find something. Let me know if you have any specific questions. -Roger
Thanks Roger. As you suggest, I would stay at Interlaken and visit around Grindelwald, Murren, Lauterbrunnen. But on the way back, I thought to take up the bernina express route. But it looks like I have to skip the Luzern, to avoid too much travel. Please advise.
I have been reading your article and all the posts which have been very helpful in planning a trip for my husband and I in Switzerland. We plan to take a train from Munich to Switzerland on May 19 and we will be leaving from Zurich airport on May 25th. We want to stay in Gimmelwald for a few days, then travel to Lucerne for a few days. Since we have 6 nights in Switzerland do you suggest we try to squeeze any mother visits in or will there be enough to do in Gimmelwald and Lucerne. I’m afraid we may get bored. We will want to do some hikes, take a boat ride as you suggested, and visit some popular attractions and views you mentioned. We like to enjoy the outdoors and relax and are not much of the touristy type. Also enjoy great food.
Jennifer,
If you have 6 days I’d spend 2 of them in Lucerne, and 3 or 4 in the Interlaken area. One more really nice option would be to spend on day and night in Bern, which is the capital, and not far from Interlaken. It’s a gorgeous city with plenty to keep you busy for a day or two, and it’ll be a nice contrast from the other two places. Or you could spend all 4 of those days in the Interlaken area, and you’d definitely still be entertained.
I’d recommend one or maybe two nights in Gimmelwald, and the remaining nights near one of the train stations in Interlaken. Gimmelwald is a magical little village, but it’s tiny and can be fully seen in a few hours. It’s a wonderful place to spend one or two days, especially if you are going up to Schilthorn (highly recommended) as Gimmelwald is already part of the way up, and you can jump on the cable car when you are sure the weather up there is clear. Or if you also want to see Murren or hike in that area, Gimmelwald is a great base. But for any other hike or sight in the Interlaken area, you’d have to take the cable car down and then the bus to the train station in Lauterbrunnen to get anywhere. That can be done in 30 to 45 minutes, and it’s all really pleasant, but if you base yourself near one of the train stations in Interlaken, you can get anywhere really quickly. In fact, Bern is only an hour away by train, so you could still sleep in Interlaken and visit Bern on a day trip.
The Interlaken area is really lovely and filled with sightseeing options and activities. If you do one day in Bern, or not, you’ll have more than enough to enjoy in Interlaken for 3 or 4 nights. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Many thanks for the advice Jason.
Done and done. As suggested ,flyin to Zurich , taking a train to Lucern and spending a day and a half there , then 1 day in Gimmelwald and 2 days in Interlaken. Will purchase tickets at the stations itself and then back to Paris from Interlaken on train .
Hello Roger,
Awesome info. Like some of the above comments I am changing my plans too from Zermatt/Zurich to Interlaken and lucerne and maybe a bit of Appenzell, if possible.Would appreciate your advice on the below
Will be in barecelona for a conference ending on the 27th of Oct and my wife will be with me. 27-1st Nov in Switzerland then take a train to Paris and spend a day and a half there before my flight back .
Is there a night train I can take to Geneva/Zurich from Bareclona?
If not then do you recommend taking a flight at night or a morning train on the 28th?
What would be the best itinerary ? go to Geneva then train to interlaken or go to Zurich and then a train to Appenzell?
Can I stay in Interlaken and visit Murran, Schilthorn, gimmelwald,jungfrau and come back at night? Or do you recommend a day in Interlaken and then a day in Gimmelwald ?
The 3rd day I can take a train to Lucern but then will be missing out on Appenzell since it would be far and would need to be back in Zurich/geneva to take the paris train . Or shall I do Appenzell instead of Lucern
Also since most of my train travels will be in switzerland would you recommend the swiss pass or the eurorail pass ? ( I have not started my research on the trains yet) but from your comments you recommend the cable car in gimmelwald and the pass should give me better option instead of buying it on the spot.
Appreciate your help and regards-Irfan
Irfan,
There is a night train from Barcelona to Geneva, but it requires 3 changes and takes almost 15 hours, so I don’t recommend it. An early morning or evening flight will be cheaper and obviously far faster. You can fly into Zurich or Geneva (Zurich is a bit closer) and take trains right from the airport to Interlaken.
Appenzell is quite nice, but there really isn’t too much to see. You can take the train there and roam around the traditional town center, and try some of their famous cheese and do a bit of shopping. But the sights are mainly the town and the lovely pastures nearby. In Interlaken and Lucerne, the sights are all far more dramatic.
If you stay in Interlaken you can easily take the train to Lauterbrunnen and then be on the cable car up to Schilthorn 30 minutes later. Assuming it’s clear enough at the top, take the cable car all the way up and spend an hour or two up there, maybe even have lunch. Then on the way down you can get out of the cable car in Murren and walk around a bit, and then walk down the hill to Gimmelwald. If the weather is decent enough, it will be an amazing hour or so. Then you can board the cable car in Gimmelwald and take it back down to the valley station, on the same ticket you already bought. So yes, you can do all of that in maybe 4 hours and then back to Interlaken.
Interlaken is a nice town and it’s loaded with restaurants and hotels and such, but if you have a night to spend in Gimmelwald I’d highly recommend that instead. It’s this tiny and stunning village with ridiculous Alps views and you’ll never forget it. But one night should be enough there, since it’s so small, and then spend remaining nights in Interlaken or Lucerne.
As mentioned above, Lucerne is much more interesting than Appenzell. I wouldn’t recommend Appenzell on any visit shorter than a week.
The Swiss Travel Pass is only good value for those taking at least 2 of the expensive scenic train rides. It wouldn’t save you enough because it only gets you a 50% discount on Schilthorn. A Eurail Pass is only useful for trips that are much longer than yours. Fly into Zurich and then those other train rides really won’t add up to too much. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hello Roger,
I am planning my trip to Switzerland and I am going on 13th of October for 5 days. My flight is to Geneva and I have booked very reasonable accommodation in the city centre.
However, your artical changed my mind on what to see while I am there. Please recommend what would be the best places to see and the cheapest way to travel? I am on the budget but can stretch a little bit if it is worth it. Also, I am travelling with my 4 year old.
We are nature girls and would love to see beautiful places and stunning views.
Thank you so much.
Viktorija,
I am confident that you made the right move in cancelling the Geneva stay. It’s a nice-looking city on a lake, but the magic of Switzerland is the Alpine and lake views and nature in general.
My recommendation would be to spend 3 nights in the Interlaken area, and the other 2 nights in Lucerne, pretty much just as recommended in the article above. That is the perfect amount of time to see the best highlights of both. The hotels around Interlaken should be less expensive than Geneva, although nothing in Switzerland is cheap. I give hotel recommendations for both cities above as well, and those should be a good place to start.
The Geneva Airport is on the main train line, so you can buy a ticket from there to Interlaken and then another from Interlaken to Lucerne. Domestic train tickets are the same price no matter when you buy, so you can buy them when you get there. Sometimes they do offer “supersaver” tickets, so it’s worth checking the official Swiss Rail site to see if those are offered on your dates. If they aren’t, just wait until you get there to buy. The distances aren’t too far so the tickets aren’t crazy expensive.
Once you start adding up the costs, Switzerland is quite expensive compared to even France and Germany. But those places you’ll be going are amazing and very much worth the money at least once in your life. It’s a splurge destination that has no substitute. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
We’ll be visiting Switzerland in late October (20-24th), probably by car.
Interested in light to medium hiking (or at least getting the best of the Apline scenerely, without expensive cog trains), but wonder if it won’t be too cold for that.
Where would you recommend to spend our 3 days, considering the above?
Would you recommend sleeping in the mountain villages you mentioned?
Thanks a lot!
Boris
Boris,
If you have 3 days there and want to see the Alps, definitely go to the Interlaken area. The weather will be chilly at higher altitudes, but still quite nice on the valley floors. My most recent Switzerland trip was in mid October and it was wonderful. Some of the smaller hotels close from mid October until mid December, when the snow season usually begins, but you should be able to find a room pretty easily.
I’d highly recommend spending 1 or perhaps 2 nights in Gimmelwald or Murren, as mentioned in the article. And spend the other nights in Interlaken itself near one of the train stations. There are many excellent hikes that aren’t too strenuous. You can take the train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, and then you can take another train to one of the nearby villages where the good hikes begin. In some cases you can take a train up and then walk down. Have a great trip and let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Thanks a lot for your reply!
The forecast for these days currently promises us 1 sunny (but partially cloudy) day and 3 rainy ones.
We will visit Gimmelwald and hike there on that sunny day, but wonder what to do with the other (rainy) days.
We are traveling by car, could you please recommend us what we shoudl better visit on those rainy days?
Thanks!
Boris,
It’s difficult for me to give out specific sightseeing advice without knowing your tastes and budget and such. You’d do better checking websites like wikitravel.org or Lonely Planet and checking their pages on Interlaken. There are many great choices, and with a car you’ll be able to visit many of the scenic towns in that area, as well as drive to the starting point for some great hikes. It’s rare for it to rain all day there, so most likely you’ll only have a few hours of rain to deal with on those days. For Gimmelwald and that area, the rain isn’t as much of a problem as fog or low clouds. I’m sure you’ll have a great visit. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I came across your article and it really give me great ideas on how to plan my trip in Europe! Thanks so much!
Based on your suggestion,I am planning the following itinerary for Switzerland:
-Fly in to Zurich from Hamburg and immediately take the train to interlaken and follow your suggested round to Murren, plan to stay 2 nights at Murren.
-Move to Lucerne and stay one night before move to italy
Some questions below need your help:
1. Should I buy Eurail pass or Swiss travel pass? or I should have both? As I am going to visit Hamburg Germany, Switzerland (4 days) and Italy(5 days).
2. What is the route I should use to go Lucerne from Murren? back to Interleken?
3.How long does it take to reach Lucerne from Murren?
4. Will it snow at Murren on end of Oct? Need to ensure we have the right outfit for the weather.
5.We will travel to italy from Switzerland by train, wonder which train should we use? Bernina express from Chur (for the scenic) or EuroCity Train direct from Lucerne to Milan (for speed)?
when reach italy will use italian trains to move around italy.
Thanks
Spring
2.
Spring,
I’m always happy to hear that this information is helpful.
1. A Swiss Travel Pass is only good value for those taking at least two of the long (and expensive) scenic trains in Switzerland and doing some of the mountain attractions as well. And a Eurail Pass is only good for trips quite a bit longer than yours. Just buy your train tickets online at least 2 months in advance and they will be fairly cheap. For domestic Swiss trains, you can buy them as you go because the price is always the same.
2. There is a direct train from Lucerne to Interlaken, and then another train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen where you hop on a bus that is waiting just outside the station for each arriving train, and that will take you to the cable car station. Murren is the second stop. It’s all explained in the article above. You can buy your ticket from Interlaken all the way to Murren at the same time, so it’s easier than it sounds.
3. About 2.5 to 3 hours.
4. No, it usually doesn’t start snowing at that elevation until December. There is snow on the highest peaks all year though. It will be chilly, however, but probably not below freezing.
5. I’d just book the fastest and cheapest train you can find. The scenery is amazing from any of them, and the ride is long enough to enjoy it. The trains from Switzerland to Italy are also incredibly scenic. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger