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:

HotelEsther’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.

HostelMountain 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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All Comments

  1. Natalie says:

    Hi Roger,

    Thanks so much for your very informative post, it’s by far the best that I have read! I’d love to get your thoughts about my upcoming trip.

    I will be in Switzerland with my husband for 10 nights from 10 – 20 March 2017. So far we’ve booked to fly from Australia to Geneva and then stay in Montreux for 2 nights but we’re still undecided as to where to stay for the other 8 nights. We will be travelling using a Swiss rail pass and were thinking of staying 3 nights at Lake Lugano and and 4 nights in Lucerne. We would be using these locations a base to travel out to explore cute towns, mountains and scenery by rail. Having read your post I’m now wondering if it might be better to spend 2 nights in Interlaken and 2 nights in Lucerne instead of 4 nights in Lucerne. Do you think this will be sufficient time to explore without feeling rushed?

    Also, do you have any thoughts about Montruex and Lake Lugano? We chose these locations so that we could spend time in the French, Italian and German influenced areas of Switzerland. At the conclusion of our trip we’ll be travelling by rail to Germany to explore the Bavarian region but were not sure about how to cross the border.

    As you can see we’ve still got quite a bit of planning to do! Any tips and advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks in advance

    Warm regards,
    Natalie

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Natalie,

      I’m very happy that you find this article to be interesting. Yes, if you haven’t been to Switzerland yet then I highly recommend at least 2 nights if not 3 in the Interlaken area. It really does have the greatest concentration of amazing Alps views, sights, and hikes. Specifically, the Jungfraujoch railway and the Schilthorn cable car are among the most amazing sights in all of Europe.

      I’ve only been through Montreaux and Lugano rather than basing myself in either one. Both are definitely very photogenic and pleasant, but less dramatic than Interlaken or even Lucerne. Still, I think your plan to spend time in the Italian and French areas of Switzerland to go along with the more-touristy German area is a good one. Lugano is quite small and you could probably see that in a day or so.

      When you are leaving Switzerland and headed to Bavaria, your train will probably go to Zurich where you will change for a train headed towards Munich. If you still have time left on your Swiss Rail Pass you can use it to reach the border and then pay a supplement (while still in Switzerland) for the remainder of the trip. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

  2. Lesya says:

    Hello,
    My family of 3 adults will be traveling in May (11-22) from Chicago to Munich. We are planning on renting car in Munich to visit family in Austria (near Salzburg) for 4-5 days and then would like to visit Switzerland for 4-5 days, after return car in Munich and depart to Chicago.
    1.Is this a good option to travel by car from Salzburg to Interlaken?
    2.Should we just leave the car at the hotel in Switzerland and just travel by train/cable around Interlaken/Bern area?
    3.What we can visit on our way from Interlaken to Munich?
    Thanks.

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Lesya,

      I usually recommend against traveling around Europe in a rented car, but your trip does sound very well suited to it. Munich and Salzburg both have small, historic town centers, but otherwise they are quite car-friendly compared to most larger European cities. You wouldn’t want to use the car for sightseeing, so obviously you’d rent the vehicle on the way out of Munich, but as long as you are staying a bit outside the center you should find free or cheap and safe parking.

      Interlaken is yet another town that is fairly car-friendly. Many of the hotels within walking distance of the two train stations there actually have free parking lots of their own. Once you are in Interlaken you’ll be able to do most of your sightseeing by train, bus, and cable car, but there are a few sights where driving would actually be quicker and easier. You can figure that out once you get there, as long as you book a hotel with some parking.

      Between Munich and Interlaken you should consider a stop in Füssen, Germany for a look at the nearby Neuschwanstein Castle, which I discuss on my where to go in Germany article. And another stop to consider is the Appenzell district in Switzerland, which is famous for dairy farms, cheese, and postcard small-town views and experiences. Have a great trip. -Roger

  3. Toral says:

    Hi Roger,

    I am hoping you can help. I am planning to travel to Switzerland from London in May.
    Could you provide some advice for me? What is the weather like in Zurich and Interlaken around May time.
    I was planning to fly into Zurich and spend one night there (just to experience what Zurich is like) and then get a train to Interlaken and stay in Interlaken for about 4-5 days. I would like to see the Alps, go for scenic walks, scenic train rides. What would your advise be on travelling around to do this in Interlaken? Is there a specfic travel pass you would suggest purchasing?

    I will also be travelling alone, is Switzerland safe for lone travellers?

    Thank you

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Toral,

      The May weather in Switzerland should be warm, clear, and pretty much perfect. There can be storms way up in the Alps, but usually they are quick ones that time of year. Spending one night in Zurich sounds like a good idea since you have enough time in Interlaken after that. Zurich is indeed a nice city. It’s just that it’s also extremely expensive and also very plain compared to the amazing natural sights elsewhere in the country.

      You might consider a Swiss Travel Pass, but only if you want to take at least two of the longer scenic train rides. Really, I’d just take trains between the places that you want to see, and you’ll find them all to be very scenic. In the Interlaken area you should consider doing the Jungfraujoch railway and/or the Schilthorn cable car and observation deck. Both are expensive, but absolutely amazing, and May should be perfect for both. With a Swiss Travel Pass you get 50% off, but still I think you’ll be better off without one. You just have to set money aside for those splurges, and you’ll be happy you did. There are other places to save money, and no other way to see those stunning views.

      The domestic train tickets and cable cars and such all have fixed prices so you don’t need to buy them before you get there.

      And Switzerland is one of the safest countries in the world. You might see a few junkies near the train station in Zurich, but aside from that you’ll find that Switzerland is wealthy, clean, and extremely well organized. Pretty much everyone you encounter will speak solid English as well, so it’s a very easy place to visit. Let me know if you have any other questions. I’m sure you’ll love it. -Roger

      1. Toral says:

        Thanks for the reply Roger.

        So you would suggest booking the Jungfraujoch railway and Schilthorn cable car when I arrive rather than beforehand?
        Where does the Jungfraujoch railway start and finish? Would you be able to confirm the destination names as looking online I found many different options.

  4. Joan says:

    Hi Roger. Thanks for all of the great information you have provided to other travelers.

    My daughter and I would like to do a 4 day trip to Switzerland in late February 2017. We are concerned that snow/ice could be a problem for travel that time of the year. Is that the case? We’d like to stay in Interlaken (2 nights) and Lucerne (1 night). We would be flying to Zurich from London, then taking the train to Interlaken.

    An alternate itinerary we’ve considered – flying to Milan to visit one day before heading to Switzerland – how difficult would it be to get to Interlaken/Lucerne from Milan?

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Joan,

      As for the snow and ice, it’s rarely an issue in Switzerland. The towns up in the Alps do get snow and are frozen parts of the day in winter, but the touristy areas are really well maintained and they have the best equipment that money can buy. Switzerland is a rich country with a huge tourist industry, including ski resorts all winter, so they can be trusted to keep things safe and accessible. That said, if you are there in the middle of a large snow storm, you might be stuck inside for part of the day.

      In the town of Interlaken it’s less of an issue because it’s in a valley rather than up in the mountains. And Lucerne is also at a lower elevation, so it’s also less of an issue.

      The train trip from Milan to Interlaken takes 3.5 to 5 hours, and it’s really beautiful. Milan itself isn’t one of Italy’s better tourist cities, although there is a really interesting area around the cathedral. In other words, if you have something in mind to see in Milan then it could be great. But if you are just looking for an Italian city for a quick visit, it’s not one of the better ones. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

  5. Melanie says:

    Hi Roger
    After much thought and reading other comments I thought that the whole trip we had planned was going to end up being a nightmare with trying to do too much…so these are my thoughts. We train from Munich to Interlaken on the 9th May and book into the hostel in Grimmelwald for 3 nights 9 10 and 11 booking out on 12 May
    Then we head on to Bern for 1 night. 12th May
    I would be delighted if you could give me a heads up on where to stay here.
    Then on 13th May we head on to Lucerne where we will stay for 13 and 14 May checking out morning of 15 May.
    Then we will leave Lucerne and head back to Munich for the night for a very early start on 16th May back home.
    So once again I would like you to please advise on the best train ticket to get for our trip as well as the hotel in Bern. …. affordable budget hotel please.
    Thank you so much and look forward to hearing from you.

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Melanie,

      I think this plan is better than the previous plan, for the reasons you mentioned. As I’ve said before, almost every kilometer of train rides in Switzerland are very scenic, so if you just take trains between the cities that interest you, the scenery on the train will also be magnificent.

      And just to be clear because it’s confusing, the tiny village just above Lauterbrunnen is Gimmelwald. There is a lovely resort town just on the other side of one of the peaks called Grindelwald. If you want to stay in the Mountain Hostel in the tiny village, it’s in Gimmelwald.

      As you’ve seen, hotels in Switzerland are expensive. For your date I’d recommend staying in either Hotel Savoy Bern or Hotel Metropole, each at around US$150 for that night for two people. You could save $10 and stay in a far less convenient neighborhood, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Both of those hotels are a short walk from the train station, and also all of the interesting sights.

      As for train tickets you can buy them from sbb.ch, but I think they only sell them 30 days in advance and the price is the same no matter when you buy. The distances are not long so the tickets aren’t too expensive. There are no rail passes or other schemes that would be good value for you. Let me know if you have other questions. -Roger

      1. Melanie says:

        Thank you so much Roger for your reply and the information. I have really enjoyed reading all the questions and comments. We are now really just looking forward to our trip. Have a lovely day. Regards
        Melanie

  6. Melanie says:

    Hi Roger
    Wow thank you for all the information. We are planing a week.in Switzerland on 9th May 2017 and just wanted a few more tips if you can help. We will be coming into Switzerland from Munich and the plan was to go to Chur and overnight. The next day get the Bernina express down to Italy then back to Chur. Then i would imagine we would need to stay the night again or could we still get a train to Interlaken that evening? Then we planned to go to Zermatt . ….but reading your post we have changed that to go straight to Interlaken to explore as you suggested for 2 nights then on to Bern for the day (can you leave luggage at the train station to be able to go exploring) then to Lucerne for 2 nights then head out on the 15th to get back to Munich through Zurich to get back to Munchen as we leave early morning on the 16th May.
    Would all of this be possible or am I shooting.myself in the foot here!
    What train ticket would you advise as the Eurail for 3 countries only gives us a few days travel and we are basically going to be travelling by train everywhere so then it becomes very expensive coming from South Africa with our currency with the Eurail pass.
    If you can help and advise it would be so appreciated.
    Kind regards
    Melanie
    Hermanus Western Cape South Africa

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Melanie,

      It looks like you’ve changed your plans before I’ve had a chance to answer, so I’ll answer the questions under the later comment. -Roger

  7. Rachel says:

    Hi Roger, my husband and I are planning to spend two nights in Lucerne in March and are looking for places to stay. We are on a budget and looking for an affordable hotel. I love the Hotel Des Alpes that you suggested but we are hoping to find something a little less expensive. Do you have any suggestions? Also, what is the easiest way to get around Lucerne? I imagine that location is important when picking a hotel.

    Thanks!
    Rachel

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Rachel,

      I don’t have any other specific hotel recommendations in Lucerne, as room rates can go up and down depending on specific dates. Those hotels that overlook the Chapel Bridge have the best views, but if those are too expensive on your dates you’ll be happy anywhere within 3 or 4 blocks of the lake, as long as within a reasonable walk of the main train station. Lucerne is very pretty and pleasant to walk around, as there is very little car traffic. I just had a look at some hotels in March and I see that Hotel Schlüssel is offered at US$140 per night including tax for two people. That is a really nice part of Lucerne, so anything else around there would be good.

      The area just west of the train station and train tracks is a bit busier and less charming than the more touristy areas near the lake. The area along the lake on the northern shore, north of the train station is also nice. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. -Roger

  8. Mark Taylor says:

    HI,

    I was thinking of flying into Geneva on 24 Dec and then leaving on the eve of the 27 from Geneva. I like the sound of your Interlaken/ Gimmerwald/Murren trip. My mother-in-law will be using a wheelchair although she can walk a short distance. Would this trip be suitable? I will also be taking my daughter who is very active and 21?

    I originally thought about one of the scenic train rides but your replies suggest that you can see pretty scenery on more local routes. Would it be pretty from Geneva to Interlaken?

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Mark,

      Yes, fortunately, the whole way up to Gimmelwald or Murren is wheelchair accessible. The train will have room near the doors, as will the bus that takes you to the cable car station. The cable car itself is just one big flat surface that holds like 60 people standing up. Once off the cable car it’s a hilly path with no stairs.

      And as I’ve mentioned in previous replies, almost every train ride in Switzerland is scenic, so it’s really not necessary to do the specific ones with panorama carriages. Geneva is quite a dull city, although the location on the lake is very nice. And the whole route to Interlaken is very scenic as well. My suggestion is just to book trains between the places you want to visit, and you’ll be on “scenic” train rides without having to pay extra. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

  9. Bilal Saeed says:

    Hi Roger
    I have read ur article..the suggestions are great. I am planning to visit Swiss for 5 days in the first week of October 2017 as a part of my Europe trip. My Iternery is below..Please suggest will it work. Also can you suggest if I need the Swiss travel Pass.
    Venice to Turino to take Burnina Express for Chur/St Mortiz
    The same day Chur to Zurich and stay at Zurich. Next half day get around in Zurich and in the afternoon move to Lucerne.Stay in Lucerne for one night…Next day do either mount rigi or mount Pilatus and a boat tour of the lake. Afternoon get Golden Pass train to Interlanken and Stay there for one nite. Next Morning get to Murren Gimmelwald etc and stay at Gimmelwald for the night. 5th Day get Gloden Pass to Montreus and stay at Montreux for 1 night. I can spare a 6th day also but not sure what to do with it. 7th Day I will move to France. Can you give some suggestions specially for the swiss travel pass.

    Also will it be green enough in Interlaken in the first week of October?

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Bilal,

      Your itinerary looks pretty good. As I mention near the top, Zurich itself is not a great tourist stop, especially compared to how amazing the scenery is in the other places you are going. Half a day in Zurich will be entertaining, although the hotel will be shockingly expensive there. Still, unless you have something specific you want to see in Zurich, you might use that time elsewhere.

      Since you are planning at least two of the longer scenic rail journeys, plus Rigi and/or Pilatus, you could get good value out of the Swiss Travel Pass. You should also consider doing Jungfraujoch railway and the Schilthorn cable car and observation deck while you are in Interlaken (and Schilthorn is directly above Gimmelwald and Murren). The Swiss Pass gives you 50% off those things, and both are amazing and very popular even at full price.

      My most recent time in Interlaken was in mid October and the weather was fantastic. The grass all over the country, including in Interlaken itself, was still bright green. The temperatures were getting a bit cold, and it did get foggy up on Schilthorn off and on. Some hotels in the mountains close as of mid October and don’t open again until the snow season in mid December. So early October is pretty much ideal.

      So again, if you want to spend the extra day or days in the Interlaken area and doing those top attractions, the Swiss Travel Pass could save you money. Or you could still get good value if you did one or more of the other scenic train rides that I cover in the article linked above. You’ll have a great trip. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

      1. Bilal Saeed says:

        Dear Roger
        Thanks for your prompt feedback. It helpful. I will then spend two nights at Gimmelwald and also do Schilthorn. Your suggested Mountain Hostel is available for my dates however I am travelling with family (wife and 3 years old daughter)…Do you suggest its still good to reserve mountain hostel with family?

  10. Diane says:

    Hi Roger_
    My family and I will be traveling to Switzerland from Venice for the first time and will have 5 nights there, flying out of Zurich at the end in July. What would be the best itinerary to see the highlights of Switzerland? Definitely Interlake is on the list, but not sure if we should fly from Venice to Geneva or Zurich or take the train and where to go after that! Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

    1. Roger Wade says:

      Diane,

      The best 5 days in Switzerland to get the greatest impact would be 3 days in the Interlaken area and 2 days in Lucerne, both of which are described in detail in the article above. If you had more time there are some other options to consider, but with 5 days you’ll be best off just focusing on those two places.

      Zurich is closer to those towns and it usually has cheaper flights, but Geneva could be fine as well. Both of those airports are on the main train line, so you can take a train directly from the airport to Interlaken or Lucerne without even having to go into the city. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger