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
Wow! What great information!!!!
I am planning a 3 week driving trip through Switzerland – August 24 – Sept 13. Some of our plans includes hiking in the Appenzell area, 6 days hiking in Berner Oberland, and hiking in Kanderstegg. What I can’t decide is if w should spend more time in the French area of Switzerland (visiting little towns such as Gruyere, etc.) or more time in the Italian area of Lugano/Lucarno. In your opinion, is one area more interesting/scenic than the other? I should mention that we are not interested in visiting big cities — more interested in scenery/small towns and villages.
Donna,
This sounds like a fabulous plan. The French and Italian areas are quite different in culture, so I think visiting both is best. Both regions straddle the Alps so you get amazing scenery in both. One difference you might encounter is that you’ll usually find fewer English speakers in the French areas, while in the Italian areas they are more used to English-speaking visitors. Really, as long as you are skipping the larger cities and mostly focusing on smaller villages that have a tourist infrastructure, I think you can’t go wrong. You’ll be there long enough to spend at least a few days in both of those areas, and still plenty of time to see the main Alpine sights in the German-speaking area. I hope this helps. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I have a visit coming up this September and i am finalizing the places to see. Am traveling with 19 month old twins so hiking is out of question. We want to see mix of culture, mountains and city and can spend 10-12 days in Switzerland. So far i have thought of the following (because of kids i can’t do much hotel hopping):
– Stay in Zurich- Take day trips to Rhine Falls, Zurich City, Lucerne, Bernina Express (Will stay @ Tirano for the night and return next day)
– Stay in Grindelwald and day trips to Jungfraouch, Bern and Mt. Titlis
– Stay in Geneva and day trips to Chateau de Chillon, Montreux, Lake Geneva
Questions:
1. Is my choice of places to stay ok or i could pick some other central place to avoid long travel time for day trips
2. Where can i go to experience cheese and chocolate factories (if any)?
3. Any other suggestions are most welcome.
Your input will be highly appreciated as i need to close this planning for upcoming trip. Great Article!
AJ,
I understand why you don’t want to move hotels frequently. Still, I think you can find a better choice than Zurich, unless something about that city really appeals to you. The main challenge is that hotels there, especially those near the train station, are crazy expensive for what you get. You’ll usually have to pay over US$200 per night for a small room with the bathroom down the hall. It’s a nice city in general, but it’s built and priced for business travelers. You could get a nicer hotel that is steps from the Lucerne train station for less, and probably enjoy it more.
There are a few chocolate attractions, and one in either Lucerne or Interlaken, so I’m sure you’ll come across it. The place is crazy about cheese as well, but I’m not aware of any cheese tours except in Appenzell. Still, I’m sure if you Google it you’ll find something interesting because cheese is a big deal there.
Geneva is similar to Zurich in that it’s unusually expensive and doesn’t have much to see except for the lovely lakeside location. As long as you can find hotels that you like and are good value then I think your plan will work well and you’ll see all the main highlights. But if you aren’t happy with the hotels you are finding within your price range you might switch to smaller towns for your base. As long as you can find a hotel within a short walk of a fairly major train stop, you can get anywhere quickly in Switzerland. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Good day to you, Roger . I’m glad and most appreciate what u have compiled here , a very helpful guidance for 1st timer to Switzerland.
I’m going next year on Feb 19th, may I ask how cold is the winter season there, there probably dry Winter or Windy winter,?
I will definitely get a Swiss Pass travel for 2 Adults and 1 child so it could add up as complimentary to Family Swiss Travel pass .
I need further help and clarification on few destination here as I’m a bit confuse. Say I will be there 5 days 4 nights. My flight landed at Zurich, so shall I be staying at Zurich 1 night or head straight to Lucern or Interlaken for my stay?, then from there only I shall travel by train to Lauterbrunnen? or shall I book a hotel and stay few nights in Lauterbrunnen. I wouldn’t want to waste time for musuems or city tour, I prefer more on Scenic tour by Train ride thru tunnel, Cogwel Train and pay a visit to Chocolate Factory by Chocolate train also in my list.
May I also enquire you , are these mountains, Mt.Titlis,MtPilates & Jungfraujoch are within the same area? As I hear up at Jungfraujoch has an Ice Palace or Castle must not be missed.
Another place is Lake Thun by Bernese Oberland Cruises,(is this place far from my itinerary, can I manage to cover this?
If I were to stay at mountain hotel Gimmeweld or Murren , is it troublesome to lug 3 big luggages and with my kid by the cable car ride?
Thank You in advance if your could help me. Appreciated.
Lim,
I’ll try to answer your questions in order…
You can get climate data on the internet, but I can tell you that February should be a bit above freezing in most of the towns in the valleys, and it’ll be a bit below freezing in the higher elevations. And it is usually windier the higher you get, but they don’t get much rain in winter.
If I were you I’d go directly from the Zurich Airport to the Interlaken area. There is a train station on the main line right at the airport, and the trains run until around midnight. Or you could go to Lucerne if you prefer. It’s just the Zurich hotels are insanely expensive and there really isn’t much to see there. In my opinion the sights around Interlaken are more dramatic than the sights around Lucerne, but they are all wonderful and you’ll love all of them.
Mt Titlis and Pilates (and Mt Rigi) are all close to Lucerne, and Jungfraujoch (and Schilthorn) are above Interlaken. It’s better to start the day close to them because even then each one takes 4 to 5 hours at a minimum to go up and down. I’m not familiar with the ice palace or castle, but I’m sure it’s on TripAdvisor.
Interlaken is named that way because it’s between two lakes, and Lake Thun is one of them. So it’s fast and easy to do that cruise from the Interlaken area.
The cable car up to Gimmelwald and Murren is very easy with luggage. Essentially it’s just a big box that holds about 80 people standing up, or fewer people with luggage and such. It’s the main form of transportation going up to those villages (they are both car-free) and locals bring big boxes and all sorts of things on them. As long as you book a hotel that is a reasonable walk from the cable car stop, you should be fine. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
Love reading your site and the comment section, with all the tips and recommendations.. We’re planning a family trip next year between end of April – early May (we were targeting to go in Spring)total 7 of us (6 adults + 1 toddler).. we’re thinking of renting a car so it’s easier to travel with our luggages and also have more flexibility.. below is our planned itinerary so far..
27th April (1.00pm) : Landed in Geneva and drive to the apartment & stroll around near apartment (1 night stay in Geneva).
28th April : Explore old Town Geneva ; at 5.00pm go to Montreux (2 nights stay in Montreux)
29th April : visit Chillon Castle, Lavaux Vineyards, Old Town Montreux
30th April : Leave Montreux and visit Gruyeres before continuing our journey to Bern (2 nights stay in Bern)
1st May : Half day in the Old town of Bern then go to Lake Blausee (if there is time, we like to go to Lake Oeschinen)
2nd May : Leave Bern and head to Harder Kulm (cable car) go to Sielpark if there’s time,continue to Grindelwald (4 nights stay in Grindelwald)
3rd May : visit Interlaken area, Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, Iseltwald
4th May : Lauterbrunnen Valley
5th May : Scenic train ride to Jungfrau (top of europe) (if the weather is okay)
6th May : Leave Grindelweld and head to Lucerne.. boat cruise in Lake Lucerne.. Go to Zurich (2 nights stay in Zurich)
7th May : stroll in old town Zurich
8th May : Leave Zurich and continue journey to Munich
From Munich, we’ll be going to Salzburg and then Vienna.. Our 4 nights stay in Grindelweld is flexible depending on the weather for the scenic train ride..
A few questions though:
1- We would prefer to drive so we can be more flexible on where to stop etc. (most probably renting a van) We’ve read somewhere that it is also recommended to get the Swiss Half Fare Card on top of renting a car as some places are not accessible by car. What do you think?
2- On top of car rental, we’ll also need to pay for fuel and parking.. Would you be able to estimate the budget for fuel (within what range) and whether it’s reasonable to drive & park based on the places we’re planning to go?
3- we’ve read that there will be more daylight during that time of season of our trip.. is the itinerary reasonable, in terms of traveling time & places to go?
4- due to the exchange rate, we’re quite on a budget.. we’re trying to find more free things to do but also make sure we’ve covered at least 1 scenic train ride, cable car & cruise each..Since we’re already going to Harder Kulm & Jungfrau, would you also recommend us going to First or should it be switch with anything else?
5- as i’ve read in your post that most city are more or less the same and the specialty of Switzerland is in its nature, we’ve allocated more days in Grindelwald / Alps area.. is there anywhere else you would recommend going? Ticino looks lovely as well but it’s quite south from where we’re planning to go..
Any other suggestions or recommendations are welcome.. thanks in advance =)
Amethyst,
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed reading all of this.
1- Yes, a Half Fare Card will still almost certainly pay off on a trip of this length. Take Jungfraujoch, for example. By itself the full return trip is US$210 or so per adult, but you can save US$105 of that by buying the US$120 Half Fare Card. You can use that Half Fare Card on all boat rides and cable cars as well, so it pays for itself pretty quickly.
2- I can’t estimate your fuel prices, but I can tell you that petrol is a bit under US$5 per gallon (€1 per liter) in Switzerland at the moment. You’ll get free parking at some hotels, but in cities the parking can be quite expensive if you want to stay near the center. So you’ll have a lot of control over how much you pay for parking. Still, for 6 adults and one child my guess is that you’ll save money with the rental van instead of taking trains. As I’ve mentioned before, Switzerland is one of the better countries for driving holidays because the roads are in good shape and there is available parking at most of the scenic places you’ll visit.
3- Yes, I think your itinerary is well planned and you’ll have time to do most or all of the things on your list. It will be light until around 7:30pm there that time of year, so the days will be long enough to do more sightseeing than if you went in winter.
4- I don’t know if you need to schedule a special scenic train ride. As I’ve mentioned many times before, those trains with names and panorama carriages are great, but almost every train ride in Switzerland is very scenic, and the same is true of the drives between the same places. In other words, just by traveling around to see the things on your list, you’ll almost be overwhelmed by the amazing scenery.
My main budget tip would be to reduce the time you’ll stay in the big cities such as Zurich. They aren’t very interesting compared to other big cities in Europe or the natural scenery of Switzerland. And hotels in Zurich are even more expensive than hotels in Interlaken and Lucerne. If there are specific things you want to see in Zurich or Geneva or Montreux then definitely go see them. My advice is to NOT spend time in big cities just because they are big cities that you’ve heard of. I’ve made this mistake myself many times and I’m trying to learn more from it.
5- In my opinion the finest sightseeing in Switzerland is mostly concentrated in the Interlaken and Lucerne areas. I’d spend more time in those places and less in the cities. You’ll also be able to get free parking at many hotels in the Interlaken area, and even some in Lucerne, but parking will be quite expensive in the cities. I think your plan looks good overall though, and I’m sure you will have a wonderful trip. -Roger
Hi,
What would be your advice on renting a car Vs rail travel. we r a family of four. cost wise plus scenic experience wise also ease of travel wise.
thanks
Jee,
Generally I recommend taking trains in most of Europe, but Switzerland can be an exception. Assuming you want to visit places like Interlaken, Lucerne, and the mountain attractions around them, a car can be good because the roads are in great shape and there are parking lots in most of the places you’ll go. You’ll have to pay for parking in many places, and especially in larger cities such as Lucerne. Still, the trains in Switzerland are fairly expensive so a car rental would probably be cheaper.
On the other hand, the trains in Switzerland are fantastic and they go pretty much everywhere you’ll want to go. You can buy a Half Fare Card for each of the adults, which I discuss on my main Swiss Travel Pass article, and then you can get a Swiss Family Card for free. That card allows children ages 6 to 15 to travel for free with a paid adult. You’d pay CHF120 (about US$120) for each Half Fare Card, and then you can get train tickets (and cable car and boat tickets) for half price with the kids going for free. That might end up being cheaper in the long run, especially if you are planning on doing Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn or the other mountaintop attractions because those are half price as well. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger
I am planning to visit next month and wondering any recommendation on the rail line, I do not want to spend a lot on all the trains as they are too many. Do you have a single recommendation that will tick all not least most of the boxes?
U Sheikh,
I’m not 100% sure I understand the question. My recommendation for Swiss trains is to book trips between the places you want to visit, rather than focus on doing return trips on the named scenic trains. The good news is that pretty much every train ride in Switzerland is very scenic, except for in the suburbs of Zurich. So just going from Lucerne to Interlaken is wonderful, and it’s actually part of the famous Golden Pass train. You might also consider the Half Fare Card, which I discuss in the main article about the Swiss Travel Pass. It costs CHF120 (US$120) and it’s good for 30 days. With that card you can book pretty much any train in Switzerland at 50% off. You’ve seen the price of the train rides so it pays for itself pretty quickly.
My other recommendation would be to splurge in Switzerland if you can at all. Honestly I’m quite a cheapskate traveler myself and I like to try to do as many experiences as I can on as small of a budget as I can. When you see the prices in Switzerland it’s scary, but when you get there you realize that it’s such a lovely and unique place that it’s worth paying a bit more for those memories. I hope this helps. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I have tried to read all of the previous posts to find the answer to my question, but there are just too many…..your site is very popular because your answers are thorough and very helpful.
We are heading to Lucerne for 4 nights in August, followed by 4 nights in Geneva (I wish I would have found this site before booking Geneva, but will have to make the best of it.) My husband doesn’t mind heights, but he will not travel in a cable car or gondola. My daughter and I want to be able to see the Alps and the beautiful scenery. Do you have any recommendations for places we could go to for these great views that would not involve the cable car or gondola?
My current plan was to arrive in Lucerne in the evening of first day.
Spend the second day walking in Lucerne to see the town.
Spend the third day travelling via cogwheel train up to Mt Pilatus and back down again(I hope this is an option)
Spend the fourth day taking a boat cruise of the lake???Then take the Golden Pass Panoramic train to Geneva.
Once in Geneva, we are thinking to travel to Yvoire one day; travel to Annecy, France another day; take the Mt Blanc Express to Chamonix another day and lastly, to travel to Montreux if we have time.
Do you think these sites will give us a good feel for the culture as well as provide the beautiful scenery? I would love to take the train to Jungfraujoch for a day, from Lucerne, in order to see the Alps, but would love your feedback on whether it is worth the cost, considering there will be no time to get off the train.
I would really appreciate your input!
Debbie from Canada
Debbie,
I’m glad you are finding this helpful. Probably the best Alps (or even mountain view) of all is Jungfraujoch, which is reached by an old fashioned train and no cable cars at all. It’s expensive, but worth it. Most likely you’ll want to get the Half Fare Card for your visit, which obviously cuts the price down to more reasonable.
You can take the cogwheel train up AND down Mt Pilatus, except in winter, so you’ll be fine.
Your remaining plans sound really good. I haven’t been to all of the places you mention, but I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the area and know it pretty well. I think you’ll actually enjoy Geneva and it does have a beautiful setting. The main point that people make about Switzerland is that the scenery in the Alps and the lakes is the best in Europe, and most of the cities aren’t very memorable by comparison. You’ll get a very good look at the culture in all of the places you visit. Switzerland is a famously rich country and almost everything is very nice and upscale feeling. If they didn’t have the Alps people would find the cities enjoyable, but since they do have the Alps it’s recommended to focus time there.
I see you did mention Jungfraujoch and I definitely think it’s worth it, especially with the Half Fare Card. Even the train from Lucerne to Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is lovely. And then when you start going up it gets even nicer and more dramatic. If you leave early enough you should have time to get off the train for at least a bit. The trains in Switzerland start early in the morning and are famously punctual. And I think those trips to France are a good idea. Lucerne is in the German part of Switzerland and the Lake Geneva area is in the French part. The culture in the French part of Switzerland is more French, but not really the same as actually being in France. Best of luck with all of this. -Roger
Dear Roger,
Thank you so so much. We had a great time in Switzerland as per your suggestions. Lucerne was oh so wonderful!! We stayed in a village nearby Emmenbrucke. It was around 15 mins by bus to Lucerne main station. Emmenbrucke – we did nothing. Lucerne was superb. We spent half a day exploring the old town and walked by most of it. Had a lovely dinner by the lake. Went to Titlis next. Took the boat cruise another time and did Weggis only. It was a nice quaint little village. Did not hop on and off much because of my health. But what a great time we had.
I was sold out on Interlaken. I think i should have spent more days here than Lucerne. Interlaken was breathtakingly beautiful. We did not need anything scenic anymore!! Did not do Jungfraujoch. Titlis was good enough. Murren and Gimmelwald – day trip and again can’t thank you enough for this! Did Harder Klum, an extraordinary cog wheel! absolutely vertical. We just walked around a lot and soaked in as much as we could. We had one hell of a time.
Cheers
Aparna
Aparna,
Thank you for taking the time to mention what you did and that you liked it so much. It really helps make doing this even more worthwhile. -Roger
Hi
Thank you for great information you shared,its really usefull.
I have a question,me and my husband are planning to visit switzerland 26 till 30 september,first we visit paris and then switzerland.I dont know much about switzerland but just by researches I find we like to visit somewhere like wengen or appanzell,I say this by looking to photos in google.now I am not sure which village we should visit?and which one is better to visit after Paris,I mean less being on the way and which one will be cheaper to get?and how get there from Paris?which ticket or pass is better for us?
It will be very kind of you if you help us
Anasheh,
Appenzell is a small town surrounded by dairy farms and where they make a famous kind of cheese. It’s nice, but nowhere near as dramatic as the villages in or near the Alps. Wengen is one of those lovely villages in an Alpine valley, similar to Murren in the article above. Coming from Paris I’d definitely recommend you stay somewhere in the Interlaken area, as mentioned in the article. Wengen is a nice town, but so is Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, not to mention Gimmelwald and Murren mentioned more in the article. From any of these towns in the Interlaken area you can see all of the famous sights by taking cable cars or local trains. I’d say stay in the Interlaken area for at least 2 or 3 of those nights, and if you want to see another place then head to Lucerne for something different.
Unless you are going to take at least 2 or 3 of the longer scenic train rides, I’d get the Half Fare Card, which is mentioned in the article about the Swiss Rail Pass. You can buy a train ticket from Paris to Basel and then buy a separate ticket from Basel to Interlaken, using the Half Fare Card. Compare that to the price of a ticket all the way from Paris to Interlaken.
Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Thank you so much Roger. Sorry about posting my comment twice. It didn’t show-up the first time for some reason so I posted it again.
Also, We are planning to take 4-day swiss travel pass for this itinerary. Hope that’s the correct decision.
Pushpita,
With the train rides you have in mind then the 4-day Swiss Travel Pass should work well for you. On the other hand, the Half Fare Card is much cheaper and good for 30 days so it might end up saving more in the long run. It’s a tough call for your trip, but both are much better than paying as you go. -Roger