SWITZERLAND 9 Days

This itinerary visits Old Town Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken region, excursion to Jungfraujoch, Zermatt and picturesque Bern.

Switzerland is a mountainous country, home to numerous blue lakes, villages & the high peaks of the Alps. Its cities contain medieval quarters, with landmarks like Lucerne’s wooden chapel bridge. The country is also known for its ski resorts and hiking trails. Banking and finance are key industries and Swiss watches and chocolate are world renowned. Switzerland’s land size is similar to Estonia.

DAY 1

• Arrive at Zurich airport or the train station. Transfer to your hotel.

• Visit the Old Town district of Niederdorf - with its winding car-free alleys, its symbolic Grossmünster church and its many small boutiques, restaurants, bookshops and craft studios.

• Overnight: Zurich, we recommend staying in the Niederdorf district.

  • <Where to stay>

DAYS 3 and 4

• Explore the Interlaken region. The "town between the lakes" (Thun and Brienz) is a vacation resort. 

  • The region is surrounded by mountains, forests, alpine meadows and glaciers, plus numerous hiking and skiing trails.

• Best Bike ride: Lake Thun Loop. The ride runs along the panoramic circular trail around Lake Thun revealing views of the deep blue waters and surrounding mountains. You will ride through idyllic villages, lush green meadows, historical sites and castles. Bike rentals are available everywhere including the train stations.

• Take a walk at Höhematte Park and the Höheweg.

  • Highlights are:

    • Various shops and restaurants.

    • Numerous events on or along the road.

    • Impressive view of the Jungfrau massif - a perfect photo spot.

    • Marvel at the flowers and paragliders.  

• If the weather is clear, a “must-do” excursion is visiting Jungfraujoch, one of the tallest peaks in the Alps at 3,466 m (11,368 ft). To reach this breathtaking destination, you can embark on the Jungfraubahn, which is Europe's highest-altitude railway. The Jungfraubahn cogwheel train takes you up the mountain, navigating a slope with a gradient as steep as 25 degrees, offering incredible views along the way.

Getting to Jungfraujoch:

• There are several options up to Jungfraujoch.

• Option 1. From Interlaken Ost rail station - Take the train to Lauterbrunnen —After changing trains in Lauterbrunnen, you'll travel up to the mountain village of Wengen & arrive at Kleine Scheidegg. At Kleine Scheidegg, you'll change trains for the last leg to Jungfraujoch. It’s 2 hrs. 20 min. to the top.

• Option 2. From Interlaken Ost rail station - Take the train to Grindelwald, —where you'll change to the train to Kleine Scheidegg. At Kleine Scheidegg, you'll change trains for the last leg to Jungfraujoch.

• Additional Option: Lauterbrunnen (parking garage available) and Grindelwald can be reached by car. Therefore you can jump on the train in these two (2) towns in addition to Interlaken.

  Before planning your mountain activities:

  <Check the timetable> Schedules can change.

  —Check the weather conditions on the top of the mountains - Webcams - Unless the forecast calls for good weather, it would be a waste of time to venture on trails on cloudy/rainy days.

  —What to wear at the top: In the summer a down jacket is probably not needed. A long sleeve shirt, fiber pile vest and a rain jacket should be sufficient. Outside on the plateau the perceived temperature will depend on the wind conditions.

• Visit Grindewald, the town consists of pretty chalets in a stunning location of hilly meadows and surrounding mountains. Venture on some of the trails for beautiful mountain views. Grindewald can be reached by train or car.

• Scenic Mountain Short hikes:

  • Lauterbrunnen to Wengen to Wengernalp via Mendeissonweg: Distance: 7.5 km. one-way, moderate trek.

  • Wengen to Mannlichen: 6 km one-way, moderate trek.

  • Mannlichen to Klein Scheidegg: 5 km one-way, moderate trek.

• A great app to download on any hike: All Trails.

• Overnight: Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen (2 nights)

• Distance: Lucerne ---> Interlaken. 1.5 hrs.

DAYS 5 and 6

• Begin your day early with a journey from Interlaken to explore Zermatt. <Map>

• Zermatt is car free. Drivers park their cars in a convenient parking garage in Täsch and continue for another 12 minutes by train. <Parking information>

  • The Tasch train to Zermatt spans 5-km and is fast and convenient.

• What to do in Zermatt in summer? Hiking is very popular.

  • The best all-around hike: Zmutt Loop. The trail is 10-km roundtrip. Difficulty: Easy - Moderate

    • The Zmutt Loop is a favorite lunch destination for visitors looking for an easy and scenic walk.

    • Most people walk along the low route that heads south on Zermatt’s main street, Bahnhoffstrasse, and along the left (west) side of the Zmutt River.

• Best Summit Panoramic viewpoints:

  • Matterhorn Glacier Paradise - Observation platform with photo point, restaurant and shop. <Tickets and Information>

    • Getting there: Visitors are transported by a 3S cable car, which is a fast, modern gondola. <cable car route>

  • Gornergrat - the magnificent view of the Matterhorn is unforgettable. <Tickets and Information>

    • Getting there: The Gornergrat cogwheel railway takes you up from the village to 3,100 meters. <train route>

• Overnight: Zermatt. (2 nights) We recommend to reserve accommodations at least 3 months in advance.

• Distance: Interlaken ---> Zermatt, 2.5 hrs.

DAY 7

• Depart Zermatt to Bern.

• Visit Montreux and the impressive Château de Chillon. The highlights of the castle include its underground, great halls and the courtyards. <Getting there>

• Afterward stop for lunch in Lausanne at the lively city center, then continue to Bern.

• Bern - has been described by many visitors as Switzerland’s most beautiful city.

• Overnight: Bern

• Distance:

  Zermatt ---> Montreux, 2 hrs.

  Montreux ---> Lausanne, 30 min.

  Lausanne ---> Bern, 1.25 hr.

DAY 8

• Explore the picturesque medieval city of Bern. Depart later in the afternoon to Zurich. (2-hr. drive)

• Enjoy Bern’s historical city center. Visitors can discover cultural venues, restaurants and bars and specialty shops. Bern is a compact city, and its layout makes it easy for visitors to explore on foot. The well-preserved old town is pedestrian-friendly.

• Bern has a special relationship with bears, and the Bear Park (Bärenpark) is a popular attraction. Visitors can observe bears in a natural habitat setting along the banks of the River Aare. It's an enjoyable experience to see these magnificent creatures up close.

• Overnight: Zurich.

• Distance: Bern ---> Zurich, 2 hrs. 125 km.

DAY 9

• Depart Zurich for your return home or choose your next European destination.

• Historical Weather Data.

• In Summer, you can expect temperatures of up to 32 °C (90 F) in the lower valleys. But it could easily be 15 °C (59 F) on a rainy day and freezing on the high mountain top. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.

• You can have a week of rain as well as a week of cloudless skies almost any time of the year.

• April, September and October are your best chance of drier, and less cloudy days

• Sunrise/Sunset time.