10 days in Switzerland - 8 itineraries from Zurich or Geneva

As you might be aware, Switzerland is quite a small country. But don’t let that fool you. Even if you have a full ten days to spend here, there’s more than enough to see and do. With the high diversity of landscapes, you’ll be happy you have a decent amount of time to spend in this wonderful country. If you’re planning your trip to Switzerland, the following itineraries will help you with that process.

They are all doable within ten days and have their starting point in Zurich or in Geneva. However, if you’d like to start in a different place, you can easily adapt your trip accordingly. Zurich is very well connected and can be reached from every other city in Switzerland. So is Geneva if you like to start in a city in western Switzerland.

You will notice that we only talk about travelling by public transport and not by car. Most itineraries are also possible by car, in case you decide to get a rental during your stay in Switzerland. But with our very dense network of trains and buses, there’s no real need to travel by car.

Of course, the choice is all yours. But if you do travel by train, we recommend buying a travel pass of some sorts. Since you’ll be covering quite some ground with public transport, an Interrail, Eurail or a Swiss Travel Pass will make getting around a lot easier.

Also, if you have more than ten days available and see a Switzerland itinerary you like, you can easily stretch it out by spending an extra night in some of the places.

Happy planning!

• Public Transport in Switzerland
• The 10 most important railway passes for your trip in Switzerland
• Everything you need to know about train tickets in Switzerland

1. Itinerary with the sunny Ticino, the famous Matterhorn, scenic train rides and a short trip through Italy

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Drive through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world
• Stop over at the castles in Bellinzona (UNESCO)
• Visit one of the popular Maggia or Verzasca river valleys
• Take a windy train ride from Locarno to Domodossola in Italy
• Hike in front of the mighty Matterhorn in Zermatt
• Enjoy a free day to explore the stunning Jungfrau Region in Interlaken
• Take a stroll across the Kapellbrücke in Lucerne
• Spend one full day exploring the beautiful region around Lucerne

Day 1: Zurich - Bellinzona - Locarno

In the morning, explore Zurich on your own, borrow a free bike with «Züri rollt» or join a guided city tour. After the tour, grab some take-away lunch and have it on the train to Bellinzona.

Thanks to the 57 kilometres (35 miles) long Gotthard-Basistunnel, it now takes you less than two hours to bolt through the Alps and reach Switzerland’s warm south. Stop over in Bellinzona and visit the Castello di Montebello, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before travelling on to Locarno.

Spend the rest of the evening taking in the Italian atmosphere in Locarno. Hang out at Piazza Grande, stroll along Lago Maggiore or just enjoy a few scoops of ice cream by the lake. And just in case you’re wondering: Yes, you’re still in Switzerland. Even if it doesn’t feel like it. This is as Italian as our country gets...

Since you’re staying in the Ticino for the next three nights, you’re entitled to a Ticino Ticket. You’ll receive it when you check in to your accommodation. This fantastic travel pass lets you use public transport for free all across the Canton of Ticino. It also gives you numerous discounts on other local attractions and activities.

• Best things to do in Zurich

Day 2: Free day in the Canton of Ticino

Get ready to explore the Italian part of Switzerland in all its glory. With the abundance of activities to choose from, you won’t get bored today. First up, we recommend you head to one of the two river valleys: Maggia or Verzasca. Both are fantastic for hiking, spending some time by the river or going for a refreshing swim.

Also, don’t forget to bring your picnic on this journey. You’ll find countless opportunities to take a break in both valleys. Our favourite place is right below the famous stone bridge in Lavertezzo.

If you prefer calmer waters over cold mountain streams, head to Lago Maggiore or Lago di Lugano. Both lakes are stunning and provide you with more photo opportunities than you can imagine.

Other popular destinations in Ticino are the inspiring little artsy town of Ascona next to Locarno and the city of Lugano further south.

To brush up on your Swiss geography knowledge, visit Swissminiatur in Melide just outside Lugano. It’s a miniature version of Switzerland and displays incredible attention to detail.

In case you’re one of those adrenaline junkies, there’s always the 007 bungy at the end of Verzasca valley. You might have seen this 220 metre (720 feet) dive in the James Bond movie Golden Eye. If you decide to throw yourself off that wall, please don’t forget to share your picture with us. We’d love to see that...🙂

As you might have gathered by now, this day is by no means long enough to do everything on the list.

Good thing there’s always tomorrow.

• Best things to do in Ticino

Day 3: Free day in the Canton of Ticino

Knock yourself out doing whatever you missed out on yesterday. The list should be long enough to keep you busy for another day.

Alternatively, leave Switzerland and head to Italy for the day. Not far from Lugano lies the idyllic Como region, the place where George Clooney and other celebrities got married. If you’re curious to find out what Mr. Nespresso saw in this part of the world, today’s your chance.

The two main places we recommend visiting in the area are the city of Como and the village of Menaggio. Both are situated by the shores of Lake Como and will automatically make you take a step back and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.

At the end of the day, head back to Switzerland and spend whatever time you have left hanging out in Locarno before moving on to Zermatt tomorrow.

Day 4: Locarno - Domodossola - Zermatt

You’re probably going to laugh now. But the station your train to Domodossola leaves from is called Locarno FART. Unfortunate name, we know. It’s short for Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi and translates to “regional railway of Ticino”.

The ride to Domodossola lasts just under two hours. It might be the slowest train you’ve ever been on but chances are you won’t even notice time passing by.

The landscape is beyond stunning from start to finish. As you travel through the impressive Centovalli region – which stands for one hundred valleys – you’ll pass several charming villages with old stone houses, ride across tall viaducts and even catch a glimpse of a waterfall or two.

Enjoy the views because from Domodossola to Brig, you’ll be spending most of the time in a tunnel. That’s ok though because the ride from Brig to Zermatt is part of the Glacier Express – another scenic train ride.

Once you arrive in Zermatt, spend the rest of the day strolling through this little town and enjoy the sight of the mighty Matterhorn. Provided it’s not veiled in clouds.

Day 5: Free day in Zermatt

Zermatt is all about mountains and the outdoors. If you’ve come to Switzerland for our spectacular mountain views, you’re going to love it here.

Several hikes and walks of all difficulty levels take you places you didn’t even know existed. Like for instance the popular Zermatt five-lakes trail, which takes 2.5 hours to complete. It leads past five crystal clear mountain lakes with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn.

Another impressive, yet head spinning adventure, is walking across the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Randa. It stretches 494 metres (1620 feet) across the valley.

Hello vertigo!

The circular track starts and finishes in Randa, 15 minutes by train from Zermatt.

In case you’d rather skip the hiking altogether and see some mountains the easy way, we recommend heading up to Gornergrat. After a ridiculously steep train ride, you’ll find yourself at an altitude of 3089 metres (10.135 feet) above sea level. Right in front of the Gorner Glacier and the Matterhorn.

Don’t be surprised if climbing those steps to the viewpoint leaves you completely breathless. It’s not you, it’s the thin air.

• Best things to do in Zermatt

Day 6: Zermatt - Interlaken

How you plan out today is entirely up to you. One option is to stay in Zermatt for a little while longer and keep hiking, looking for marmots, skiing, snowshoeing, taking photos of glaciers or whatever else you’ve set your mind to.

Alternatively, if you’ve had enough of the thin air and are ready to head back down, travel onward to the adrenaline packed and popular town of Interlaken. Spend the rest of the day in this conveniently located place between two crystal clear lakes. Activities are endless and you’ve got all day tomorrow to explore Interlaken and its surroundings.

Since your options in this area are so plentiful, check tomorrow’s suggestions to see if you can find something to tick off the list this afternoon already. Maybe you fancy a short trip to Lauterbrunnen or a ride up Harder Kulm for some great views?

• Best things to do in Interlaken

Day 7: Free day in Interlaken

You’ve got more activities to choose from today than you can wrap your head around. It all depends on your budget, but in an adrenaline-packed place like Interlaken, the sky’s the limit.

If even that...

Skydiving, paragliding, canyoning and jet boating are all popular activities that will get your adrenaline flowing.

Another option is to embark on a passenger ship cruise on either Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. Both rides come with incredible views that will make you wish you’d never have to leave.

If you’re looking for a stopover on one of the cruises, get off at either Giessbach (Lake Brienz), the Saint Beatus Caves or Spiez (Lake Thun).

The Jungfrau region around Interlaken is also an excellent playground for hikers. The amount of trails is nearly endless and whatever your fitness level and ambitions, you’ll find something to your taste.

Of course, the No. 1 destination everybody wants to see out here is the famous Jungfraujoch – aka Top of Europe. If you’re after a slightly more budget-friendly experience, we suggest looking into visiting Mount Schilthorn, Schynige Platte, Grindelwald First or Männlichen instead. The rides up to these mountains and the views from the top won’t disappoint you.

Other places of interest in and around Interlaken are: the open-air museum Ballenberg, the chocolate workshops at Funky Chocolate Club, the two mountain lakes Blausee or Oeschinensee or the Aare Gorge.

And let’s not forget those charming towns and villages like Brienz, Spiez, Thun, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald.

We could go on forever here but we guess this would only make you hate that you don’t have all week here.

• 12 Tips for your first trip to Jungfraujoch
• Mount Schilthorn Piz Gloria
• Schynige Platte - Top of Swiss Tradition
• Skydive Interlaken - why you shouldn’t miss it
• Ballenberg open-air museum

Day 8: Interlaken - Lucerne

We’re assuming you didn’t get to do everything you set your mind to yesterday. This is why you have almost another full day to knock yourself out in and around Interlaken today. Do what you need to do before heading to Lucerne on the Golden Pass Line.

The Golden Pass Line is a popular scenic train route from Lucerne to Montreux and is served by several train companies. It connects the centre of Switzerland with the shores of Lake Geneva.

This panoramic journey leads past eight lakes, rides through six different cantons (the Swiss version of states), crosses three mountain passes and connects two language regions. Today’s leg between Interlaken and Lucerne is run by Zentralbahn and takes just under two hours.

Spend the rest of the evening exploring Lucerne. Walk across the Kapellbrücke, take a stroll through the old town, hang out by the lake or visit the Glacier Garden with its famous Lion Monument.

• Golden Pass Line
• Best hings to do in Lucerne

Day 9: Free day in Lucerne

Lucerne has an abundance of activities to offer. One of the most obvious picks is to catch the world’s steepest cog railway to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne’s backyard mountain. This railway only leaves from Alpnachstad during summer, while the cable car from Kriens takes you up to Mount Pilatus all year round.

Speaking of mountains: Mount Titlis is another landmark in the area worth visiting. From Engelberg, you’ll reach the top by catching two gondolas. One of them is the world’s first revolving aerial cableway. So expect some impressive 360-degree views at the top.

For an easy hike, including a ride on a 152.8 metres-high rocket-like outdoor elevator, catch the passenger ship or the bus to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock.

And let’s not forget Stanserhorn, a mountain close to Lucerne that is accessed by a fancy double-deck cable car. The best way to take this trip is by catching the passenger ship to Stansstad. From there, catch the funicular railway for the first leg and get on the open-air gondola for the final part to Stanserhorn.

Technically, you could even visit Interlaken for the day. Leave Lucerne on the Golden Pass Line in the morning, spend the day exploring the photogenic region around Interlaken and head back to Lucerne in the evening.

Another great way to spend the day around Lucerne is on Lake Lucerne. Several steamboats and passenger ships operate on the Lake and take you on the most stunning journeys.

As you can see, Lucerne has plenty to offer on a sunny day. But in reality, the weather isn’t always too promising. In this case, here are some cool indoor options for you.

For one, there’s Aeschbach’s Chocoworld in Root. Getting there by bus takes around 30 minutes. Nothing brightens up a rainy day like some delicious chocolate, does it?

In Hergiswil, not far from Lucerne, you’ll find what the Swiss affectionately call the Glasi. Hergiswil Glassworks runs you through the process of glass-making, lets you watch the pros in action and even offers the opportunity to give glassblowing a shot. When’s the last time you made your own glass?

Another bad-weather option is the Museum of Transport. As the name suggests, this museum covers every means of transport throughout history. From bicycles to astronautics, they’ve got it all.

• Mount Pilatus Guide
• Mount Titlis Guide
• Mount Stanserhorn Guide
• Boat trips on Lake Lucerne
• Aeschbach chocolate factory
• Museum of Transport Lucerne

Day 10: Lucerne - Zurich

Luckily, you don’t have to leave Lucerne until the afternoon or even evening today. So spend the day doing whatever you didn’t get to do yesterday.

A popular day trip from Lucerne is heading up to Mount Rigi. To get there, store your luggage either at your accommodation in Lucerne or at the train station and take the train to Arth Goldau. From here, the Rigibahn – a cog railway that’s been around for over 150 years – takes you on a 45-minute ride to the top station Rigi Kulm.

Provided Mount Rigi isn’t veiled in clouds, you’ll be presented with spectacular views over the Alps, Lake Lucerne and other surrounding lakes. Just follow the signs to the viewing point after getting off at Rigi Kulm.

Once you’ve snapped enough photos, either take a break at the restaurant, catch the train down to Vitznau or go for a hike. With over 120 kilometres (75 miles) of hiking trails at your feet, you’re spoiled for choice here. Upon arrival in Vitznau, the passenger ship to Lucerne will be waiting for you. Keep your camera within reach because this scenic and peaceful ride offers some more stunning views.

Back in Lucerne, grab your bags and head back to Zurich.

• Mount Rigi

Additional tips and information for itinerary 1

• Upon check-in at your accommodation in Locarno, you’ll receive a Ticino Ticket. This beauty lets you use public transport in the whole Canton of Ticino for free for the duration of your stay.
• Upon check-in at your accommodation in Interlaken and Lucerne, you’ll receive a Transport Card that allows you to use local transport for free.
• Ticino is a very popular holiday destination for Swiss people. If you are travelling during the school holidays, be sure to book your accommodation in advance.
• The tranquillity of the Verzasca and Maggia valleys can be deceptive. As soon as it starts raining higher up in the mountains, these rivers become a dangerous force of nature. Please check the weather forecast before setting out. If it rains higher up, keep a safe distance from the water and don't take a nap on one of the cosy boulders in the river. Visitors have already been surprised by the enormous water masses and died. We don't want you to have to be one of them.
• The section between Brig and Zermatt is served by the Glacier Express trains. These run three times a day and are only open to people with a reservation. But there are also regular trains that commute between Brig and Zermatt, for which no reservation is required. The best thing about it? The view is exactly the same as on the Glacier Express. Except for the lack of large panoramic windows.
• As you travel from Locarno to Domodossola through Italy, you must have your passport ready for inspection.

2. Itinerary for nature and culture lovers with two scenic train rides and six city trips on both sides of the Alps

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Enjoy the fascinating scenery on Mount Rigi and on Lake Lucerne
• Visit the old town of Bern and St. Gallen (UNESCO)
• Complete two panoramic rides, Gotthard Panorama and Bernina Express
• Discover the Canton of Ticino - the Italian part of Switzerland
• Take a stroll through St. Moritz in the Engadine region
• Visit the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe
• Walk through the alleyways of Schaffhausen with its 171 bay windows

Day 1: Zurich - Mount Rigi - Vitznau - Lucerne

Leave Zurich first thing in the morning and catch the train to Lucerne. Store your luggage either at the train station or at your accommodation and take the next train to Arth Goldau. From here, the Rigibahn – a cog railway that’s been around for over 150 years – takes you on a 45-minute ride to the top station Rigi Kulm.

Provided Mount Rigi isn’t veiled in clouds, you’ll be presented with spectacular views over the Alps, Lake Lucerne and other surrounding lakes. Just follow the signs to the viewing point after getting off at Rigi Kulm.

Once you’ve snapped enough photos, either take a break at the restaurant, catch the train down to Vitznau or go for a hike. With over 120 kilometres (75 miles) of hiking trails at your feet, you’re spoiled for choice here.

Upon arrival in Vitznau, the passenger ship to Lucerne will be waiting for you. Keep your camera within reach because this scenic and peaceful ride offers some more stunning views.

Back in Lucerne, spend the rest of the evening exploring the city or find a cosy spot by the lake to relax. Tomorrow, you’ll be spending all day exploring this picturesque city with its surroundings.

• Mount Rigi

Day 2: Free day in Lucerne

Lucerne has an abundance of activities to offer. One of the most obvious picks is to catch the world’s steepest cog railway to Mount Pilatus, Lucerne’s backyard mountain. This railway only leaves from Alpnachstad during summer, while the cable car from Kriens takes you up to Mount Pilatus all year round.

Speaking of mountains: Mount Titlis is another landmark in the area worth visiting. From Engelberg, you’ll reach the top by catching two gondolas. One of them is the world’s first revolving aerial cableway. So expect some impressive 360-degree views at the top.

For an easy hike, including a ride on a 152.8 metres-high rocket-like outdoor elevator, catch the passenger ship or the bus to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock.

And let’s not forget Stanserhorn, a mountain close to Lucerne that is accessed by a fancy double-deck cable car. The best way to take this trip is by catching the passenger ship to Stansstad. From there, catch the funicular railway for the first leg and get on the open-air gondola for the final part to Stanserhorn.

Technically, you could even visit Interlaken for the day. Leave Lucerne on the Golden Pass Line in the morning, spend the day exploring the photogenic region around Interlaken and head back to Lucerne in the evening.

Another great way to spend the day around Lucerne is on Lake Lucerne. Several steamboats and passenger ships operate on the Lake and take you on the most stunning journeys.

As you can see, Lucerne has plenty to offer on a sunny day. But in reality, the weather isn’t always too promising. In this case, here are some cool indoor options for you.

For one, there’s Aeschbach’s Chocoworld in Root. Getting there by bus takes around 30 minutes. Nothing brightens up a rainy day like some delicious chocolate, does it?

In Hergiswil, not far from Lucerne, you’ll find what the Swiss affectionately call the Glasi. Hergiswil Glassworks runs you through the process of glass-making, lets you watch the pros in action and even offers the opportunity to give glassblowing a shot. When’s the last time you made your own glass?

Another bad-weather option is the Museum of Transport. As the name suggests, this museum covers every means of transport throughout history. From bicycles to astronautics, they’ve got it all.

• Best things to do in Lucerne
• Mount Pilatus
• Mount Titlis
• Mount Stanserhorn
• Boat trips on Lake Lucerne
• Aeschbach chocolate factory
• Museum of Transport Lucerne

Day 3: Lucerne - Lugano

If you’re visiting Switzerland between April and October, you’re in luck. Unless you’re leaving Lucerne on a Monday, you have the opportunity to travel across the Alps to the sunny Canton of Ticino on the Gotthard Panorama Express.

On the first leg, a steamboat will take you on a three-hour ride across Lake Lucerne from Lucerne to Flüelen. From there, a panoramic train whisks you through the old Gotthard tunnel to Lugano in the Canton of Ticino.

Before Gotthard-Basistunnel opened in 2016, this was the only way to reach Ticino by rail. Nowadays, since the opening of the world’s longest railway tunnel, the old one is only used for tourist purposes.

You’ll arrive in Lugano around 4 pm, which leaves you with plenty of time to explore the city and its surroundings. For an extensive collection of things to do in and around here, turn to tomorrow’s outline.

Since you’re staying in the Canton of Ticino for the next three nights, you’re entitled to a Ticino Ticket. You’ll receive it when you check in to your accommodation. This fantastic travel pass lets you use public transport for free all across the Canton of Ticino. It also gives you numerous discounts on other local attractions and activities.

• Gotthard Panorama Express
• Best things to do in Lugano

Day 4: Free day in the Canton of Ticino

Get ready to explore the Italian part of Switzerland in all its glory. With the abundance of activities to choose from, you won’t get bored today. First up, we recommend you head to one of the two river valleys: Maggia or Verzasca. Both are fantastic for hiking, spending some time by the river or going for a refreshing swim.

Also, don’t forget to bring your picnic on this journey. You’ll find countless opportunities to take a break in both valleys. One of our favourite places is right below the famous stone bridge in Lavertezzo.

If you prefer calmer waters over cold mountain streams, head to Lago Maggiore or Lago di Lugano. Both lakes are stunning and provide you with more photo opportunities than you can imagine.

Other popular destinations in Ticino are the inspiring little artsy town of Ascona next to Locarno and the city of Lugano further south.

To brush up on your Swiss geography knowledge, visit Swissminiatur in Melide just outside Lugano. It’s a miniature version of Switzerland and displays incredible attention to detail.

In case you’re one of those adrenaline junkies, there’s always the 007 bungy at the end of Verzasca valley. You might have seen this 220 metre (720 feet) dive in the James Bond movie Golden Eye. If you decide to throw yourself off that wall, please don’t forget to share your picture with us. We’d love to see that...🙂

As you might have gathered by now, this day is by no means long enough to do everything on the list.

Good thing there’s always tomorrow.

• Best things to do in Ticino

Day 5: Free day in the Canton of Ticino

Knock yourself out doing whatever you missed out on yesterday. The list should be long enough to keep you busy for another day.

Alternatively, leave Switzerland and head to Italy for the day. Not far from Lugano lies the idyllic Como region, the place where George Clooney and other celebrities got married. If you’re curious to find out what Mr. Nespresso saw in this part of the world, today’s your chance.

The two main places we recommend visiting in the area are the city of Como and the village of Menaggio. Both are situated by the shores of Lake Como and will automatically make you take a step back and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.

At the end of the day, head back to Switzerland and spend whatever time you have left hanging out in Lugano before moving on to St. Moritz tomorrow.

Day 6: Lugano - Tirano - St. Moritz

Today, you’ll be spending quite a few hours travelling back across the Alps. Your journey will take you across the Italian border to Tirano and up to the highest point of the Bernina Express Line in Ospizio Bernina. You’ll ride past glistening glaciers and crystal clear mountain lakes and eventually into the fancy mountain town of St. Moritz.

On the first leg, the Bernina Express Bus takes you through the impressive Valtellina wine region to Tirano, right next to the Swiss-Italian border.

It’s all uphill from here.

As you make your way up toward Ospizio Bernina, the highest point of the Bernina Express at 2.253 metres (7.397 feet) above sea level, you cross the circular viaduct in Brusio. Here, the train takes a full 360-degree turn to overcome the altitude.

At Ospizio Bernina, you’ll have gained quite some altitude and the outside temperature will be a lot cooler than it was just a couple of hours ago. From here, it’s only a short ride before you arrive at your final destination for today.

After this long day, you might like to stretch your legs at the promenade of Lake St. Moritz. You’ve earned it.

• Bernina Express

Day 7: Free day in St. Moritz

St. Moritz is all about the outdoors. Summer and winter. Whether you’re into biking, hiking, stand up paddling, swimming, windsurfing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or just going for a walk, you’ll find your fix.

Only a short ride from St. Moritz lies Lake Silvaplana, a stunning place to cover some of those activities.

On the culinary side, we recommend two things in the Grisons. Firstly, don’t miss out on a bowl of Bündner Gerstensuppe. This barley soup with vegetables and meat is iconic to the Grisons. It warms you up like nothing else on a chilly day.

Secondly, treat yourself to a slice of Engadiner Nusstorte. This heavy, delicious pastry puts the calories right back where you’ve been trying to lose them. But it’s so worth it.

Back in St. Moritz, spend the rest of the day strolling through the town. It’s not as charming and mystical as other villages in the area like Samedan or La Punt. But it’s great for window shopping and maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll even spot a celebrity or two.

• Best things to do in St. Moritz
• Best things to do in the Engadine

Day 8: St. Moritz - Chur - St. Gallen

If there’s anything you didn’t get to do in St. Moritz yesterday, today’s your chance. Do what you need to do, grab your bags afterwards and catch the train to Chur.

On the way, you have the opportunity to stop over in Bergün. You’ll arrive in Bergün right after navigating the confusing Albula Line, the part where the train overcomes the altitude by taking a few loops and tunnels through the mountains. As you look out the window, you’ll notice the train crosses sides of the valley while spiralling down the mountains.

Spend some time in Bergün or move straight on to Chur, the capital of the Canton of Grisons. Store your luggage in one of the lockers at the train station and go for a wander in the old town.

As soon as you’re ready to move on, there’s a direct train taking you to St. Gallen within roughly an hour and a half. Depending on what time you arrive, you might still have a few hours to start exploring the city. With the UNESCO listed Abbey District, its towering Cathedral and the impressive Abbey Library, St. Gallen has quite a few sights to offer. But we’ll talk more about that tomorrow...

• Best things to do in Chur

Day 9: Free day in St. Gallen

Today, you’ve got heaps of activities and sights to choose from. For one, you have the option to stay in St. Gallen.

Start the day exploring the old town. With the UNESCO listed Abbey District, its towering Cathedral and the impressive Abbey Library, this city has quite a few things to offer.

While you’re here, make sure you don’t miss a trip to the recreational area of Drei Weieren. To get there, either catch the Mühleggbahn or take the stairs. Alternatively, visit the wildlife park Peter & Paul or still your cultural thirst at one of the many museums.

By far the best place to relax is at Drei Weieren. Go for a refreshing swim to recover from the many steps you took up here or go for a stroll in the forest. You also get a fantastic view over the whole city, Lake Constance and all the way to Germany.

Alternatively, if you’d like to venture into the mountains, visit the nearby Alpstein mountain range. Catch the train to Wasserauen and hike up to Seealpsee, one of the three lakes in the Alpstein mountain range. Spend some time in this peaceful spot before moving on to Ebenalp.

On your way to Ebenalp, you’ll pass by a place you might have seen before. The famous Äscher restaurant. Ever since it was featured on National Geographic and on Ashton Kutcher’s Instagram, it‘s been completely overrun by its success. This sadly caused it to lose some of its former charm. However, it’s still a worthwhile place to snap a few photos and take a break.

At Ebenalp, you can choose between hiking back to Wasserauen or catching the cable car. If you still have it in you after this long day, you might like a quick stopover in Appenzell on your way to St. Gallen.

In case you hop off in Appenzell and are feeling brave, visit the little cheese store at Hauptgasse 13. But be warned, those smelly cheese fumes will knock your socks off the second you enter the store. There’s no way your feet will be able to compete with that odour. Not even after a full day of being trapped inside your trekking boots... 🙂

Oh, and don’t miss out on a piece of Appenzeller Biber, an iconic local sweet treat made of gingerbread and a honey almond filling. And before you ask: Nope. This Biber doesn’t have any famous Canadian relatives...

Also, if you’re a beer-lover, make sure to stop by the Locher brewery. They brew the popular Quöllfrisch beer that is consumed all across Switzerland.

Lake Constance is also easily accessible from St. Gallen. You can reach the shore of this beautiful lake within only half an hour. Whatever it is you end up doing, come back to St. Gallen in the evening for your second night.

• Best things to do in St. Gallen
• Lake Constance

Day 10: St. Gallen - Schaffhausen - Zurich

After breakfast, leave St. Gallen and catch the train to Schaffhausen. Drop your bags at the train station and move right on to Neuhausen, where the Rhine Falls attract visitors from all over the world.

Access to the falls is free from the northern shore, while seeing them from Laufen Castle in the south costs 5 CHF. Spend however long you like getting soaked in the mist of the Rhine Falls before moving on to Schaffhausen.

Schaffhausen has a charming old town with an impressive total of 171 bay windows, which is more than any other Swiss city can account for. Once you’re done chasing them all down and exploring the rest of Schaffhausen, head up to Munot and enjoy the view over the city.

As soon as you’re ready, head back to Zurich.

• Best things to do in Schaffhausen
• Best things to do in Zurich

Additional tips and information for itinerary 2

• Upon check-in at your accommodation in Lucerne and St. Gallen, you’ll receive a Transport Card that lets you use local transport for free. In the case of St. Gallen, this even includes transport all the way to Lake Constance.
• Upon check-in at your accommodation in Lugano, you’ll receive a Ticino Ticket. This beauty lets you use public transport in the whole Canton of Ticino for free for the duration of your stay.
• The Gotthard Panorama Express only runs from April to October, from Tuesday to Sunday. If you travel outside these months or on a Monday, take the regular train from Lucerne to Lugano instead. For the train ride between Flüelen and Lugano you need a reservation.
• If you are travelling with an Interrail or Eurail pass, only the train ride from Lugano to Flüelen on the Gotthard Panorama Express is fully covered. The steamboat ride costs extra.
• Ticino is a very popular vacation destination for Swiss people. If you are travelling during school vacations, be sure to book your accommodation in advance.
• The schedule of the Bernina Express changes depending on the season. To find your connection and make a reservation, visit the RhB website. The Bernina Express bus between Tirano and Lugano operates only from May to November.

3. Itinerary for train lovers with five famous scenic train rides in Switzerland

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Ride on the five famous panoramic trains in Switzerland - Voralpen-Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, Bernina Express, Glacier Express and Golden Pass Line
• Admire the Abbey District in St. Gallen (UNESCO)
• Take a stroll across the Kapellbrücke in Lucerne
• Spend a day in the canton of Ticino, the warm and sunny south of Switzerland
• Spend time in St. Moritz and Zermatt
• Hike at the foot of the famous Matterhorn
• Walk along the promenade by Lake Geneva in Montreux
• See the best of the Alps during your scenic train rides

Day 1: Zurich - St. Gallen

In the morning, explore Zurich on your own, borrow a free bike with «Züri rollt» or join a guided city tour. After the tour, grab some take-away lunch and have it on the train to St. Gallen.

Spend the afternoon exploring the old town of St. Gallen. With the UNESCO listed Abbey District, its towering Cathedral and the impressive Abbey Library, this city has quite a few things to offer.

While you’re here, make sure you don’t miss a trip to the recreational area of Drei Weieren. To get there, either catch the Mühleggbahn or take the stairs. Alternatively, visit the wildlife park Peter & Paul or still your cultural thirst at one of the many museums.

By far the best place to relax is at Drei Weieren. Go for a refreshing swim to recover from the many steps you took up here or go for a stroll in the forest. You also get a fantastic view over the whole city, Lake Constance and all the way to Germany.

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in St. Gallen

Day 2: Free day in St. Gallen

Today, you’ve got heaps of activities and sights to choose from. For one, you have the option to stay in St. Gallen and do all the things we told you about yesterday. Alternatively, if you’d like to venture into the mountains, visit the nearby Alpstein mountain range. Catch the train to Wasserauen and hike up to Seealpsee, one of the three lakes in the Alpstein mountain range. Spend some time in this peaceful spot before moving on to Ebenalp.

On your way to Ebenalp, you’ll pass by a place you might have seen before. The famous Äscher restaurant. Ever since it was featured on National Geographic and on Ashton Kutcher’s Instagram, it‘s been completely overrun by its success. This sadly caused it to lose some of its former charm. However, it’s still a worthwhile place to snap a few photos and take a break.

At Ebenalp, you can choose between hiking back to Wasserauen or catching the cable car. If you still have it in you after this long day, you might like a quick stopover in Appenzell on your way to St. Gallen.

In case you hop off in Appenzell and are feeling brave, visit the little cheese store at Hauptgasse 13. But be warned, those smelly cheese fumes will knock your socks off the second you enter the store. There’s no way your feet will be able to compete with that odour. Not even after a full day of being trapped inside your trekking boots... 🙂

Oh, and don’t miss out on a piece of Appenzeller Biber, an iconic local sweet treat made of gingerbread and a honey almond filling. And before you ask: Nope. This Biber doesn’t have any famous Canadian relatives...

Also, if you’re a beer-lover, make sure to stop by the Locher brewery. They brew the popular Quöllfrisch beer that is consumed all across Switzerland.

Lake Constance is also easily accessible from St. Gallen. You can reach the shore of this beautiful lake within only half an hour. Whatever it is you end up doing, come back to St. Gallen in the evening for your second night.

• Best things to do in St. Gallen
• Lake Constance

Day 3: St. Gallen - Lucerne

Grab your bags in the morning and catch the Voralpen-Express to Lucerne. The Voralpen-Express passes through some very scenic landscapes and takes just over two hours to complete. Out of the many scenic train rides in Switzerland, this is one of the less touristy ones. It doesn’t come with fancy panorama windows and there’s no friendly voice pointing out what viaduct you just crossed.

But that doesn’t make it any less worth riding.

We recommend breaking up your journey halfway in and getting off in Rapperswil, a real hidden gem of a city. Head up to the castle, spend some time with the deer in the castle’s garden, go for a swim in Lake Zurich and walk along the idyllic esplanade.

An excellent spot to relax is the lawn behind OST, the technical college of Rapperswil. You can’t miss it when you head toward the lake after leaving the train station.

If you’re looking for an easy walk, follow the wooden footbridge and the connecting walkway across the lake to Pfäffikon. In doing so, you’ll be completing three kilometres (1.8 miles) of the Camino de Santiago trail, a pilgrim route leading from different places across Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Once you’re ready to move on, catch the next train to Lucerne and spend the afternoon exploring the city. Walk across the Kapellbrücke, take a stroll through the old town, hang out by the lake or visit the Glacier Garden with its famous Lion Monument.

• Best things to do in Lucerne

Day 4: Lucerne - Lugano

If you’re visiting Switzerland between April and October, you’re in luck. Unless you’re leaving Lucerne on a Monday, you have the opportunity to travel across the Alps to the sunny Canton of Ticino on the Gotthard Panorama Express.

On the first leg, a steamboat will take you on a three-hour ride across Lake Lucerne from Lucerne to Flüelen. From there, a panoramic train whisks you through the old Gotthard tunnel to Lugano in the Canton of Ticino.

Before Gotthard-Basistunnel opened in 2016, this was the only way to reach Ticino by rail. Nowadays, since the opening of the world’s longest railway tunnel, the old one is only used for tourist purposes.

You’ll arrive in Lugano around 4 pm, which leaves you with plenty of time to explore the city and its surroundings. For an extensive collection of things to do in and around here, turn to tomorrow’s outline.

Since you’re staying in the Canton of Ticino for the next two nights, you’re entitled to a Ticino Ticket. You’ll receive it when you check in to your accommodation. This fantastic travel pass lets you use public transport for free all across the Canton of Ticino. It also gives you numerous discounts on other local attractions and activities.

• Gotthard Panorama Express
• Best things to do in Lugano

Day 5: Free day in the Canton of Ticino

Get ready to explore the Italian part of Switzerland in all its glory. With the abundance of activities to choose from, you won’t get bored today. First up, we recommend you head to one of the two river valleys: Maggia or Verzasca. Both are fantastic for hiking, spending some time by the river or going for a refreshing swim.

Also, don’t forget to bring your picnic on this journey. You’ll find countless opportunities to take a break in both valleys. One of our favourite places is right below the famous stone bridge in Lavertezzo.

If you prefer calmer waters over cold mountain streams, head to Lago Maggiore or Lago di Lugano. Both lakes are stunning and provide you with more photo opportunities than you can imagine.

Other popular destinations in Ticino are the inspiring little artsy town of Ascona next to Locarno and the city of Lugano further south.

To brush up on your Swiss geography knowledge, visit Swissminiatur in Melide just outside Lugano. It’s a miniature version of Switzerland and displays incredible attention to detail.

In case you’re one of those adrenaline junkies, there’s always the 007 bungy at the end of Verzasca valley. You might have seen this 220 metre (720 feet) dive in the James Bond movie Golden Eye. If you decide to throw yourself off that wall, please don’t forget to share your picture with us. We’d love to see that...🙂

• Best things to do in Ticino

Day 6: Lugano - Tirano - St. Moritz

Today, you’ll be spending quite a few hours travelling back across the Alps. Your journey will take you across the Italian border to Tirano and up to the highest point of the Bernina Express Line in Ospizio Bernina. You’ll ride past glistening glaciers and crystal clear mountain lakes and eventually into the fancy mountain town of St. Moritz.

On the first leg, the Bernina Express Bus takes you through the impressive Valtellina wine region to Tirano, right next to the Swiss-Italian border.

It’s all uphill from here.

As you make your way up toward Ospizio Bernina, the highest point of the Bernina Express at 2.253 metres (7.397 feet) above sea level, you cross the circular viaduct in Brusio. Here, the train takes a full 360-degree turn to overcome the altitude.

At Ospizio Bernina, you’ll have gained quite some altitude and the outside temperature will be a lot cooler than it was just a couple of hours ago. From here, it’s only a short ride before you arrive at your final destination for today.

After this long day, you might like to stretch your legs at the promenade of Lake St. Moritz. You’ve earned it.

• Bernina Express

Day 7: St. Moritz - Zermatt

Today, you’re going to complete the full Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt. This ride on “the world’s slowest express train” is a once in a lifetime experience and will spoil you with the best views the Alps have to offer.

The train leaves St. Moritz twice a day, with both trains departing in the morning. The schedule changes throughout the year and there are certain trains that don’t do the full journey between St. Moritz and Zermatt. To find your connection, please make sure you consult their current timetable.

There’s a reason why the Glacier Express is one of the most popular scenic railway routes in Switzerland. What makes this journey so memorable are the fantastic views you get left, right and centre throughout the whole ride. The train takes you across 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels, three cantons and two language regions.

It takes just over 8 hours to complete and depending on what time you leave St. Moritz, you’ll arrive in Zermatt between 5 and 6 pm. Whenever you do arrive, spend the rest of the day strolling through this little mountain town and enjoy the sight of the mighty Matterhorn.

Provided it’s not veiled in clouds.

• Glacier Express - What to expect on this scenic train journey

Day 8: Zermatt - Montreux

Zermatt is all about mountains and the outdoors. If you’ve come to Switzerland for our spectacular mountain views, you’re going to love it here.

Several hikes and walks of all difficulty levels take you places you didn’t even know existed. Like for instance the popular Zermatt five-lakes trail, which takes 2.5 hours to complete. It leads past five crystal clear mountain lakes with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn.

Another impressive, yet head spinning adventure, is walking across the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Randa. It stretches 494 metres (1.620 feet) across the valley.

Hello vertigo!

The circular track starts and finishes in Randa, 15 minutes by train from Zermatt.

In case you’d rather skip the hiking altogether and see some mountains the easy way, we recommend heading up to Gornergrat. After a ridiculously steep train ride, you’ll find yourself at an altitude of 3089 metres (10.135 feet) above sea level. Right in front of the Gorner Glacier and the Matterhorn.

Don’t be surprised if climbing those steps to the viewpoint leaves you completely breathless. It’s not you, it’s the thin air.

Toward the end of the day, grab your bags and travel to Montreux by Lake Geneva. Since, again, you’ll be moving right on tomorrow morning, you’ve only got today to check out Montreux and its surroundings.

Once you’re ready to leave the alpine air, catch the train and head to Montreux by Lake Geneva. Spend the rest of the day walking along the Promenade of Montreux and check out the Freddie Mercury statue just outside the market hall.

In case you’re interested in castles, don’t miss out on visiting the famous Chillon Castle. To get there, either follow the Promenade by foot, catch a bus or take one of the regularly departing passenger ships.

Even if you’re not keen on going into the castle, we still recommend heading out there and spending some time by the lake. It’s a great place to hang out and take a bunch of jealousy-inducing pictures.

Alternatively, head in the opposite direction toward Vevey, where you’ll find a stunning riviera and many interesting museums. Only a short train ride west of Montreux, you’ll find the famous Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

To fully experience the gorgeous views, get off in Cully or Epesses and follow the signposted footpath through the vineyards.

We’re aware that this is quite a full schedule for today and we don’t encourage you to try and cover it all. But now that you know your options, you’re flexible and can plan your day according to your preferences.

And maybe the weather...

• Best things to do in Zermatt
• Best things to do in Montreux
• Chillon Castle

Day 9: Montreux - Interlaken - Lucerne

We hope you’re not sick of all the train rides yet. Because you’ve got another day looking out the window and enjoying spectacular views ahead of you. Leave the Lake Geneva region in the morning and start your climb up into the Alps on the Golden Pass Line.

After a couple of tunnels, you’ll arrive in the Bernese Oberland, our favourite part of the whole train journey. This region is an absolute dream for mountain-lovers and pretty much sums up what Switzerland is about. Lakes, mountains, lush meadows with grazing cows, glaciers, tons of hiking trails, wonderful landscapes and cute little villages are abundant in this area.

Even if you don’t have enough time to get off along the way, the ride through this picturesque area is something you probably won’t forget anytime soon. After leaving the Bernese Oberland and coming down the hills, you’ll arrive in Zweisimmen, where you’ll need to transfer to another train.

The next leg of the journey takes you past Spiez and Lake Thun before you arrive in Interlaken. Have a quick lunch break here and take a walk through this popular tourist town. Unfortunately, you don’t have ages here as you’re still a few hours away from Lucerne, your final stop of today.

So do what you need to do and hop on the next train. Enjoy another super scenic ride past mesmerising Lake Brienz, up the hill and finally down into Lucerne.

After all these hours sitting on your backside, you might enjoy a stroll through the old town of Lucerne. Walk across the Kapellbrücke, hang out by the lake or visit the Glacier Garden with its famous Lion Monument.

• Golden Pass Line
• Best things to do in Lucerne

Day 10: Lucerne - Zurich

You might have done enough train rides these past few days to last you a lifetime. To recover from the constant travelling, stick around in Lucerne for a while. There’s plenty to see and do around here, as you can see if you turn to day 9 on itinerary No. 1.

Toward the end of the day, catch the train back to Zurich and spend the rest of the day exploring Switzerland’s largest city.

• Best things to do in Zurich

Additional tips and information for itinerary 3

• Upon check-in at your accommodation in St. Gallen, Lucerne and Montreux, you’ll receive a Transport Card that lets you use local transport for free. In the case of St. Gallen, you can ride all the way to Lake Constance with it.
• All of these scenic train rides are covered with an Interrail, Eurail or Swiss Travel Pass. However, reservations are required for some of the trains and cost extra. The Voralpen-Express and the Golden Pass line are the only trains you can ride without a reservation.
• The Gotthard Panorama Express only runs from April to October, from Tuesday to Sunday. If you travel outside these months or on a Monday, take the regular train from Lucerne to Lugano. For the train ride between Flüelen and Lugano, you need a reservation.
• Ticino is a very popular vacation destination for Swiss people. If you travel during school vacations, you should book your accommodation in advance.
• The tranquillity of the Verzasca and Maggia valleys can be deceptive. As soon as it starts raining higher up in the mountains, these rivers become a dangerous force of nature. Please check the weather forecast before heading out. If it rains higher up, keep a safe distance from the water and don't take a nap on one of the comfortable boulders in the river. Visitors have already been surprised by the enormous water masses and died. We don't want you to be one of them.
• Please note that the Bernina Express Bus only runs April through November. If you travel outside of these months, you’ll need to find a different way to travel from Lugano to Tirano.
• You can complete the Golden Pass journey without making a reservation. However, the Golden Pass customer service recommends booking a seat for the segment between Zweisimmen and Montreux, as it can get pretty busy during high season.

4. Itinerary with six city trips, Mount Titlis and Europe’s largest waterfalls

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Visit the Benedictine monastery in Engelberg
• Enjoy the mountain panorama from Titlis at 3239 m above sea level
• Discover the highlights of Lucerne, Bern, Basel and Solothurn
• Fill your belly with delicious Kambly cookies
• Go on a day trip from Bern to a wide selection of destinations in the Alps or nearby cities
• Check out Solothurn, Switzerland’s most beautiful baroque city
• Visit the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe

Day 1: Zurich - Engelberg

In the morning, explore Zurich on your own, borrow a free bike with «Züri rollt» or join a guided city tour. After the tour, grab some take-away lunch and have it on the train to Engelberg.

This versatile mountain village is situated about 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of Lake Lucerne and lies at an altitude of 1013 metres (3323 feet) above sea level. At 3239 metres (10.626 feet), towering over the other peaks surrounding Engelberg, you’ll find mighty Mount Titlis.

Since you’ll arrive in Engelberg mid- or late afternoon, there won’t be enough time to head up there right away. So let’s leave that until tomorrow to make sure you don’t feel rushed.

Instead, what you can do this afternoon is check out the centre of Engelberg. Or more specifically, the Benedictine monastery. This ancient monastery, which was founded in 1120, is still inhabited by 20-odd monks. You can either visit the premises on your own or join a guided tour.

• Best things to do in Zurich

Day 2: Free day in Engelberg

Like so many places in the Swiss Alps, Engelberg has its focus on the outdoors. Unarguably the most popular destination in this area is Mount Titlis. From Engelberg, you’ll reach the top by catching two gondolas. One of them being the world’s first revolving aerial cableway. Expect to be presented with some impressive 360-degree views at the top. Alongside an impressive glacier cave and the exciting Titlis Cliff Walk by Tissot.

The hiking options in the area around Engelberg are also seemingly endless and cater to all kinds of preferences. One recommended hike is the so-called “Kitzelpfad” in Brunni. What literally translates to “tickle-path” requires you to take off your shoes and walk across different types of soil. And whilst your feet get tickled by nature, you’ll also be able to enjoy the perfect views of Mount Titlis.

Now what would a proper hike be without coming across a mountain lake or two...?

A slightly more advanced hike called Four-Lakes hike takes you past – you might have guessed it – four mountain lakes. Since this excursion takes almost five hours to complete, we recommend you only opt for it if you’re feeling fit enough.

For a more relaxing and less straining day, you might prefer the wheelchair accessible path around Engelberg. This two-hour walk starts at the monastery in the centre of Engelberg and leads all the way to the picturesque River Aa and back. Even though this walk doesn’t take you up into the peaks, it still comes with some pretty acceptable mountain views.

During winter, Engelberg turns into an absolute heaven for snow lovers. Whether you’re into skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, ice skating or sledging, you’ll have your expectations met. Engelberg is especially popular among freeriders.

• Best things to do in Engelberg
• Brunni Engelberg
• Mount Titlis

Day 3: Engelberg - Lucerne - Bern

If there’s anything you wanted to do in Engelberg yesterday but ran out of time, get that over with in the morning and leave for Lucerne afterwards. Travelling from Engelberg to Lucerne takes less than an hour and is very straightforward.

Once you arrive, store your bags at the train station and spend a few hours exploring this charming city. Walk across the Kapellbrücke, take a stroll through the old town, hang out by the lake or visit the Glacier Garden with its famous Lion Monument.

Whatever you do, make sure you work up an appetite for your ride to Trubschachen. You’ll need every free inch in your stomach for the biscuit-feast awaiting you.

Once you’re ready to move on, catch the train to Trubschachen. But watch out. This train gets split up along the way and only the front part travels through the picturesque Entlebuch region to the Kambly factory. When you’re at the platform in Lucerne, please check the display to make sure you get on the right half of the train.

The Kambly factory store right next to Trubschachen station is free to visit. In here, you can spend as much time as you like tasting up to 100 types of delicious biscuits. Unfortunately, you can’t visit the factory and watch the production of this iconic Swiss biscuit. However, they do have a cinema at the shop where they give you some more insight into this traditional family business.

After reaching the point of explosion, or maybe two biscuits before, move on to Bern. To digest your Kambly overdose, go for a walk in Switzerland’s capital city. For an impressive night view over Bern, we recommend heading up to Rosengarten.

• Best things to do in Lucerne
• Best things to do in Bern

Day 4: Free day in Bern

In this beautiful UNESCO listed town, you’ve got plenty of activities to choose from. Join a guided city tour or explore Bern on your own. Take a stroll through the old town, head to the bear park, check out the Bundeshaus (House of Parliament) and walk back up to Rosengarten for more views.

You can also visit Gurten – Bern’s backyard mountain – see some animals at Dählhölzli wildlife park or visit the botanical garden. Alternatively, catch the elevator at the train station to hang out at Grosse Schanze or go for a swim either in the River Aare or at Weyermannshaus.

Bern is also conveniently located in close proximity to a variety of breathtaking destinations. So you can easily go on a daytrip from here. For one, there’s Thun and Interlaken, which are two wonderful places to visit for some spectacular lake and mountain views.

If you’re into mountain lakes, you’re in luck, too. Lake Oeschinensee and Blausee are both within reach from Bern and more than worth a trip. The crystal clear water in both lakes will leave you breathless.

Only half an hour west of Bern lies the mediaeval city of Fribourg. If you decide to head over there, follow the citywalk signs leading you through this mighty old town. The signs will lead you up and down some very steep alleyways, across ancient wooden bridges, down to the River Saane and past the city’s very own funicular. For an even better view of your surroundings, tackle the 365 steps to the tower of the Cathedral. The River Saane at the bottom of the city is a great spot to stretch your legs and treat yourself to a snack.

Technically, you could take this even further and head to Gruyères and Broc for some typical Swiss cheese and chocolate. Whatever you end up doing today and whenever you’re ready, head back to Bern for your last night in the city.

You should definitely find enough things to keep you busy for a day.

• Best things to do in Bern
• Best things to do in Fribourg
• Best things to do in Thun
• Best things to do in Interlaken
• Best things to do on Lake Thun

Day 5: Bern - Solothurn

If there’s anything you wanted to do in Bern yesterday but ran out of time, get that over with in the morning and leave for Solothurn whenever you’re ready.

Solothurn is commonly known as “Switzerland’s most beautiful baroque city”. Take a stroll through this pretty old town and get ready to spend a full day in the area tomorrow. Also, go ahead and treat yourself to a few scoops of ice cream at Vitaminstation – one of the ice cream places ever – and have it while sitting on the stone wall along the River Aare.

You’ll fit right in with the locals in doing so.

Seraina’s Tip: My two absolute favourite places for food in Solothurn are Pittaria and Vitaminstation. Anyone that likes a good falafel or hummus is going to love Pittaria. And Vitaminstation makes some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted in Switzerland.

Day 6: Free day in Solothurn

Although Solothurn is by no means a big city, there’s still plenty to see and do in the area. One activity we particularly recommend is going on a hike in the Jura mountains. This high plateau is a wonderful area to visit all year round.

One option to reach the top with its countless walking trails is by cable car from Oberdorf to Weissenstein. Feel free to walk as long and as far as you like before hiking back down or catching the cable car to Oberdorf.

A very popular hike is the round trip from Solothurn via Balmberg and Weissenstein. Catch the Postauto in Solothurn, get off at Balmberg, walk along the crest to Weissenstein and head back down to Oberdorf by cable car. From Oberdorf, the train will take you back to Solothurn.

This is an easy walk and takes you into the Jura without too much effort. During your hike, you’ll also enjoy the view over the Alps, including Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Another place you can visit is Verena Gorge. You can walk along the creek through the forest in the gorge until you reach the little hermitage at the end. The walk takes roughly 45 minutes return and is super peaceful.

Alternatively, hop on the passenger ship to Biel. How long you stay on it really depends on your preferences. You can go all the way to Biel – which takes around three hours – or get off anywhere along the way and catch the train back to Solothurn.

One of the highlights on this tour will be Switzerland’s largest stork station in Altreu, which you’ll pass about 45 minutes into the journey. In 1950, when storks were nearly extinct in Switzerland, Max Bloesch started his reintroduction project to save our storks. Thanks to him, around 40 breeding pairs can be seen soaring through the air, strutting across the fields and clattering on the rooftops around Altreu these days.

Only in spring and summer, though. They travel to warmer territories in autumn until winter is over.

If you continue your journey onward to Biel, the views of the Jura mountains and the Swiss Central Plateau will accompany you all the way. After passing through a watergate, you’ll arrive at the port in Biel, which is only a short walk from the train station.

From there, heading back to Solothurn will take 15 minutes by train.

Day 7: Solothurn - Basel

If you’d like to cover some more ground in Solothurn this morning, stick around as long as you need to before moving on to Basel. The train ride takes just under an hour. Basel is a vibrant city right on the German and French border. It offers several walking tours at various times throughout the week. Pick a tour or just head out into the city on your own.

Stop by the Pfalz – the perfect viewing platform to snap some postcard-quality photos – walk along the River Rhine to watch the big cargo ships enter and leave the harbour, pass by the Cathedral or geek out in one of the many museums.

During the warmer summer months, an activity you might enjoy is joining the locals for a swim in the River Rhine. Before hopping into the water and letting the current take them downstream, they usually pack their clothes into a so-called Wickelfisch. This dry-bag comes in the shape of a fish and is iconic to Basel.

• Best things to do in Basel

Day 8: Basel - Schaffhausen

If there’s something you didn’t get to do in Basel yesterday, today’s your day. But in case you’ve seen enough of the city already, you can always hop across the border and visit Weil am Rhein in Germany or St. Louis in France.

Technically, you could even visit three countries in one day. Switzerland, Germany and France. That’s completely doable in Basel and might be something you don’t get to experience every day. Especially if you’re from a country that requires you to get on a plane to cross the nearest border within a reasonable amount of time.

Whenever you’re ready to leave Basel, catch the train to Schaffhausen. This city has a charming old town with an impressive total of 171 bay windows, which is more than any other Swiss city can account for. Once you’re done chasing them all down and exploring the rest of Schaffhausen, head up to Munot and enjoy the view over the city.

• Best things to do in Schaffhausen

Day 9: Free day in Schaffhausen

The main reason why people come to Schaffhausen are the mighty Rhine Falls, an impressive force of nature that attracts visitors from all over the world. Access to the falls is free from the northern shore, while seeing them from Laufen Castle in the south costs 5 CHF. Spend however long you please getting soaked in the mist of the Rhine Falls before going back to Schaffhausen.

Since you’ve got all day in the area, just hanging out by the falls won’t cut it. Which is why you can either spend some more time in the city, maybe go on a tour or leave Schaffhausen altogether.

Not too far away lies the picture-perfect old town of Stein am Rhein. This little town is where Lake Constance ends and the River Rhine begins.

Small yet incredibly charming, Stein am Rhein is the ideal place to spend some time admiring those beautifully painted houses. Once you’ve seen enough, embark on a journey up the River Rhine and back to Schaffhausen. This boat trip takes roughly two hours and is said to be one of the prettiest in Switzerland.

If you’re really fast and ready to leave Schaffhausen around lunchtime, you can head even further and spend some time by Lake Constance, which shares its territory with Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

• Best things to do in Stein am Rhein
• Lake Constance

Day 10: Schaffhausen - Zurich

Today’s outline completely depends on your energy level after a quite intense week of travelling. If you’re not tired of being on the move yet, you can squeeze in a little side trip before returning to Zurich later on today.

Either head to Lake Constance, in case you didn’t make it there yesterday, or travel to St. Gallen. We talk about these two destinations more in depth on days 2 and 3 in itinerary No. 5. So scroll ahead for more information.

Toward the end of the day, or even around lunchtime if you’re not keen about that side trip idea, catch the train back to Zurich. Spend the rest of the day exploring Switzerland’s largest city.

• Best things to do in Zurich

Additional tips and information for itinerary 4

• The passenger ship between Solothurn and Biel runs three times a day from May to October. Please check the timetable to find your connection. If you travel with a Swiss Travel Pass, all journeys are fully covered. If you are travelling with an Interrail or Eurail Pass, you will receive a 50% discount on the boat trip from Solothurn to Biel.
• When you're in Altreu, keep an eye out for pooping (excuse the expression) storks. They usually don't hold back and you wouldn't be the first person to get splattered with, well... you know what, when you get off the boat.
• If you want to take a trip to Germany or France, don't forget to exchange a few euros. And don't forget to bring your passport. Since Switzerland is not part of the European Union, you will have to show your passport when you leave the country.
• The boat between Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen does not run all year round. Please check the timetable to plan your trip accordingly. If you prefer to skip this part, take the train back to Schaffhausen instead

5. Itinerary with the alpine Engadine region, the sunny Ticino and two scenic train rides

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Admire the Abbey District in St. Gallen (UNESCO)
• Hike in the Alpstein mountains with their spectacular views
• Spend the night in the Swiss National Park
• Enjoy the stunning, alpine Engadine region in the Canton of Grisons
• Ride the Bernina Express across the Alps to Lugano
• Discover the warm and sunny canton of Ticino
• Visit one of the popular river valleys Maggia or Verzasca

Day 1: Zurich - St. Gallen

In the morning, explore Zurich on your own, borrow a free bike with «Züri rollt» or join a guided city tour. After the tour, grab some take-away lunch and have it on the train to St. Gallen.

Spend the afternoon exploring the old town of St. Gallen. With the UNESCO listed Abbey District, its towering Cathedral and the impressive Abbey Library, this city has quite a few things to offer.

While you’re here, make sure you don’t miss a trip to the recreational area of Drei Weieren. To get there, either catch the Mühleggbahn or take the stairs. Alternatively, visit the wildlife park Peter & Paul or still your cultural thirst at one of the many museums.

By far the best place to relax is at Drei Weieren. Go for a refreshing swim to recover from the many steps you took up here or go for a stroll in the forest. You also get a fantastic view over the whole city, Lake Constance and all the way to Germany.

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in St. Gallen

Day 2: St. Gallen - Alpstein - St. Gallen

Today, you’re in for some serious hiking and a ton of impressive mountain views. In the morning, catch the train to Wasserauen and hike up to Seealpsee, one of the three lakes in the Alpstein mountain range. Spend some time in this peaceful spot before moving on to Ebenalp.

On your way to Ebenalp, you’ll pass by a place you might have seen before. The famous Äscher restaurant. Ever since it was featured on National Geographic and on Ashton Kutcher’s Instagram, it‘s been completely overrun by its success. This sadly caused it to lose some of its former charm. However, it’s still a worthwhile place to snap a few photos and take a break.

At Ebenalp, you can choose between hiking back to Wasserauen or catching the cable car. If you still have it in you after this long day, you might like a quick stopover in Appenzell on your way to St. Gallen.

In case you hop off in Appenzell and are feeling brave, visit the little cheese store at Hauptgasse 13. But be warned, those smelly cheese fumes will knock your socks off the second you enter the store. There’s no way your feet will be able to compete with that odour. Not even after a full day of being trapped inside your trekking boots... 🙂

Oh, and don’t miss out on a piece of Appenzeller Biber, an iconic local sweet treat made of gingerbread and a honey almond filling. And before you ask: Nope. This Biber doesn’t have any famous Canadian relatives...

Also, if you’re a beer-lover, make sure to stop by the Locher brewery. They brew the popular Quöllfrisch beer that is consumed all across Switzerland.

In the evening, head back to St. Gallen and enjoy sleeping like a baby tonight. Fresh mountain air has a tendency to leave you peacefully exhausted.

Day 3: St. Gallen - Lake Constance - St. Gallen

After breakfast, spend some more time in St. Gallen and head to the shores of Lake Constance afterwards. Rorschach, Romanshorn and even Constance in Germany are all accessible within 25 to 35 minutes by train.

This lake is 63 kilometres (39 miles) long, up to 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) wide and shares its shores with Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It’s one of Europe’s biggest lakes and is very easy to reach from St. Gallen by train.

This tri-national area offers a considerable amount of sights and activities for you to discover. For one, there’s the picturesque town of Constance in Germany that’s just within walking distance from Kreuzlingen. Most Swiss go there for its cheap shopping, but Constance has more to offer than low-priced stores.

With its charming old town, a wide array of cafés, restaurants, ice cream places and peaceful spots to hang out by the lake, Constance certainly manages to attract visitors throughout the warmer months. If you’re into fish and other creatures that live and dwell under water, the Sea Life is always a potential bad weather option.

Of course, you don’t need to leave the country to enjoy Lake Constance to its fullest. Visit one of the many beaches, go for a swim, catch a passenger ship, rent a stand up paddleboard, grab a bike and follow the trails or go for a walk along the lakeshore.

The Canton of Thurgau, which makes up most of the Swiss part along Lake Constance, is famous for its apple trees. One of the walks we recommend in this area is the Altnauer Apple Trail. It’s particularly idyllic when the trees bloom in April and May or then again during harvest time in autumn. The trail is basically divided into three separate trails, which all contain informative signs addressing different topics. Combine all three trails and you’ll know everything there is to know about apples. Oh, and options to buy and taste a selection of apple products are plentiful along the way, too.

Once you’re done exploring the area, catch the train back to St. Gallen for one last night.

• Lake Constance

Day 4: St. Gallen - Scuol

What time you continue your journey today is entirely up to you. The train ride to Scuol takes just under three hours and even if you stick around in St. Gallen until the afternoon, you can still make it to Scuol in time.

So catch the train whenever you’re ready and travel to the marvellous Engadine region in the Canton of Grisons. The Engadine has to be one of the most magical places in Switzerland. Especially during autumn, when the leaves turn yellow, orange and red. But throughout the rest of the year, it’s just as fantastic a place to visit.

Enjoy the rest of your day exploring Scuol and get ready for a few days of being surrounded by mountains, forests, rivers, lakes and plenty of Swiss wildlife.

Ever seen a marmot? Chances of seeing one in the near future are pretty good.

Day 5: Scuol - Chamanna Cluozza

These next two days, you’re going to explore Switzerland’s only national park in all its glory. Leave your luggage in Scuol and only take what you need for your hiking excursion. If you ask nicely, they might let you leave your luggage at your accommodation in Scuol until you come back from the mountains tomorrow night.

The rules that apply when visiting Switzerland’s only National Park are pretty strict. There’s no leaving the marked trails, no taking plants with you, no making fires and so on. Once you arrive at the gates of the park, please read the signs or stop by the visitor centre in Zernez to make sure you’re prepared.

What you probably weren’t expecting is that visiting the park is free. Everything in Switzerland seems to be more expensive than anywhere else in the world. And yet, while you pay an entrance fee to pretty much every National Park in the world, ours is free. Pretty cool, right?

Since the only place to spend the night inside the Swiss National Park is a mountain hut called Chamanna Cluozza, you’ve got one task to accomplish today. Get to Chamanna Cluozza.

One hike we recommend starts half an hour from Scuol, in the village of Zernez. From there, you’ll spend a good three hours until you reach your camp for the night. The hike isn’t too straining. And if you’re not the most experienced hiker, just give yourself enough time and you should be alright.

Enjoy this evening far away from civilisation without phone reception and sitting around a table chatting to strangers. You’ve earned it.

Day 6: Chamanna Cluozza - Scuol

If you haven’t planned out today’s hike yet, ask the owners of Chamanna Cluozza for their recommendations. You have several further options of different difficulty levels to explore the National Park.

Or you can make your way straight back to Scuol after breakfast if you’ve had enough. It’s entirely up to you. If you’re looking for some relaxing alternatives to climbing up and down those steep mountains, the Engadine certainly has you covered.

For one, there are the hot springs in Scuol. Depending on how sore your legs are from your National Park endeavours, a few hours in this relaxing setting might just be what you need.

Otherwise, we suggest heading to one of the nearby villages. Like for instance Guarda or Sent. The stone houses you’ll encounter are characteristic to this part of Switzerland. And while you’re walking by those mighty buildings, keep an eye out for a bakery.

The Engadine is where the iconic Engadiner Nusstorte comes from. If you have a sweet tooth, we highly recommend you don’t leave before grabbing a slice or two. It’s heavy and rich. And it’s worth every single calorie.

• Best things to do in Scuol
• Best things to do in the Engadine

Day 7: Scuol - St. Moritz

After breakfast, leave Scuol and head to St. Moritz. You’ve got all day to explore this fancy mountain town today. St. Moritz is all about the outdoors. Summer and winter. Whether you’re into biking, hiking, stand up paddling, swimming, windsurfing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or just going for a walk, you’ll find your fix.

Only a short ride from St. Moritz lies Lake Silvaplana, a stunning place to cover some of those activities.

On the culinary side, we recommend grabbing a bowl of Bündner Gerstensuppe. This barley soup with vegetables and meat is iconic to the Grisons. It warms you up like nothing else on a chilly day.

Back in St. Moritz, spend the rest of the day strolling through the town or hanging out by the lake. It’s not as charming and mystical as other villages in the area like Samedan or La Punt. But it’s great for window shopping and maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll even spot a celebrity or two.

• Best things to do in St. Moritz

Day 8: St. Moritz - Tirano - Lugano

Today, you’ll be spending quite a few hours travelling across the Alps from St. Moritz all the way to Lugano. Your journey will take you up to the highest point of the Bernina Express Line, past glistening glaciers and crystal clear mountain lakes, down to the southern part of Switzerland and across a spectacular viaduct before crossing into Italy.

And eventually back to Switzerland...

The first leg of this scenic train ride takes you to Ospizio Bernina, the highest point of today’s journey. This little railway station isn’t far from St. Moritz and lies 2253 metres (7391 feet) above sea level. It’s all downhill from here. Figuratively speaking, of course. As you make your way down toward Italy, you cross the circular viaduct in Brusio. Here, the train takes a full 360-degree turn to overcome the altitude.

At this point, you’ll have lost quite some altitude and the outside temperature will be a lot warmer than it was just a couple of hours ago. The last leg of the journey starts in Tirano, right next to the Swiss-Italian border. From Tirano, the Bernina Express Bus takes you through the impressive Valtellina wine region.

Before crossing back into Switzerland, you’ll drive past Lake Como, the place where George Clooney and many other celebrities got married.

After this long day, you might like to stretch your legs at the promenade of Lake Lugano. Enjoy the view, grab a few scoops of ice cream and take a stroll through Lugano.

You’ve earned it.

Since you’re staying in the Canton of Ticino for the next two nights, you’re entitled to a Ticino Ticket. You’ll receive it when you check in to your accommodation. This fantastic travel pass lets you use public transport for free all across the Canton of Ticino. It also gives you numerous discounts on other local attractions and activities.

• Bernina Express

Day 9: Free day in the Canton of Ticino

Get ready to explore the Italian part of Switzerland in all its glory. With the abundance of activities to choose from, you won’t get bored today. First up, we recommend you head to one of the two river valleys: Maggia or Verzasca. Both are fantastic for hiking, spending some time by the river or going for a refreshing swim.

Also, don’t forget to bring your picnic on this journey. You’ll find countless opportunities to take a break in both valleys. My favourite place is right below the famous stone bridge in Lavertezzo.

If you prefer calmer waters over cold mountain streams, head to Lago Maggiore or Lago di Lugano. Both lakes are stunning and provide you with more photo opportunities than you can imagine.

Other popular destinations in Ticino are the inspiring little artsy town of Ascona next to Locarno and the city of Lugano further south.

To brush up on your Swiss geography knowledge, visit Swissminiatur in Melide just outside Lugano. It’s a miniature version of Switzerland and displays incredible attention to detail.

In case you’re one of those adrenaline junkies, there’s always the 007 bungy at the end of Verzasca valley. You might have seen this 220 metre (720 feet) dive in the James Bond movie Golden Eye. If you decide to throw yourself off that wall, please don’t forget to share your picture with us. We’d love to see that...🙂

• Best things to do in Ticino
• Best things to do in Lugano

Day 10: Lugano - Lucerne - Zurich

If you’re visiting Switzerland between April and October, you’re in luck. Unless you’re leaving Ticino on a Monday, you have the opportunity to travel back across the Alps on the Gotthard Panorama Express.

On the first leg of this journey, a panoramic train will take you through the old Gotthard tunnel to Flüelen. Before Gotthard-Basistunnel opened in 2016, this was the only way to reach Ticino by rail. Nowadays, since the opening of the world’s longest tunnel, the old one is only used for tourist purposes.

From Flüelen, a steamboat will take you on a three-hour ride across Lake Lucerne. You’ll arrive in Lucerne around 3 pm, right next to the train station. This will leave you with enough time to either explore Lucerne or head straight back to Zurich.

• Gotthard Panorama Express

Additional tips and information for itinerary 5

• Keep your eyes open for wildlife during your hikes. The chances of seeing some marmots, chamois or even ibex are pretty good.
• If you're staying at Chamanna Cluozza, be sure to book in advance. Use the booking page to make a reservation.
• This itinerary is best in the summer or fall. Especially if you plan to spend some time in the National Park. Of course, you can also visit it in winter. But that would mean that you would have to skip Chamanna Cluozza and spend more time in the snow in Scuol. Not a bad alternative either...
• The Bernina Express timetable changes depending on the season. To find your connection and make a reservation, visit the RhB website. The Bernina Express bus between Tirano and Lugano only runs from May to November.
• The Gotthard Panorama Express only runs from April to October, from Tuesday to Sunday. If you travel outside these months or on a Monday, take the regular train from Lugano to Zurich instead. For the train ride between Lugano and Flüelen you need a reservation.
• If you are travelling with an Interrail or Eurail pass, only the train ride from Lugano to Flüelen on the Gotthard Panorama Express is fully covered. The trip with the steamboat costs extra.

6. Itinerary through western Switzerland and the Bernese Alps

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Explore the beautiful cities of Nyon, Lausanne and Montreux by Lake Geneva
• Visit the wine terraces in Lavaux (UNESCO)
• Hike to the Dent de Vaulion for some impressive Jura-views
• Challenge yourself to the Peak Walk at Glacier 3000
• Visit the old town of Bern (UNESCO)
• Discover the best of the Bernese Alps - including Interlaken and Gstaad

Day 1: Geneva - Lyon - Lausanne

In the morning, explore Geneva on your own, borrow a free bike with «Genève Roule» or join a guided city tour. After the tour, buy some take-away lunch and have it on the train to Nyon.

This mediaeval town by the shore of Lake Geneva is surrounded by a couple of charming vineyards. Follow the path through the vineyards to Nyon Castle to take in the view. After your lunch break, catch the train to Lausanne. Check in to your accommodation and make the most of your free Lausanne Transport Card.

Lausanne’s picturesque old town is built on three hills and surrounded by numerous vineyards. It’s home to the International Olympic Committee, as well as Switzerland’s only metro.

To hear something interesting, head to the Cathedral between 10 pm and 2 am and observe the tower. Night guards have been shouting out the current time in the middle of the night from up there since 1405.

• Best things to do in Geneva

Day 2: Lausanne - Lac de Joux / Creux du Van - Lausanne

After breakfast, buy enough food for the day and head straight to Le Pont, a village in the Valleé de Joux. The train ride from Lausanne to the valley takes roughly an hour. Vallée de Joux is part of the Jura mountains and offers countless hiking options. In the centre of the valley, you’ll find a peaceful lake called Lac de Joux.

By far the most popular spot in the area is the distinctive mountain of Dent de Vaulion. Hiking the circular path from Le Pont takes around three hours. The views from Dent de Vaulion across the Vallée de Joux, all the way to Lake Geneva and way into France, make this place extra special.

Since you’ve got all day up here, spend as much time in the area as you like. Hang out by Lac de Joux, walk the path around the lake or do whatever else your heart desires. Whenever you feel like it, catch the train back to Lausanne and spend the rest of the day exploring the city.

If you’re in for a bit of a challenge, we recommend hiking to Creux du Van instead. This natural, one-kilometre wide amphitheatre got its shape from constant erosion by water and ice. Marmots, mountain goats, deer and various birds inhabit this area.

The starting point of the hike is in Noiraigue, a village that takes roughly an hour and a half to reach from Lausanne. Hiking to Creux du Van is pretty tough and will take up to five hours. Spend as much time as you like at the amphitheatre before heading back to Noiraigue and Lausanne.

Of course, Switzerland gets its fair share of bad weather and we don’t suggest you do this hike if it’s raining. The rocks can get slippery and dangerous when they’re wet and we don’t want you to get hurt!

• Best things to do in Lausanne

Day 3: Lausanne - Lavaux - Bern

In the morning, cover some more ground in Lausanne. Before you leave for Bern, make sure you spend some quality time in one of our favourite spots in Switzerland. Only a short train ride east of Lausanne, you’ll find the famous Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

To fully experience the gorgeous views, get off in Cully or Epesses and follow the signposted footpath through the vineyards. The views across Lake Geneva are unparalleled and will take your breath away.

After your little excursion, go back to Lausanne to pick up your luggage. From there, a direct train takes you to Bern in just over an hour. You’ve got the rest of the day to roam the streets of our capital city. Take a stroll through the old town, head to the bear park, check out the Bundeshaus (House of Parliament) and walk back to Rosengarten for the views.

You can also visit Gurten – Bern’s backyard mountain – see some animals at Dählhölzli wildlife park or visit the botanical garden. Alternatively, catch the elevator at the train station to hang out at Grosse Schanze or go for a swim either in the River Aare or at Weyermannshaus. In the evening, we recommend you walk (or catch the bus) back up to Rosengarten for some impressive night views.

• Best things to do in Bern

Day 4: Bern - Morat - Neuchâtel - Bern

After breakfast, catch the train and venture to the quaint little town of Morat. This ride will only take you half an hour and you won’t even need to transfer. Morat itself is tiny and won’t take you long to figure out. Spend a few moments strolling through its historic town centre and stretch your legs by the lake.

This area is perfect for biking, hiking, swimming or just hanging out by the lake as well.

By the way, you’ll find Europe’s longest freshwater beach at Lake Morat in Salavaux. This might not impress anyone who grew up by the sea, but for a land-locked country like Switzerland, this is a big deal...

Once you’ve seen enough of Morat, travel on to Neuchâtel. Spend the afternoon exploring this beautiful city with its lake views and steep alleyways. For some additional great views, head up to Chaumont, Neuchâtel’s backyard mountain.

The funicular leaves from Le Coudre and takes you to the summit. From the summit, you can hike down to Cressier via Trois Cheminées. From Cressier, the bus will take you back to Neuchâtel. Alternatively, go for a walk around Chaumont and catch the funicular back down.

Toward the end of the day, make your way back to Bern and enjoy another night in Switzerland’s capital.

• Best things to do in Morat

Day 5: Day trip from Bern

Bern is conveniently located in close proximity to a variety of breathtaking destinations. If you’re into mountain lakes, you’re in luck. Lake Oeschinensee and Blausee are both within reach from Bern and more than worth a trip. The crystal clear water in both lakes will leave you breathless.

Only half an hour west of Bern lies the mediaeval city of Fribourg. If you decide to head over there, follow the citywalk signs leading you through this mighty old town. The signs will lead you up and down some very steep alleyways, across ancient wooden bridges, down to the River Saane and past the city’s very own funicular. For an even better view of your surroundings, tackle the 365 steps to the tower of the Cathedral. The River Saane at the bottom of the city is a great spot to stretch your legs and treat yourself to a snack.

Technically, you could take this even further and head to Gruyères and Broc for some typical Swiss cheese and chocolate. Whatever you end up doing today and whenever you’re ready, head back to Bern for your last night in the city.

• Best things to do in Fribourg

Day 6: Bern - Interlaken

You decide how to plan out your day today. One option is to stay in Bern for a little while longer and keep exploring the capital of Switzerland. Alternatively, if you’ve seen enough, travel onward to the adrenaline-packed and popular town of Interlaken.

Spend the day in this conveniently located place between two stunning and crystal clear lakes. Activities are endless and you’ve got all day tomorrow and parts of the day after to explore Interlaken and its surroundings.

Since your options in this area are so plentiful, check tomorrow’s suggestions to see if you find something to tick off the list today already. Maybe you fancy a short trip to Lauterbrunnen or a ride up Harder Kulm for some great views?

Day 7: Free day in Interlaken

You’ve got more activities to choose from today than you can wrap your head around. It all depends on your budget, but in an adrenaline-packed place like Interlaken, the sky’s the limit.

If even that...

Skydiving, paragliding, canyoning and jet boating are all popular activities that will get your adrenaline flowing.

Another option is to embark on a passenger ship cruise on either Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. Both rides come with incredible views that will make you wish you’d never have to leave.

If you’re looking for a stopover on one of the cruises, get off at either Giessbach (Lake Brienz), the Saint Beatus Caves or Spiez (Lake Thun).

The Jungfrau region around Interlaken is also an excellent playground for hikers. The amount of trails is nearly endless and whatever your fitness level and ambitions, you’ll find something to your taste.

Of course, the No. 1 destination everybody wants to see out here is the famous Jungfraujoch – aka Top of Europe. If you’re after a slightly more budget-friendly experience, we suggest looking into visiting Mount Schilthorn, Schynige Platte, Grindelwald First or Männlichen instead. The rides up to these mountains and the views from the top won’t disappoint you.

Other places of interest in and around Interlaken are: the open-air museum Ballenberg, the chocolate workshops at Funky Chocolate Club, the two mountain lakes Blausee or Oeschinensee or the Aare Gorge.

And let’s not forget those charming towns and villages like Brienz, Spiez, Thun, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald.

We could go on forever here but we guess this would only make you hate that you don’t have all week here.

• Best things to do in Interlaken
• 12 Tips for your first trip to Jungfraujoch
• Mount Schilthorn Piz Gloria
• Schynige Platte - Top of Swiss Tradition
• Skydive Interlaken - why you shouldn’t miss it
• Ballenberg open-air museum

Day 8: Interlaken - Gstaad

You can leave Interlaken right after breakfast or spend a couple more hours here. It’s up to you and depends on your plans later on today in the Bernese Alps. So grab your bags whenever you see fit and hop on the train to Gstaad.

You’re in for plenty of scenic treats today. From Interlaken to Spiez to Zweisimmen and onward to Gstaad, you’ll be travelling on the Golden Pass Line. This popular scenic train route connects the centre of Switzerland with the shores of Lake Geneva.

After your second transfer in Zweisimmen, the climb through the Bernese Oberland towards Gstaad begins. This region is an absolute dream for mountain-lovers and pretty much sums up what Switzerland is about. Lakes, mountains, lush meadows with grazing cows, glaciers, tons of hiking trails, wonderful landscapes and cute little villages are abundant in this area.

This is why you’ll be spending two nights up here. Get off in Gstaad, check into your accommodation and head out to explore the Alps. Your hiking options are endless. Find a hike that suits your fitness level and enjoy the views. By the way, Lake Lauenensee is only one of the popular places you can visit up here.

In the evening, if you decide to wander through Gstaad, keep your eyes peeled for celebrities. This place is a playground for the rich and famous. Much like St. Moritz.

• Golden Pass Line

Day 9: Gstaad - Glacier 3000 - Gstaad

If there was ever a day when you needed your camera, it’s today. The mountain panorama awaiting you at your destination is unparalleled, so make sure your battery is fully charged.

The destination we're talking about is the impressive Glacier 3000, which is very easy to access from Gstaad. After a 35-minute bus ride to Col-du-Pillon, you’ll find yourself at the base of some seriously impressive mountains.

Hop on the cable car and enjoy the ride. At the top, you’ll be presented with the most astonishing 360-degree views. On a clear day, you can see several huge players in the alpine scene like the Matterhorn, the Mont Blanc massif and the popular mountain-trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

If you’re brave enough, tackle the Peak Walk to Scex Rouge. This is the world’s first suspension bridge connecting two peaks. Crossing this bridge is an experience you’ll likely never forget.

Depending on what time you arrive back in Gstaad, spend a couple more hours strolling through the town or set out on another hike before enjoying one more night in the Bernese Alps.

• Glacier 3000

Day 10: Gstaad - Montreux - Geneva

Time to say goodbye to this beautiful region. Catch the Golden Pass train after breakfast and continue your scenic journey to Montreux, where you have a couple of hours before travelling back to Geneva. Head to the Promenade of Montreux and check out the Freddie Mercury statue just outside the market hall.

In case you’re interested in castles, don’t miss out on visiting the famous Chillon Castle. To get there, either follow the Promenade by foot, catch a bus or take one of the regularly departing passenger ships.

Even if you’re not keen on going into the castle, we still recommend heading out there and spending some time by the lake. It’s a great place to hang out and take a bunch of jealousy-inducing pictures.

Head back to Geneva toward the end of the day and spend the evening in Switzerland’s second largest city.

• Best things to do in Montreux

Additional tips and information for itinerary 6

• For this trip you will definitely need some kind of passport. Be it an Interrail, Eurail or Swiss Travel Pass.
• You can make the trip with the Golden Pass without a reservation. However, Golden Pass customer service recommends reserving a seat for the section between Zweisimmen and Montreux, as it can get quite crowded in high season.
• Access to Chillon Castle is free if you have a Swiss Travel Pass. Even if you don't want to visit the castle, it's worth seeing it from the outside.

7. Itinerary through the French, Italian and German parts of Switzerland

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Visit the wine terraces in Lavaux (UNESCO) on Lake Geneva
• Fill your belly with delicious Kambly cookies and Cailler chocolate
• Ski or hike in Saas-Fee - the pearl of the Alps
• Find yourself surrounded by Switzerland’s tallest mountains
• Hike at the foot of the famous Matterhorn in Zermatt
• Ride through the beautiful Centovalli to Locarno in the Canton of Ticino
• Go for a quick stroll in the picturesque old towns of Lucerne and Bern (UNESCO)
• Venture on the Peak Walk at Glacier 3000, a suspension bridge between two peaks

Day 1: Geneva - Nyon - Lausanne - Montreux

In the morning, explore Geneva on your own, borrow a free bike with «Genève Roule» or join a guided city tour. After the tour, buy some take-away lunch and have it on the train to Nyon.

This mediaeval town by the shore of Lake Geneva is surrounded by a couple of charming vineyards. Follow the path through the vineyards to Nyon Castle to take in the view. After your lunch break, catch the train to Lausanne.

Lausanne’s picturesque old town is built on three hills and surrounded by numerous vineyards. It’s home to the International Olympic Committee, as well as Switzerland’s only metro. Once you’re ready to move on, catch the train to Montreux, which is only a short ride away from Lausanne. Spend the rest of the day in this pretty city by Lake Geneva.

• Best things to do in Geneva
• Best things to do in Montreux

Day 2: Montreux - Gruyères / Broc - Montreux

After breakfast, catch the train to the very touristy yet wonderful, quaint little village of Gruyères. The ride between Montreux and Montbovon, which is your first leg to Gruyères, is served by regular regional trains as well as the famous Golden Pass Line.

Since Gruyères is highly popular with tourists, it can sometimes get a bit crowded. But like with every busy place, there’s a reason. And in this case, the reason is a mediaeval village and cheese.

Lots of cheese!

The Gruyère cheese factory is right behind the train station and for a small entrance fee, you get to watch how the iconic Gruyère cheese is being made. Samples and tasting opportunities are included.

Once you’re done snacking, either catch the bus uphill or follow the path until you reach the village centre of Gruyères. This walk should take you around 20 minutes. After exploring the hidden cobblestone alleys, checking out the castle and maybe grabbing a souvenir or two, you have the option to head to Broc and visit La Maison Cailler.

Their visitor centre teaches you everything you need to know about Switzerland’s oldest chocolate brand and at the end of the tour, you’ll get to taste a lot of free samples.

More than you thought you could handle.

On your train ride back to Montreux, try to digest your cheese and chocolate overdose and get ready to spend one more night by Lake Geneva.

• Gruyères Cheese Factory
• Cailler Chocolate Factory

Day 3: Montreux - Saas-Fee

Today, you’ve got heaps of time to explore the Lake Geneva region since you didn’t get the chance yesterday. For starters, we recommend you spend the morning walking along the Promenade of Montreux and checking out the Freddie Mercury statue just outside the market hall.

In case you’re interested in castles, don’t miss out on visiting the famous Chillon Castle. To get there, either follow the Promenade by foot, catch a bus or take one of the regularly departing passenger ships.

Alternatively, head in the opposite direction toward Vevey, where you’ll find a stunning riviera and many interesting museums. Only a short train ride west of Montreux, you’ll find the famous Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site. To fully experience the gorgeous views, get off in Cully or Epesses and follow the signposted footpath through the vineyards.

Whenever you’re feeling itchy to head up into the mountains, grab your luggage and move on to Saas-Fee, also known as the pearl of the Alps. Saas-Fee is surrounded by Switzerland’s tallest mountains.

As you arrive in this miraculous alpine village, you’ll find yourself in the midst of 13 mountains that are all over 4.000 metres (13.120 feet) above sea level. This can only mean one thing. You have to love the outdoors to come up here…

Day 4: Saas-Fee - Zermatt

Get ready to inhale nothing but fresh mountain air today. Chances are you’ll be spending a fair amount of time outside before the day is over. If you’re visiting during summer, your hiking options are nearly infinite. Over 350 kilometres (217 miles) of hiking trails take you places you never even knew existed.

And while we’re at it, don’t forget to look out for marmots during your hike. Your chances of spotting a couple of those cute, chubby alpine inhabitants aren’t too slim up here.

But Saas-Fee isn’t only interesting during hiking season. If you’re here in winter, you can absolutely ski or snowboard yourself silly. And with Saas-Fee being at such high altitude, you’ll partially be skiing on top of a glacier. Not something you get to do every day.

Over 150 kilometres (93 miles) of prepared slopes will keep you busy for as long as you please. And while other ski resorts have been struggling with a lack of snow these past few years due to global warming, you’re almost certain to find enough snow in Saas-Fee due to its high altitude.

Knock yourself out enjoying the mountain views, the snow, the hikes, the marmots and the fresh air. Toward the evening, catch the Postauto and the train to Zermatt. Once you arrive in Zermatt, spend the rest of the day strolling through this little mountain town and enjoy the sight of the mighty Matterhorn. Provided it’s not veiled in clouds.

• Best things to do in Saas-Fee

Day 5 and 6: Free days in Zermatt

Zermatt is all about mountains and the outdoors. If you’ve come to Switzerland for our spectacular mountain views, you’re going to love it here.

Several hikes and walks of all difficulty levels take you places that will take your breath away. Like for instance the popular Zermatt five-lakes trail, which takes 2.5 hours to complete. It leads past five crystal clear mountain lakes with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn.

Another impressive, yet head spinning adventure, is walking across the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Randa. It stretches 494 metres (1620 feet) across the valley.

Hello vertigo!

The circular track starts and finishes in Randa, 15 minutes by train from Zermatt.

In case you’d rather skip the hiking altogether and see some mountains the easy way, we recommend heading up to Gornergrat. After a ridiculously steep train ride, you’ll find yourself at an altitude of 3089 metres (10.135 feet) above sea level. Right in front of the Gorner Glacier and the Matterhorn.

Don’t be surprised if climbing those steps to the viewpoint leaves you completely breathless. It’s not you, it’s the thin air.

• Best things to do in Zermatt

Day 7: Zermatt - Domodossola - Lugano

Leave Zermatt first thing in the morning and catch the train to Brig. This ride is part of the scenic Glacier Express train, a scenic train ride connecting Zermatt with St. Moritz.

In Brig, transfer to the train that’s taking you to Domodossola in Italy. This ride isn’t too pretty as you’ll be spending most of it in a tunnel. But that shouldn’t bother you too much. The next leg of the journey from Domodossola to Locarno is beyond stunning and it might just be the slowest train you’ve ever been on. But chances are you won’t even notice those two hours passing by.

The landscape is beyond stunning from start to finish. As you travel through the impressive Centovalli region – which stands for one hundred valleys – you’ll pass several charming villages with old stone houses, ride across tall viaducts and even catch a glimpse of a waterfall or two.

Depending on what time you arrive in Locarno, you could spend a few hours in this charming place by Lago Maggiore. Or, if you’d prefer getting to your final destination for the day as soon as possible, travel on to Lugano.

After this long day, you might like to stretch your legs at the promenade of Lake Lugano. Enjoy the view, grab a few scoops of ice cream and take a stroll through Lugano.

You’ve earned it.

Unfortunately, you won’t have much time to explore the Canton of Ticino in this itinerary. If you’d like a day or two in Switzerland’s sunny south, turn to a different itinerary or skip one of your free days in Zermatt to give yourself an extra day here in Ticino.

• Best things to do in Locarno
• Best things to do in Lugano

Day 8: Lugano - Lucerne

If you’re visiting Switzerland between April and October, you have the opportunity to travel back across the Alps on the Gotthard Panorama Express.

On the first leg of this journey, a panoramic train will take you through the old Gotthard tunnel to Flüelen. Before Gotthard-Basistunnel opened in 2016, this was the only way to reach Ticino by rail. Nowadays, since the opening of the world’s longest tunnel, the old one is only used for tourist purposes.

From Flüelen, a steamboat will take you on a three-hour ride across Lake Lucerne. You’ll arrive in Lucerne around 3 pm, right next to the train station. This will leave you with plenty of time to explore this stunning city and its surroundings. If you can’t travel to Lucerne on the Gotthard Panorama Express, simply catch the regular train instead. In Lucerne, spend the rest of the evening exploring the city or find a cosy spot by the lake to relax.

• Gotthard Panorama Express
• Best things to do in Lucerne

Day 9: Lucerne - Kambly - Bern - Gstaad

Luckily, you don’t have to leave Lucerne until lunchtime today. So spend the morning doing whatever you didn’t get to do yesterday. Whatever you do, make sure you work up an appetite and don’t grab too big a lunch for your ride to Trubschachen. You’ll need every free inch in your stomach for the biscuit-feast awaiting you.

Once you’re ready to move on, catch the train to Trubschachen. But watch out. This train gets split up along the way and only the front part travels through the picturesque Entlebuch region to the Kambly factory. When you’re at the platform in Lucerne, please check the display to make sure you get on the right half of the train.

The Kambly factory store right next to Trubschachen station is free to visit. In here, you can spend as much time as you like tasting up to 100 types of delicious biscuits. Unfortunately, you can’t visit the factory and watch the production of this iconic Swiss biscuit. However, they do have a cinema at the shop where they give you some more insight into this traditional family business.

After reaching the point of explosion, or maybe two biscuits before, move on to Bern. To digest your Kambly overdose, go for a walk in Switzerland’s capital city. You can spend a couple of hours here if you like before moving on to Gstaad in the Bernese Alps.

On the way there, you’ll be travelling parts of the Golden Pass Line, a popular scenic train route between Lucerne and Montreux. After your second transfer in Zweisimmen, the climb through the Bernese Oberland towards Gstaad begins. This region is an absolute dream for mountain-lovers and pretty much sums up what Switzerland is about. Lakes, mountains, lush meadows with grazing cows, glaciers, tons of hiking trails, wonderful landscapes and cute little villages are abundant in this area.

This is why you’ll be spending the night up here in Gstaad.

• Best things to do in Bern
• Best things to do in Gstaad

Day 10: Gstaad - Glacier 3000 - Geneva

If there was ever a day when you needed your camera, it’s today. The mountain panorama awaiting you at your destination is unparalleled, so make sure your battery is fully charged.

The destination we're talking about is the impressive Glacier 3000, which is very easy to access from Gstaad. After a 35-minute bus ride to Col-du-Pillon, you’ll find yourself at the base of some seriously impressive mountains.

Hop on the cable car and enjoy the ride. At the top, you’ll be presented with the most astonishing 360-degree views. On a clear day, you can see several huge players in the alpine scene like the Matterhorn, the Mont Blanc massif and the popular mountain-trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

If you’re brave enough, tackle the Peak Walk to Scex Rouge. This is the world’s first suspension bridge connecting two peaks. Crossing this bridge is an experience you’ll likely never forget.

Depending on what time you arrive back in Gstaad, spend a couple more hours strolling through the town or set out on another hike. Afterwards, travel onward to Montreux on the Golden Pass train and eventually back into Geneva.

• Glacier 3000

Additional tips and information for itinerary 7

• The Gotthard Panorama Express only runs from April to October, from Tuesday to Sunday. If you travel outside these months or on a Monday, take the regular train from Lugano to Lucerne instead. For the train ride between Lugano and Flüelen you need a reservation.
• If you are travelling with an Interrail or Eurail pass, only the train ride from Lugano to Flüelen on the Gotthard Panorama Express is fully covered. The steamboat trip costs extra.
• The Golden Pass Line is completely covered with the Interrail, Eurail and Swiss Travel Pass.
• You can make the trip with the Golden Pass without a reservation. However, Golden Pass Customer Service recommends reserving a seat for the section between Zweisimmen and Montreux, as it can get quite crowded in high season.

8. Itinerary through all of Switzerland with all its highlights

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Hike in front of the mighty Matterhorn in Zermatt
• Ride the Glacier Express Line and the Golden Pass Line
• Visit the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe
• Explore over ten Swiss cities all across the country, including the two UNESCO listed cities St. Gallen and Bern
• Taste delicious Swiss cheese and chocolate in the factory
• Spend one full day in Interlaken
• Discover everything Switzerland has to offer - lakes, mountains, rivers and fantastic landscapes

Day 1: Geneva - Zermatt

In the morning, you can explore Geneva on your own, rent a free bike from Genève Roule or take a guided tour of the city. After the tour, grab a take-away lunch and take the train to Zermatt.

This popular mountain town sums up so much of what Switzerland stands for. Mountains, lakes, hiking trails, nature, lots of outdoor activities and Switzerland's most famous mountain. The Matterhorn.

Between Visp and Zermatt, you will cover the last leg of the Glacier Express panoramic train. This journey is particularly scenic, so always keep your camera within reach. Once in Zermatt, you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the sight of the mighty Matterhorn.

Provided it's not wrapped in clouds.

• Best things to do in Geneva
• Best things to do in Zermatt

Day 2: Zermatt - St. Moritz

Today, you’re going to complete the full Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz. This ride on “the world’s slowest express train” is a once in a lifetime experience and will spoil you with the best views the Alps have to offer.

The train leaves Zermatt twice a day, with both trains departing in the morning. The schedule changes throughout the year and there are certain trains that don’t do the full journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz. To find your connection, please make sure you consult their current timetable.

There’s a reason why the Glacier Express is one of the most popular scenic railway routes in Switzerland. What makes this journey so memorable are the fantastic views you get left, right and centre throughout the whole ride. The train takes you across 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels, three cantons and two language regions.

It takes just over 8 hours to complete and depending on what time you leave Zermatt, you’ll arrive in St. Moritz between 5 and 6 pm. Whenever you do arrive, spend the rest of the day strolling through this fancy mountain town in the Engadine.

• Glacier Express - What to expect on this scenic train journey
• Best things to do in St. Moritz

Day 3: St. Moritz - Chur - St. Gallen

What you focus on today is entirely up to you. You can either hang out in St. Moritz for a while and do one or two of the activities on day 7 in itinerary No. 2. However, if you’re ready to move on, you’re welcome to hop on the train and travel to St. Gallen.

Stop over in Chur, the capital of the Canton of Grisons, or head straight to St. Gallen. Spend whatever time you have left exploring St. Gallen and surroundings. With the UNESCO listed Abbey District, its towering Cathedral and the impressive Abbey Library, St. Gallen has quite a few things to offer.

While you’re here, make sure you don’t miss a trip to the recreational area of Drei Weieren. To get there, either catch the Mühleggbahn or take the stairs. Alternatively, visit the wildlife park Peter & Paul or still your cultural thirst at one of the many museums.

By far the best place to relax is at Drei Weieren. Go for a refreshing swim to recover from the many steps you took up here or go for a stroll in the forest. You also get a fantastic view over the whole city, Lake Constance and all the way to Germany.

• Best things to do in Chur
• Best things to do in St. Gallen

Day 4: St. Gallen - Lucerne

Luckily, you don’t have to leave St. Gallen until lunchtime today. So spend the morning doing whatever you didn’t get to do yesterday. Around midday, grab some take-away lunch and have it on the Voralpen-Express to Lucerne.

Out of the many scenic train rides in Switzerland, this is one of the less touristy ones. It doesn’t come with fancy panorama windows and there’s no friendly voice pointing out what viaduct you just crossed.

But that doesn’t make it any less worth riding.

We recommend breaking up your journey halfway in and getting off in Rapperswil, a real hidden gem of a city. Head up to the castle, spend some time with the deer in the castle’s garden, go for a swim in Lake Zurich and walk along the idyllic esplanade.

An excellent spot to relax is the lawn behind OST, the technical college of Rapperswil. You can’t miss it when you head toward the lake after leaving the train station.

If you’re looking for an easy walk, follow the wooden footbridge and the connecting walkway across the lake to Pfäffikon. In doing so, you’ll be completing three kilometres (1.8 miles) of the Camino de Santiago trail, a pilgrim route leading from different places across Europe to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Once you’re ready to move on, catch the next train to Lucerne and spend the afternoon exploring the city. Walk across the Kapellbrücke, take a stroll through the old town, hang out by the lake or visit the Glacier Garden with its famous Lion Monument.

• Best things to do in Lucerne

Day 5: Lucerne - Zurich - Schaffhausen

Since you haven’t had too much time to hang out in Lucerne yet, give yourself a few hours in the city before travelling to Schaffhausen. On the way there, you’ll be passing through Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city.

Since Zurich isn’t your starting or finishing point in this itinerary, you now have the opportunity to spend a few hours exploring the city. You can either head out on your own, borrow a free bike with «Züri rollt» or join a guided city tour in the afternoon.

Toward the end of the day, move on to Schaffhausen. You’ve got plenty of time to explore the Rhine Falls tomorrow. So tonight, you can stick around in Schaffhausen.

Schaffhausen has a charming old town with an impressive total of 171 bay windows, which is more than any other Swiss city can account for. Once you’re done chasing them all down and exploring the rest of Schaffhausen, head up to Munot and enjoy the view over the city.

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in Schaffhausen

Day 6: Schaffhausen - Rhine Falls - Bern

The main attraction in the Schaffhausen area are by far the mighty Rhine Falls. Head straight to Neuhausen, where the waterfalls attract visitors from all over the world. Access to the falls is free from the northern shore, while seeing them from Laufen Castle in the south costs 5 CHF. Spend however long you like getting soaked in the mist of the Rhine Falls before moving on to Schaffhausen.

Leave for Bern around lunchtime and spend the rest of the day in Switzerland’s capital city. The train ride takes roughly two hours, which should give you plenty enough time to go out roaming the streets of our capital.

Join a guided city tour or explore Bern on your own. Take a stroll through the old town, head to the bear park, check out the Bundeshaus (House of Parliament) and walk back to Rosengarten for the views.

You can also visit Gurten – Bern’s backyard mountain – see some animals at Dählhölzli wildlife park or visit the botanical garden. Alternatively, catch the elevator at the train station to hang out at Grosse Schanze or go for a swim either in the River Aare or at Weyermannshaus. For an impressive night view over Bern, we recommend heading back up to Rosengarten.

• Best things to do in Bern

Day 7: Bern - Interlaken

Bern is conveniently located in close proximity to a variety of breathtaking destinations. If you’re into mountain lakes, you’re in luck. Lake Oeschinensee and Blausee are both within reach from Bern and more than worth a trip. The crystal clear water in both lakes will leave you breathless.

Only half an hour west of Bern lies the mediaeval city of Fribourg. If you decide to head over there, follow the citywalk signs leading you through this mighty old town. The signs will lead you up and down some very steep alleyways, across ancient wooden bridges, down to the River Saane and past the city’s very own funicular. For an even better view of your surroundings, tackle the 365 steps to the tower of the Cathedral. The River Saane at the bottom of the city is a great spot to stretch your legs and treat yourself to a snack.

Whenever you’re ready, head back to Bern to grab your stuff and hop on the train to Interlaken for another hour.

• Best things to do in Fribourg
• Best things to do in Interlaken

Day 8: Free day in Interlaken

You’ve got more activities to choose from today than you can wrap your head around. It all depends on your budget, but in an adrenaline-packed place like Interlaken, the sky’s the limit.

If even that...

Skydiving, paragliding, canyoning and jet boating are all popular activities that will get your adrenaline flowing.

Another option is to embark on a passenger ship cruise on either Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. Both rides come with incredible views that will make you wish you’d never have to leave.

If you’re looking for a stopover on one of the cruises, get off at either Giessbach (Lake Brienz), the Saint Beatus Caves or Spiez (Lake Thun).

The Jungfrau region around Interlaken is also an excellent playground for hikers. The amount of trails is nearly endless and whatever your fitness level and ambitions, you’ll find something to your taste.

Of course, the No. 1 destination everybody wants to see out here is the famous Jungfraujoch – aka Top of Europe. If you’re after a slightly more budget-friendly experience, we suggest looking into visiting Mount Schilthorn, Schynige Platte, Grindelwald First or Männlichen instead. The rides up to these mountains and the views from the top won’t disappoint you.

Other places of interest in and around Interlaken are: the open-air museum Ballenberg, the chocolate workshops at Funky Chocolate Club, the two mountain lakes Blausee or Oeschinensee or the Aare Gorge.

And let’s not forget those charming towns and villages like Brienz, Spiez, Thun, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald.

We could go on forever here but we guess this would only make you hate that you don’t have all week here.

• 12 Tips for your first trip to Jungfraujoch
• Mount Schilthorn Piz Gloria
• Schynige Platte - Top of Swiss Tradition
• Skydive Interlaken - why you shouldn’t miss it
• Ballenberg open-air museum

Day 9: Interlaken - Zweisimmen - Montreux

You’re in for plenty more scenic treats today. Once you leave Interlaken and head toward Zweisimmen, you’ll have Lake Thun to your right. For the best lake views, we therefore recommend grabbing a seat on the right when you get on the train.

If time allows and you don’t mind breaking up your trip, you might enjoy a quick stopover in Spiez. With its castle, a handful of charming vineyards and its direct access to Lake Thun, Spiez is well worth a visit.

Once you continue your journey, you’ll need to transfer to a different train in Zweisimmen. That’s where the climb through the Bernese Oberland towards Gstaad begins. This region is an absolute dream for mountain-lovers and pretty much sums up what Switzerland is about. Lakes, mountains, lush meadows with grazing cows, glaciers, tons of hiking trails, wonderful landscapes and cute little villages are abundant in this area.

Even if you don’t have enough time to get off along the way, the ride through this picturesque area is something you probably won’t forget anytime soon.

After leaving the Bernese Oberland and coming down the hills, you’ll arrive in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Spend whatever you have left of the day exploring Montreux and its surroundings.

Bienvenue...

• Best things to do in Montreux

Day 10: Montreux - Gruyères / Broc - Geneva

Today is all about cheese and chocolate. After all, that’s what Switzerland is famous for. So catch the train to Gruyères and get ready for some culinary and mediaeval action.

The Gruyère cheese factory is right behind the train station. For a small entrance fee, you can watch how the iconic Gruyère cheese is being made. Samples and tasting opportunities are included.

Once you’re done snacking, either catch the bus uphill or follow the path until you reach the village centre of Gruyères. This walk should take you around 20 minutes.

The main attraction in Gruyères is probably the castle, which is open to the public and costs 12 CHF to enter. But the hidden cobblestone alleys and the countless souvenir shops also tend to have people stick around longer than they expected.

After exploring Gruyères, and maybe grabbing a souvenir or two, you have the option to head to Broc and visit La Maison Cailler. Their visitor centre teaches you everything you need to know about Switzerland’s oldest chocolate brand. At the end of the tour, you’ll get to taste a lot of free samples.

More than you thought you could handle.

On your train ride back to Montreux and onward to Geneva, try to digest your cheese and chocolate overdose. Spend the rest of the day hanging out in Geneva and exploring Switzerland’s second largest city.

Now, you do have the option to trade in the chocolate and cheese frenzy for some glacier action. Instead of heading to Gruyères, catch the train to Col-du-Pillon and visit Glacier 3000.

The 360-degree views are astonishing and if you’re brave enough, the Peak Walk across the suspension bridge is an experience you’ll likely never forget.

• Gruyères Cheese Factory
• Cailler Chocolate Factory
• Glacier 3000

Additional tips and information for itinerary 8

• The Glacier Express is covered by all major passports such as the Swiss Travel Pass and the Interrail and Eurail Passes. However, you still need to make a reservation even if you have a passport.
• You can make the trip with the Golden Pass without a reservation. However, Golden Pass Customer Service recommends reserving a seat for the section between Zweisimmen and Montreux, as it can get quite crowded in high season.

And this concludes our collection of ten-day itineraries for Switzerland. We hope you’ve been able to find the Switzerland itinerary to your taste. Have fun planning your trip.