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This is a high level overview of travel throughout Switzerland over a 14-18 day period.
We present two itineraries for intra country travel – one that begins in Zurich (east side of Switzerland), and the other from Geneva/Lausanne (west side of Switzerland). Most travelers will enter the country through one of these places, either into Zurich or Geneva by way of Paris.
Switzerland is a small country that is easily navigated by fast trains to major hubs with local trains to get to precise locations. The itineraries below use a blend of train and private car to access some of smaller villages and afford the traveler increased flexibility in their plans. We provide details around options are for those who choose to use public transport only.
We also include a third itinerary that includes travel from the Swiss Alps into Northern Italy, including Lake Como and Milan.
Countries covered in this itinerary
- Switzerland
Itinerary one (16 days): Begin in Lake Geneva
| Switzerland City Base |
Nights | Notes & Day Trips |
| Lake Geneva (Base as Lausanne or Geneva) | 4 | If your accommodation is in Lausanne: –Day 1: Visit Ouchy by foot & old town Lausanne –Day 2: Day trip by train to Geneva, ferry or train back to Lausanne. –Day 3: trip by rental car to drive around Lake Geneva: Saint-Prex, Nyon, Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains, Chillon Options for day 4: –train to Saint-Saphorin and Chillon –split up day 3 day-trip towns into two days –free day lakeside in a favorite town If your accommodation is in Geneva: –Day 1: Explore Geneva –Day 2: Day trip by train to old town Lausanne, explore Ouchy. Ferry or train back to Geneva. –Day 3 (rental car): drive around Lake Geneva (one day): Hermance, Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains Options for day 4: –train to Chillon and Saint-Saphorin –split up day 3 day-trip towns into two days –free day lakeside in a favorite town DAY 5: Departure from Lausanne and Geneva –By rental car: depart to Bern, stop through Gruyeres for lunch and early-afternoon –By train: direct departure to Bern |
| Bern | 2 | Day 1: late afternoon arrival to Bern Day 2: Old Town Bern, river activities Day 3: train to Zurich |
Zurich | 3 | Day trip by train: Saint Gallen & Appenzell Day trip by train: Basel or Lucerne –Can also remove one day from Zurich and stay overnight in Lucerne. Lucerne to Interlaken train. |
| Interlaken | 1 | |
Grindelwald | 4 | Day 1: Funicular to Kleine Scheidegg & Jungfraujoch (top of Europe), funicular to Day 2: Hike Day 3: Lauterbrunnen Day 4: Wengen (on the other side of the Grindelwald mountain), reached by train either via Zweilutschinen or via Kleine Scheidegg. It is a pedestrian-only town. Day 5: Transport back to Bern, onto Lausanne or Zurich |
Itinerary two (14-17 days): Begin in Zurich
This itinerary offers time in both Lake Lugano & Lake Geneva. If you are pressed for time, remove the time spent in Lake Lugano or Lake Geneva.
| Switzerland City Base |
Nights | Notes & Day Trips |
Zurich | 3 | Day 1: Explore Zurich Day 2: Day trip by train: Saint Gallen & Appenzell Day 3: Day trip by train: Basel or Lucerne |
Lugano (or Lake Como, Italy) | 3 | Day 1: Old town Lugano, funicular to Monte Bré Day 2: Day trip to towns on Lake Lugano Day 3: Travel back to Zurich, en route to Bern |
| Bern | 2 | Day 1: Arrival to Bern late afternoon, evening Day 2: Old town Bern, river Day 3: Trip to Thun en route to Interlaken |
| Interlaken | 1 | Day 1: Old town Interlaken Day 2: Train to Grindelwald |
Grindelwald | 4 | Day 1: Funicular to Kleine Scheidegg & Jungfraujoch (top of Europe) Day 2: Hike/outdoor activity Day 3: Lauterbrunnen Day 4: Wengen (on the other side of the Grindelwald mountain), reached by train either via Zweilutschinen or via Kleine Scheidegg. It is a pedestrian-only town. Day 5: Head to Interlaken en route to Bern onto Lausanne and Lake Geneva. If you depart early afternoon, plan to spend the night in Interlaken or Bern. |
| Interlaken or Bern | 1 | Overnight stay in Interlaken or Bern to get ready for transport to Lausanne |
| Lake Geneva | 3 | If your accommodation is in Lausanne: –Day 1: Visit Ouchy by foot & old town Lausanne –Day 2: Day trip by train to Geneva, ferry or train back to Lausanne. –Day 3: trip by rental car to drive around Lake Geneva: Saint-Prex, Nyon, Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains –Day 4 (rental car) Saint-Saphorin & Chillon If your accommodation is in Geneva: –Day 1: Explore Geneva –Day 2: Day trip by train to old town Lausanne, explore Ouchy. Ferry or train back to Geneva. –Day 3 (rental car): drive around Lake Geneva (one day): Hermance, Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains –Day 4 (rental car): Saint-Saphorin & Chillon |
Itinerary three (18 days) : Begin in Zurich, Switzerland, end in Milan, Italy
This itinerary offers time in both Lake Geneva, Lake Lugano, and Northern Italy (Lake Como and Milan). If you are pressed for time, remove Lake Lugano or Lake Geneva.
| City Base |
Nights | Notes & Day Trips |
Zurich | 3 | Day 1: Explore Zurich Day 2: Day trip by train: Saint Gallen & Appenzell Day 3: Day trip by train: Basel or Lucerne |
Lake Geneva | 3 | If your accommodation is in Lausanne: –Day 1: Visit Ouchy by foot & old town Lausanne –Day 2: Day trip by train to Geneva, ferry or train back to Lausanne. –Day 3: trip by rental car to drive around Lake Geneva: Saint-Prex, Nyon, Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains –Day 4 (rental car) Saint-Saphorin & Chillon If your accommodation is in Geneva: –Day 1: Explore Geneva –Day 2: Day trip by train to old town Lausanne, explore Ouchy. Ferry or train back to Geneva. –Day 3 (rental car): drive around Lake Geneva (one day): Hermance, Yvoire, Évian-les-Bains –Day 4 (rental car): Saint-Saphorin & Chillon DAY 5: Departure from Lausanne and Geneva –By rental car: depart to Bern, stop through Gruyeres for lunch and early-afternoon –By train: direct departure to Bern |
| Bern | 2 | Day 1: Arrival to Bern late afternoon, evening Day 2: Old town Bern, river Day 3: Trip to Thun en route to Interlaken |
Grindelwald | 4 | Day 1: Funicular to Kleine Scheidegg & Jungfraujoch (top of Europe) Day 2: Hike/outdoor activity Day 3: Lauterbrunnen Day 4: Wengen (on the other side of the Grindelwald mountain), reached by train either via Zweilutschinen or via Kleine Scheidegg. It is a pedestrian-only town. Day 5: Departure from Grindelwald If using a rental car, drive to Lugano directly. If relying on train, stay over night in Bern, then train from Bern into Zurich, onto Lugano. |
| Bern (may omit with rental car) | 1 | Overnight stay in Bern to get ready for train from Bern –> Zurich –> Lugano |
Lugano | 1 | Day 1: Old town Lugano, funicular to Monte Bré Day 2: Drive to Menaggio, Lake Como (30 minutes) Day 3: Day trip to Varenna, Bellagio Day 4: Trip to Como, evening transport to Milan |
| Menaggio, Italy | 2 | Day 1: Explore Menaggio Day 2: Day trip to Varenna, Bellagio Day 3: Day trip to Como, late afternoon train to Milan |
| Milan, Italy | 2 | Day 1: Explore old town Day 2: Day trip to Florence, Varenna or Bologna Day 3: Depart for airport |
Maps of locations covered
Map of Switzerland
Transport times
- Train Zurich to Lausanne — 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Train Zurich to Lugano — 2 hours
- Drive Lausanne to Bern — 2 hours, 15 minutes
- Drive Interlaken to Lugano — 1 hour, 15 minutes
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