Visiting Switzerland for the first time, have about 10 days, and wondering which places are not to be missed and how to plan your trip? In this article, we share a recommended 10-day Switzerland itinerary that is perfect for your first visit.
If you want to see ‘everything’ in Switzerland in ten days, you should know that even several months wouldn’t be enough for that…. We have been going to Switzerland at least twice a year for almost three decades and still feel like we just scratched the surface…
The good news is that – with some good planning – you can see some of the best citiesand visit several of the most impressive nature destinations even if you only have 10 days in Switzerland.
So to help you plan a trip, in this guide we sharea detailed 10-day Switzerland itinerary that brings you to some of the most famous places in the country: Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, Geneva, Bern, as well as the most iconic mountain destinations that should be at the top of every Swiss bucket list.
We also include a map and practical information such as how to get from one place to the other, how long it takes, and where to stay. At the bottom of this guide, you can also find several additional suggestions of places to add to your Swiss itinerary if you have more time.
Info & Tips for Planning a Trip to Switzerland
When to visit: Switzerland is a year-round destination and all the places in this itinerary can be visited in any season. However, your experience and many of the things you can do will highly depend on the season when you travel. For summer scenery and hiking, visit between late May and early October; for snowy landscapes and skiing – between Christmas and Easter.
Airports: The biggest airports in Switzerland are in Zurich and Geneva. This itinerary starts and ends in Zurich, but it’s very simple to adjust it if you are flying in or out of Geneva. In addition, you can easily extend this trip and combine it with France or Italy as well (flying in or out of e.g. Milan).
Getting around: The best way to travel around Switzerland isby train. With 10 days in the country, consider getting a Swiss Travel Pass that includes all public transport (and more). Switzerland is also a nice country to explore by car. However, traveling by car is only convenient if you are planning on visiting many smaller places in the mountains and not too many cities. In that case, you can also rent a car, but it’s not necessary for this itinerary. In most cases, it will not make your journey any faster or cheaper and you will also have to look (and pay) for parking, etc.
Just to avoid any confusion – you can follow this Switzerland itinerary no matter how you choose to travel – by car or public transport. In our descriptions and time indications, we assume you take a train. If you decide to drive, be sure to double-check driving times and distances, especially if traveling in winter. Also foresee some extra time if driving around the main cities at peak times, and be sure that your accommodation has parking (nearby).
Tours: If you prefer not to change hotels too often, you can also visit many of the places highlighted in our itinerary by taking day trips by train or organized tours from either Zurich or Lucerne. There are even day tours from Zurich to Zermatt! However, we only recommend this approach if your time is extremely limited or if you prefer to travel with local guides and not have to worry about practicalities.
MAP: To help you get a better idea of where everything is located, we created this map that should give you a good overview of how this trip could be structured. Take a look!
10-Day Switzerland Itinerary – OVERVIEW:
- DAY 1: Zurich area
- DAY 2: Bern
- DAYS 3-4: Geneva area
- DAYS 5-6: Zermatt
- DAYS 7-8: Interlaken – Jungfrau Region
- DAYS 9-10: Lucerne area
- If you have more time
This is our recommended Switzerland itinerary for 10 days:
DAY 1: Rhine Falls & Zurich
Since many international travelers fly into Zürich, we start our Switzerland itinerary in this city. However, let me be completely honest with you – there are so many nicer places to see in just 10 days in Switzerland than its financial center.
So for this itinerary, we recommend just half a day in the city, in combination with a half-day trip to Rhine Falls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Europe. In addition, you can visit the medieval village of Stein am Rhein.
Good to know: You can easily get to Rhine Falls by train from Zurich; the journey takes about 1 hour each way. In that case, you’ll need to also book a boat ride. Alternatively, take an organized half-day tour that includes a boat ride as well. There are 3-4 hour tours like this one that only visit the waterfall and there are also somewhat longer tours like this 5-hour tour that also visits Stein am Rhein village.
No matter which way you travel to the waterfall, we recommend starting your day early. That way, you can spend the afternoon exploring the city center of Zurich.
Some of the must-sees in Zurich include the Old Town (Altstadt) and its iconic churches (Grossmünster, Fraumünster, and St. Peter’s). A boat cruise on Lake Zürich is nice to do as well. There are city tours available, but you can also just walk around the old town on your own.
TIP: If you want to see more of the city in a short time, check out this highly-rated eTuk-Tuk city tour. It takes just a bit over an hour and has flexible departure times making it easy to incorporate it into any itinerary.
ACCOMMODATION: Stay in Zürich, ideally close to the central station. Here are some recommended hotels: Hotel Schweizerhof Zürich ($$$$), Ruby Mimi Hotel Zurich ($$$), or 25hours Hotel Langstrasse ($$).
DAY 2: Bern
On your second day, take a train from Zurich to Bern (1 hour), visit Bern, and in the late afternoon take a train from Bern to Geneva (2 hours). You can leave your luggage at the train station in Bern. You could also stay in Bern, but it’s not really a must and this way you can save one hotel change. Plus, you’ll also have more time in Geneva.
Even though Bern is the capital city of Switzerland, it’s a rather small and cozy town and you can easily see the best places in a few hours.
Don’t miss the Old Town with its ornate fountains, the Cathedral (climb the tower!), and Zytglogge clock tower. Be sure to walk to the Bear Pit and check out the famous Nydeggbrücke bridge. If you have more energy, climb to Rosengarten Park for nice city views.
If interested, you can also visit Einstein House. With more time to spare, consider visiting the Einstein Museum/Bern Historical Museum as well.
TIP: If available on the day of your visit, join this guided city tour. It takes just 1.5 hours and is a great way to get a quick introduction to the charming capital city of Switzerland.
LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Bern
ACCOMMODATION: Stay in Geneva for 3 nights. We recommend staying close to the station – it will make things so much easier. Here are some recommended hotels: Warwick Geneva ($$$$), Hotel Bernina ($$$), or VISIONAPARTMENTS ($$).
DAY 3: Geneva
Geneva is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland and has a lot to offer. With a full day in the city, you could see many of the highlights and maybe visit one museum.
In the Old Town, see the top attractions like St. Pierre’s Cathedral, Bourg-de-Four Square, English Garden, and the Flower Clock, and consider a chocolate tour. Check out the Jet d’Eau (fountain) in Lake Geneva and be sure to take a scenic lake cruise as well!
In the International Quarters, see the UN buildings, the Avenue of the Flags, and the Broken Chair monument.
Depending on your interests, you could visit one of the many museums. We recommend either the Red Cross Museum or the Patek Philippe Museum.
TIP: If you want to get the absolute most out of your trip, you could also consider a half-day trip to Annecy (France). In that case, you can explore Geneva in the afternoon, when you get back from the tour. There is also this highly-rated tour that combines the Geneva city tour with a trip to Annecy – perfect if you don’t have much time to do research and just want to see the top spots in a short time.
LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Geneva
DAY 4: Chamonix (or Another Day Trip from Geneva)
There are many wonderful places that you could visit near Geneva. So if you have just one extra day in this area, the choice will be tough.
We already mentioned a day trip to Annecy. Other popular options include the smaller towns of the Swiss Riviera, Lausanne, Glacier 3000, and Gruyères…
But the most popular day trip from Geneva is to Chamonix, France. This beautiful mountain village is located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe.
There are many guided tours that can bring you to Chamonix from Geneva. They normally include a cable car to Aiguille du Midi where you can enjoy amazing panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Most tours also include a trip on the famous Montenvers cogwheel train to Mer de Glace Glacier where you can also visit an ice cave.
Good to know: Day tours from Geneva to Chamonix take about 8-10 hours. So plan an entire day for this excursion.
DAY 5: Zermatt
Today, take a train from Geneva to Zermatt. The journey takes about 3.5-4 hours, so we recommend leaving early in the morning. Zermatt is a car-free village and no matter how you travel – by car or public transport – you’ll need to take a train for the last part of the journey (from Täsch).
Zermatt is an Alpine resort located at the foot of the famous Matterhorn Mountain on the Swiss-Italian border. It’s known for luxury hotels and restaurants and some of the best skiing in Switzerland. In the summer, you could spend days hiking here.
For this itinerary, we suggest that you plan to spend 1 night in Zermatt, which gives you about a day and a half to explore. What exactly you’ll be able to see and do will depend a bit on the season when you visit. You also need to take into account the schedule of mountain trains and gondolas when planning your sightseeing itinerary.
On the day of arrival and after checking in at the hotel, take a mountain train to Gornergrat (you’ll need a ticket for it, but if you have a Swiss Pass, you can buy tickets on the spot with a big discount). Gornergrat is a mountain ridge at 3,089 meters (10,132 ft). From the top, you can see the Gorner Glacier and countless mountain peaks including the Matterhorn.
Train-schedule and season permitting, hike from Gornergratt to Riffelsee and potentially even further down to Riffelalp. The scenery here is breathtaking!
LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do at Gornergrat
Good to know: If you just take the train to the top, walk around and enjoy the views at the top, and go back, you need about 1.5-2 hours for a visit here.
Add about 1 hour for a hike to Riffelsee and another hour if you go all the way down to Riffelalp. All in all, half a day is plenty for this area, even in the summer. In the winter, you won’t be able to hike, so you’ll need less time (but the trains stop earlier too).
In the evening, take a train back to Zermatt and explore the town. Don’t miss Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis and the old traditional buildings of Hinterdorfstrasse.
LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Zermatt
ACCOMMODATION: Stay in Zermatt for 1 night. Also here, if you want to make it easy for yourself and save time, stay not too far from the railway station. Here are some recommended hotels: Schweizerhof Zermatt($$$$$), Backstage Boutique SPA Hotel ($$$$), or Hotel Bahnhof ($$).
DAY 6: Zermatt
We recommend starting your day early and taking a gondola to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Klein Matterhorn (3,883 m (12,739 ft)). Also here, you’ll need to get a separate ticket (also here, you can get a discount if you have a Swiss Travel Pass).
At Klein Matterhorn, you can enjoy 360° views from the highest viewing platform in the Alps. On a clear day, you can see more than a dozen glaciers and 38 mountain peaks higher than 4,000 m (13,123 ft), including the Mont Blanc.
Your ticket also includes a visit to the Glacier Palace, a natural ice tunnel. There are also several other experiences, souvenir shops, etc.
Good to know: If you just visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and go back to Zermatt, you need about 2.5-3 hours for a visit here.
LEARN MORE:Things to Do at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise
If visiting in the summer, you can also do some hiking in this area. For that, take a cable car back down the same way you came and then hop off at one of the intermediate stations.
Depending on the season and your ability, consider hiking the Matterhorn Glacier Trail (you’ll need at least 2-2.5 hours for this medium-difficulty trail). It starts at Trockener Steg gondola station and ends at Schwarzsee. Alternatively, you can simply hop off at each of these places, walk around, and take the gondola further.
Anywhere you go in this area, you have amazing views of the Matterhorn Mountain. In addition, at Schwarzsee, you can walk to the ZERMATT sign for some nice photos. In the summer, people sometimes also swim here, so if you are up for it, you may want to pack your swimwear and a travel towel.
There are some easier hikes further down the mountain as well. For example, the Furi Suspension Bridge Trail which is very easy and takes about 1 hour, or the Furi – Zmutt – Zermatt hike that takes about 1.5 hours.
READ ALSO: Best Hikes in Zermatt
In the late afternoon, pick up your luggage from the hotel and take a train from Zermatt to Interlaken. The journey takes about 2.5 hours.
ACCOMMODATION: Stay in Interlaken for 2 nights. To minimize travel time, we recommend basing yourself close to Interlaken Ost railway station. Here are some recommended hotels: Hotel Du Nord ($$$) or Hotel Interlaken ($$).
Good to know: Interlaken is a good hub for many excursions in the area. Depending on what you ultimately decide to do, you could also base yourself in e.g. Grindelwald which would add at least 30-45 minutes to your train journey. Accommodation in Grindelwald is also more expensive than in Interlaken.
DAY 7: Jungfraujoch + Lauterbrunnen + Grindelwald + Harder Kulm
There is so much to do in the Jungfrau Region in central Switzerland that you could easily spend a week or even two here and not get bored. We’ve been to this area so many times, sometimes longer than a week at a time, and our list of places still to visit (and revisit) is just getting longer… Anyway, with 10 days in Switzerland, you could spend two or maximum three days in this area.
On the first day, visit the famous Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, home to the highest railway station in Europe (3,454 m (11,332 ft)). There are several ways to get there, so you could make a sort of a mini road trip.
First, take a train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen and explore the valley a bit. Foresee extra time if you want to walk to Staubbachfall Waterfall and even more time if you want to visit Trümmelbach Falls (especially because this waterfall can’t be just seen from outside and has opening hours).
After that, take a train to Kleine Scheidegg (potentially stopping for lunch and in Wengen village on the way), and from there yet another train to Jungfraujoch.
After visiting Jungfraujoch, take a train or gondola and visit Grindelwald town on the other side of the mountain.
In addition, in the summer, you could also do some hiking. One of the options is the Eiger Trail (medium-difficulty, 3 hrs), but with just a day for this area, it’s probably better to do the famous Panorama Trail (easy-medium, 1h15).
However, keep in mind that depending on what you choose, the transportation you’ll need to take also differs – the whole area is full of gondolas and trains so there are tons of possibilities how to plan this day.
If you want to take it easy and don’t plan to do any longer hikes, just stop for a short walk/photo stops at Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg, and Grindelwald.
LEARN MORE: How to Visit Jungfraujoch
In the late afternoon/early evening take a train back to Interlaken. If you still have some energy left, take a funicular to Harder Kulm. It usually runs quite late in the evening, so it’s one of the few places around Interlaken that you can visit at the end of the day.
Harder Kulm, also known as The Top of Interlaken offers easy access to some sweeping views of the azure-blue lakes below as well as the mountains of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau which you’ll have visited earlier this day.
DAY 8: Interlaken Day Trip of Your Choice
As already mentioned, there are tons of places to visit and things to do around Interlaken, especially if you are visiting in the summer. So you’ll have to be selective with what you choose to do.
Below are my top 3 suggestions for this day. Keep in mind that you can only do one per day so it will be a tough choice as it is and I don’t want to overwhelm you with yet more options.
(1) Simply stay in Interlaken, visit Harder Kulm if not done on the previous day, and take a boat trip on one of the lakes – either Lake Brienz or Lake Thun. If you plan well and don’t hop off the boat anywhere along the way, you could even do both. Otherwise, pick one and explore some of the beautiful surroundings a bit deeper.
LEARN MORE: How to Spend 1 Day in Interlaken
(2) Take a train back to Grindelwald and this time visit another side of the mountains – Grindelwald-First. You can easily spend the entire day here.
At the top, don’t miss the scenic First Cliff Walk, try one of the many fun activities such as First Glider or First Flyer, hike to Bachalpsee Lake, and/or do one of the longer hikes in the area.
LEARN MORE:
(3) Visit Schynige Platte, which is yet another mountain peak, somewhat closer to Interlaken. From here, you have unparalleled views of the two lakes of Interlaken on one side and the most iconic mountains of the Jungfrau Region to the other side.
LEARN MORE: How to Visit Schynige Platte
If you come this way, be sure to do some hiking – the Panorama Trail offers the best views with relatively little effort. Experienced hikers may even want to attempt the hike from Schynige Platte to Grindelwald and quickly see both areas (you’ll need to start very early for this!).
LEARN MORE: Best Hikes at Schynige Platte
In the late afternoon, get back to Interlaken, pick up your luggage from the hotel and take a train from Interlaken to Lucerne. No matter which of the above day trips you choose, you will need to change trains in Interlaken anyway, so if your hotel is nearby, it’s not a big detour.
The train journey from Interlaken Ost Station to Lucerne takes almost 2 hours.
ACCOMMODATION: Stay in Lucerne for the rest of the trip. If you are flying out of Zurich, you can easily take a train from Lucerne to the airport without having to stay in Zurich anymore. Also here, the main railway station is located right in the center so try to find a hotel nearby. Here are some recommended hotels: Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel ($$$$), AMERON Luzern Hotel Flora ($$$) or Radisson Blu ($$+).
DAY 9: Mt Pilatus & Lucerne
Today, take a half-day trip from Lucerne to Mount Pilatus. After that, spend the afternoon exploring the city.
Mt Pilatus is located just near the city of Lucerne and offers stunning panoramic views of the area and Lake Lucerne. It can be visited year-round, but is best on a sunny cloudless day of course.
There are several ways to visit Mt Pilatus from Lucerne, including a bus, gondolas, trains, and scenic boat. In the summer season, we recommend that you do the so called Golden Round Trip which involves all of the above. You’ll need about 4-6 hours for this, so start early in the morning. If you are visiting in the lower season, you can simply visit by gondola (the same way there and back).
LEARN MORE: Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip
Upon return in Lucerne, explore the picturesque old town with colorful buildings, charming squares, and impressive churches. Don’t miss the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower, the Spreuer Bridge, and do the Lucerne Ramparts Walk.
Next, check out the Lion Monument and the Glacier Garden of Lucerne. If the weather is nice, take a walk along the lakeshore.
Also here, you can find some very good city tours – either walking tours or by eTukTuk. Some of these tours have lots of possible starting times. If you visit Mt Titlis first thing in the morning and don’t plan to do much hiking there, you’ll likely be back in the city by 2-3 PM.
TIP: The Swiss Museum of Transport is also well worth a visit, especially if you are traveling with kids. However, it’s located a bit further away from the other attractions and you really need at least a few hours to do it justice. This could also be a good choice for the last day of this itinerary.
LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Lucerne
DAY 10: Mt Titlis (or Another Day Trip from Lucerne)
Just like in Interlaken, there are tons of beautiful places to visit and things to do around Lucerne, even more so if you are traveling in the summer. So also here, you’ll have to choose where to go based on your interest and also on the season when you travel.
One of the most popular day trips from Lucerne is Mount Titlis, which can be visited almost the whole year (apart for a few days of maintenance, usually in November). It’s yet another mountain-peak destination, a bit like Jungfraujoch Top of Europe near Interlaken or Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Zermatt.
At Mt Titlis, you can enjoy spectacular panoramas from a viewing platform at 3,020 meters (10,000 ft), explore a glacier cave, and walk over Europe’s highest suspension bridge.
In the summer, you can also go tobogganing on a glacier and hiking at lower altitudes – the area around Trübsee Lake is not to be missed! In the winter ski season, you’ll find sleds, snow tubes, and snowmobiles near the Trübsee gondola station on the way to/from the peak.
LEARN MORE: How to Visit Mt Titlis
Since Mt Titlis offers a bit similar experience as several other places included in this itinerary, you may want to opt for another day trip near Lucerne (or potentially skip Jungfraujoch (day 7) and visit other places in that area). If you are not sure which one to choose, take a look at our guide comparing Mt Titis to Jungfraujoch. Or visit both.
Also around Lucerne, you have a lot more choices in the summer than in the winter. Here are a few alternatives if you decide to skip Mt Titlis (or have more time in the Lucerne area):
(1) Simply book a scenic boat cruise on Lake Lucerne and spend more time in the city. In that case, definitely try to visit the Swiss Museum of Transport as well.
(2) Another choice and easy to visit in any season is Mt Rigi, aka Queen of the Mountains. The experience is somewhat comparable to Mt Pilatus, but Mount Rigi is located on the other side of the city so offers different views.
(3) Stoos – Fronalpstock. This area is located on the other side of Lake Lucerne and will require a bit of an effort to get to if you don’t have a car. But if you like hiking and want to enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in the Lake Lucerne area, you may want to check out the Stoos Ridge Trail.
LEARN MORE: Best Day Trips from Lucerne
If You Have More Than 10 Days in Switzerland
If you decide to spend more time in Switzerland, you could add extra days pretty much anywhere in this itinerary and you’ll find plenty to do.
We already included some additional recommendations in the article above (mostly the areas around Interlaken, Lucerne, and Geneva). Here are a few extra suggestions:
- If you want to see more towns, spend an extra day in Zurich, or visit Basel or Lausanne. From Basel, you can also take a day trip to France and visit the picturesque Colmar or some of the best little towns on the Alsace Wine Route. This area is also beautiful during the Christmas Markets season.
- If you are also visiting Italy on the same trip, check out the Lugano area in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, close to Lake Como. In this same area, you can also do the famous Bernina Express train ride.
- If you like hiking (and are visiting in the summer), I highly recommend the Oschinensee Panorama Hike. It’s located in Kandersteg and could be done as a day trip from the Interlaken area.
- If you like skiing (and are visiting in the winter), you could add a few days extra at any of the mountain destinations mentioned in our itinerary. We personally love skiing in Engelberg (at Mt Titlis) and also in the Wengen – Grindelwald area. Zermatt is also great and they even have a small ski area that remains open all year.
These are just a few famous destinations; we are not even mentioning lesser-known places…
There’s more to see in Switzerland than you could ever do in one or even ten trips, let alone days. So my best advice is leave the FOMO behind, pick the places that interest you the most and simply make the most of the time that you have. And don’t forget to slow down once in a while and simply enjoy the moment.
Whatever you choose to visit, you are sure to fall in love with Switzerland. And once you visit this beautiful country, you’ll definitely want to come back and explore more!
So these are our suggestions for how you could plan a trip focusing on the top sights and most popular tourist destinations in Switzerland.
If you are visiting for the first time and want to see THE VERY BEST of Switzerland in ten days, this itinerary should help you do just that.
Yes, it’s quite packed and on some days you will also have to make some tough choices on what to visit and what to skip. But no matter what you decide, this trip will give you a very good overview of what Switzerland has to offer. Plus, you can always plan a repeat visit to the areas that you like the most and explore deeper.
TIP: Take a look at our Switzerland travel guide for more destination guides and helpful tips.
READ ALSO:
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