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Planning a trip to Switzerland?
Everything you need to have the best vacation ever with the best places to go, things to do, food to eat and places to stay in Switzerland!
Switzerland is one of those places where you just can’t believe how gorgeous it is. The background in the photos almost looks fake, when really, it doesn’t even capture how breathtaking the landscape actually is. There are so many beautiful places in Switzerland to experience!
The air is fresh, the grass is green, wildflowers are abundant (in the warm summer months), and the cows are grazing as their cowbells clink. Switzerland is an ideal vacation place in the mountains.
If you are looking for an adventure vacation in the mountains of Europe, a Switzerland road trip (or train trip) may be perfect for you! There are so many fun adventures in Switzerland, including endless hiking. Some of the best hikes I have ever been on were while traveling in Switzerland.
With so many beautiful places, you may be wondering where to go in Switzerland… I can help!
Use this incredible Switzerland travel itinerary for the ultimate vacation in Switzerland. If you have 10 days in Switzerland, use the 10 day Switzerland itinerary. For 7 days in Switzerland, use the 7 day Switzerland itinerary. If you only have 5 days in Switzerland, then use the 5 day Switzerland itinerary. If you are lucky enough to have longer, then slow down and enjoy a 10 days Switzerland itinerary.
This is a fun Switzerland road trip itinerary, traveling by car for most of the time, and with some train travel (there are some places that you cannot drive.) The trip plan is great for family travel to Switzerland or for traveling as a couple or with friends.
Read on for your Switzerland tour plan including the best places to visit in Switzerland, and get my top travel tips to help you plan ahead and save money.
If you are thinking about going to Italy also, Click here for an Italy Switzerland itinerary
Find the best prices on flights to Switzerland here
How to plan a trip to Switzerland…
Click here to search for the lowest flight prices
10 Day Switzerland Itinerary
2 Days Lausanne, on Lake Geneva
GET THERE
How to get to Laussane
- Fly into Geneva International Airport. Rent a car and drive 40 minutes to Lausanne.
Click here to search for the lowest price for a rental car
*This is a one-way car rental that you will drop in Zurich or along the way if you want to take the train.
- If you are traveling by train, purchase your tickets well in advance. You can read more about which pass to go with here
Click here to book your train tickets
STAY
Where to stay on Lake Geneva
Stay in a hotel in Lausanne with a lake view.
Book a Luassane Hotel
Looking for the best place to stay in Laussane? Book a top-rated hotel here:
- Beau Rivage Palace– For a splurge at a 5 star hotel, and the top-rated on Trip Advisor (with good reason), stay here. The Beau Rivage will not disappoint! Click here for the latest prices
- Hotel Angleterre & Résidence– Beautiful historical hotel on Lake Geneva with view rooms and a pool. Click here for the latest prices
Click here to search for a place to stay on VRBO
Click here to read reviews and see prices on Booking.com or Agoda.com
DO
Things to do around Lake Geneva
- Walk around the town of Luassane, and along the lake.
- Take a trip to Montreux by car, train, or bus. Walk along the beautiful blue lake and see the Chateaux de Chillon Castle.
- Back towards Luassane, stop at picturesque Vevey to stroll through the old town and have some lunch at a local restaurant or grab sandwiches to go at Vevey Bien Cafe & Take Away and eat lakeside.
- There is a bike trail that runs along parts of Lake Geneva. You can take a bus to another town, rent bikes, and ride back to Luassane.
- Click here to book a good private or group tour
EAT
- Eat lots of fondue and Swiss chocolate- The best treats in Switzerland!
- Click here to book a fun and delicious chocolate and cheese tour now
Pack carry on only for your trip to Switzerland! Get the Ultimate Carry On Packing List
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Click here to check out my favorite carry on suitcase for international travel on Amazon
Switzerland Itinerary 10 days
3 Days Bernese Oberland
How to get to Gimmelwald
GET THERE
- Get an Alpine start and drive or take the train to Lauterbrunnen via Bern.
Click here to book your train tickets
Fun Detour (if you are driving): The town of Gruyere, where Switzerland’s most famous cheese is from, is just on the way (just a little way off the main road.) Stop here for a quick walk around the town, to see the castle, and to visit La Maison du Gruyere where the cheese is made. Book a tour in advance if you are interested. 5 km down the road, in Broc, is the famous Maison Cailler chocolate factory (book in advance.) You can even create your own chocolate bar!
Click here to book a fun and delicious chocolate and cheese tour now or do this as a day trip from Luassane
Stop in Bern to walk around the old town. If it’s summer, you may want to experience swimming and floating down the Aare River.
*If this sounds like too much for one day and you are interested in going to Gruyere, Broc, and stopping in Bern, you have two great options:
- Spend an additional night on Lake Geneva and do Gruyere and Maison Callier as a day trip.
- Spend the night in Bern.
- Continue driving or take the train to Lauterbrunnen.
Food Tips: *Save money by stopping at the grocery store here (or in Interlaken if you are driving). Stock up on food for your incredible trip up to Gimmelwald. There is a grocery store in Murren, but this one is larger and costs less. If you are traveling as a family it is expensive to eat out in this area.
If you are renting an apartment with a kitchen, get Fondue ingredients and make it yourself! You can keep it simple with Gruyere cheese, Emmentaler cheese, and white wine, with bread for dipping. No fondue pot? No problem–just use a stove pot (you will have to run back to the kitchen for a reheating, but you will be saving so much money!) Don’t forget the Swiss chocolate bars for dessert:)
- Park (or take the local train) to the gondola station, and take the gondola to Gimmelwald (or Murren.)
Switzerland Driving Tip: Drive the speed limit! There is sometimes a hidden camera on this drive and its easy to speed. You do not want to have to pay the price of a Swiss ticket!
STAY
Where to stay in the Bernese Oberland.
*If Gimmelwald is sold out, stay in Murren
DO
Things to do in Bernese Oberland
- Hike, hike, hike! This is one of the top places to hike in Europe. Get a map and directions and set out early in the morning. The Northface Trail is one of the best. Walk around Murren at the end of the hike. Gather a picnic from the meat market and the small grocery store (if you didn’t pack a picnic).
- Buy fresh milk, cheese, and eggs from some of the local farmers in Gimmelwald. Just check their boxes and leave money inside.
10 Days Switzerland Itinerary
3 Days Lucerne
GET THERE
How to get to Lucerne
- Drive or take the trains to Lucerne.
Click here to book your train tickets
Travel Tip: If you are driving, make sure to ask your accommodations about where to park in Lucerne.
DO
Things to do in Lucerne
- Slow down and stroll on the cobbled streets through the old town, and over Chapel Bridge, on the aqua-colored Lake Lucerne. Try to get out early to beat the crowds if you are traveling during the peak season.
- Take a day trip out to Mount Pilatus. Go up the mountain in the cable car and luge down for the most fun ride ever (this may end up being one of the highlights of your trip)!
Click here to book a Lucerne tour or a day trip from Lucerne
1 Day in Zurich
GET THERE
- Drive or take the train to Zurich
- Drop your car at a convenient location. Make sure to check a google map when making your car reservation. You may want to choose a drop-off location that is on the outside of the city center and take a taxi in (or sometimes the car rental company will drive you.)
STAY
Where to stay in Zurich
Book a Zurich Hotel
Looking for the best place to stay in Zurich? Book a top-rated hotel here:
- Storchen Zurich, Lifestyle Boutique Hotel– Top-notch luxury hotel in the heart of old town and on the lake. Click here for the latest prices
- Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich– 4 star hotel, located on one of the best shopping streets, across from the main train station. Click here for the latest prices
- 25hours Hotel Zurich West– Great budget option that is hip, colorful, and centrally located. Click here for the latest prices
Click here to search for a place to stay on VRBO
Click here to read reviews and see prices on Booking.com or Agoda.com
DO
Things to do in Zurich
- Walk around the old town (Alstadt)
- Take a short cruise on Lake Zurich
GET HOME
- Fly home or to another country in Europe from the Zurich International Airport
Get more itineraries for Europe
If you have 2 weeks in Switzerland
Go to Appenzell after Lucerne and end in Zurich
Get Home
- Fly home from Zurich or travel to another country in Europe with one another detailed GoFam itinerary
For a detailed guide with everything you need to know about traveling in Switzerland, check out Rick Steves Switzerland on Amazon
For more tips on European travel, please read:
The Ideal Italy Itinerary: Best of Rome, Tuscany and Cinque Terre and The Perfect Rome Itinerary: Top Things to Do In Italy’s Eternal City
30 of the Best Places to Visit in Italy
The Perfect Greece Itinerary to Take Now! (Don’t Miss the Amazing Athens Itinerary)
The Ultimate Fun In Portugal Itinerary: Best of Algarve, Sintra, Lisbon, and Porto
The Perfect Spain Itinerary for 10 Days: Exploring the North and Madrid
2 Day Amsterdam Itinerary: Top Things to Do In One of the Best Cities in Europe
The Perfect Croatia Itinerary: Istria, National Parks, Beaches, & Dubrovnik
Get more information in Switzerland here
More Travel Resources
Trip Advisor, Lonely Planet, Travel and Leisure, Forbes Travel, Travel Channel, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post Travel
