2 days Switzerland - 12 itineraries from Zurich | Swiss Activities (2024)

If you’re looking for an itinerary for two days in Switzerland, you might be overwhelmed by all your options. Even though it’s a small country, there’s still more than enough to see and do for several weeks. Of course, not everyone has this amount of time available to just travel around.

Since you only have two days, we’ve put together a collection of itineraries that will help you plan your trip and show you what’s realistic. They are all doable within two days and have their starting point in Zurich. 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.

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.

Also, if you have more than two days available and see an itinerary you like, you can easily stretch it out by spending an extra night in one place.

Whether or not an Interrail, Eurail or a Swiss Travel Pass is worth it for such a short amount of time is up to you. But since you only have two days in Switzerland, buying regular tickets might be the cheaper option for you. Once you’ve picked an itinerary, jump on the SBB website to do the maths yourself and decide what works out best for you.

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

Highlights on this itinerary

• Walk across the Kapellbrücke in Lucerne
• Enjoy a scenic train ride through the Entlebuch region (UNESCO)
• Fill up on free Kambly biscuits in Trubschachen
• Visit the old town of Bern (UNESCO)
• Discover the highlights of Zurich

Day 1: Zurich - Lucerne - Trubschachen - Bern

Leave Zurich first thing in the morning and spend a few hours exploring Lucerne. Join a guided city tour or discover the city on your own. 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.

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

Day 2: Bern - Zurich

Today, 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 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.

Oh the agony of choice...

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 Bern
• Best things to do in Zurich

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Discover the highlights of Zurich
• Visit the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfalls
• Take a stroll through the picturesque old town of Schaffhausen
• Hunt down more than 250 bay windows
• Visit the Abbey District in St. Gallen (UNESCO)

Day 1: Zurich - Schaffhausen

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 Schaffhausen.

Head straight to Neuhausen next to Schaffhausen, where the mighty 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.

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

Day 2: Schaffhausen - St. Gallen - Zurich

After breakfast, grab your bags and catch the train to St. Gallen. You’ve got almost all day to explore the city and its surroundings in all its glory. With the UNESCO listed Abbey District, its towering Cathedral and the impressive Abbey Library, St. Gallen has quite a few things to offer. Oh, and did we mention the 111 bay windows yet awaiting you in St. Gallen?

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.

Once you’re ready to move on, hop on the next train to Zurich and spend the rest of the day exploring Switzerland’s largest city.

• Best things to do in St. Gallen

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Explore the vibrant city of Basel
• Hop across the border to France or Germany
• Walk across the Kapellbrücke in Lucerne
• Enjoy the views of Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus
• Discover the highlights of Zurich

Day 1: Zurich - Basel

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 Basel.

Basel is a vibrant city right on the German and French border. It offers several guided and self-guided city tours. Some of them are centered around a certain theme like “Basel by Night” or “Prison Runaways”. Don’t miss out on getting a deeper insight into this culturally rich city.

You can also head out 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. Basel has a very high density of museums. So whether you’re into culture, art or history, you’ll find your perfect match here.

If you’re visiting during summer, you might even like to go for a swim in the River Rhine. Which is exactly what the locals do. 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.

If you like, you can also 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. 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...

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in Basel

Day 2: Basel - Lucerne - Zurich

Spend the morning covering some more ground in Basel. Once you’re ready to move on, hop on the train to Lucerne and spend a few hours in this beautiful city. Store your luggage in a locker at the train station and head right out.

Join a guided city tour or discover the city on your own. 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. Toward the end of the afternoon, hop on the next train to Zurich and spend the rest of the day exploring Switzerland’s largest city.

• Best things to do in Lucerne

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Enjoy a scenic cruise on Lake Zurich
• Take a stroll through the picturesque old town of Rapperswil
• Walk parts of the Camino de Santiago trail
• Soak up the impressive mountain views of Glarus
• Visit the Läderach Chocolate Factory in Bilten

Day 1: Zurich - Rapperswil

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 hop on the passenger ship to Rapperswil.

Spend the rest of the afternoon taking a stroll through 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 afternoon 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 start feeling hungry, treat yourself to some pizza or ice cream at Pizzeria Dieci in Rapperswil.

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in Rapperswil

Day 2: Rapperswil - Glarus - Zurich

After breakfast, catch the train to Glarus. This village is surrounded by towering mountains, making the area an excellent hiking destination. Not far from Glarus lies the Geopark Sardona, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a freely accessible park that offers hiking trails of all difficulty levels.

Probably the most popular destination for many visitors is the Expedition Tschinglen. This trip includes a gondola ride, a 1.5-hour hike and world-class photo opportunities.

Once you’re done hiking, head to the village of Bilten for some chocolate action. In many ways, Läderach chocolate is known to be more exquisite than the other players in the Swiss chocolate scene.

This family business is most famous for their artisanal broken chocolate. They spice it up with all kinds of interesting ingredients like candied oranges, caramelised almonds, roasted hazelnuts and so on.

Their museum in Bilten takes you on a journey through the process of chocolate making. Tastings and a demonstration included. Depending on when you finish your chocolate tasting, you might have enough time to stop by Lake Walensee before heading back to Zurich.

• Swiss chocolate factories

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Take a stroll through the picturesque old town of Appenzell
• Try some local specialities of the Appenzell region like Biber and Appenzell cheese
• Enjoy the stunning Alpstein mountain range
• Visit the world-famous Äscher restaurant
• Snap a photo of the crystal clear Lake Seealpsee

Day 1: Zurich - Appenzell

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 Appenzell.

Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling through Appenzell. In case you’re 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.

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.

Day 2: Appenzell - Alpstein - Zurich

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. After this, it’s time to return to Zurich.

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Ride through the Gotthard-Basistunnel, the world’s longest tunnel
• Walk the mighty walls of Castello di Montebello in Bellinzona (UNESCO)
• Enjoy a few scoops of delicious ice cream in Locarno or Ascona
• Visit one of the popular river valleys Maggia or Verzasca

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 Canton of Ticino tonight, 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
• Best things to do in Locarno

Day 2: Locarno - Zurich

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...🙂

In the late afternoon, grab one last scoop of ice cream and bolt through the world’s longest tunnel back to Zurich.

• Best things to do in Ticino

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Take a stroll through Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city
• Spend a night in St. Moritz, the place where the rich and famous hang out
• Walk along the shore of Lake St. Moritz or Lake Silvaplana
• Marvel at the golden autumn trees of the Engadine region

Day 1: Zurich - Chur - St. Moritz

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 Chur.

For better views of Lake Zurich and Lake Walensee on your way to Chur, we recommend grabbing a seat on the left when you get on the train. Spend an hour or two strolling through Chur – the capital of the Grisons – and get ready for the clean alpine air awaiting you in St. Moritz.

To get to St. Moritz, catch the train in Chur. Make sure you have your camera ready because you’ll be spoiled with panoramic views from start to finish. The Landwasser Viaduct and the curvy Albula Line are two highlights on this leg.

Spend the rest of the day hanging out in St. Moritz. If you find yourself feeling unusually sleepy tonight, thank the high altitude of 1822 metres (5977 feet) above sea level for that. It usually takes people a day or two to get accustomed to the thin air.

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in Chur

Day 2: St. Moritz - Zurich

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.

Another place worth visiting, since you have a full day in St. Moritz, is Ospizio Bernina. With 2253 metres (7397 feet) above sea level, this little railway station is the highest spot of the Bernina Express Line. Trains from St. Moritz leave every hour and lead you past several good-looking spots with lakes, glaciers and towering mountains.

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, grab your bags and travel to Zurich, where you spend the rest of the evening.

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

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Travel on the scenic Golden Pass Line from Lucerne to Montreux in one day
• Walk across the Kapellbrücke in Lucerne
• Explore the popular town of Interlaken
• Pose next to the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux
• Enjoy the views of Lake Geneva
• Stop by the wonderful Lavaux vineyard terraces (UNESCO)

Day 1: Zurich - Lucerne - Interlaken - Montreux

(Just a heads up. This itinerary is so jam-packed it might make your head spin. But it’s doable in two full days. So here it goes.)

Leave Zurich first thing in the morning, head to Lucerne and spend one or two hours exploring the city. Walk across the Kapellbrücke, take a stroll through the old town, hang out by the lake or visit the Glacier Garden. Leave for Interlaken at the latest around lunchtime.

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. Your first leg between Lucerne and Interlaken is run by Zentralbahn and takes just under two hours.

Once you arrive in Interlaken, you have maybe an hour or two in this popular yet touristy town. With a relatively long journey still ahead of you, we recommend you don’t stick around much longer than that.

The second leg of the journey first takes you past Lake Thun to Spiez and finally into Zweisimmen, where you’ll transfer to a different train. 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...

The Golden Pass Line terminates in Montreux and depending on when you arrive, you might have an hour or two to explore. There’s no rush though since you’ll be spending the night here. Plenty of time to discover Montreux and its surroundings tomorrow.

• Golden Pass Line
• Best things to do in Lucerne
• Best things to do in Interlaken
• Best things to do in Montreux

Day 2: Montreux - Zurich

After breakfast in Montreux, head to the Promenade and check out the Freddie Mercury statue just outside the market hall. If you’re keen on visiting the famous Chillon Castle, follow the Promenade to the castle or catch a bus. Passenger ships also take you there on a regular basis.

Alternatively, head in the opposite direction toward Lavaux. 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.

Once you’re ready to move on, head back to Zurich.

• Best things to do in Montreux
• Chillon Castle

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Discover the old town of Lucerne with the world famous Kapellbrücke
• Ride parts of the Golden Pass Line between Lucerne and Interlaken
• Spend a night in the popular town of Interlaken
• Enjoy a scenic cruise across Lake Thun
• Visit the castle and the old town of Thun

Day 1: Zurich - Lucerne - Interlaken

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 Lucerne.

Spend a few hours exploring the city. Join another sightseeing tour or discover the city on your own. Walk across the Kapellbrücke, take a stroll through the old town, hang out by the lake or visit the Glacier Garden.

Leave for Interlaken on the Golden Pass train in the afternoon. 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 Lucerne and Interlaken is run by Zentralbahn and takes just under two hours.

Once you arrive in Interlaken, enjoy the evening in this popular yet very touristy town. Activities here are endless and it’s a good thing you’ve got all day tomorrow to enjoy this region to its fullest.

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in Lucerne

Day 2: Interlaken - Thun - Zurich

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 interesting spot you can visit in the morning is Harder Kulm. The mountain railway takes you up from right behind Interlaken station. From the viewing platform at the top, you’re presented with a stunning view over the Alps and both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

Around lunchtime, catch the passenger ship to Thun. Whatever the weather, this beautiful two-hour ride will take your breath away. Promised! Technically, you could get off along the way to visit St. Beatus Caves or spend an hour in Spiez. But that depends on how much of your time in Thun you’d like to sacrifice for that.

Once you arrive in Thun, check out the old town, head up to the castle and spend some time by the shore of Lake Thun. Head back to Zurich in the late afternoon and spend the rest of the evening exploring Switzerland’s largest city.

• Best things to do in Interlaken
• Lake Thun
• Harder Kulm
• Best things to do in Thun

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Ride parts of the Golden Pass Line between Lucerne and Interlaken
• Explore the popular town of Interlaken
• Visit the villages of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald
• Go for a hike in the famous Jungfrau region
• Visit the Lauterbrunnen Valley - the valley of 72 waterfalls
• Head up to Jungfraujoch - the Top of Europe

Day 1: Zurich - Interlaken

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 Interlaken. The fastest way to Interlaken via Bern takes just under two hours.

If you don’t mind spending an extra hour on the train, travel via Lucerne and ride parts of the Golden Pass Line between Lucerne and Interlaken. 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 Lucerne and Interlaken is run by Zentralbahn and takes just under two hours.

After arriving in Interlaken, spend the rest of the day visiting the Trümmelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen or hanging out in Interlaken. Walk along Höheweg, check out Interlaken Castle or head up to Harder Kulm for some amazing mountain views.

• Best things to do in Zurich
• Best things to do in Interlaken
• Harder Kulm

Day 2: Interlaken - Zurich

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. To make the most of your day in Interlaken, we suggest travelling back to Zurich via Bern and save that extra hour.

• 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

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Discover the highlights of Zurich
• Go for a hike at the base of the famous Matterhorn
• Check out the Gorner Glacier at Gornergrat
• Ride parts of the scenic Glacier Express Line
• Walk the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Randa

Day 1: Zurich - (Thun / Spiez) - Zermatt

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 Zermatt.

If you’re not in a rush to get to Zermatt, take a quick break in Bern, Spiez or Thun. Those cities are all situated along the way from Zurich to Zermatt and offer plenty of sights and things to do.

Between Visp and Zermatt, you’ll be completing the final leg of the Glacier Express journey. This ride is exceptionally scenic so make sure you have your camera within reach. Once you arrive in Zermatt, spend the rest of the day strolling through this mountain town and enjoy the sight of the mighty Matterhorn.

Provided it’s not veiled in clouds.

• Best things to do in Zurich

Day 2: Zermatt - Zurich

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. Once you’ve taken enough photos of the Matterhorn and its surroundings, catch the next train back to Zurich.

• Best things to do in Zermatt
• Gornergrat

Highlights on this itinerary:

• Visit Solothurn, Switzerland’s most beautiful baroque city
• Cruise along the River Aare to the bilingual town of Biel/Bienne
• Ride past Switzerland’s largest stork station in Altreu
• Hang out in Neuchâtel and enjoy stunning lake views
• Catch a glimpse of the French part of Switzerland

Day 1: Zurich - Solothurn - Biel - Neuchâtel

Leave Zurich first thing in the morning and head to Solothurn, commonly known as «Switzerland’s most beautiful baroque city». Spend a few hours exploring the city and grab some take-away lunch around midday. Our personal tip is the Pittaria, a place selling delicious oriental cuisine at Theatergasse 12. Their falafel and hummus dishes are always a winner...

Head to the dock and catch the passenger ship to Biel. About 45 minutes in, you’ll pass by Switzerland’s largest stork station in Altreu.

In 1950, when storks were pretty much 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.

Moving on, you’ll get amazing views of the Jura Mountains and the Swiss Central Plateau. Just before terminating your cruise in Biel, you’ll pass through a lock. If you’d rather not complete the whole three-hour ride on the Aare, get off in Grenchen and take the train to Biel instead.

Spend some time strolling through the beautiful old town of Biel and catch the next train to Neuchâtel. You have now officially crossed the language border and arrived in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

Bienvenue.

Day 2: Neuchâtel - Zurich

Spend the morning exploring Neuchâtel 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.

Once you’re ready to move on, catch the next train back to Zurich and spend the rest of the day exploring the city on foot or by borrowing a free bike with «Züri rollt».

• Best things to do in Zurich