Switzerland travel guide: where to go and how to get around
Switzerland is small, and the trains make it smaller. Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt sit within a few hours of each other, so a week by rail covers a lot. Two things shape every trip: prices in francs are high, and the weather decides whether the mountain half of the plan works. Plan around both.
The short answer
- First trip
- Fly into Zurich or Geneva, base yourself in Lucerne and Interlaken, and add Zermatt if you want the Matterhorn. Zurich and Geneva work as arrival cities with a night or two each.
- How long
- Five days covers Zurich, Lucerne and the Interlaken area. A week adds Zermatt or Geneva. Ten days lets you slow down and use the mountain days well.
- Best time to go
- June to September for hiking and lakes, December to March for skiing. April, May and November are quiet, and many cable cars and mountain huts close for maintenance.
- Getting around
- Trains, buses and boats run on a single timetable and are punctual. Most visitors never hire a car. Zermatt itself is car-free.
- Money
- The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro. Cards and contactless are taken almost everywhere, and expect everything from rooms to a coffee to cost more than in neighboring countries.
- Book ahead
- Panoramic trains need a seat reservation, and rooms in Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt fill early in summer and winter. Book those first.
Best cities to visit in Switzerland
Zurich
The biggest city, with a lake, an old town and the best rail connections in the country. It suits a first night or last night, and anyone who likes museums and good restaurants.
Give it 1 to 2 days
Geneva
A lakeside French-speaking city with the United Nations quarter, the old town and the Jet d'Eau. It suits a short stop on the way to the Alps or France.
Give it 1 to 2 days
Lucerne
A small old town on a lake, with a covered wooden bridge and mountains behind. It is the easiest base for day trips and suits first-timers.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Interlaken
A town between two lakes at the foot of the Bernese Oberland. It suits hikers and anyone heading for Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen.
Give it 2 to 4 days
Zermatt
A car-free village under the Matterhorn, reached by train. It suits hikers in summer and skiers in winter, and it is worth the cost on a clear day.
Give it 2 to 3 days
Beyond the cities
Bern
The compact old-town capital, about an hour by train from Zurich or Interlaken. It makes an easy day or an overnight on the way to the mountains.
Lauterbrunnen valley
A deep valley of waterfalls and cliffs, reached by train from Interlaken in around 20 minutes. Stay a night to walk it when the day trippers have left.
Ticino and Lugano
The Italian-speaking south, with palm-lined lakes and a warmer feel. The Gotthard Base Tunnel brings it to about two hours from Zurich by train.
Lavaux vineyards
Terraced vines above Lake Geneva between Lausanne and Montreux. Take a local train and walk a section between villages.
Appenzell
A rural corner of the north-east, known for rolling hills and cheese. It suits a slower day for anyone who has had enough of big peaks.
Switzerland itineraries
- Five days: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken
Start with one night in Zurich, then take the train to Lucerne for two nights, with a day on a nearby mountain. Finish with two nights in Interlaken and a day in Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. Every leg is under two hours.
- Seven days by train: add Zermatt and Geneva
Fly into Zurich and spend two nights in Lucerne, then two in Interlaken. Continue to Zermatt for two nights, changing at Visp. End with a night in Geneva and fly out from there. It is the classic loop and works with a rail pass.
- Ten days: slower, with Bern and Ticino
Add Bern after Lucerne and a night in the Lauterbrunnen valley, then cross to Ticino by train for two nights in Lugano. Return via Zermatt or head on to Italy. You trade a rushed pace for more weather margin.
Best time to visit Switzerland
June to September is the main season. Trails are open, boats run, and the high lifts operate fully. July and August are the busiest and most expensive, and the best views can sit behind afternoon cloud. September is often clear and calmer.
December to March is the ski season, with Christmas markets in the cities in December. Between seasons, in April, May, late October and November, some lifts and huts close and the mountains can be quiet. The cities are still good then, and prices drop.
How to get around Switzerland
- TrainsSBB runs most intercity trains, and private railways run many mountain lines. Timetables connect across operators, and the SBB app sells tickets for most of them.
- The Swiss Travel PassIt covers trains, buses and boats across the country, free entry to more than 500 museums, and about half off most mountain railways. Rigi, Stanserhorn and Stoos are free. Work out your own journeys against single tickets before you buy, because a short trip may cost less without it.
- Half Fare Card and day passesA Half Fare Card halves most tickets for a month and can beat a pass on a slower trip. Saver Day Passes can be cheap if you book early on quiet days.
- Panoramic trainsThe Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass and Gotthard Panorama need a seat reservation on top of the ticket or pass, which you book separately.
- Boats and carsLake boats are part of the public network and make a good change from the train. A car is rarely needed and parking in the mountains is limited and costly.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across Switzerland. Each city guide has its own list.
- Rooms in Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt2 to 4 months ahead in peak season
Small towns with limited beds, and prices climb as they fill.
- Panoramic train seatsas soon as your dates are fixed
Reservations are compulsory and popular departures sell out, even with a pass.
- Jungfraujoch and other high-mountain tripscheck the forecast, then buy a few days ahead
A clear day matters more than the date, so keep one or two days flexible.
- Your Swiss Travel Passbefore you land
It can be bought online and used from the first day you choose.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe Swiss franc (CHF). Some tourist shops and hotels take euros, but change usually comes back in francs at a poor rate, so pay in francs.
- Cards and cashCards and contactless are widely taken in shops, restaurants and on transport. Carry a little cash for mountain huts, small farm shops and market stalls.
- TippingService is included in the price. Rounding up or leaving a franc or two for good service is normal, and nobody expects 15 per cent.
- Tourist taxesA local tax is charged per person per night on stays, set by each municipality, and can be added at check-out. Some places give a guest card that includes local transport.
- EntrySwitzerland is in the Schengen area though not the EU, so the same rules apply. Non-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsSwitzerland uses its own three-pin Type J plug at 230V. Two-pin Type C plugs usually fit, but earthed UK or US plugs need an adaptor.
What to skip in Switzerland
- Cramming too many bases into a short trip
Moving hotel every night eats the clear-weather hours you came for. Choose two or three bases and make day trips from them.
- Mountain tickets booked months ahead for a fixed day
A summit in cloud is an expensive white wall. Watch the forecast and buy close to the day.
- Changing money at the airport or paying in euros
The rate is poor either way. Use a card, or withdraw francs from a bank machine.
Switzerland: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Switzerland?
Five days covers a first loop of Zurich, Lucerne and Interlaken. Seven to ten days lets you add Zermatt, Geneva or Ticino without rushing. Mountain days depend on the weather, so leave some spare.
What is the best time to visit Switzerland?
June to September for hiking and lakes, and December to March for skiing. September is often the best balance of clear days and fewer crowds. April, May and November are quiet and some lifts are shut.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
It is worth it if you take many long train rides, boats and mountain excursions, and use the museum entry. It covers trains, buses and boats, free entry to over 500 museums and about half off most mountain railways. Check your journeys against single tickets or a Half Fare Card first.
Is Switzerland in the EU, and do I need euros?
Switzerland is in the Schengen area but not the EU, and it uses the Swiss franc. A few tourist places take euros, but you will get better value paying by card or in francs.
Is Switzerland expensive for a short trip?
Yes, compared with most of Europe, particularly for rooms, meals and mountain lifts. Self-catering from supermarkets, lunch as the main meal and sleeping in a town rather than at the summit all help.
Can you visit Switzerland without a car?
Yes. Trains, buses and boats reach nearly every town and trailhead, and Zermatt is car-free. A car mainly helps in remote valleys.
Which Swiss city should I use as a base?
Lucerne is the easiest for a first trip, with fast trains in every direction. Interlaken suits the Bernese Oberland, and Zurich is the best arrival point and connection.
Do you need to reserve seats on Swiss trains?
Not on ordinary trains. You do on panoramic trains such as the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, and the reservation is separate from your pass.