The Perfect 1 Week in Switzerland Travel Itinerary

Even when compared to its European neighbors, Switzerland is a small country. However, it’s large enough that it’ll take more than a week to really see the whole country. If a week is all you have, this Switzerland travel itinerary will give you a sampling of the best the country has to offer.

The itinerary takes you from cities to mountains, medieval towns to sparkling lakes. You’ll use the cities of Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, and Geneva as bases for exploring Swiss culture and history, admiring the stunning scenery, and enjoying Swiss cuisine. Furthermore, your time will be split between both French and German-speaking Switzerland, so you’ll get a feel for how these two cultures blend and co-exist within a single national border.

For this itinerary there’s no need for a rental car. It’s been specifically designed to be done via public transportation. Equipped with a Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll have virtually unlimited use of Switzerland’s excellent network of trains, buses, and ferries. Some mountain cable cars, ski gondolas, and cog railways are included with the pass, thus making car-free Swiss sightseeing a breeze.

Day 1: Zurich

Be sure to catch some shut eye on your flight over because this Switzerland travel itinerary starts with a full day of exploring Switzerland’s largest city.

Zurich offers a mix of both history and innovation, and the young and old sides of Switzerland. From the airport, take the train to Zurich’s main station, from where you can walk, take a tram, or hail a taxi to your centrally located hotel. Consider choosing a base in or close to the Altstadt, or Old Town, and get around the city by foot or via trams.

In the Altstadt, don’t miss the mighty Grossmunster cathedral, and take time to wander the main street, the Neiderdorf, and the mostly pedestrian streets that stretch out from it.

Cross the Limmat River, and don’t neglect pausing to take in the city views and the sights of swans, swimmers (In the warmer months), and tour boats along this asppealing waterway. Stroll the Bahnhofstrasse, which is reportedly Europe’s most expensive shopping street, even if you are just window-shopping, and visit Zurich’s other grand cathedral, the Fraumunster. In the afternoon, head to the Limmatquai for a Lake Zurich boat tour, or stop at one of the city’s top museums.

In the evening, plan on eating dinner at the cavernous Zeughauskeller, a place famous for its meter-long sausages and 15th-century arsenal setting.

Day 2: A Day Trip to St. Gallen and Appenzell

In the morning, hop on a train headed east for the hour-long ride to St. Gallen. Trains depart from Zurich Main Station about every 20 minutes. Once in St. Gallen, spend some time exploring the Abbey of St Gall. It’s a complex that dates back centuries and has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can easily spend a few hours wandering the sites of the abbey, which include a library that holds more than 150,000 books, including priceless early medieval illuminated manuscripts, and be sure to stop at the Baroque abbey cathedral.

In St. Gallen town, wander between the half-timber houses of the pedestrian-only Old Town. Also make a stop at the Textilmuseum to view its displays of historic clothing and machinery.

If you’re game for a longer day, head down to the town of Appenzell after lunch. The town is just a 30-minute ride from St. Gallen. Once here, catch a glimpse of culture at the Appenzell canton, Switzerland’s richest in terms of folk traditions. Spend a couple of hours taking in this charming town, then transfer back to St. Gallen and back to Zurich for the night.

Day 3: Lucerne

Day 3 of our Switzerland travel itinerary ha sis switch gears and leaving busy Zurich for the more sedated Lucerne. Lucerne will serve as our base for the next two nights.

The largest city on Lake Lucerne is worthy of a visit on its own. It’ss also an excellent stepping-off point for exploring the surrounding Alps and lake region. Lucerne town has a pretty center filled with half-timber houses and cozy inns and eateries. Wirsthaus Taube is a great choice for rosti, one of the must-try foods of Switzerland. The historical museum has living history presentations that will interest both kids and adults. Also, just a short bus ride away is the Swiss Transport Museum, which is easily one of the top museums in the country. Lucerne’s most famous landmark, the 14th-century Chapel Bridge, is a must-see.

After exploring Lucerne in the morning, make an afternoon excursion to Mount Pilatus, an all-season playground more than 2,000 meters above sea level. From Kriens, which is a short bus ride from Lucerne, take the Panorama Gondola on a breathtaking 30-minute ride to the top of Pilatus. Here you’ll find hiking, an adventure park, restaurants, and soaring views.

Day 4: Take a Boat Ride to Rigi or Rutli

Spend part of the day on the waters of Lake Lucerne, with a scenic boat ride around one of Switzerland’s most beautiful lakes. Your Swiss Travel Pass grants you hop-on/hop-off access to the boats of the Lake Lucerne Navigation System, which ply the lake year-round.

After sailing Lake Lucerne, head to Vitznau, where you might be tempted to spend the night at the lakefront 5-star Park Hotel Vitznau, or at least consider a scenic lakeside lunch there. From Vitznau, climb aboard the historic cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm at the top of Mt. Rigi, and take an easy hike back down, at least part of the way, since there are places to eat at several of the railway stops.

To add a big dose of Swiss history to your Switzerland travel, take the boat from Lucerne to the Rütli Meadow, the 1291 birthplace of the Swiss Confederation. You’ll find the journey is more than half of the fun. The boat ride is more than two hours, and traverses nearly the full length of Lake Lucerne.

Day 5: Bern

Wake up and take a morning train from Lucerne to the Swiss capital of Bern, which is about a 60-90 minute ride. From Bern’s main station, it’s about a 10-minute walk from the Alstadt, or Old Town, which dates back to the 12th century, and is another of Switzerland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Bern is built onto a sharp bend in the Aare River, which made it easier to defend and, aesthetically, placed it in a beautiful setting. While there be sure to visit the Zytglogge historical clock just before the top of the hour, so you won’t miss the rooster crowing and the complicated display of dozens of mechanical moving figures.

Other Bern highlights include the spired 15th-century Minster with its elaborate facade, and the Bundehaus, the seat of the Swiss Parliament. Science and history fans will enjoy a visit to the Einstein House, where the physicist lived for two years. Art lovers should visit Zentrum Paul Klee, a museum and cultural center dedicated to the 20th century abstract artist.

If your Switzerland travel brings you to Bern in the summer, be sure to take a dip in the Aare River, it’s a favorite warm-weather pastime of locals. During the holiday season, Bern is home to several lively Christmas markets.

Day 6: Day Trip to Interlaken and the Jungfraujoch

Bern is less than an hour away by train from Interlaken, which bills itself as Switzerland’s “adventure capital”, which says a lot in a country rich with opportunities for active travel. Set between the Thun and Brienz lakes, Interlaken is the perfect base for exploring a number of surrounding glaciers and mountain peaks, most notably the Jungfraujoch.

Via train, cable car, and cogwheel rail, you’ll make the journey to the “Top of Europe”, the 3,454-meter high Jungfraujoch station at the end of the line. Besides journeying to the highest train station in Europe, you’ll be treated to views of the Aletsch Glacier, at 22 kilometers it’s Europe’s longest, as well as the Eiger, Mönch, and the Jungfrau peaks. An important note, dress appropriately because there’s snow year-round at the top. There’s also a snow park, an ice cave, observatories, and bars and restaurants. Swiss Pass holders enjoy a discount on train tickets to the Jungfraujoch.

If you choose to stay in Interlaken, you can soar high above the city and its lakes, thanks to several paragliding outfitters. You’ll notice tandem riders in the skies from dawn to dusk. If paragliding sounds a little too exciting for you, try a scenic boat ride on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, which is included with the Swiss Travel Pass. Or simply enjoy the historic Old Town with its abundant shopping and dining in Interlaken before hopping on the train back to Bern.

Day 7: Geneva

Our perfect Switzerland travel itinerary closes in Geneva.

To reach Geneva, take an early morning train from Bern to Geneva and get there in less than two hours. Geneva is the largest city in French-speaking Switzerland and the diplomatic center of Europe. The city is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent. Both offer tours and museums, as does CERN—the European Organization for Nuclear Research that’s home to the Large Hadron Collider.

It’ll be a tough decision, but pick just one of these sites to visit. Then spend the rest of your day enjoying Geneva’s scenic lakefront, and its ancient Old Town. At St. Pierre Cathedral and the Museum of the Reformation you can learn about Geneva’s role in the rise of Protestantism.

On your last evening in Switzerland, if you haven’t had any yet, and even if you have, conclude your vacation with a dinner of traditional cheese fondue. Cafe du Soliel has been serving it for 400 years, along with cured meats and regional desserts, including delicate meringues.

The next day, head back to your point of origin, say your farewells, and reminisce on a perfect week in one of Europe’s most beautiful travel destinations.

Ready for the Perfect Switzerland Travel Experience?

These are merely out suggestions for the perfect one week trip to Switzerland. We understand everyone is different, so feel encouraged to modify and adapt this itinerary to create your own perfect week in this enchanting European country.