The Perfect 10 Days in Switzerland Itinerary

When researching what to do and where to go for my 10 day trip to Switzerland, I came across a lot of different information on what would be best for an itinerary.

Switzerland is not that big of a country but there is just so much you can do and see while visiting. From picturequese cities to mountainous landscapes, there is a vast variety when it comes to the best places to visit.

I put together this itinerary to explain exactly what can be done with 10 days in Switzerland, as well as walk through all the different logistics and important things to know. Of course this will not hit every attraction or city but it will give you a great taste for what Switzerland has to offer.

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2) Map & Itinerary Route

The map shown below shows the 10 day Switzerland itinerary starting in Geneva on the bottom left before stopping in Montreux, Zermatt, Interlaken (Jungfrau Region), Lucerne, and finally Zurich to end the trip.

I have also pinned down some of the main cities that you may want to stay in when visiting the Jungfrau region such as Murren, Wengen and Grindelwald.

What you won’t see here is each and every attraction that is mentioned in the itinerary (those can be found in the linked guides throughout the page).

The map below is more so giving you a sense of where the itinerary takes you throughout Switzerland.

3) 10 Days in Switzerland Itinerary

Below you will find a detailed guide for what exactly you will be doing on a day to day basis. Each day gives you a good overview of what to do and what to expect along the way, with some high level logistics of the itinerary.

5) Day 2 – Montreux Day Trip

Note: If you purchased the 8 Day Swiss Travel Pass, day 2 would be the first day you will be using it to go back and forth to Montreux.

Make your way to the eastern end of Lake Geneva to the lakeside town of Montreux. A short 45 train ride away, it makes for the perfect day trip.

Montreux is a charming small town that ramps up in the summer time where locals and tourists gather to take advantage of activities on the beautiful lake and enjoy a view of the Alps at the same time.

Important Weather Note

Before jumping into the Alps and hiking section of the trip I want to refer back to one of the tips I mentioned at the beginning – do not expect that every day the weather will be perfect to do each and every one of these hikes / activities at the given time.

Feel free to move things around and have alternative options if the weather is not cooperative.

You can read up in the Weather in Switzerland Guide for more details about how to prepare.

Since there are several hiking options in this itinerary it would be helpful to take a look at the below hiking resources list.

Hiking Resources & Checklist

Before heading out for the trails, be sure to read up on some of the hiking resources up on the site. These are here to better prepare you for all types of outdoor adventure.

• Gear: Hiking Packing List
• Weather: How to Prepare for Hiking Weather
• Navigation: Hiking GPS & Navigation
• Tips: 20+ Hiking Tips & Tricks for the Trail
• Accommodation: Book Your Hotel Today
• Rental Car: Book Your Car Rental Today

6) Day 3 – Train to Zermatt & 5 Lakes Hike

The 10 day Switzerland itinerary will now switch on over to the Alps.

Take an early morning train to Zermatt so you can have plenty of time to complete one of the top hikes around the area – the Five Lakes Trail.

The earlier you get out the better as the train ride does take about 3.5 hours. Getting to Zermatt before noon will give you enough time to check in, grab some food and head out for the hike.

7) Day 4 – Exploring Zermatt & Suspension Bridge Hike

Wake up on your second day in Zermatt and take some time to explore this quaint mountainside town and all it has to offer.

Make your way towards the river, where you can get some of the best views of the Matterhorn from down below, and maybe even take in a visit to the Gorner Gorge.

After walking around the city for a bit and grabbing some lunch it is time to head off to Randa – the start of one of the best hikes around the area.

Although not in Zermatt, the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge Hike should really be added to your hiking bucket list in the area. It is not an easy hike by any means, but it will sure be worth the effort.

8) Day 5 – Zermatt Options & Train to Interlaken / Jungfrau Region

On your last day in Zermatt, you can pick from several options depending on what you are most interested in.

Summer Skiing

One of the most fascinating things about Zermatt is that it truly offers year-round skiing. This means even in the summer months, you can grab some skis and head up the mountain for a morning of fun.

Since you are skiing on a glacier, the ski area does close around 1:00PM due to poor conditions. Even though it would only be for ~4 or so hours, you should definitely look into it if that is something you want to do.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Some of the best mountain views of the area can be seen all the way up top at the Glacier Matterhorn Paradise.

It takes a few lifts to get up top but once you are there, you will be able to take in some incredible views. You can also visit the Glacier Palace and have some lunch at the restaurant up there.

Gornergrat

Another great viewing opportunity of the Alps is taking the train up to Gornergrat. You will get fantastic views as you make your way up of all the 4,000 meter peaks alongside the Matterhorn.

Once up top there will be a viewing platform and the opportunity to explore the area a bit. Instead of training all the way back down, you can hike to one of the stops along the way.

Travel to the Jungfrau

Once you have completed any of the above you can check out of your hotel and head to the train station. Your next stop will be Interlaken / Jungfrau Region, which is part of the larger Bernese Oberland.

The train takes about 2.5 – 3 hours so you should try to leave Zermatt by mid afternoon if possible.

9) Day 6 – Schilthorn and the Lauterbrunnen Valley

Day 6 is going to be a long one but you will enjoy every last second of it.

As I was planning my trip and looking at pictures from on top of the Schilthorn and down in the Lauterbrunnen valley, I could not believe that these views were real. But believe me they are and you will not want to miss out on them!

Schilthorn

The logistics to get to Schilthorn will depend on where you are staying, but at the end of the day you will want to make your way to Murren. From Murren you will be able to take a set of two cable cars all the way to Schilthorn.

Once up at Schilthorn you will see sweeping panoramic views of the Alps with the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau all in site.

Spend a couple hours roaming the viewing platforms, having a drink at the rotating restaurant and checking out Bond World (yes a James Bond movie was filmed here).

Explore Murren

You can then head back down to Murren, where you can grab some lunch with a view – my top spot here is Hotel Edelweiss – one of my favorite meals of the trip.

You can also take some time to explore this car free town and take in some of the amazing views of the valley below.

Lauterbrunnen Valley

After lunch it is time to head down to Stechelberg, the start of your Lauterbrunnen journey.

To get to Stechelberg from Murren, you can take two cable cars (Murren – Gimmelwald & Gimmelwald – Stechelberg) or you can hike 45 minutes from Murren to Gimmelwald and then cable car down to Stechelberg from there.

Once down in Stechelberg, you can begin your walk down the valley back towards Lauterbrunnen. It is one the most beautiful valleys in Switzerland with waterfalls coming down off the sides of the mountain as you pass by small villages along the way.

10) Day 7 – Exploring First & Bachalpsee Lake

The second day in the Jungfrau region brings you to First, the base of some great hikes and activities to take part of. To get to First, you must initially get to Grindelwald.

Once you reach Grindelwald you just need to hop on the 25 minute cable car all the way up into the Alps. Getting off the cable car in First, you will then be welcomed to some incredible Alps views in every which direction.

You can then make your way to the Bachalpsee Lake hiking trail (1.5 – 2 hours round trip). Although one of the more popular hikes around the area, the views along the way and at the lake itself are some of the best there are.

Once done hiking you can take part of the First Cliff Walk, have lunch at the mountainside restaurant, and enjoy the relaxing view.

You will also have the chance to take part of some of the paid First activities – the First Flyer, First Glider, Trottibike and Mountain Cart. The guide mentioned above goes over those as well.

Once you are finished in the First area, make your way back to Grindelwald to explore a bit and then back to your hotel for the night.

11) Day 8 – Mannlichen – Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail & Wengen

Day 8 of the 10 day Switzerland itinerary brings you to the town of Wengen. Once you arrive in Wengen (if staying elsewhere), make your way to the Mannlichen cable car station. Here you will take the quick ride up the mountain, where the base of some great trails are located.

As you arrive, to your left you will see a short trail up a hill. This trail is called the Royal Walk and can be completed in about 30-45 minutes (the way down can be much quicker).

Once you finish up the Royal Walk, you can make your way to the start of the famous Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail.

The trail starts right at the cable car station and you will see signs pointing you in the right direction.

12) Day 9 – Day in Lucerne & Travel to Zurich

It is time to head out of the Jungfrau region and off to a couple of cities to end the trip. On day 9, check out early from your hotel and catch a train to the beautiful city of Lucerne.

Note that you will not be staying overnight in Lucerne – rather you will just spend the day there before heading back to the train station later on and making your way to Zurich.

Important Luggage Note: since you will have luggage, you can store it for a few francs in one of the train station lockers for the day. Once back at the station, you can grab your luggage from the locker and head off to Zurich.

Lucerne is a picturesque town with beautiful architecture, incredible scenery, and amazing river running through it that opens up into Lake Lucerne. The city is very walkable and you can spend several hours just roaming the streets.

If you have additional time in Switzerland, Lucerne is one place you can add another day or two.

Day trips to Mount Pilatus, Titlis and Rigi are all popular options. Since the last 6 days have been more mountain based, I decided to leave those out for now and just focus on exploring the city itself.

After your day in Lucerne is complete, make your way back the train station, grab your bags and head off to Zurich, where you will complete your 10 day Switzerland itinerary.

13) Day 10 – Explore Zurich

Note: if you bought the 8 Day Swiss Travel Pass, it will no longer be valid for your time in Zurich. Most of the city is walkable so that should not be an issue. Getting to the airport later on day 10 or on day 11 will just require a short and cheap train ride.

Your last day in Switzerland will end in the city of Zurich. Another beautiful old charm feel city, with a picturesque river running through it, Zurich has plenty to offer its visitors.

Similar to Lucerne, I just wanted to spend the day walking around and exploring the city and its historical buildings. Some of these highlights included:

1. Grossmunster Church – not only a beautiful church but also one where you can climb to the top for a small fee (5 CHF). It offers some of the best views of the entire city of Zurich.
2. Fraumünster Church – another iconic church with a large plaza off to the side. There are events happening time to time which really fills up the area nicely
3. Zurich Opera House – just taking in the beautiful architecture from the outside was an incredible site to be seen
4. Bahnhofstrasse – one of the main shopping streets of Zurich
5. Walk through the Old Town – beyond checking out the churches, most of my day was filled with getting lost in the Old Town (Altstadt). There are plenty of streets to check out and explore.

This Guided City Tour of Zurich is a great way to see the city’s highlights from a different perspective – it includes a walking tour, boat ride, and cable car experience!

Once all wrapped up with Zurich, it is then to the airport to end a fun filled Switzerland itinerary.

14) Swiss Travel Pass & Train Travel

When it comes to travel throughout Switzerland, odds are you will be frequently using the very reliable public transportation network. Whether that includes trains, busses, boats, cable cars, or other mountain transport, there are plenty of options to go around.

Now, to make things more convenient and less expensive for an overall travel route, you will want to consider purchasing a Switzerland train pass.

There are three main options to consider as you go about your itinerary:

Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is an “all in one” type of option. For one price, you will get to take unlimited public trains, busses, and boats throughout Switzerland (in addition to free access to hundreds of museums).

What makes it even better is that you don’t need to purchase individual tickets for each one of these journeys. Just hop on the train and be on your way.

Now, there are some caveats to the Swiss Travel Pass. The pass does not include most mountain transport. Instead you will need to purchase individual tickets at a discounted fare (usually 25%-50% off). In addition, the pass must be purchased for a set amount of days – either 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days.

So, to recap, here is what is included with the Swiss Travel Pass:

• All public train routes, bus routes, and boat routes in the country are covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
• You do not need to purchase individual tickets for these routes, rather you can just pick & choose your routes as you desire.
• Most mountain transport is 50% off with select routes at a 25% discount (and some mountain transport is completely included – Rigi, Stoos, and Stanserhorn). Tickets must actually be purchased for these routes.
• There are also over 500 museums in the country that are covered with the Swiss Travel Pass.
• Seat reservations for panorama trains are not included, and must be purchased separately.

If the Swiss Travel Pass sounds good to you, you can purchase the pass ahead of time to get you all set for your trip.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

The Swiss Travel Pass Flex gives cardholders the same exact benefits as the Swiss Travel Pass. However, instead of it being 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days, these can be non consecutive days over a longer 30-day time period.

This is great for those that are not necessarily traveling constantly each day. But rather those who are traveling a lot on only certain days of a longer trip.

You can purchase the Swiss Travel Pass Flex using the same link above.

Half Fare Card

Lastly, we have the Half Fare Card. This is different than the other two passes as you are required to purchase tickets for each and every trip you take.

The Half Fare Card gives you the ability to get a 50% discount on all public train routes, bus routes, and boat routes in the country. Similarly, most mountain transport will be 50% off, with select routes at 25% off (there are even some routes that offer better discounts than the Swiss Travel Pass).

The card is valid for 30 days, giving you a bit more flexibility than the normal Swiss Travel Pass.

Learn More: You can learn all about these passes & which one is right for you in the Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card overview up on the site.

For this itinerary in particular, you will find that purchasing the Half Fare Card is going to be slightly less expensive the 8-day Swiss Travel Pass. However, you must also consider the convenience factor of the Swiss Travel Pass. By not needing to purchase tickets for each route and having the flexibility to change things at the last minute, gives the Swiss Travel Pass the edge in my opinion.

15) When is the Best Time to Visit Switzerland?

As I mentioned earlier on, this itinerary is best done from mid-June until mid-October. The main reason here is the ability to take full advantage of the hiking in the Swiss mountains.

You will find that many of the higher elevation hiking trails are not clear of snow until the end of June. While you can certainly visit outside of these months, just be aware you may not be able to complete some of the hikes mentioned.

Visiting in the summer time also gives you the chance to take advantage of the longer days. You will have plenty of time to take part of hikes, have some scenic lunches, and spend an afternoon taking part of other activities on your list.

Now, you can certainly visit Switzerland at other times of the year depending on what your main preferences are.

The winter time gives you the chance to take part of some skiing instead of hiking, while still being able to take advantage of what the cities have to offer.

You can also visit in April, May, October, & November which will be the non-tourist times of the year. Much of the itinerary can still be complete, besides some of the hikes. However, I will mention that some cable cars may not be fully up and running during off season.

16) 10 Days in Switzerland Budget

If you were not fully aware already, Switzerland can be a very expensive country to visit. While there are some ways to save some cash, such as by purchasing a travel pass, you will still find the country less affordable than others.

Below are some of the main cost considerations at play (currency in USD). Check the latest Swiss Francs to USD conversion before your visit.

Hotels: on average you should be able to find a mid-range hotel in the $200 dollar range per night. Budget options can be found for less, and luxury hotels can easily be $1000 or more.

Meals: in Switzerland you will find many hotels that include breakfast in their rates, which can help save you a bit. However, when It comes to lunch and dinner, be ready to spend. A mid-range lunch will come in around $25-$35, with dinners closer to that $30-$50 range. Fast food & cooking yourself can be a way to keep to a budget, so you may want to think of that as well.

Water: Switzerland is one place where you really should not be purchasing too much water. In some cities you can find fountains, while the mountains offer an unlimited amount of fresh water.

Transport: as we talked about, transport costs will come down to your exact itinerary and whether you purchase a travel pass. For an itinerary like this, expect to pay around $650 for your transportation budget. That considers an 8-day Swiss travel Pass ($435) and some additional mountain transport ($200).

Activities & Tours: depending on interest, you may be taking part of other activities and tours throughout. These may include skydiving in the Swiss Alps, bungee jumping, or a canyoning experience. If you add these into a trip, expect the overall budget to increase.

17) Is 10 Days Enough for Switzerland

When it comes to an optimal amount of time to spend in Switzerland, I feel like 10 days is the perfect number. You will be able to visit several different places throughout the 10 days with a great mix between cities and mountains.

Given that Switzerland is so well connected by public transport you should not have much issue wasting precious time with logistics.

I also feel like it is a great middle ground when it comes to budget. As we know Switzerland is not the cheapest of places. And if you spend too much time there, you may quickly find out your budget doesn’t allow. However, 10 days seems to be a sweet spot between amount of time and cost of your trip.

Overall 10 days in Switzerland is enough time to get a great sense of what the country is all about. If you find yourself loving your time there (which I’m sure you will), then there are always more places to add to your next trip.

That about wraps up the Switzerland 10 day itinerary, taking you from Geneva to Zurich with plenty of stops and thrills along the way.

I feel that this trip was a great mix for me between cities and nature but at the same time, it can be altered to have even more of one or another.

There is just so much to do and see in Switzerland and I am hoping this 10 day itinerary can be a great starting point for your trip planning.

As always feel free to comment below with any questions and check out all the Switzerland travel guides I already have up on the site. Safe travels out there and enjoy!!

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