10 Days in Switzerland - 6 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Switzerland's Scenic Highlights: Zürich, Lugano, Lucerne, Bern & Montreux

Travelers eager to experience Swiss food, wine, and historical sites will appreciate this culinary and cultural tour. You'll participate in a Swiss chocolate workshop, taste Ticinese cuisine in Lugano, learn about Lucerne's medieval history on a "night watchmen" tour, nibble locally-made cheeses in Gruyères, visit Bern's historic landmarks, and sample wine in the UNESCO-protected Lavaux region. The itinerary includes scenic train rides through the Swiss Alps and a day trip to the Italian Lakes.

Get your first taste of Switzerland with a sunset fondue cruise on Lake Zürich, followed by a chocolate-making workshop. A scenic train ride transports you to Lugano on Day 3, where you'll sample squid ink risotto, gelato, and other regional favorites on a self-guided food tour. Then, take the train to Lombardy, Italy, for boat tours on Lake Maggiore and Lake Como. Your next stop is Lucerne, where you'll ascend Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi through a series of boat rides, trains, and cable cars, all offering views of the Swiss Alps, before meeting up with a "night watchman" for a historic tour of the medieval city. 

Day 7 has you hopping on another train, this time to Bern, and hear about the city's history and landmarks, such as the 13th-century Zytglogge clock tower, on a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Altstadt (Old Town). A day trip to Gruyères offers the chance to learn about cheesemaking and indulge in the local delicacy before heading to the Maison Cailler chocolate museum in the nearby village of Broc to enjoy a multisensory tasting experience. Your journey concludes in Montreux, a resort town on Lake Geneva, where you'll sample chassela and pinot noir wines on a tour in the Lavaux wine region before heading to Geneva to catch your flight. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Winter Escape to the Swiss Alps

This winter escape best suits travelers interested in experiencing Switzerland's great outdoors in the colder months. Highlights include snowshoeing around Bosco Gurin, skiing in St. Moritz, ice skating in Interlaken, a private gondola fondue party, and a therapeutic dip at Leukerbad Hot Springs.

On arrival in Milan, you'll board a train to Lugano, a fusion of Swiss and Italian culture that you'll see reflected in the cuisine (a bowl of minestrone is a great way to warm up!), landmarks like the Renaissance churches, and museums such as the Museo d'Arte della Svizzera Italiana (Art Museum of Italian Switzerland). The following day, you'll snowshoe around the Bosco Gurin village in the Swiss Alps. Then, it's off to St. Moritz via a mountain railway. Here, you can shop in the town's luxury boutiques and ski at Corviglia or Corvatsch before continuing to Zürich by train on Day 5.

Indulge in cheese fondue on a Lake Zürich sunset cruise, then board a train south to Interlaken for some skating at Ice Magic, a winter attraction made of five interconnected rinks. On Day 7, take a cable car up to Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe" at an elevation of 11,371 feet (3,466 m), where you can catch a glimpse of the Aletsch Glacier and tour the Ice Palace tunnels. Then, ride the train to Zermatt and hop in a cable car up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise for panoramic views and a fondue party in a private gondola. Wrap up your trip with a soak at Leukerbad Hot Springs before traveling to Geneva for departure. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Switzerland by Train

Travelers seeking a blend of culture, adventure, cuisine, and history at an unrushed pace will enjoy this train journey from Lucerne to Geneva. You'll take gondola rides to mountain peaks like Pilatus and the Matterhorn, e-bike through the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and kayak on Lake Brienz. You'll also explore the Montreux Riviera and taste some of Switzerland's famous cheese and chocolates in Gruyères.

After touching down in Zürich, take a quick train ride south to Lucerne. While here, explore the city's historic highlights, such as Old Town and the Musegg Wall medieval ramparts. Ride up Mount Pilatus on the world's steepest cogwheel train, then take a cable car ride down to Kriens. Afterward, you'll transfer to Grindelwald, your base, for a visit to Mürren, where you'll hop in a cable car for a ride to the revolving restaurant and viewing platform at Schilthorn Peak. The next day, you'll go on an e-bike tour among the coniferous forests and cascading waterfalls of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and refuel with a cheese and sausage picnic.

On a day trip to Interlaken, visit beaches and castles while kayaking Lake Brienz. Next, take the train to Zermatt, where you'll tour the Bahnhofstrasse, the main street lined with boutiques, restaurants, and cafés, with a local guide. Continue to Montreux for a cruise on Lake Geneva and a visit to the medieval Château de Chillon. Fans of the band Queen will want to stop by the statue of Freddie Mercury, who made Montreux his home for many years. Finally, enjoy a food-filled day of cheese tasting in Gruyères and chocolate making in Broc before boarding your last train ride to Geneva for your onward travels. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Active Alpine Adventure in Switzerland & France

Get your adrenaline pumping with this active adventure through Switzerland and France, filled with a variety of outdoor activities set against Alpine backdrops. From canyoning at Angon Waterfall, rafting the Dranse River, and paragliding over the Chamonix Valley to hiking glaciers and biking to Le Semnoz, this itinerary is sure to satisfy thrill-seekers. Alongside these adventures, enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Annecy, a walking tour and tasting in the Lavaux vineyards, and a cable car ride up Aiguille du Midi.

After arriving in Geneva, you'll head to Annecy, considered the "Venice of France" for its canals and colorful Old Town. Join an e-bike tour up to Le Semnoz, then experience the thrill of canyoning at the Angon Waterfall before unwinding on a Lake Annecy cruise. Next, board the train to Chamonix, where you'll take a walking tour of the town's significant sites and ascend Aiguille du Midi in a cable car; if you're feeling brave, you can step into an all-glass viewing box at the top and peer 3,280 feet (1,000 m) down. As you descend, stop at Plan de l'Aiguille for a hike amid Alpine scenery.

Soar above the Chamonix Valley on a paragliding flight on Day 5 before catching a train to Montreux, Switzerland. Here, you'll raft the rapids on the Dranse River before readying yourself to board a train the next day to Grindelwald, a village in the Bernese Oberland region of southern Switzerland, where you can hike the via ferrata. This climbing route uses a combination of fixed cables, ladders, and other aids to traverse challenging terrain. Cap off your trip with an e-bike tour of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and a tasting tour—primarily on foot—through the vineyards of Lavaux. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Festive Christmas Highlights of Switzerland

Experience the magic of Switzerland during the holiday season with this Christmas highlights itinerary. Start with cheesemaking and Christmas market shopping in Bern, then sip mulled wine in Lausanne, sample cheese and Swiss chocolates at the lakeside holiday markets in Geneva, tour Château de Chillon, join a cooking class in Vevey, indulge in a rejuvenating Alpine spa experience, and cap off your trip with a fondue party in Zürich. 

Kick off the Swiss holiday festivities with a cheesemaking workshop in Bern, followed by free time to shop at pop-up stalls and sample Christmas fare in the Old Town district. From there, you'll travel to Lausanne, where you can visit the Olympic Museum and take a cable car up to the Scex Rouge mountain station before spending the evening sipping mulled wine and perusing handicrafts at the Christmas market. Then, it's off to Geneva to snack on raclette (melted cheese) and Swiss chocolates at the holiday markets in Place de la Fusterie before heading down to a holiday-themed pub at the waterfront park. 

Take a train to Montreux, where you'll venture through underground passageways on a tour of the Château de Chillon before heading to Vevey for a cooking class and a visit to the Alimentarium, a museum with interactive exhibits about food culture. Next, catch a train east to Lucerne for a chocolate workshop and a tour of the city's festive wooden cottages, craft stalls, and fondue chalet. Get pampered at the Burgenstock Alpine Spa, then ride the Titlis Rotair, a revolving cable car with glacier views, up Mount Titlis. Finally, fit in some last-minute shopping in Zürich's markets before your outgoing flight. Learn more

Itinerary #6: Trekking in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland

For avid hikers, this trekking adventure offers a vigorous exploration of Switzerland's Bernese Oberland region. Get ready to cross high mountain passes with sweeping Alpine views and enjoy overnight stays in mountain huts, car-free villages, and local farms. You'll trek to Mount Faulhorn, walk along the ridges of the Eiger Trail, witness the famous waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen Valley, cross the foot of glaciers to Oeschninensee Lake, and reach the heights of Bunderchrinde Pass. 

Take it easy on arrival in Interlaken, perhaps with a leisurely cruise on Lake Brienz, and rest up for the adventures ahead. Arise early and ride the cogwheel train to the Schynige Platte station. From here, you'll trek to Mount Faulhorn and overnight in a mountain hut. On the morning of Day 3, hike down to Bach Lake, then hop in a gondola farther down to Grindelwald. After strolling around town and finding a bite to eat, you'll continue on foot or by cogwheel train up to Berghaus Alpiglen. From there, you'll hike the high ridges of the Eiger Trail to Kleine Scheidegg, then descend to the car-free hamlet of Wengen.

Continue through Alpine meadows to beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley, pausing to photograph the many waterfalls. Spend a night in the electricity-free village of Obersteinberg before heading farther off the beaten path to Mürren. Check out the views from the Sefinenfurgge Pass en route to Bundalp, where a farmhouse meal and overnight awaits. Your journey will bring you along the foot of massive glaciers to a guesthouse on the shores of Oeschninensee Lake. End on a high note with a hike up to the Bunderchrinde Pass, where you'll be treated to views of the Eiger, Jungfrau, and Monch peaks. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Switzerland Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Switzerland? Check out these other 10-day Switzerland itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.