Located at the center of Europe, Switzerland is a small country with only 42’000 km2 surface area but with so much to offer! Famous notably for its hiking trails and ski slopes, Switzerland is also well-known for its impressive mountains, numerous glistening lakes, and unspoiled nature. That is to say, if you want to be surrounded by nature, Switzerland is right for you. Therefore, I have created this ultimate Switzerland travel guide including a 2-week road trip itinerary to help you enjoy the country to the fullest.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to get to Switzerland?
In the case, you are visiting from abroad, note that Switzerland has two international airports: one located in Zurich and the other one located in Geneva. Otherwise, because of the country’s geographical location (which borders France, Germany, Austria, and Italy), it is also easy to come to Switzerland by car/public transportation.
On a side note, my partner and I have traveled through the country by car. Therefore, the traveling times provided in this guide are based on car transportation. Nonetheless, you will easily be able to do this journey by public transportation since Switzerland is very well-served by trains.
When to visit Switzerland?
Switzerland can be visited all year round. Each season has its particularities and activities which makes the country super attractive at any time of the year. For instance, from Spring to Autumn, you will be able to discover Switzerland by hiking with colorful hiking trails while during winter, you will enjoy some of the best ski slopes in the world!
From my standpoint, if you want to enjoy hiking paths and outdoor activities you should visit Switzerland from June to October. On the contrary, I would try to avoid the period between March and June as not all trails are opened due to remaining snow
On the other hand, visiting Switzerland during the winter season allows you to get a typical picture of the country with all its snowy landscapes and winter activities. So, if this is something you want to experience, I highly recommend visiting the area during January and February.
“September and October are the two months where touristic flow is at its lowest, which also gives you great opportunities for accommodations. Above all, the fall season is slowly starting which makes Switzerland even more magical with colorful landscapes.“
Where to stay in Switzerland?
Famous for its scenery, Switzerland is also well-known for its beautiful hotels offering all types of design. During our road trip through Switzerland, we tried to stay in lower to middle-budget hotels that offer good quality for a fair price. All the details of our accommodations are described at the end of each day’s description. If the proposed hotels don’t fit your budget, keep in mind that in Switzerland you can use platforms like Airbnb and Couchsurfing.
What to do in Switzerland?
Throughout the following paragraphs, I share with you a 2-week road trip itinerary starting and ending in Geneva. Above all, this ultimate Switzerland travel guide is the perfect travel plan to go straight to some of the most famous places in the country. Enjoy!
Day 1, 2 & 3 - Zermatt
Zermatt village (day 1)
Zermatt is a pedestrian mountain village in the Swiss canton of Valais located at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn mountain, one of the most renowned landmarks of Switzerland. As a result, Zermatt is the ultimate hub to experience all sorts of activities which makes it a true natural paradise for mountains and hikers lovers. On your first day, you should take it slow by strolling around the old town which offers a magnificent view of the impressive Matterhorn.
I advise you to read my ultimate Zermatt travel guide here to get all the details on how to get to Zermatt and what to do.
PRICE
Täsch to Zermatt (train): CHF 16.40 per adult (return)
parking at Täsch station: CHF 20.00 per day
ACCOMMODATION
Ambassador Zermatt Hotel for CHF 196.00 per night,
breakfast included
ITINERARY
Geneva to Täsch - 3:00 hours drive by car
Täsch to Zermatt - 20 minutes ride by train
5 lakes trail (day 2)
Although Zermatt is notably famous for its ski slopes, it is no less known for its hiking trails which offer spectacular views of the Matterhorn. That is to say, Zermatt is a true Heaven for hiking lovers of every level! Thus, for your second day in Zermatt, you should hit the famous 5 lakes trail.
Check out my ultimate Zermatt travel guide here to get all the details on the most amazing hikes in the region.
HIKE DESCRIPTION
9,8 km / 6,1 miles (one way)
450 meters of ascent
165 meters of descent
3:00 hours
LEVEL
medium
relatively marked trail. No rocks.
PRICE
Zermatt to Sunnegga (cable car):
CHF 25.00 per adult (return)
Blauherd to Sunegga (cable car):
CHF 16.00 per adult (one way)
matterhorn trail n°29 (day 3)
After a good night sleep and a light breakfast, Matterhorn trail n°29 is another beautiful but challenging hike to do.
Check out my ultimate Zermatt travel guide here to get all the details on the most amazing hikes in the region.
“If you want to hit the road pretty early the next day, I strongly advise you to stay at Täsch for your last night in the region.”
HIKE DESCRIPTION
9,8 km / 6,1 miles (one way)
1'000 meters of ascent or descent
4:30 hours (uphill)
LEVEL
difficult
rocky ascents in some parts of the trail
PRICE
Schwarzee station to Zermatt (cable car):
CHF 37.90 per adult (one way)
ITINERARY
Zermatt to Täsch - 20 minutes ride by train
ACCOMMODATION
Matterhorn Inn for CHF 126.00 per night,
breakfast included
Day 4 & 5 - Aletsch Glacier Area
aletsch glacier
It is now time to leave the Zermatt region and head to another famous Swiss location which is one of the longest glaciers in Europe called Aletsch. Due to its imposing size, Aletsch glacier is visible from four different observation points.
Eggishorn point (the highest observation point) is the most spectacular location since you have the opportunity to see (almost) the entire glacier. To reach Eggishorn, you first need to leave the car at the Fiesch gondola station parking. Then, you have to take a first cable car to Fiescheralp and a second one to the top (about 30 minutes in total). Everything is well-indicated so, you won’t get lost, don’t worry!
“Keep in mind that temperatures get super cold at this high altitude (3’000 meter above sea level), even during summer.”
PRICE
Fiesch station to Eggishorn point (cable car):
CHF 49.00 per adult (return)
parking at Fiesch station: CHF 1.00 for 4 hours
ACCOMMODATION
Eden Hotel for CHF 140.00 per night,
breakfast included
ITINERARY
Täsch to Fiesch - 1:00 hour drive by car
Fiesch to Illanz - 2:45 hours drive by car
Day 6 - Caumasee and Ruinaulta
Caumasee
After 4 days of exploring the wonderful Valais canton, it is time to discover another part of Switzerland: the Graubünden canton!
Graubünden is one of the wildest cantons and is home to the only National Park in the country called Engadine. Along with Engadine NP, one of the must-sees of the region is the blue lake named Caumasee. This place will give you Canadian vibes thanks to its crystal turquoise color and pine forest.
However, in my opinion, the only downside of Caumasee is that the entire site is surrounded by fences. Therefore, if you want to swim in the lake, lay on the grass, or eat something at the restaurant, you need to pay an entrance fee. Nevertheless, you can still walk on the path that circles the lake for free.
“There is a special ticket that costs CHF 5.00 per person that allows you to eat at the restaurant for a limited time. The CHF 5.00 will be deducted from your final bill.”
Ruinaulta
Later, you can continue your “North American” journey by discovering the Ruinaulta canyon, famously called the Swiss Grand Canyon. The canyon is visible from different parts, but the best view of the valley is found at the free-access platform named Sphynx.
“I advise you to combine Caumasee with Ruinaulta Sphynx platform the same day, since they are located 30 minutes away from each other.”
PRICE
Caumasee entrance: CHF 15.00 per adult (day pass)
Parking at the entrance of Caumasee: CHF 1.00 per hour
ACCOMMODATION
Crusch Alba Hotel for CHF 180.00 per night, breakfast included
ITINERARY
Caumasee to Engadine National Park (Zernez) - 1:50 hours drive by car
DAy 7 & 8 - Engadine National Park
engadine national park
Welcome to Engadine National Park! The place is filled with pine trees and stony mountains which gives a wild atmosphere. Engadine NP offers plenty of day hikes, but for those of you that don’t have much time available, I suggest you hike the Margunet trail. This walk is a 3-hour medium hiking loop, offering great panoramic mountain views. Most importantly, from July to September, you will most likely see Edelweiss flowers (a symbol of Switzerland) along the way.
For your information, the trail is well-marked with post signs and starts directly from parking “P8”.
“As the park has numerous hiking trails for each level, I highly recommend stopping by the visitor center, located at the entrance of the park, to get more information.”
PRICE
park entrance: free of charge
parking P8: free of charge
ACCOMMODATION
Ameron Hotel for CHF 148.00 per night,
breakfast included
ITINERARY
Engadine National Park (parking P8) to Davos - 1:00 hour drive by car
Day 9 - Lucerne and Mount Pilatus
lucerne
One of the most known Swiss cities around the globe is Lucerne. Lucerne is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture, its Kapellbrücke Bridge, and its location close to Mount Pilatus and other famous summits. This is why Lucerne is worth visiting all year round.
Mount pilatus
Located 20 minutes away from Lucerne center is Mount Pilatus, a summit 2’134 meters high. Indeed, this peak offers an amazing 360° view of the region and is the ideal place to appreciate the best view of the four cantons lake.
Mount Pilatus can be reached in two ways, namely with a gondola (starting from Kriens) or with a funicular (starting from Alpnachstad), which is, by the way, one of the steepest in the world with a gradient up to 48%.
On the top, there are two main observation decks where you can eat something while enjoying the panorama. In addition, there is a short trail that leads you further on the mountain, where you might get the chance to observe ibex.
“If your budget allows you to do so, I highly advise staying at Pilatus-Klum Hotel, which is located at the top of the mountain. As the opening hours of the gondolas/funicular are from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, you will be the only ones on site to enjoy sunset and sunrise.“
PRICE
option 1: funicular or cable car : CHF 72.00 per adult (return)
option 2: ascent/descent is included in the hotel night's price
ACCOMMODATION
Pilatus-Klum Hotel for CHF 460.00 per night,
ascent and descent included with a 4-courses dinner and breakfast
ITINERARY
Davos to Lucerne - 2:00 hours drive by car
Lucerne to Alpnachstad - 20 minutes drive by car
Alpnachstad to Mount Pilatus - 15 minutes ride by funicular
Day 10 - Lauterbrunnen
lauterbrunnen valley
You arrive now in the Bernese Oberland Region, one of my favorite regions of Switzerland! Lauterbrunnen is without a doubt the most typical village in Switzerland, surrounded by 72 waterfalls and imposing cliffs. If you are not afraid to get a bit wet, you should visit the Trümmelbachfalls.
Most importantly, this town is the ultimate hub for amazing experiences such as the Schilthorn observatory. Check out my ultimate Bernese Oberland region travel guide to get more information on what to do here.
“The valley is worth visiting during or after rainy days because it makes the falls even more impressive.“
day 11 & 12 - grindelwald
grindelwald-first
Besides the typical Swiss mountain atmosphere, Grindelwald-First is the ultimate hub to enjoy thrilling activities surrounded by amazing landscapes. If you take the cable car from Grindelwald station (located at the center of the village) to First station, you will find different activities such as Trottibike, zipline, or mountain kart. Above all, you will get the opportunity to walk on a metal path clinging to and around the mountain’s cliffs. Guaranteed thrills!
bachalpsee
Finally, the area is home to great hiking trails such as the Bachalpsee trail which offers great reflections of some of the most beautiful mountain peaks in the country.
Read my ultimate Bernese Oberland Region travel guide to get all the details on how to get to Bachalpsee and even more here.
PRICE
Cable car from Grindelwald to First:
CHF 64.00 per adult (return)
parking: CHF 1.00 per hour
HIKE DESCRIPTION
easy level
1:45 hours
6 km / 3 miles (return)
200 m ascent / descent
ACCOMMODATION
Spillstatthus for CHF 110.00 per night, with a kitchen
ITINERARY
Mount Pilatus to Alpnachstad - 15 minutes ride by funicular
Alpnachstad to Lauterbrunnen - 1 hour drive by car
Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald - 30 minutes drive by car
Day 13 & 14 - Jungfrau region
Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch, famously called “the top of Europe“, is the highest train station in Europe. Located at 3’454 meters above sea level, it offers a breathtaking 360° mountain view with Aletsch glacier on one side and the famous mountain ranges of Switzerland on the other side.
Read my full Jungfraujoch experience to get all the details you need to appreciate it to the fullest here.
“Even though the view is splendid at the top, be aware that Jungfraujoch is the most touristic place in Switzerland. So, if you do not have a lot of time ahead of you or if you travel on a budget, I advise you to visit only the Aletsch Glacier area (see day 4 for more details).“
PRICE
Train and entrance fees (from Grindelwald station):
CHF 220.00 per adult (return)
ITINERARY
Grindelwald to Geneva - 3:15 hours drive by car
Texte
In conclusion
To sum up, Switzerland is filled with many wonders and unspoiled nature! That is why I tried to condensate some of them for your first visit to the country to get the best overall picture!
Anyway, I hope this ultimate Switzerland travel guide inspires you to visit my home country someday soon and that you will love it as much as I do!
Moreover, if you want to get more inspiration about Switzerland, click here to get an overview of all my related posts.
Finally, feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions. It would be a great pleasure to share with you.
Sending you lots of love,
