swiss alps trip cost

How Much Does A 10-Day Trip To Switzerland Cost?

July 20-30, 2020 was overloaded with beauty as we enjoyed 10 incredible days in the Swiss Alps . Hiking to the music of cow bells. Alpine views. Gravity-defying mountain passes. Quaint, inviting towns.

Curious what it cost us?  If you have never read one of our expense reports, we recommend that you read the background info below. But if you are familiar with the way we travel,  click here to jump right to the report .

Why we share our expenses

“Isn’t it getting a little personal to share on a blog how you spend your money?”   Well, that’s one way of looking at it; but here’s another:

Before we started traveling, we had no idea what it would actually cost . We figured traveling Europe was mostly for the wealthy, or for those “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences you save for your entire life. It was through others like us who were willing to get a little personal and post their spending and budgets that we started to realize that we, too, might be able to enjoy traveling Europe — even on our budget!

I mean, sure, you can blow it out and take luxury trips, and there’s no limit to the amount of money you can spend! But that’s only one way to travel. We hope that sharing our spending will help you discover your style of travel, too. In addition to helping you, we find that it helps us as well! Writing posts about our spending forces us to actually track it, keeping us to a budget and allowing us to make adjustments as necessary.

Some apprehensions (translated: why we almost didn’t start sharing our spending at all!)

• We’re not trying to brag or impress you.  We hope that nothing about this comes across as prideful. We’re grateful that we get to do all that we do, and we know that many can’t. But for those who want to travel more or travel differently, we hope it’s a window into possibilities and a doorway into transformational travels for you, too!
• We probably don’t travel the way you imagine someone traveling Europe.  We work while we travel, to earn money to sustain our travels longer. We skip out on a lot in order to save money (experiences that travel guides would consider “essential” — yeah, we’ve missed plenty of them!). We stay in one place longer and rest more. Because, let’s face it, a permanent vacation would just be exhausting!
• It’s a ton of work.  It takes a lot of time to put a post like this together. And it might raise more questions than it answers. If that’s the case, leave us a comment or send us a message! We’d love to tweak these reports over time to make them more helpful. In fact, it’s because so many of you have asked that we’re creating these at all!

How to Benefit From These Spending Reports

There are probably as many travel styles, priorities, and budgets out there as there are people in the world! And you would probably do a lot of things differently. So keep the following in mind as you read to make this information as useful as possible:

• We are a married couple traveling together.  Obviously these figures would be lower for a single person, or greater for a family with children.
• This report begins upon our arrival in Switzerland and wraps up with our departure.  The costs of getting to and from a travel destination can vary widely, depending on whether you’re coming from the U.S. or from within Europe, for example. Therefore, we’ve attempted as much as possible to allow this report to reflect actual “on-the-ground” costs.
• This report doesn’t include the use of any credit card points and miles.  Though we leverage points and miles extensively to minimize our travel costs, we’re sharing the full cost of everything without those factored in. We’re doing this in order to make this report as accurate and helpful as possible.

So take our info and personalize it for your own trip to the Swiss Alps! And finally, here we go!

The Cost of 10 days in the Swiss Alps: $1546 ($154.60/day)

There’s just no way around it: Switzerland is expensive ! However, it’s our favorite country to visit . And while it tends to be a budget-buster for any traveler, we just can’t stay away forever! We can only afford to sprinkle a little of Switzerland here and there as the “spice” to top off our travel “meal.” But we’ve learned over the years how to make it a little more affordable for the average traveler.

Here’s a little of what we enjoyed during our 10 days in Switzerland:

• Visited the powerful Rhine Falls
• Hiked the Panorama Trail on Mt. Rigi for beautiful lake views and an ice cream refreshment at a mountain hut
• Explored the quaint Swiss towns of Schaffhausen, Zug, St. Gallen, Appenzell, Brunnen, and Chur
• Climbed the famous Ebenalp mountain peak, after a short detour to the gorgeous Seealpsee (lake) and a bite to eat at the Ascher Guesthouse
• Tasted about a half-dozen varieties of the stinky Appenzeler cheese
• Drove all over the tiny country of Liechtenstein
• Enjoyed every minute we spent in the relatively undiscovered canton of Glarus , complete with a breakfast picnic at Lake Klöntal and a breathtaking panoramic hike above Braunwald
• Drove the iconic Klausen Pass , with jaw-dropping cliff ledges and hairpin turns
• Relaxed a bit at Ruinaulta , the beautiful river that carves out the gorge known as the “Swiss Grand Canyon”

Read on for a breakdown of each expense category.

Lodging: $985

We split our time in Switzerland between 3 days in the Oerlikon neighborhood of Zurich and 7 days in the Alpine village of Flumserberg, taking day trips from each throughout a large portion of Eastern Switzerland.

The Oerlikon apartment ($269 for 3 nights) was a studio with a full kitchen, private bath, and washing machine access. The Flumserberg apartment ($716 for 7 nights) was a 1-bedroom with living/kitchen room combo, private bath, laundry access, parking, and a breathtaking mountain view!

If you’ll be staying in hotels when you travel you should really check out this hotel discount card. You can save up to 50% on your stay which means more money in your pocket or more money to spend….you get to choose!

Transportation: $118

**We’re currently leasing a car long-term, so this figure excludes any rental costs.

Gas: $88 . One of the things we most wanted to do was drive every nook and cranny of this beautiful slice of God’s creation. So that’s basically what we did!

Parking fees: $30.  I don’t enjoy paying for parking! But these relatively small expenses allowed us to enjoy hours wandering Zurich Oerlikon, Schaffhausen, the Rhine Falls, Zug, Appenzell, St. Gallen, Glarus, Brunnen, and Zug.

If you’ll be using Swiss transportation such as buses, boats, and trains. Check out this Swiss Train Pass resource that helps you find the right transportation pass for your trip and this Guide that helps you ride Swiss transportation like a pro!

Groceries: $158 . Why is this number so high? 10 days of food for 2 people doesn’t usually cost that much, but we bought a  ton  of snacks for hiking (like sausage sticks, dried fruit, and nuts). This number also includes 2 bottles of wine.

Restaurants: $47  Trying to avoid expensive Swiss food costs, we mostly cooked meals, ate at mountain huts during hikes, and nibbled on pastries. But we did have one dinner in Flumserberg, where Jana destroyed a tasty burger, and I enjoyed a typical Rosti chased with an espresso.

Cafes, drinks, and treats: $65  This is where we like to splurge! We’ve learned that if we’re willing to eat most of our meals at home, we can enjoy plenty of coffee, pastries, gelato, and drinks out on the town!

• $24 – Beer and Aperol Spritz in Zurich
• $6 – Coffee while working in Zurich
• $15 – Coffee, tea, and pastries at the lovely Bucher Cafe in Flums
• $4 – Typical Appenzeller pastry
• $11 – Some Brazilian street food with a cappuccino
• $5 – A couple burgers while enjoying the free wifi at McDonalds 🙂

Food Experiences: $60

• Ice Cream at a hut on Mt. Rigi: $10.  There’s something so fun about stopping at a mountain hut in the middle of a hike when there’s nowhere else in sight! The only thing better (for Jana) is when the mountain hut includes ice cream!
• Cheese Purchased from a Mountain Hut near Seealpsee: $8.  Along our hike to Ebenalp, we found this little place. We passed the cows that produced the milk that made this cheese. Watched them fight. Stepped in their cow patties. I mean, how can it get more locally sourced?!
• Beer, Sausage, Bread, and Croissant at the Ascher Guesthouse: $19.  This experience has been featured on National Geographic, so it’s almost always packed. But seriously, you have to see this place to believe it. And it’s a perfect celebratory stop just below the peak of Ebenalp.
• Cheese Tasting in Appenzell: $3.  The stinky cheese redeemed itself! After nearly making us vomit on our honeymoon in 2012, we worked up the courage to try 6 different Appenzell cheeses, and enjoyed them all!
• Alpine-Style Macaroni and Applesauce at a Mountain Hut: $20.  Another fun mid-hike experience, this time we chowed on a typical dish you’ll find all throughout the Alps. And our experience was even better as we enjoyed the food with a local we met during the hike!

Hungry for more? Check out our Swiss food recommendations or our own DIY Swiss Food Tour .

Experiences: $130

• Mountain Lift down from Ebenalp: $43
• Round-trip from Braunwald on a Mountain Railway and Gondola : $70

Both mountain lift experiences not only gave us amazing views of the alps surrounding us, but also made possible incredible hikes that would have otherwise been impossible! If these sound fun, you should check out some of our other amazing experiences at Jungfraujoch , Schynige Platte , and the Via Ferrata!

How We Saved Money in the Swiss Alps

Many tactics were helpful to us in decreasing what could have otherwise been a costly 10 days. But the most helpful were:

• Booking an apartment from a local
• Staying for an entire week (in Flumserberg)
• Buying groceries and eating most dinners at home
• Packing food in a day pack when out exploring
• Knowing the rules of the blue parking zones in Zurich, saving up to $28/day!

Traveling Switzerland can be very expensive but it doesn’t have to be! Read this to learn how to travel Switzerland on a budget and i f you’re interested in more money-saving strategies, check out our post:  70+ Ways We Save Money Traveling Europe  or  how much we spent for 1 week in the German Rhine Valley or how much we spent for 1 week in Zermatt.

Want to come to Switzerland but not quite sure where you want to go? Well that all depends on what you want to do when you get here! Read this to learn how you can narrow down your search and find the perfect home base for your time in Switzerland.

You can also check our our Swiss Travel Guides. These are done for you guides complete with itineraries, transportation information, restaurant recommendations, and rainy day activities. These guides are FULL of our best advice and insider tips!

Brett is the numbers-crunching, analytical, spontaneous half of the duo Aplins in the Alps. Beyond working with his wife to help people travel Switzerland with confidence, Brett is the CFO and co-owner of a gymnastics business in Middle Tennessee. If his dreams came true, he'd spend everyday in the Swiss Alps with his closest family and friends. When he's not working or traveling, Brett enjoys playing board games, sharing a fine meal with friends, or appreciating the beauty of nature over a refreshing drink. Brett lives in Switzerland with his wife, Jana.

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• How much does it cost to travel to Switzerland? (Average Daily Cost)
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How much do package tours cost in Switzerland?

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• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Switzerland?

You should plan to spend around $289 (Sfr259) per day on your vacation in Switzerland. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $64 (Sfr57) on meals
• $39 (Sfr35) on local transportation
• $340 (Sfr305) on hotels

A one week trip to Switzerland for two people costs, on average, $4,047 (Sfr3,630) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 289 Sfr 259
• One Week Per person $ 2,024 Sfr 1,815
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 4,047 Sfr 3,630
• One Month Per person $ 8,673 Sfr 7,779
• One Week For a couple $ 4,047 Sfr 3,630
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 8,095 Sfr 7,261
• One Month For a couple $ 17,346 Sfr 15,559

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Switzerland cost?

A one week trip to Switzerland usually costs around $2,024 (Sfr1,815) for one person and $4,047 (Sfr3,630) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Switzerland on average costs around $4,047 (Sfr3,630) for one person and $8,095 (Sfr7,261) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Switzerland will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Switzerland on average costs around $8,673 (Sfr7,779) for one person and $17,346 (Sfr15,559) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in Switzerland is $386 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.

• Skiing / Snowboarding holiday, perfect for solo travellers 8 Days - 5 Destinations $ 560
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Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Switzerland is a moderately priced destination to visit. It's about average with most other countries for travel costs. The prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are all fairly reasonable.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Switzerland is somewhat more expensive compared to the other countries. It is in the top 25% of countries in Europe for its travel costs. While a few countries in the region are more expensive, Switzerland is more expensive than most.

For more details, see Is Switzerland Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Switzerland?

The average Switzerland trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Switzerland travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Switzerland

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Switzerland is $170 (Sfr153). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Switzerland is $340 (Sfr305). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 170 Sfr 153
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 340 Sfr 305

Hotel Prices in Switzerland

Looking for a hotel in Switzerland? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in Switzerland based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $170. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

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Local Transportation Budget in Switzerland

The cost of a taxi ride in Switzerland is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $39 (Sfr35) per person, per day, on local transportation in Switzerland.

• Local Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 39 Sfr 35

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What did other people spend on Local Transportation?

Typical prices for Local Transportation in Switzerland are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in Switzerland, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• City Pass (2) Sfr 26
• Cable Cars (for 2) Sfr 60

Food Budget in Switzerland

While meal prices in Switzerland can vary, the average cost of food in Switzerland is $64 (Sfr57) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Switzerland should cost around $25 (Sfr23) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Switzerland is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 64 Sfr 57

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What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in Switzerland are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in Switzerland, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Breakfast for 2 Sfr 12
• Tea at Interlaken Sfr 30

Entertainment Budget in Switzerland

Entertainment and activities in Switzerland typically cost an average of $57 (Sfr51) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 57 Sfr 51

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• Geneva: Private Cruise on Lake Geneva with Aperitif Viator $ 126
• Winterlaken Bike Tour Viator $ 103

What did other people spend on Entertainment?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Switzerland are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in Switzerland, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• 1 Day Bicycle Rental Sfr 31
• The Swiss Transport Museum Entrance Fee Sfr 32

Tips and Handouts Budget in Switzerland

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Switzerland is $6.32 (Sfr5.67) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Switzerland is 5% - 15% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 6.32 Sfr 5.67

Alcohol Budget in Switzerland

The average person spends about $27 (Sfr24) on alcoholic beverages in Switzerland per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 27 Sfr 24
• Pinot Noir & Pinot Wine Tour to Baden-Württemberg Viator $ 288
• Informative wine tasting with Italian appetizers in the secure wine cellar Viator $ 160

Water Budget in Switzerland

On average, people spend $4.33 (Sfr3.88) on bottled water in Switzerland per day. The public water in Switzerland is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 4.33 Sfr 3.88

Expert Advice from Local Travelers

We're asking our community members and registered users to contribute their experiences about Switzerland.

How can you save money during your time in Switzerland?

Honestly, the food in all of Switzerland is insanely expensive, so we try to avoid eating out as much as possible when we're visiting.

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What a wonderful trip! Eve and Dave were fabulous! Switzerland was amazing! The hotels were great! The planning was excellent! The people in our group were so, so dear and world travelers. Alpenwild got high marks from our group! - B.P. - Colorado

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The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

Imagine the spectacular alpine scenery through the panoramic "vista" windows that run from your elbow to the ceiling while you sit comfortably in your first-class Swiss rail seat. Your eyes gazing effortlessly on the beautiful Swiss Alp peaks, the sparkling lakes, lush flowered meadows, historic castles, the iconic profile of the Matterhorn, deep-cut glacial valleys, vineyards, gushing white water streams, magic mountains flanked by enormous glaciers. You'll enjoy this all in first class comfort. We will cap out with 14-15 guests on each tour. Be sure to check out our Scenic Alps by Rail FAQ  which also includes the activity level expected for this tour.   

Europe's Finest Rail System

The legendary trains of Switzerland are among the finest in the world and the Swiss have perfected making mountains accessible. Their ingenious network of trains, rack railways, trams, and funiculars easily puts you in the midst of the most spectacular glaciers in the Alps and the highest peaks in Europe.

Mountaintop Excursions

You will also get to ascend the Gornergrat above Zermatt to arrive at an alpine panorama, where you are surrounded by more 4,000-meter peaks than anywhere else in the Alps. Then you will get to ride through a tunnel in the Eiger to arrive at the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe.

All in First-Class Comfort

Enjoy the Swiss Alps in the comfort of your first-class rail car, and in the company of Swiss rail experts. You'll discover the scenery, history, and engineering that have made Switzerland's rail system the finest and most popular in the world. We do our best to book 1st class seat reservations but please note that at times due to availabilty it is possible to ride in 2nd class.

Glacier Express and Other Scenic Journeys

You'll ride on the most legendary of alpine railway journeys— The Glacier Express —and discover the charms of other scenic routes such as the Bernina Express and the GoldenPass Line.

Trip Videos

Overview Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Lucerne -- Mt. Pilatus

Day 2 – Through the Historic Heart of Switzerland on the Gotthard Route

Day 3 – Bernina Route - Lugano past northern Lake Como to St Moritz

Day 4 – Beautiful Swiss Alps, Lakes and Vistas

Day 5 – Mountains, Meadows, and Breathtaking Scenery on the Glacier Express

Day 6 – The Matterhorn and The Surrounding Majestic Highest Peaks in Europe -- Gornergrat Cogwheel train

Day 7 – Lake Geneva and the manicured Préalps - GoldenPass Rail

Day 8 – Picture-postcard Swiss Alps scenery on the GoldenPass Rail

Day 9 – Magnificent Mountains with Aletsch Glacier Experience -- Jungfraujoch

Day 10 – Depart Zurich for onward travel

$6,295 USD per person, double occupancy

$995 single supplement

Reserve your place on this tour with a $500 per person deposit

01 August 2024 - 10 August 2024 Sold Out

22 August 2024 - 31 August 2024 Sold Out

05 September 2024 - 14 September 2024 Sold Out

12 September 2024 - 21 September 2024 Sold Out

26 September 2024 - 05 October 2024 Sold Out

29 May 2025 - 07 June 2025

05 June 2025 - 14 June 2025

12 June 2025 - 21 June 2025

26 June 2025 - 05 July 2025

03 July 2025 - 12 July 2025

17 July 2025 - 26 July 2025

31 July 2025 - 10 August 2025 Sold Out

21 August 2025 - 30 August 2025

04 September 2025 - 13 September 2025

11 September 2025 - 20 September 2025

18 September 2025 - 27 September 2025

25 September 2025 - 04 October 2025

Or, book a private departure

Trip Highlights

• Ride the most legendary alpine railway journeys such as the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, the GoldenPass Line, and along the Gotthard route
• Travel in first-class comfort in panoramic cars that are air-cushioned and air-conditioned, and on all of Switzerland top scenic rail journeys
• Experience the legendary Glacier Express as it crosses 291 bridges and passes through 91 tunnels on an unforgettable journey from St. Moritz to Zermatt
• Ascend snowy Jungfrau by cog railway to Europe’s highest railway station and overlooking the Alps’ longest glacier

You May Also Enjoy

Most Scenic Trains in Europe.

Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

FAQ - Scenic Alps by Rail Tour

Train Travel in Switzerland

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BUDGET TRAVEL , EUROPE , SWITZERLAND · March 9, 2018 Last Updated on March 13, 2024

8 TIPS FOR TRAVELING THE SWISS ALPS ON A BUDGET

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link.

The Swiss Alps are one of the most sought-after locations in Europe. With its breathtaking scenes and culture-rich monuments, Switzerland is a country every one of us wants to visit at least once in a lifetime. However, this country also has reputation for being one of the most expensive locations to visit. The country ranks highest in the cost of living and everything from accommodation to food and sightseeing is expensive and will make you dig deep into your pocket. 

Fortunately, if you’re planning to visit the Swiss Alps, there’s no need to despair because there are ways that you can escape the expensive restaurants and hotels. Travelling to Switzerland on a budget isn’t all that difficult as long as you stick to the following tips. So, here are a couple of ways you can make your trip to this European country budget-friendly.

1) PLAN AHEAD

Transport doesn’t come cheap in Switzerland but you’ll need to use the transportation system if you want to go from one location to another. If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on transport, plan ahead and you’ll be able to get cheap fares and discounts. The country is well known for its efficient transport system and you can go anywhere using The Swiss Travel Service, which offers visitor passes for half the price (if bought in advance). You can also use the free public transport if you’re in Geneva, Lausanne, Basel, Bern or Lucerne. 

2) DON’T RENT ROOMS

Anyone who has ever stayed in Switzerland knows that accommodation is very expensive in the country. With hostel beds costing $35-40, you’ll need to consider other options. Instead of renting out rooms or beds, you can look into couch-surfing, which is a service that lets you stay with the locals for free. 

However, if you plan on staying in one town for a week or more, you can always look into apartments which are much better value. Airbnb has a lot to offer as far as budget-friendly couch-surfing and apartments are concerned, so be sure to check it out when planning your trip. 

3) COOK YOUR OWN FOOD

Meals at restaurants in the Swiss Alps are expensive, to say the least. With each meal costing around 40-50 CHF (yes you read that right!), it’s better to cook your own food. Buy a week’s worth of groceries from one of the many supermarkets and be your own chef.

If you’ve planned for a day out, just grab some bread, deli meats, vegetables and cheese and you’ll be able to enjoy a nice picnic atop the mountains. However, if you’re not big on cooking or just want to eat out once in a while, you can use the lunch specials that are a bang for your buck at 10-19 CHF (Swiss francs).

4) DRINK TAP WATER

Swiss tap water is perfectly safe to drink, so save up on the bottled water and stick to tap even when you’re at restaurants. While we’re on the subject, try to avoid drinking alcohol in Switzerland because everything from the beer to the wine costs a lot. However, if you do feel like you must have a drink and let yourself loose a little, opt-in for hostel bars where you can enjoy happy hours and drinks for as low as 5 CHF. 

5) VISIT FACTORIES AND FARMER’S MARKETS

When you’re visiting farmer’s markets and chocolate or biscuit factories in Switzerland, you won’t just be getting a chance to find out how things are made but the chance to taste them as well. Though you won’t be able to fill your stomach with free samples of olives, cheese, crackers, and bread, it will be a good way to get rid of the mid-morning cravings. 

If you happen to be in Trubschachen, don’t miss out on the chance to visit the Kambly biscuit factory, which lets you taste its varieties until you explode. You can even bake your own biscuits while you’re at it! 

6) RENT OUT BIKES 

Cities like Bern, Zurich, Zug, Canton, and Geneva are a real treat for visitors because they don’t just offer free local transport but also free bikes. While some of these cities will offer the bikes for a few hours or a day, others will provide them for longer. All you’ll need to do is bring your ID and 20 CHF as a deposit and you’ll be able to take advantage of this great offer. However, you don’t need to despair if you aren’t staying in any of these cities because others rent out bikes as well (and they’re a lot cheaper than public transport). 

7) LOOK FOR GREAT HIKING SPOTS

Visiting the Swiss Alps is all about hiking the great mountain tops. However, it can be a challenge to find spots that aren’t just scenic but inexpensive and budget friendly as well. Though hiking at some of the most famous places can be expensive, you can look for locations that offer cheaper prices. For instance, Arosa is one of the cheapest options with its all-inclusive family day pass for CHF 45 that covers everything from all mountain transport, ropes course, mini golf access and much more.

If you’re going to the Zermatt area, you can try out the Sunnegga Paradise which offers a full fare return trip for just CHF 24 to middle station. However, you’ll need to pay a little more if you want to go higher up. 

8) SAVE MONEY ON SOUVENIRS

If you’ve managed to use all the aforementioned tips and managed to save your hard-earned cash, don’t make the mistake of going overboard with shopping and souvenirs. Instead of visiting expensive souvenir shops, look for keepsakes at department stores or even supermarkets. 

Don’t make the mistake of picking up expensive knives and watches; instead look for chocolate bars, biscuits, and other delicacies. Finally, instead of paying in Euros or other foreign currencies, pay in Swiss francs as this will be a more inexpensive option. 

Traveling to Switzerland or the Swiss Alps on a budget isn’t all that challenging if you’re smart about it. All you’ll need to do is to plan in advance and know what you’re going to be doing and where you’re going. Once you’ve figured that out, you can start planning your budget-friendly trip.

Have you ever been to the Swiss Alps? We’d love to hear your stories, tips or questions in the comment section below!

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Read More About Switzerland

• Hiking For Cheese In Switzerland
• Things To Do In Zermatt Switzerland, Beside Ski!
• See The Best Of Switzerland With These 5 Walks

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We Are Travel Girls Contributor Ashley Rosa Connect with Ashley  Twitter

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Jignesh Suratwala says

May 9, 2019 at 2:34 pm

Thanks for sharing valuable video for having budget friendly tour in Switzerland. It will be really helpful for me to to visit in Switzerland and others too.

We Are Travel Girls says

May 10, 2019 at 9:04 am

Glad you found the article useful Jignesh! Thanks for reading and commenting! X, Vanessa

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The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites

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EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

TAUCK'S YELLOW ROADS – Unparalleled Alpine views when you scale the heights of Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland by cable car, mountain coach and more

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private dinner and entertainment in the historic Salt Mines of Berchtesgaden

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

Lunch with a tour and schnapps tasting at a 400-year-old family farm

An Alpine evening featuring traditional food & music Q&A with a noted Italian mountain climber during lunch in the Dolomites

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.

Moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motor coach travel.

Along Europe's Scenic "Yellow Roads"

Time to enjoy an interlude of Alpine magic... by definition, an interlude means a short play or dramatic entertainment, a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition or an intermission or pause... all of which apply in some form to our delightful respite in the alpine countries of Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria...

Fun in the berchtesgaden, dinner and fun in the berchtesgaden salt mines.

Join us for an unforgettable dinner in the subterranean world of the Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden Salt Mines in Bavaria, near Salzburg and the Austrian border. Although the current mines celebrated 500 years of continuous operation in 2017 (it opened in 1517!), salt mining in Berchtesgaden dates back to the 12th century. You'll put on overalls and descend (or, if you wish, slide) down into the salt caverns, where you'll find an underground lake and more… and have a memorable dinner with entertainment down in the mines!

Private visit to Schloss Tratzberg

Private tour and wine reception at schloss tratzberg in the austrian tyrol.

An Alpine train takes you up to Schloss Tratzberg (Tratzberg Castle), a storybook castle perched on the slopes of the Karwendel Alps in the Tyrol region of Austria. After the first Schloss Tratzberg, built in the 13th century, burned down within 200 years, the current castle was acquired and expanded in the 1500s… and this one is a keeper; Tratzberg has retained many of its original furnishings and fittings over the centuries, and is considered one of the best preserved castles in Austria. During your visit to this storybook setting, a private tour and wine reception features wines produced from the castle's vineyards.

Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvédère Davos

Nights 9 and 10

Alpine style at Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvédère Davos

The picturesque health resort area of Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden is home to the stylish Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvédère Davos, set on the promenade along with an impressive selection of shops, restaurants, and museums. The hotel's Fitness & Wellness center has a lovely indoor swimming pool, a whirlpool, sauna, steam room and massages are available; while SPA World invites you to indulge in the "Belvédère Vital," a health club oasis with panoramic views of the splendid mountain scenery.

I loved walking through the small towns with narrow streets and local breweries with beer gardens. Tauck did an amazing job and found a way to overcome any obstacle.

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Where you stay is an important part of your journey – with Tauck, accommodations have been handpicked and carefully selected for their location and ambiance, enhancing the destinations you explore. Download accommodation details and your travel plans begin!

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Hotel vier jahreszeiten kempinski munich.

Munich, Germany

Althoff Seehotel Überfahrt

Rottach-Egern, Germany

Hotel Goldener Hirsch

Salzburg, Austria

Grand Hotel Savoia

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Nights 9-10

AlpenGold Hotel Davos

Davos, Switzerland

Nights 11-12

Bürgenstock Resort

Lucerne, Switzerland

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About Booking This Tour

Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally , you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey to enter Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Austria; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally , you should contact an embassy or consulate of each of the countries visited on this tour to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

How to Book a Tour

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 800-468-2825 to make a reservation.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:

• Tour Name and Departure Date
• Traveler's Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver's license
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Email Address*
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)*
• Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number  of a relative or friend (not travelling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection plan (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares

* Required Fields

Deposits & Final Payment

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking.

The deposit amount is $700 per person

Final Payment:

Final Payment is due to Tauck  90  days before departure for lands trips, and  120  days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Travel Protection Plan

Effective for plans purchased as of July 1, 2021:

Tauck's Guest Protection

Tauck's Guest Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. Guest Protection includes the following:

Cancellation Waiver – Provided by Tauck:

Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost, based on your original method of payment.

*Extreme Circumstances:  In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.

Travel Insurance Benefits – Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

• Trip Cancellation –  If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Since the non-insurance cancellation waiver takes care of the land package cancellation fees already, this benefit reimburses the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.
• Trip Interruption –  If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
• Travel Delay –  Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
• Medical Expense –  Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 
• Baggage / Personal Effects Protection –  Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.
• Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services –  Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

The cost of Tauck's Guest Protection is: $559  per person

This protection provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Fees are based on costs as of July 1, 2021, and are subject to change. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees outlined below, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost.

To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit  affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPINTL .

If You Have To Cancel

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees. If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour. Therefore, the following fees apply.

Cancellation Fees with Tauck's Guest Protection Plan:

Loss of Guest Protection fee, per person 

Cancellation Fees without Tauck's Guest Protection Plan :

90 days or more before departure = $600 per person

89-8 days before departure = $900 per person

7-1 days before departure = $1500 per person

Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Wilton Woods, CT office.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

Note:  All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Guest Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services described above, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico.

Travel Terms and Conditions

Click here  to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

Travel Requirements For This Tour

Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Guest rooms are all booked as non-smoking unless otherwise requested by guests. No-smoking sections in restaurants are rare in Europe. No smoking is permitted on board the motor coaches.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

VACCINATIONS  

If you are a resident of the U.S. traveling internationally, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Switzerland, Germany, Italy or Austria. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here .

If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Austria to determine what vaccinations may be required for you to visit.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

This active journey of 1,100 miles (1,609 km) through the Alps requires you to be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances often over unpaved and uneven surfaces; highest elevation on this tour is 7,736 ft. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion. Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria are home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, many centuries old. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical limitations. You will encounter cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and some steep and winding staircases.

PLEASE NOTE: We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it. While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list  here.

The Alps are located in a temperate climate zone. On this journey, the average high temperatures from April through September range from 55 to 85 °F (13 to 29 °C). The average low temperatures range from 35 to 55 °F (2 to 13 °C). Rainfall is spread throughout the year with the summer months experiencing almost twice as much as the winter months. Munich is the driest location visited with only 20 in (610 mm) per year; Salzburg is the wettest with 31 in (794 mm) per year.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website by clicking here.

What To Pack

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with New Headings who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site .

The weather in the Alps is temperate and unpredictable. Your journey is designed with leisure in mind. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Cool weather at higher elevations or at night will require warmer, layered clothing.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is generally customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire although not required. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts to dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but by all means be comfortable.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are not generally available due to local fire safety regulations; however, valet laundry, dry cleaning and pressing services are available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to the Alps:

• Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
• An optional jacket and tie for men
• Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
• A light sweater or fleece jacket for higher elevations or a breezy night
• Binoculars (7x50 preferably)
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and memory cards
• Lightweight, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
• Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm function (many hotel do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
• Reusable zipper-lock bags or other waterproof bags
• Daypack for camera equipment
• Sundries and toiletries that may be difficult to find en route
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

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Here’s How to Take a Train Trip Through the Swiss Alps

The panoramic windows make sure you capture every magical snowflake.

Conjure a mental image of Switzerland, and what do you see? Snowy peaks with skiiers shushing ever downwards, for sure, and sweet little villages laid like blankets among them, plus bubbling fondue pots and piles of fine chocolate bars — and perhaps a girl with braids guiding a goat to a beautiful green mountain vista. Look again and you’ll see trains careening between these towns, marvels of engineering that somehow blast through the bottoms of the Alps themselves. Those trains are the best and most fun way to see the country.

Which lines to look for

Again, you can’t go wrong with a train ride in Switzerland, but there are a few that whiz through particular gorgeous areas of the Alps. The Bernina Express has UNESCO World Heritage status due to its glorious high-altitude journey from Chur or Davos, through St. Moritz, into northern Italy. You’ll pass glaciers and ride along several dramatic viaducts (those super-high bridges with the insanely curved support systems below), and for one section, passengers can even sit in open-air cars to further enjoy the landscape. The GoldenPass takes you from Lake Lucerne to Lake Geneva, curving past four of the highest peaks of the Alps (13,000’+ each) while providing shimmering lake views.

The Gornergrat bahn isn’t a regional train between cities, but is pretty cool: It links the town of Zermatt to a 10,100' peak for skiing and views of the world-famous Matterhorn. The first electric cogwheel railway in Switzerland, the Gornergrat was constructed during Victorian times, making it quite a landmark of engineering. Mark Twain wrote of the viewpoint’s majesty after a visit in 1878.

And if you’re really dedicated to this whole train thing, the Glacier Express is once-in-a-lifetime experience: the “slowest express train in the world,” an eight-hour ride between the ski havens of Zermatt and St. Moritz with unbelievable scenery and a possible luxurious upgrade to their Excellence Class, which comes with a multicourse fine-dining meal and white-glove service.

Where to stop

St. Moritz is the town that claims to have invented winter tourism; it’s the tony ski mecca where you can expect to see beautiful people carrying bottles of champagne back down the mountains. Zermatt is the more low-key ski town where cars aren’t allowed but the royals are; Prince William and Kate Middleton have been known to hit the slopes here with pals. Interlaken is an adventure paradise, where thrill-seekers can paraglide off mountains, or parasail, windsurf, and kayak on the nearby Lake Thun or Lake Brienz.

Zurich and Geneva are, of course, the chic, modern cities that you may have flown into to start your journey, and certainly deserve at least a day each to explore. Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva near the French border, is an unspeakably lovely town that Freddie Mercury called home for many years. It also boasts a castle and a jazz festival every July.

How to buy tickets

There are three types of train travel pass to purchase for unlimited rides around the country: a Swiss Travel Pass (set for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days of consecutive travel), the Swiss Travel Pass Flex (set for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days of selected travel days within a month), and the Swiss Half Fare Card (which gives you a 50% on travel for one month).

Rates depend on first- vs. second-class travel, and how many days you want. To give an idea of the most probable purchase for an American tourist, an eight-day consecutive train pass is around $663 in first class, $418 in second class. Young travelers up to age 26 get a 15% discount on train passes; kids under age 16 travel for free as long as they’re riding with a parent carrying a pass — a great deal for families.

There are also tour operators that package rail routes along with hotels and transfers. One such operator is Vacations By Rail , an American company that offers customizable train journeys through Switzerland depending on your budget.

When to ride

Okay, this one’s a bit of a cheat, because there are simply no bad times to train through Switzerland. Yes, the winter holds the alpine wonderland of your dreams, but the summer is a great time to take in lush green panoramas and appreciate the nation’s sparkly clear lakes. In autumn, the mountains light up as the trees change color; in spring, the valleys are carpeted in wildflowers.

Kaitlin Menza is a freelance features writer. She lives in New York. You can see more of her writing at kaitlinmenza.com . 

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Travel, Hiking, Food

1 Week (7 Days) Bernese Oberland Itinerary: Swiss Alps Itinerary for Hikers and Non-Hikers

Thinking about spending 5 days to 7 days in the bernese oberland in switzerland want to visit the famous lauterbrunnen valley and hike in the swiss alps this 1 week switzerland itinerary focuses on the best of bernese oberland in the swiss alps..

Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Bernese Oberland region offers some of the most breathtaking views and picturesque landscapes in Europe.

With its snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and charming alpine villages, it’s no wonder that the region is a popular destination for visitors looking for that iconic Swiss experience.

In this one week Bernese Oberland itinerary, you can visit some of Swiss Alp’s most stunning destinations, including the iconic mountain peaks of Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch, the charming villages of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, and beautiful lake of Oeschinensee.

If you are a seasoned hiker you would love all the hiking trails in the Swiss alps. But even if you don’t plan on hiking, you can still enjoy the beautiful of the Swiss Alps and the many fun activities and day trips.

In this Swiss Alps itinerary I will also share recommendations for the best things to see and do, as well as practical information on transportation and accommodations options.

This blog contains occasional affiliate links, where I receive a small commission on sales of the products/hotels that are linked at no additional cost to you. In addition, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases .

Who This 7 day Bernese Oberland Itinerary is For

This itinerary is perfect for someone who only has up to 7 days in Switzerland and wants to see the most beautiful part of the country aka the Swiss Alps. This is based on my experience visiting during the summer. If you are visiting in the winter you will need to modify this itinerary and skip the hikes.

If you are a nature lover then you would love this Switzerland itinerary because the places I cover are extremely scenic and beautiful.

This itinerary is also meant for people who can hike (~3 hours a day). If you are not planning to hike, you will need to modify the itinerary and can potentially make it shorter.

This 1 week Switzerland itinerary focuses mostly on outdoor activities in Bernese Oberland (the Jungfrau region). I will NOT be covering places like Zurich, Lucerne, and Geneva as I genuinely think Switzerland’s beauty lies in its mountains and nature.

Where is Bernese Oberland?

Now that we’ve established that this 7 day Switzerland itinerary is mainly for Bernese Oberland, I’ll give you some background on where Bernese Oberland is and why it’s famous.

You probably have heard of the Swiss Alps , Bernese Oberland is exactly that, part of the Swiss Alps.

Located in the Canon of Bern, Bernese Oberland covers an area of approximately 2600 square kilometers. Bernese Oberland (or Bernese Highlands) has 3 of the most famous Swiss mountains, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau .

This itinerary will be focused on the Jungfrau Region. Some of the major towns in the Jungfrau Region include Interlaken, Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren and one of the most famous attractions in the Jungfrau Region is Jungfraujoch, known as the Top of Europe.

Interlaken is the largest town in the region and serves as the gateway to the surrounding mountains. It is situated between two lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Grindelwald, on the other hand, is a popular ski resort known for its extensive network of ski runs, while Wengen is a picturesque village that can only be reached by train.

Lauterbrunnen is a charming Swiss village located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley of the Bernese Oberland. It is surrounded by steep cliffs, 72 waterfalls, and lush green meadows.

The most famous of these waterfalls is the Staubbach Falls , which drops from a height of 297 meters and can be seen from the village.

What’s the best time to visit Bernese Highlands

Bernese Oberland in Switzerland is popular to visit in both summer and winter.

In the winter the Jungfrau area is an expansive ski resort region with 100km of winter hiking trails and cross country ski trails.

In the summer the Jungfrau region is open for hiking and biking trails. However the summer in Lauterbrunnen valley is often rainy and wet and not very hot (high of 70sF/ 21C) with the most precipitation in June and July.

I visited Lauterbrunnen the third/fourth week of September and the weather was perfect (high 70 low 45F with week long sunny days). Keep in mind that weather changes every year so you may still run into rainy days even in September.

How to Get to Bernese Oberland/ Jungfrau Region?

It is very easy to get to Bernese Highlands whether you are traveling within Switzerland or internationally. The region is accessible by plane, train and car.

Traveling to Bernese Oberland by Plane

The closest airport to Bernese Highlands is the city Bern (BRN) followed by Zurich Airport (ZRH).

Bern is located about 45 minutes away from the region and there are mostly European flights going into Bern.

If you are traveling internationally, most likely you will be flying into Zurich Airport (ZRH), which is the largest airport in Switzerland. Zurich is located about 150 km away, it takes about 2-3 hours from Zurich to Bernese Highlands depending on whether you are traveling by train or by car.

Visiting Jungfrau Region by Train

Train travel is extremely convenient in Switzerland and is actually my recommended way to travel to Bernese Oberland within Switzerland.

The closest city (and train transit) is in the city of Interlaken, many trains to the towns of Bernese Oberland (such as Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen) go through Interlaken or Bern.

For example, it takes 20 minutes on the train from Interlaken OST to Lauterbrunnen and 2.5 hours by train from Zurich with transfers at Bern and Interlaken.

Visiting Bernese Oberland by Car

Bernese Oberland can be reached by car but keep in mind that most likely you will need to park your car in the town of Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen as many villages in Bernese Oberland can only be accessible by train or cable car.

We drove over from Milan after visiting the Dolomites since taking a train from Milan to Lauterbrunnen would require too many transfers. Looking back, I wish we had just taken trains around Switzerland instead since we basically parked our car in Lauterbrunnen for almost a week.

If you are driving in Switzerland, you need to buy a Swiss motorway vignette if you plan to drive on the motorway.

You can buy it online or at a gas station (we did at a gas station near the Italian border). You don’t need it if you are renting a car from Switzerland, but since we rented the car in Italy and drove over, we had to buy it ourselves.

How to get around Bernese Highlands?

The best way to get around Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau region is by train and cable car. There is an amazing network of trains, cable cars and buses connecting the various towns and attractions in Bernese Oberland.

You can see the current status of all the train and cable car lines on the official Jungfrau website and see the map below.

Trains in Bernese Oberland in the Jungfrau Region:

• Jungfraubahn: Kleine Scheidegg -> Eigergletscher -> Jungfraujoch
• Wengernalpbahn: Lauterbrunnen -> Wengen -> Allmend -> Wengernalp -< Kleine Scheidegg
• Berner Oberland-Bahn: Interlaken OST -> Zweilütschinen -> Lauterbrunnen
• Berner Oberland-Bahn: Interlaken OST -> Zweilütschinen -> Grindelwald
• Wengernalpbanh: Grindelwald -> Grund -> Brandegg – Alpiglen -> Kleine Scheidegg
• Lauterbrunnen Murren: Lauterbrunnen -> Grütschalp -> Winteregg -> Murren
• Schynige Platte-Bahn: Wilderswil -> Schynige Platte

Funicular in Bernese Oberland in the Jungfrau Region:

• Harderbahn: Interlaken -> Harder Kulm

Cable Cars in Bernese Oberland in the Jungfrau Region:

• Firstbahn: Grindelwald -> Bort -> Schreckfeld -> First
• Grindelwald-Mannlichen Bahn: Grindelwald Grund -> Holenstein -> Mannlichen
• Eiger Express: Grindelwald -> Eigergletscher

Train Passes To Save Money in Bernese Highlands

Switzerland is not a cheap country to travel in in terms of everything except groceries. Transportation is especially expensive in Switzerland.

You will need to take a lot of trains and cable cars to travel around Bernese Oberland. As you can imagine, these train tickets do add up to a significant amount of money.

There are several different kinds of travel passes available for you when traveling through Bernese Highlands. Some of the passes are only limited to the Jungfrau region whereas other train passes can be used in the entire Switzerland.

You can choose the best travel pass based on how many days you will be spending in Switzerland or just in the Jungfrau Region.

Jungfrau Travel Pass (3 – 8 days)

The Jungfrau Travel Pass is only available between April 7, 2023 to November 5, 2023.

You will not be able to use this pass during the winter.

The Jungfrau Travel Pass includes most train routes, cable car routes in the Jungfrau region and discounted prices to Jungfraujoch.

You can find out everything that’s included in the link above.

Unlimited Jungfrau Summer Pass

The Jungfrau Unlimited Summer Pass is only available between April 7, 2023 to November 5, 2023.

Unlike the Jungfrau Travel Pass which has limitations on the number of days, with the unlimited pass you can stay and travel for as long as you want as long as it’s between April 7 and November 5th. This is great if you are planning to spend a long time in the Bernese Oberland region.

In addition, you can get unlimited rides to the Jungfraujoch with this unlimited Jungfrau summer pass.

There are so many other train passes that you can purchase, a few of the popular ones include:

• Berner Oberland Pass (April 1 to Oct 31, 2023 only. It covers the entire Bernese Oberland region (bigger than just the Jungfrau region)
• Swiss Half Fare Card (available for 1 month)
• Swiss Travel Pass (it includes museum entry and panoramic trains, available for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days)
• Swiss Travel Pass Flex (available for 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 days in 1 month)

You can buy these travel passes at any manned train station office or online. I personally had difficulty buying them online because the official website keeps rejecting my credit cards and only AMEX seemed to work.

Make sure you have a valid pass or train ticket whenever you ride the train in Switzerland.

If you are caught not having a valid train ticket with you, you have to pay a hefty fine (example: the fine for not having a valid ticket on the short train ride from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg is CHF 90+).

You can easily buy train tickets the same day from vending machines at the train stations (or go inside the office if you want). The credit cards work fine at the ticket machine.

1 Week in the Swiss Alps: Itinerary in Detail

The first few days of this Bernese Oberland itinerary covers the Jungfrau region.

At the end I also added 2 days outside of Bernese Oberland to show you some of the other best things around the area, including Oeschinensee and Zermatt!

If you only want to visit the Bernese Highlands then feel free to skip the last 2 days of this Swiss Alps itinerary.

Day 0 : Arrive in Lauterbrunnen (or Grindelwald) Day 1 : Jungfraujoch day trip to the Top of Europe Day 2 : Hiking around Mannlichen Day 3 : First, Bachalpsee, and Trottibike Day 4 : Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Schilthorn or Via Ferrata Day 5 : Interlaken & Harder Kulm Day 6 : Oeschinensee Day 7 : Zermatt & the Matterhorn

Day 1 in Bernese Oberland – Jungfraujoch day trip to the Top of Europe

Assuming you have arrived in Lauterbrunnen valley the night before, the next 3 days will be the “core” itinerary in the Jungfrau region. Feel free to change up the order of this itinerary between Day 1 to Day 4 based on the weather forecast.

Jungfraujoch is known as the “ Top of Europe ” not because it’s the highest mountain in Europe but because it is the highest train station in Europe.

Located at the altitude of 11,371 feet (3466m) in the Swiss Alps, Jungfraujoch connects the two 4000m+ peaks of Jungfrau and Mönch.

One thing to note is that Jungfraujoch is different from Jungfrau. Jungfrau is the mountain and the region is named after Jungfrau. Jungfraujoch is the saddle below Jungfrau (the mountain) and it’s the highest train station in Europe.

Jungfraujoch is one of the most famous attractions and day trip destinations in the Lauterbrunnen Valley/ Jungfrau region given its unique attraction and family friendly activities. It’s something you simply have to do if you are in the area.

It’s not cheap to visit Jungfraujoch, in fact it is very expensive to visit Jungfraujoch from Lauterbrunnen round trip without the Jungfrau Pas (about CHF 227.6 or 254 USD). So make sure you are visiting Jungfraujoch on the most clear day.

There is a webcam at Jungfraujoch that allows you to see what it looks like on top live. If you are trying to plan ahead I also suggest this weather forecast website since it shows 48 hours of cloud coverage forecast (under details) and I’ve used it in New Zealand before.

Alternatively you can just look up at the sky the morning before you visit to check for weather conditions.

Since weather can be unpredictable or bad, I would not recommend booking tickets to Jungfraujoch ahead of time since the tickets are non-refundable.

There are a number of things you can do at Jungfraujoch, including a visit to The Sphinx observation deck, walking the trail to Mönchsjochhütte hut , taking a photo with the Swiss Flag, visit the Ice Palace , and do snow activities (snow tubing, etc) just to name a few.

You will most likely spend at least half a day at Jungfraujoch plus a couple of hours at least for travel time since it does take a while to get up to the highest train station in Europe!

For a complete list of things to do at Jungfraujoch, check out my comprehensive Jungfraujoch Day Trip Guide .

Best places to stay when visiting Jungfraujoch

Since Jungfraujoch is pretty far, I would recommend you stay either in Wengen or Grindelwald when visiting Jungfraujoch.

If you are wondering how to get to Jungfraujoch, use the official Jungfrau website to check train time and route (the trains in Switzerland are always on time).

Day 2 in the Swiss Alps: Hiking From Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg

One great thing about the Lauterbrunnen Valley is that it is well connected to a lot of different villages and mountains along the cliffs by trains and cable cars.

Mannlichen is a mountain that sits above the Lauterbrunnen Valley and is connected to Wengen (the town above Lauterbrunnen) by a cable car.

The Wengen-Mannlichen aerial cableway operates every 20 min (check the website for detailed timetable as it varies by season).

There is also a gondola cable car between Grindelwald and Mannlichen and the entire journey only takes 19 minutes.

So what’s special about Mannlichen?

Mannlichen is the starting point of a couple of fantastic (and easy) day hikes in Jungfrau and we will be doing two hikes from Mannlichen: The Royal Walk and the Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheidegg.

There is a webcam at Mannlichen if you want to check the condition before you go.

The cable car from Wengen to Mannlichen is covered in the Jungfrau Pass but if you want to do the “royal experience” and stay on top of the cable car in an open air seat you have to pay extra.

The Royal Walk

Length: 1km each way Time: 20 min each way Elevation: 120m Difficulty: Easy (Short but steep)

The Royal Walk is a short 40 minute round trip hike from the Mannlichen cable car station to the Mannlichen summit.

The Mannlichen summit has a platform shaped like a crown with panoramic views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks as well as the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Once you are back from the Mannlichen summit, it’s time to hike the other way on a longer hike to Kleine Scheidegg, the Panorama Trail (Panoramaweg) .

You may be familiar with Kleine Scheidegg , as it is where you board the train to Jungfraujoch if you are coming from Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald (unless you take the cable car).

In case you are not familiar with this name, all the trains from Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald have to stop at Kleine Scheidegg for passengers to transfer to Jungfraujoch.

Besides being a train station, Kleine Scheidegg actually is great for day hikes in the Lauterbrunnen region.

The Panorama Trail

Length: 4.5km Time: 1.5 hours Elevation Gain: 160m descend Difficulty: Easy

Most people hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg as you have a view of the Jungfrau mountain the entire time and it’s pretty much flat/downhill the entire way on a wide dirt path.

However you can also do the hike in reverse (which is what I did). But either way the view along the hike is stunning and the Panorama Trail is suitable for the entire family.

If you are looking for more challenging or longer hikes in the Kleine Scheidegg area, consider the Eiger Trail , the Lauberhorn Trail , Trail to Grindelwald , etc.

Day 3: Grindelwald, First, Bachalpsee, and Trottibike

One of the most popular areas for adventure activities and hiking is First .

First is a summit on the slopes of the Schwarzhorn in the Bernese Oberland but it’s more famously known for its cable car station high above Grindelwald.

Some of the most popular family friendly attractions at First include the Cliff Walk (free) , First Flyer , First Glider , Mountain Cart and Trottibike Scooter (from Bort, 2 cable car stations down from First).

Hiking is popular at First as well, with the most famous hiking trail to Bachalpsee (an alpine lake) and Schynige Platt to First Hike . I personally only did the Bachalpsee hike and didn’t have time to do the Schynige Platt hike.

How to get to First

First is accessible by cable car from Grindelwald.

If you see the map at the beginning of this blog, Grindelwald is rather far from Lauterbrunnen/ Wengen (towards the west), so you will need to take a train to Grindelwald first if you are not staying there.

From Grindelwald cable car station (10 minute walk from the Grindelwald train station), the cable car takes about 25 minutes to First, which is the last station. There are several stations before First that you can get off at, but I suggest you go directly to First as early as possible.

First Cliff Walk

Once you get off the cable car, you will see the First cliff walk right there.

This is one attraction that is free and often crowded with Chinese and Korean bus tours. When I was there there was a long line to take photos at the end of the Cliff Walk so we decided to skip.

First to Bachalpsee (Lake) Hike

Bachalpsee is one of the most famous lakes in Bernese Oberland because it gives you that perfect reflection of Schreckhorn.

The hike from First to Bachalpsee is a relatively easy one. It takes about an hour on a wide and relatively flat path (there were some uphills the first 20-25 minutes).

The Bachalpsee lake is huge and is split by a natural dam. There is reflection all day as long as the water is calm. When I was there around noon, there was a 3 minute window where the perfect reflection came out.

There were also a good amount of people at the lake around noon but it wasn’t too bad since the lake is big.

From Bachalpsee, you have the option to continue hiking another 2.5 hours up a steep slope to Faulhorn , the highest point with a restaurant and panoramic view that allows you to see as far as Interlaken.

Or you can hike back to First cable car station the same way you came.

The third option is to hike downhill from Bachalpsee towards Bort, the cable car station that’s two stops down from First where you can do Trottibike Scooter all the way down to Grindelwald. This is what I did and it was a very nice walk.

Bachalpsee to Waldspitz to Bort Hike

Length: 8km Time: 2.5 hours Difficulty: Easy, mostly downhill View: Amazing

When you first go to First via Cable car and at the First Cliff Walk, you are facing the massif of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

The hike from First to Waldspitz to Bort actually gives you that view almost the entire way (up until Waldspitz) and the difference is that you will have the entire place and view to yourself.

The hike is easy with almost all downhill. Some parts of the hike have a wide dirt path whereas other parts of the hike are mostly stone/rocky paths.

The hike is broken into 2 parts, the first part is the wide downhill portion from Bachalpsee to Waldspitz with the amazing view (~ 2 hours). The second part of the hike is a steep downhill through the forest from Waldspitz to Bort cable car station (~40 min).

Once you reach the Bort cable car station, fuel up with some food at the restaurant (restaurant was really good and reasonably priced by NYC standard) and get ready for your Trottibike Scooter adventure.

Trottibike From Bort to Grindelwald

Trottibike is essentially a scooter you stand on and go all the way downhill to Grindelwald. It takes about 30 min to an hour based on your speed (there are brakes on the Scooter) and you can stop to enjoy the view and take photos anytime.

The Trottibike is a family friendly activity but I did see two people fumble and fall while going down the hill. There were also other people who were going super fast so go at your own comfort level.

Once you reach the outskirts of Grindelwald you will start seeing cars coming down the same road. Eventually the path will flatten out and that’s pretty much when you need to push the bike back to the Grindelwald Cable car station to return the Trottibike.

The cable car ride between Grindelwald and First (and the other cable car stations along the way) are covered in the Jungfrau pass , but you need to pay extra for the adventure activities such as the Trottibike, First Flyer, First Glider, etc.

After you are done with your Trottibike adventure, take some time to explore the down of Grindelwald.

The best place to stay to visit First is actually in Grindelwald, since you can just hop on the cable car as soon as it opens.

Day 4: Lauterbrunnen, Mürren and Schilthorn

After two days of hiking, plan a chill day where you can explore the different villages in Bernese Oberland. I’ll give you a few options around the village of Mürren based on your interest and fitness level for today’s itinerary.

Lauterbrunnen

Start your day in Lauterbrunnen if you haven’t already explored this town.

Lauterbrunnen’s numerous waterfalls and dramatic cliffs have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to use Lauterbrunnen as inspiration for Rivendell.

Lauterbrunnen is surrounded by 72 waterfalls and the biggest and most famous fall is Staubbach Falls . Standing at 279m, Staubbach plunges from the cliffs next to Lauterbrunnen and it’s in every single photo of Lauterbrunnen. You can actually use the walkway to walk up behind Staubbach.

Spend some time walking through the town (shouldn’t take that long). One of the best photo spots in Lauterbrunnen is the walk to the church from the train station to get that classic Lauterbrunnen view. Another great view of Lauterbrunnen is from the Wengen to Lauterbrunnen train (sit on the left side if you are coming down from Wengen).

You can also visit the famous Trümmelbach Falls waterfall from Lauterbrunnen although it’s a 40 minute walk from town. There are buses you can take to reach the fall, but it’s nice to walk through the meadow and take in the view of the valley.

Once you are done exploring Lauterbrunnen, walk back to the train station and take the cable car to Mürren (it’s one cable car + one train ride, covered in the Jungfrau Pass).

The train ride itself is a treat as you get an amazing view of the mountain and valley (remember to sit on the left side of the train).

Once you get to Mürren, walk through the village and you will see a nice photo spot of the valley on the left hand side.

Mürren to Schilthorn Cable Car

From Mürren, you can take the cableway to the peak of the Schilthorn at 2971 m via Birg. The cable airway between Birg and Schilthorn is the longest and the most challenging airway to build.

Schilthorn is famous for being the setting where the 007 movie, ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. The panoramic revolving restaurant at the summit,  Piz Gloria was featured in the film ,  so you bet it’s a big tourist attraction.

There is a livecam at Schilthorn so you can check the condition before you go.

If it’s your birthday, then you are in luck because the birthday person can ride the cable way to Schilthorn for free, otherwise it costs CHF 85.60 to visit and it’s not covered in the Jungfrau Pass (it’s covered in the Swiss Travel Pass). At the summit, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Alternative Day 4 Option

If you are not into the family friendly sightseeing in Lauterbrunnen or Schilthorn but are looking for something way more exciting/ adventurous, then consider the adrenaline pumping via Ferrata at Mürren.

Mürren Via Ferrata

If you are not familiar with Via Ferrata, it’s basically a protected path along the cliffs with a cable running through (and secured on rocks). The climber will have a kit that helps secure themselves to the cables to avoid falls. Via Ferrata allows you to walk on cliff surfaces and allows dangerous routes to be taken with safety measures.

Via Ferrata was originally created in the Italian Dolomites to aid the Italian troops to move through mountains while avoiding Mines during World War I. But in recent years Via Ferrata gained popularity as a tourist attraction and more have been built.

While most Via Ferratas are going up the mountain, the Mürren Via Ferrata actually goes down 2000m in altitude from Mürren to Gimmewald (there is also a regular hike from Mürren to Gimmewald just FYI).

The Mürren Via Ferrata takes about 3 hours and after watching a YouTube video of it I decided to never do it. But hey if you are interested, check out the booking website as well as this incredible YouTube video. The Murren to Gimmewald Via Ferrata is only open from June 1 to the end of October.

Day 5: Visit Interlaken & Harder Kulm

After you’ve spent the last 4 days in the heart of the Swiss Alps in Bernese Oberland, day 5 to day 7 of your 1 week In Switzerland will be spent exploring other areas.

Interlaken is one of the largest cities in Bernese Oberland and many visitors choose to stay in Interlaken because it’s cheaper and trains connect Interlaken with Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.

Cruise on Lake Brienz or Lake Thun

Interlaken is between two lakes, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. If you are looking for a relaxed family friendly activity, then definitely don’t miss cruising on the lakes. If you want to explore Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, then be sure to check out this tour .

Kayak on Lake Brienz

If cruising is boring to you but you still want to be on the lake, then why not try kayaking on Lake Brienz ? The tour will take 3 hours and let you see towering cliffs and forested hillsides.

Visit Harder Kulm

Harder Kulm is one of the most popular things to do in Interlaken.

High above the town of Interlaken with the view of Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the majestic Mönch, Jungfrau and Eiger in the distance, Harder Kulm is easily reachable by a Funicular.

Be warned though since Harder Kulm is easy to reach, you will inevitably see a lot of tourists and bus tours unless you go when it just opens in the morning

St. Beatus Caves at Lake Thun

St. Beatus Caves is a fun place to visit with plenty of activities, including hiking, waterfall, museum, a panoramic restaurant and views overlooking Lake Thun.

Legend has it that there used to be a vicious dragon living in the cave. St Beatus, an Irish monk, slayed the dragon and now the cave is named after him. St. Beatus’s grace is between the cave entrance and the monastery.

Other adventurous activities at Interlaken include paragliding , Canyon Swing (in Grindelwald), and Tandem Paragliding if you dare.

Best place to stay : Stay in Interlaken or Kandersteg for faster access to Oeschinensee Lake the next day.

Day 6: Oeschinensee Lake

Oeschinensee is an alpine lake sitting at 1578m (5177 ft) in the foot of the Blüemlisalp. It is technically not in Bernese Oberland but since it’s pretty close there are many people that visit Oeschinensee when they are in the region.

Oeschinensee is only an hour drive away from Lauterbrunnen (closer if you are driving from Interlaken). You can also take the train from Interlaken to Kandersteg (the town the lake is in).

For more details on how to get to Oeschinensee, check out my post on the best things to do at Oeschinensee for a day .

The deep blue color of the lake and the perfect reflection of the mountain is what drew me to the lake in the first place. In all honesty I also thought the lake was similar to Moraine Lake in Banff except smaller and I was not disappointed when I visited. There is a webcam at Oeschinensee for you to see the condition before going.

Once you are in the town of Kandersteg , you can either hike up to Oeschinensee or take a gondola up. There is a huge parking lot at the gondola station which costs 5 CHF and the round trip gondola ticket costs 30 CHF.

After getting off the gondola, you can either walk 25 minutes to the lake front or take an electric bus which costs 8 CHF one way.

There are also a number of hiking trails around Oeschinensee Lake up the hills. The easiest one is no. 5 which leads you to a restaurant and a viewpoint above the lake. The harder Panorama Trail takes either 3 hours or 6 hours to go to different huts and has an even higher vantage point of the lake.

If hiking is not your thing don’t worry, you can row a boat on the lake. But on a nice day boat rentals get booked up so you may have to wait for someone to return the boat.

You cannot get too close to the cliff walls for safety reasons and when you return the boat you have to dock the boat yourself, nobody will help you with that. Life vest is not required on the boat.

Best place to stay for the night : Kandersteg or Interlaken, it’s on the way to your next and final destination: Zermatt.

Day 7: Zermatt & the Matterhorn

Zermatt is the home of Matterhorn and it is also one of the most touristy towns on this Swiss Alps itinerary.

Zermatt is a cute car- free town that’s easy to get to either by train or by car.

There are trains from all over Switzerland to Zermatt. If you have a car like I did, you have to first drive to Täsch (1.5 hours from Kandersteg) then take a shuttle train into Zermatt (every 20 minutes, cost CHF 16.4 for round trip).

From the town of Zermatt you can already see Matterhorn on a clear day. But if you want to get up close to the Matterhorn, you will have to either hike or take the train to one of the 3 popular observation decks/ tourist attractions: Gornergrat , Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Klein Matterhorn), or Rothorn Paradise .

Gornergrat vs. Klein Matterhorn

The most popular attractions are Gornergrat or Klein Matterhorn .

I did Gornergrat and the main reason is because the train to Gornergrat has several stops.

The second to last stop Rotenboden is a 10 minute walk to the famous lake, Riffelsee . Riffelsee is often seen on postcards for its perfect reflection of the majestic Matterhorn on a breeze-less day (if it’s windy you can’t see the reflection).

In addition, although Klein Matterhorn is higher and closer to Matterhorn, the view is actually better from Gornergrat. In addition to the Matterhorn, you can also see Monte Rosa (the highest peak in Switzerland) as well as Gorner Glacier, the second largest glacier in the Swiss Alps.

Klein Matterhorn on the other hand, is reached by a series of cable cars. There is an ice paradise at Klein Matterhorn at an additional cost (similar to the one in Jungfraujoch but smaller).

You can get a sense of what the area looks like during ski season as the cable car goes above some ski slopes. You may feel the altitude at Klein Matterhorn since it’s higher than Gornergrat.

It cost about CHF 126 for round trip tickets from Zermatt to Gornergrat and the ride takes about 40 minutes. You can get off and back on at any of the stops , just make sure you have your tickets with you. Sit on the right side of the train when you go up to Gornergrat for a nice view of Matterhorn.

After you finish your day in Zermatt, take the train back to Zurich to fly out.

Budget for 7 days in Bernese Oberland and the Swiss Alps

So how expensive is Switzerland really? In this section I will provide you with the general range of prices for the most important things: Transportation, Food, and Lodging.

Transportation Cost in Bernese Oberland

Train travel is the most common form of transportation in Switzerland but it is not cheap. It’s especially expensive if you take cable cars or trains that go through mountain tunnels like Jungfraujoch.

A one way train ticket in the Jungfrau region in this Switzerland itinerary costs between CHF 8 to CHF 35 one way , depending on distance and how “scenic” the route is.

For example, the train ride from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald is considered “scenic”, so the train ticket is CHF 32 one way (2nd Class, so no seat reservation); but if you take the train from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen directly, it’s cheaper (only CHF 9) because it’s a different route and it’s not scenic at all.

If you plan to visit Jungfraujoch, that’s crazy expensive without the travel pass. During the high summer season a round trip ticket costs CHF 225+ (slightly cheaper during winter), with the Jungfrau Travel Pass, the ticket comes down to CHF 75.

The travel passes themselves are generally 3 day minimum and using the example of Jungfrau Pass, a 3 day pass costs CHF190 and the 5 day pass is CHF250 . If you plan to take the trains around a lot and visit Jungfraujoch then the pass is well worth it.

To check for time table, routes, and cost for train travels in the Jungfrau region use the official website (Don’t use Google Maps).

Cost of Food in the Swiss Alps

Food is notoriously expensive in Switzerland. When you eat at restaurants in Switzerland (at least in Bernese Oberland), a pasta dish can cost anywhere between CHF 18-35 and a burger can cost about CHF 23-35 also, depending on where you go. A soft drink at a restaurant costs about CHF 4-6 and beer is actually cheaper.

Groceries in Switzerland are much more reasonable and I would suggest you get groceries instead of eating out. While I was there fruits costed between CHF 3-5 a kilo and snacks and frozen food were between CHF 3-7.

A lot of Asian tourists buy the Korean instant noodles in a bowl, which cost about CHF 3. I guess labor is extremely expensive in Switzerland instead of the raw material which is why restaurants are ridiculously expensive.

Cost of Accommodation in Switzerland

There are hostels in Lauterbrunnen which are reasonable priced for a shared room at CHF 30. Hotels in any of the big touristy towns cost between CHF 60 to CHF 300 depending on the level of luxury.

The good thing about hotels is that they pretty much all provide breakfast and the breakfast usually consists of different types of bread, jam, Nutella, fresh juice, fresh fruits, cereals, etc. Some hotels also have sausage, bacon and eggs like the hotel I stayed at in Wengen, Hotel Barren .

You can do Switzerland cheaply if you eat grocery food, hike everywhere instead of taking the trains and stay at hostels. But if you want a relatively comfortable vacation then it won’t be cheap.

Where to stay in Lauterbrunnen Valley/ Bernese Oberland

There are many towns and villages in the Jungfrau region so it can be a little confusing on how to pick the best area to stay in the Jungfrau region.

Most of the time visitors consider staying in one of the following 4 towns. Of course there are more villages but I’ll just list the main 4 and why you should/ shouldn’t stay there.

Lauterbrunnen is often the town everyone’s heard of and wants to visit because of its social media fame. Everyday buses of tourists come to Lauterbrunnen so it may be tempting to stay in this famous town.

Personally I don’t recommend staying in Lauterbrunnen unless you arrived really late or need to leave for other cities early in the morning or just visiting the area for one day.

I don’t recommend it because Lauterbrunnen is pretty small and most places close by 6. I found it really dead after 5 and it’s not necessarily close to any main attractions except the waterfalls or if you want to visit the village of Mürren (you can visit Mürren from Grindelwald too).

However if you just need a place to crash for the night, check out the Valley Hostel . They have shared rooms at very reasonable prices.

Interlaken is the big city near Lauterbrunnen that many people decide to be based in. One reason that people stay in Interlaken is because it’s cheaper to stay there than to stay in any of the villages.

There are a good amount of things to do if you are not into hiking and trains connect Interlaken to other major Swiss cities.

I find Interlaken to be even further than Lauterbrunnen from most of the attractions in the Jungfrau region because you often need to commute to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald first to go anywhere. For example if you go to Jungfraujoch from Interlaken it can take you 2 hours.

If you are thinking of staying in Interlaken, check out Hotel Tell or the Loft Interlaken .

Wengen is a village located above Lauterbrunnen sitting high on the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It’s a 15 min train ride from Lauterbrunnen and the last train is around 10pm.

I stayed in Wengen and liked that it’s away from most tourists (people only go to Wengen to stay there or change trains and not to tour Wengen).

Wengen is also car free so it’s very peaceful and quiet and you get the view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Another reason I liked Wengen is because it’s one cable car away from Mannlichen and it’s on the way to Jungfraujoch (takes about an hour instead of 2 hours from Interlaken).

I stayed at Hotel Barren with a balcony room and loved it.

Grindelwald

Grindelwald is one of the biggest towns in the Jungfrau region and many people stay there.

Grindelwald is one cable car away from First. It is also easy to get to Mürren from Grindelwald and there are many hikes near Grindelwald. It’s also faster to get to Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald compared to from Wengen because of the newly opened cable car.

The reason we didn’t stay in Grindelwald is due to its crowdedness. All the tour buses stop in Grindelwald so there are a million tourists. It’s not as quaint and peaceful and cute as Wengen but there are definitely more restaurants, hotels and shops in Grindelwald.

If you are staying in Grindelwald, check out Derby Swiss Quality Hotel , located right next to the train station.

Additional Readings To Plan Your Switzerland Trip

First to Bachalpsee to Bort Hike : https://serenaslenses.net/first-to-bachalpsee-lake-to-waldpitz-to-bort-hike-in-the-swiss-alps/

What to do at Oeschinensee for a day : https://serenaslenses.net/what-to-do-at-oeschinensee-for-a-day-lake-oeschinen-day-trip/

Jungfraujoch Day Trip : https://serenaslenses.net/day-trip-to-jungfraujoch-from-lauterbrunnen-grindelwald-is-it-worth-it/

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7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting The Swiss Alps

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• News and Tips
• Switzerland
• Travel Tips

At Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, a blizzard raged and the wind was so bitingly cold that my poor gloveless hands were turning into ice. I had packed a thick jacket for this trip to the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, but I didn’t pack anything else suited for winter, like a hat or gloves. 

It was summer after all. 

I was on a hosted adventure to experience summer in the Swiss Alps near the town of Grindelwald in central Switzerland, so I didn’t think I would need anything beyond a coat for the cold nights.

Yet, even as the sun shone warmly in the valley, I was shivering and freezing in the summer, but winter, storm that raged on top of Jungfrau, one of two major 4,000-footers of the Bernese Alp. The furious snow blocked out most of the Aletsch Glacier view at 11,332 feet above sea level.

Not being prepared for a variety of weather conditions was one of a few mistakes I made when I visited the Jungfrau region for the first time. I am usually adept at researching places before I visit, but I still missed out on some tips that would have made my life a little easier while visiting Switzerland.

Here are 7 things I wish I knew before visiting the Swiss Alps.

1. Bring Layers

The weather in the bucolic valleys of Switzerland vary dramatically from the weather at the top of the mountains and peaks in this region. Because the Swiss Alps straddle the northern European climate and the warmer southern European climate, the weather can be both cool and warm at the same time. In fact, you could experience sunshine in one valley while rain pours down on the other side of the mountain.

When in doubt, it’s better to have that extra jacket and pair of gloves and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it. Bringing heavy winter gear along with shorts and tank tops may mean extra luggage, but don’t underestimate how diverse the weather in Switzerland can be at any time of the year.

Pro Tip: For every 328-foot gain in elevation, the temperature can drop approximately 1.8 degrees. So, if you get on top of the Jungfraujoch , for instance, you’re at 2.14 miles above sea level where the mountain tops are chilly in summer and sometimes covered in thick layers of snow.

2. Be Prepared For Altitude Sickness

Elevation, again, can cause a bit of misery for visitors to Switzerland if they aren’t prepared for the altitude. Switzerland lies at an average elevation of 4,429 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest countries in the world. Switzerland’s highest mountain peak — Dufourspitze — is 15,203 feet.

If you’re not used to high elevations, then altitude sickness can be pretty miserable. According to a study titled “Prevalence of acute mountain sickness in the Swiss Alps,” acute mountain sickness is “not an uncommon disease at moderately high altitude.” It can cause “severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, tachypnoea, and pronounced pulmonary rales.”

One of the ways to combat this sickness is to ask your physician for a prescription called Acetazolamide , or Diamox. This is the common prescription for preventing acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema, and high altitude cerebral edema.

You can also get over-the-counter medications to combat altitude sickness, but in my personal experience, they don’t work as well.

Pro Tip: If you are at high altitudes, treat all headaches, dizziness, or vomiting as altitude sickness. Immediately descend to a lower altitude and make sure you are always properly hydrated. If you do plan to climb or summit these high peaks, spend a day or two in one of the nearby towns to slowly acclimate.

3. Tummy Issues Are Common

One of the best things about Switzerland is the food and drink. The Swiss are masters in the arts of chocolate, cheese making, and wine, so be prepared to be tempted by plenty of delicious, rich, and dairy-heavy foods.

While traveling in planes, trains, and automobiles generally causes me to “slow down” in the digestive process — if you know what I mean — the rich and tempting foods made me even more constipated than usual. Other people may have the opposite problem, depending on their body types.

So, if you plan to indulge in all the rich cheese dishes and fondues, the mouthwatering chocolate and hearty sausages, be sure to pack your over-the-counter tummy medications for either issue.

4. Switzerland Is Expensive

You might have heard already that Switzerland is expensive. In fact, Zurich and Geneva are often included in lists touting the most expensive cities in the world.

Yes, certain things are much more expensive in Switzerland, like groceries, clothing, shoe shopping, and going out to dinner or for drinks. In fact, unless you eat fast food, finding a meal for less than 20 CHF ($20.51) is difficult.

Public transportation, tourism excursions, and medical costs are also much higher in cost than other destinations.

That being said, if you have the ability to stock up on light groceries to cover breakfast and lunch, you’ll be able to indulge in the cost-worthy food that restaurants serve here. Just, be aware of the expenses you may face and budget accordingly.

5. Invest In A Rail Pass

Switzerland is home to some of the best public transit in the world, and if you want to see all that this beautiful country has to offer, traveling by train, gondola, and funicular is the way to go. As stated above, Switzerland can be a bit expensive, so buying individual train and gondola tickets can really add up after a while and a rail pass can save you a ton of money.

The Swiss Travel Rail pass from Rail Europe gives you access to the panoramic trains like the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Luzern–Interlaken Express, GoldenPass Panoramic as well as the Gotthard Panorama Express. Although this is a much better option than buying individual tickets, you can expect to pay a lot for the Swiss Travel Pass, so be prepared for sticker shock.

Ths rail pass also has public transport in more than 90 Swiss towns and cities. It even offers senior passes. The Swiss Travel Pass is sold for 3, 4, 8, and 15 days and allows free entrance to over 480 museums and exhibitions.

6. Buy Your Alcohol In The Stores

Like many other things in Switzerland, going out to drink and buying wine at restaurants is a pricey affair. Skip drinking at the bars and restaurants and just buy your wine and beer at the grocery store to drink at your hotel or rental.

Keep in mind that alcohol hits the body a lot faster and harder in higher elevation, making you a cheap drunk in the mountains. 

7. Get A Universal Adapter

If you are traveling around Europe and Switzerland, get the right adapter to charge your electronics. While most of Europe uses the Schuko plug ( type F ), Switzerland is different and uses type J outlets, which are smaller.

Instead of buying both, you can buy a universal travel adaptor. Just make sure it has a type J outlet included.

Check out our most recent Swiss Alps coverage, including:

• How To Spend 3 Perfect Days In Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region
• 5 Beautiful Gondola Rides To Experience In The Swiss Alps
• How To Spend A Long Weekend In Grindelwald, Switzerland

Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist and travel writer based in Oklahoma. She loves outdoor adventures, exploring different cultures, and finding off-the-wall, bizarre, and wondrous experiences to enjoy. Heide writes for numerous national and international publications and is an award-winning member of the Society for Professional Journalists, North American Travel Journalists Association, and Society of American Travel Writers. Besides traveling and writing, Heide is also a professional Bellydancer, a medieval re-enactor, and a quirky chick who lives in Oklahoma City.

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Where to stay in Swiss Alps

Central Interlaken

Central Interlaken is known for its picture-perfect mountain views, and you can plan a trip to Interlaken Casino and Hoeheweg while you're in town.

Zermatt City Centre

The luxurious spas and stunning ski slopes are top of the list for many visitors to Zermatt City Centre. A stop by Matterhorn Museum or Zermatt - Furi might round out your trip.

Lugano City-Centre

Take time in Lugano City-Centre to visit attractions like Via Nassa and Piazza della Riforma. You might also appreciate the lake views, and you can hop on the metro at Lugano Funicular Station to see more of the city.

Montreux City Centre

Montreux City Centre is beloved for its panoramic lake views. Take some time to explore sights in the area like Place du Marche and Freddie Mercury Statue.

Montana is noteworthy for its skiing, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Montana - Cry d'Er Gondola and Casino de Crans-Montana.

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Trek through scenic Alpine meadows and climb up the Mountain of Mountains, which is among Europe’s tallest rock formations, looming over the resort of Zermatt.

Jungfraujoch

Go to the highest railway station in Europe, visit an ice palace and view a colossal glacier when you take a picturesque train ride to this mountain pass.

Explore the great outdoors at Jungfrau and enjoy the mountain views during your trip to Lauterbrunnen. Stroll along the lakeside in this quaint area, or seek out the ski slopes.

What to do in Swiss Alps

Small group: bern-capital & countryside day trip from zurich, bern: 90-minute stroll through the old town, chocolate fun in bern, other vacations you might like.

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Swiss Alps – The Ultimate Guide

• April 22, 2021 November 20, 2023
• Mountains , Valleys

Last Updated on November 20, 2023 by Darla

Switzerland is a highly mountainous country located in Central Europe. The Swiss Alps cover roughly 60% of the country’s area. In this article, we will answer the following questions – where are the Swiss Alps? What is it exactly, and how did it emerge? Lastly, we will enumerate and discuss the various Western and Eastern Alpine Regions.

Where are the Alps?

The Alps are the most extensive and highest mountain range in Europe covering 1,200 kilometers. There are eight countries in Europe that have mountains in this range – France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. This stretches from Nice in France all the way to Vienna in Austria.

The Alps are further divided into two – the Eastern Alps and the Western Alps. You can think of the line dividing it along Lake Constance – Chur, Switzerland, Splügen, and Lake Como.

In Switzerland, this means that the Alps in Valais and Ticino are west and the ones in Grisons ( Graubünden ) are largely in the east.

Where are the Swiss Alps?

The Swiss Alps extend from both Valais in the West to Graubünden in the East. Of this, the most important blocks are the Alps in Valais, Bern, Appenzell, Glarus, Ticino, and Grisons ( Graubünden ). The Mont Blanc massif in Valais is shared with France and Italy. And the Bernina Range is shared with Northern Italy. The rest of the ranges, particularly in Bern, Appenzell, and Glarus are not shared with the neighboring countries.

The highest peaks in the entire Alpine region lie in the Swiss Alps, particularly in the Pennine Alps in Canton Valais. Here are the highest ten mountains. All mountains are in Valais, with the exception of Finsteraarhorn which Valais shares with Bern.

Top 10 Highest Mountains in Switzerland

Jungfrau and Mönch , two of the most well-known mountains in Switzerland, are the 16th and 17th highest mountains respectively. Piz Bernina , the highest peak in the Bernina Range in Grisons, ranks 20th on the list of the highest mountains.

The Swiss Alps are, in terms of farming, the summer pastures used by cows, sheep, and goats. It is higher in altitude compared to the spring pastures.

How did the Alps emerge?

In a nutshell, the history of the Alps is not yet 100% clear. But we do know that in the course of the earth’s 4,500 million years, the earth has constantly changed based on various environmental factors. Mountains, flats, and seas form and disappear over the years. Continental plates move, drift apart, or collide. We see this time and again through numerous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. We see glaciers recede, ice shelves break off, and more. The general assumption is that plate tectonics have contributed to the emergence of the Alps.

Plates drift a few centimeters per year. It can be measured with instruments, but normal people would hardly notice it. The Alps are actually considered a young mountainous range. By young, the definition would be 70 million years.

This is the rough timeline of how the Swiss Alps emerged :

• Triassic Period – 210 million years ago – The huge continent of Europe and Africa (Pangaea) does not have a lot of mountainous regions. It is mostly flat and keeps on getting flooded by the sea.
• Jurassic Period – 150 million years ago – The continent breaks into two – Europe and Africa. Between the two is an ocean called Tethys. Through the separation of the two continents, the plates slowly move and the flat regions slowly rise to the early Alps. This was referred to as Alpine Tethys .
• Cretaceous Period – 90 million years ago – The continents keep on coming closer together. The first continental collision took place.
• Paleocene and Eocene – The main collisional phase occurred in the formation of the Alps. It was when the Adriatic plate was thrust over the European crust.
• Present – the plate collision still occurs yearly but in a very minuscule range causing some areas to be uplifted.

As discussed earlier, the Swiss Alps can be divided into the western and eastern sides. Here we will have a look at the various alpine regions.

The Western Swiss Alps

The Western Swiss Alps cover much of the mountains in Valais and Bernese Oberland. These are high four- and three-thousand peaks and are known worldwide. Here are the alpine regions in the Western Swiss Alps:

Aletsch Glacier

At 23 kilometers, Aletsch Glacier is the largest in the Swiss Alps. Since 2001, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage. It is located in the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region. Riederalp and Bettmeralp lie on a sunny terrace 2,000 meters above sea level.

In winter, four ski resorts lie in the Aletsch region: Fiescheralp, Bettmeralp, Riederalp , and Belalp. They are all accessible with cable cars.

Hasli Valley

The Hasli Valley is a family-friendly resort with fantastic views of the Engelhörner, Wellhorn, and Wetterhorn. There are numerous gorgeous spots in and near this valley – the Aare Gorge , Rosenlaui , and Reichenbach Falls . In winter, it has 60 kilometers of ski slopes, 25 kilometers of hiking trails, and many more.

Crans-Montana

Crans-Montana is located on a high sunny terrace around 1,495 meters above sea level. The region consists of five sections: Randogne, Montana, Chermignon, Lens, and Icogne. They have tons of spa hotels and good infrastructure (Congress and Culture Centers, Golf Areas). It is one of the biggest tourist areas in Valais.

The winter ski resort of Crans-Montana has easy slopes in the lower sections. The upper section towards Plaine More Glacier is more difficult.

Emmen Valley

The Emmen Valley with the Emme River, 170 valleys, and hills is quite idyllic. The region is also famous due to its cheese. Due to the riches the locals obtained from their cheese exports, they built beautiful, traditional houses. Worth visiting aside from the mountains is the old city of Burgdorf and its castle.

Entlebuch has endless moorlands and forests all seemingly wild and forgotten. In 2002, it received the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve label. It is now called the “UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch” – Switzerland’s first biosphere reserve – spanning an area of over 400 square kilometers.

Frutigen Niedersimmental

The Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district covers several mountainous regions in Bernese Oberland. Although the areas are largely developed for tourists, most visitors are the Swiss themselves. Foreign tourists tend to skip this region, even though they have lots of awesome spots and a charming Chalet village. Popular to visit are Adelboden (a traditional Swiss mountain village 1,353 meters above sea level), Blausee in the Kander Valley, and the town of Spiez .

The ski resort of Adelboden-Lenk encompasses 170 kilometers of prepared slopes, 3 fun parks, 15 kilometers of cross-country skiing slopes, 40 kilometers of winter trails, and 3 sledding routes.

Less popular but still beautiful is the Diemtig Valley . It is a quiet valley with just a few ski lifts and cable cars. It is a place to visit if you want peace and quiet.

Goms is in the uppermost region of the Rhône valley. It has been inhabited since the Stone Age. During the Roman period, it was also part of the province of Rhaetia. The Walser folk who have lived here started migrating in the 13th and 14 centuries to other valleys in Switzerland, and neighboring countries of France, Italy, and Austria.

The Church of St. Maria is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. Furthermore, several villages in Goms are part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites – Biel, Ritzingen, Selkingen, Niederwald, Gluringen, and Reckingen.

Gstaad and Saanenland

Gstaad, similar to St. Moritz, is also a luxury spa resort in the Swiss Alps. It has lots of prominent luxury hotels, boutiques, and restaurants. The village is car-free and visitors from all over the world love strolling here and discovering the boutiques. The region also hosts numerous world events such as the Swiss Open (tennis), Hublot Polo Gold Cup, the Snowbike Festival, International Week – Hot Air Ballooning, and many more.

Jungfrau Region

The Jungfrau Region is world-known mostly due to Jungfraujoch . Labeled as “Top of Europe” at 3,463 above sea level, Jungfraujoch is actually a saddle between  Jungfrau  (at 4,158 m above sea level) and  Mönch  (at 4,110 m above sea level). This place is located in Bernese Oberland.

For more detailed information regarding the Jungfrau region and Jungfraujoch, check out our article Jungfraujoch – When is the Best Time to Visit?

Les Portes du Soleil

South of Lake Geneva is the Swiss and French region of Les Portes du Soleil. In this region, they have hot springs and one of the largest ski regions in the world. With 209 lifts and 650 kilometers, Les Portes du Soleil is huge. The village of Champéry is also charming.

Leukerbad is a thermal spa town 1,402 meters above sea level. 65 warm springs can be found in various baths throughout this town. The village is car-free as well.

Lötschental Valley

Lötschental is the largest valley on the northern side of the Rhône Valley, in the canton Valais. It extends around 27 kilometers and is quite remote. In fact, it was cut off from the outside world until the beginning of the twentieth century. Occasionally, it still gets cut off from the rest of the country in winter due to too much snow. It is also a Walser village where women sometimes still wear their traditional costumes.

The ski area is Lauchernalp from 1,419 to 3,119 meters with intermediate to difficult slopes.

Verbier used to be a farming village in the municipality of Bagnes, Valais. After the connecting road to Verbier was built, it started to change dramatically. In 1949, the first ski lift was added. Afterward, around 90 more followed.

Nowadays, Verbier is a premier backcountry ski resort, not only in Switzerland but also worldwide. Verbier is known for steep slopes, varied conditions, and resort culture. The place also has welcomed prominent visitors. The British, Swedish, and Belgian Royal families have already holidayed in this place.

Val d’Anniviers

Val d’Anniviers is a Swiss valley in Canton Valais. It lies south of the Rhône Valley. It is home to six municipalities, Ayer, Chandolin, Grimentz , Saint-Jean, Saint-Luc, Vissoie, Vercorin, and Zinal.

The villages are remote and reachable via winding roads. But the area is so peaceful and gorgeous.

Val d’Hérens

Val d’Hérens is a valley formed by the Hérens glacier. This valley is home to a couple of high mountains – Dent Blanche (4,358 meters), Dent d’Herens (4,174 meters), Mont Collon (3,637 meters), and Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3,870 meters).

The “Swiss Greenland”, inhabited for over 4,000 years, Saas-Fee is surrounded by tall mountains and glaciers. The train brings guests to Alallin 3,000 meters above sea level.

The ski area has 13 mountains that are at least 4,000 meters high, 140 kilometers of prepared slopes, 1 snow park, 6 kilometers of slopes, 1 sledding, and 52 kilometers of winter trails.

Simmen Valley

Simmen Valley near Lake Thun until Lenk is not as touristy as other Swiss Alpine regions. Nevertheless, some places are well-known such as Stockhorn, Mittagfluh, and Rinderberg. Lenk is also a popular spa town with a modern Wellness center.

Sibe Brünne , as shown above, is a magical waterfall and the source of the River Simme.

In the last few years, the Canton of Uri has started to gain popularity due to the recent developments in Andermatt. Real Estate businessman Samih Sawiris and the Orascom Projects decided to invest in Andermatt. The place itself is quite special in that it is the historical center cross of the north-south and east-west traverses of Switzerland.

In winter, the area boasts over 100 kilometers of prepared slopes in Skiarena Andermatt-Sedrun. This Andermatt Swiss Alps ski area covers Andermatt, Sedrun, and Oberalp.

In case you want to visit Andermatt, I highly recommend checking out Schöllenen Gorge nearby. It is one of the most beautiful gorges in Switzerland.

Zermatt  offers a postcard view of the southwest  Matterhorn  from the steps of the  Church of Saint Mauritius  or the  Kirchbrücke Bridge.  Around the village are larch forests, 38 4,000-meter mountain peaks, and the most beautiful mountain in the world –  Matterhorn . To name two of the most important mountains, we have Monte Rosa  at 4,634 meters (the highest mountain in Switzerland) and  Dom  in the Mischabel group at 4,545 meters.

The Eastern Swiss Alps

The Eastern Swiss Alps cover the mountain resorts in Grisons ( Graubünden ), Appenzell, Glarus, and St. Gallen. Most prominent among the resorts are St. Moritz in Engadine and Davos. Some regions are quieter and laid-back. Others are world-known, chic, and expensive.

Here are the alpine regions in the Eastern Swiss Alps:

Appenzell is a region known for its somewhat “rocky” mountains, hills, and lakes. The Alpstein region and the 2,502-meter-high Säntis are both worth checking out. On Säntis, you can enjoy the views of six countries, Lake Constance (Bodensee in German), and the Alps. Appenzell is also known for its tasty Appenzeller Cheese . You can even drop by the Cheese Factory which is open daily to visitors.

Check out our articles covering some interesting places in Appenzell :

• Is Appenzell Worth Visiting?
• Aescher: Famous Restaurant at the Cliff Edge of Ebenalp
• 12 Best Things To Do in Appenzell Region, Switzerland
• Kronberg: 5 Best Things To Do (With Epic Hiking Trails)

Arosa is located at the end of the Schanfigg Valley. It has a lake in the center of the city and is surrounded by forests. Arosa rescued three bears and these now live in the 2.8-hectare Arosa Bear Sanctuary . Furthermore, they have alongside the visitor platform also a playground, a minigolf, and an Experience Trail.

Since 2013, Arosa has been connected to the ski area of Lenzerheide. The Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area has a total of 225 kilometers of ski slopes with 43 cable cars between them. It is the largest contiguous ski area in Graubünden.

Bergell / Val Bregaglia

Val Bregaglia is a valley in Graubünden quite near the Italian border and the Italian town Chiavenna. It can be reached via Maloja Pass. The valley is absolutely gorgeous with the Sciora mountain range as a backdrop. The village of Soglio was once named the most beautiful village in Switzerland. Countless artists have come here for inspiration – Alberto Giacometti, Giovanni Segantini, and Clara Porges.

Davos is a town in Canton Graubünden. It is a popular ski resort, hosts the World Economic Forum, and has one of the best tourist infrastructures in the Alps. They can accommodate up to 24,000 guests. The five ski areas in Davos include Jakobshorn, Pischa, Schatzalp-Strela, Rinerhorn, and Klosters Parsenn.

Schatzalp is 300 meters above Davos. It is a slow ski resort with all-natural snow, a luxury hotel, a botanic garden with over 5,000 summer plants, and summer toboggan. Parsenn is the largest and most modern of Davos’ five mountains.

You can also get from Klosters to Gotschna/Parsenn by cable car. Madrisa in nearby Klosters and Rinerhorn are child-friendly.

Sertig Dörfli is a Walser Village at 1,861 meters above sea level surrounded by beautiful forests and mountain peaks.

Engadine is one of the most beautiful regions in Graubünden. Or possibly even in Switzerland. It has a mixture of natural and historical wonders. You can have unforgettable holidays here and the list of things to do is quite long. This region has locals who can speak Romansh, German, and Italian.

In Upper Engadine, you will find from Maloja to S-chanf soft mountains and the river Inn. Four lakes emerged in Engadine upon the Bernina Glacier receding. In no other place in Switzerland, you will see a series of lakes near each other surrounded by mountains between 3,000 and 4,000 meters high. The following places are in Upper Engadine: Maloja, Sils , Silvaplana, Surlej, Champfèr, St. Moritz , Celerina , Pontresina , Samedan, Bever , and the Plaiv villages (La Punt, Zuoz, Madulain, S-chanf, Chapella, Susauna, Cinuos-chel). Locals speak a dialect called Putèr.

The Punt Ota bridge is used as the demarcation line to separate the Lower Engadine from the Upper Engadine.

In Lower Engadine, they speak another dialect called Vallader. The houses also tend to have a harmonic image with a small water well in the middle of the village. The valley has a mild climate and most houses are decorated with pretty flowers. Plants and vegetation would be similar to the neighboring South Tyrol, Donau, and the Mediterranean. The grounds are rich in mineral water, which led to the development of thermal and wellness baths. The following places are in Lower Engadine: Zernez, Brail, Susch, Lavin, Scuol, Guarda, Bos-cha, Ardez, Ftan, Tarasp, Sent, Vnà, Ramosch, Seraplana, Raschvella, Tschlin, Strada, and Martina.

St. Moritz , Pontresina , Guarda , and Scuol are among the more popular destinations in Engadine.

Check out our articles covering some interesting places in Engadine :

• 6 Best Villages in Lower Engadine, Switzerland
• Discovering Celerina, an Engadin Gem
• Relaxing Walk Around Lake St. Moritz, Switzerland
• Guarda: Explore This Fairytale Village in Engadine, Switzerland
• Visiting Pontresina, Switzerland: 8 Best Things To Do
• 9 Best Things To Do In Sils, Switzerland
• 8 Best Things to Do in Silvaplana Switzerland

Flims, Laax, Falera

Flims Laax Falera is marketed such that Flims is the summer region and Laax is the winter region. Flims, as seen in the image above, is a well-known summer destination owing to the beautiful Caumasee . Laax, on the other hand, is a huge ski region with 235 kilometers of prepared slopes with 5 snow-secure valley runs, 29 facilities, 4 snowparks, and the largest half-pipe for snowboarders.

Glarus has narrow, winding roads leading to unspoiled natural landscapes. Some important side valleys include Sernftal and Klöntal. Some places to visit in Glarus include Elm and Braunwald.

Check out our articles covering some interesting places in Glarus :

• 10 Best Things To Do in Glarus Region, Switzerland
• Winter Hiking and Skiing in Braunwald
• Visiting Braunwald Mountain in Summer
• Awesome Things To Do in Elm, Glarus – Revealed
• Beautiful Lake Obersee in Glarus, Switzerland

Heidiland is an important tourist area in Switzerland, popular with Asian tourists due to the cartoon Heidi . Maienfeld is the center of this tourist spot, but it also covers other areas such as Pizol, Lake Walen, Bad Ragaz, Flumserberg, and more.

Check out our articles covering Heidiland :

• Stunning Location of Heidi in Maienfeld, Switzerland
• Discover Sargans Castle in Switzerland

Lenzerheide-Valbella

Lenzerheide is a mountain resort in Canton Grisons (Graubünden) at the foot of Parpaner Rothorn. It lies between Chur and Tiefencastel.

Since 2013, Lenzerheide has been connected to the ski area of Arosa. Check out the short video of freeride skiing in Lenzerheide from MySwitzerland and see how beautiful it is:

The Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area has a total of 225 kilometers of ski slopes with 43 cable cars between them. It is the largest contiguous ski area in Graubünden.

You can also check out our article covering Heidsee in Lenzerheide:

• The Best Things to Do in Heidsee, Lenzerheide

Samnaun is located in the eastern end of Switzerland right beside Austria. It is a municipality located in Engadine. It shares its ski region with Ischgl in Austria.

Surselva , meaning above the forest, is the name of the valley of the Anterior Rhine. The Surselva region covers the villages of Brigels, Ilanz, Disentis/Mustér, Lumnezia, Obersaxen, Vals, Safiental, Medel, Tujetsch, Sumvitg, Trun, Laax, Falera, and Sagogn. The villages of Obsersaxen and Vals can trace their roots to the Walser people.

Laax and Falera are also part of the Flims, Laax, Falera ski region.

Toggenburg in Canton St. Gallen is a region that corresponds to the upper valley of the river Thur. It is surrounded by the mountains of Säntis, Churfirsten, and Speer. The highest village is Wildhaus. Other villages are Lichtensteig, Kirchberg, and Wattwil.

Val Surses ( Oberhalbstein in German) lies between Tiefencastel and Julierpass. The river Julia flows through it. The Surses community is the second-biggest area in Canton Graubünden after Scuol and after Glarus Süd the third-biggest in Switzerland. Its locals speak the dialect of Surmeiran . It covers the following places: Salouf, Riom-Parsonz, Cunter, Savognin, Marmorera, and Bivio.

In Winter, Savognin and Bivio together have 120 kilometers of prepared slopes. Check out our article Savognin – Family Ski Destination in Graubünden if you want to head over to Savognin with your little ones.

Switzerland is quite a mountainous country. And visiting the Swiss Alps is not as easy as it looks due to the sheer number of choices. But each region will have its own character. Some tourists might want to visit well-known choices like Jungfraujoch, Zermatt, Verbier, or St. Moritz. Whereas other tourists might want to visit lesser-known but nonetheless beautiful destinations like Goms or Brigels.

In any case, I hope this list of various mountains in the Swiss Alps has helped you to plan your visit to Switzerland.

• Burri, Klaus. “Schweiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra. Geografische Betrachtungen.”
• Veser, Thomas, Urs Fitze, and Martin Arnold. Merian Schweiz.

Related Posts

• Most Beautiful Villages In Graubünden
• Mountains Close to Interlaken Worth Visiting
• Closest Mountains To Geneva in Switzerland
• Closest Mountains To Visit From Lucerne
• Closest Mountains To Visit From Zurich
• Jungfraujoch – When is the Best Time to Visit?
• Jungfraujoch vs. Titlis: Which one is better?
• St. Moritz or Zermatt: Which One Is More Impressive?
• 8 Best Day Trips from St. Moritz

Darla is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country. Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.

• Geneva to Brig Train: All You Need To Know 
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~ The Rabbie's Blog ~

5 Best Things to Do in Switzerland

Switzerland is a country well known for its beautiful landscapes, snowy mountains, and fondue treats. If it’s your first time visiting Switzerland you may be wondering where to start. Luckily, we’ve the expert knowledge to guide you to the best things to do in Switzerland . Whether you’re looking to take on an iconic mountain or to wander through fairytale castles we have the recommendations for you. 

Coming up in this article:

Adventure to New Heights in Grindelwald

Bathe in the beauty of lake maggiore, be inspired by the iconic matterhorn mountain, refresh by the many waterfalls in lauterbrunnen, step into a fairytale at chillon castle, top three faqs before visiting switzerland, what are 5 best things to do in switzerland.

There are so many great things to do while touring Switzerland that it’s difficult to narrow it down to just five, but we’ve managed to do it to make your trip planning as simple as possible. Come with us as we dive into these best things to do and show you which of our tours can help you achieve your ultimate European trip to Switzerland. 

Location: Grindelwald, Switzerland Featured Rabbie’s Tour: Exploring the Landscapes of Switzerland - 6-Day Tour

Grindelwald is a mountainous area of Switzerland known for its striking landscapes, skiing areas, and summer hikes. For keen hikers, you'll enjoy the trek up to the viewpoints that the mountains offer before heading back down into the canyon to explore the village and its beautiful lakes.

According to legend (or history, sometimes it's hard to know), the name was bestowed onto the area by two monks from the nearby Interlaken Monastery. They set out to explore the Lütschinen valleys and, upon their return, reported of the "Grinden" and "Wald" - or "stones" and "forests". 

Location: Lombardy, Switzerland Featured Rabbie’s Tour: The Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps Explorer - 6-Day Tour

Lake Maggiore is located on the south of the Alps, and it spans across two countries - Italy and Switzerland. It's the largest lake in southern Switzerland, covering 212.5 km². It's the kind of place that looks postcard-perfect, with water that glistens in the sunlight and calls for you to dip your feet in. 

Within the lake itself you'll find plenty of islands worth visiting, adding yet more irresistible things to do to your list. Perhaps you'll discover the Gardens of Villa Taranto, or a zipline across the expanse of the lake - if you're looking for a little thrill while on holiday! 

You may have heard of the legend-turned-fact, the story of the Bugatti Type 22 car that supposedly lay at the bottom of the lake. The sinking was said to have happened back in 1936, when Zürich architect Marco Schmucklerski decided he would rather see his gambling-won car at the bottom of the lake rather than pay taxes for it. And in 1967 legend became fact when it was discovered by a diver. It was finally retrieved in 2009 and now resides in a museum in America. But it makes one wonder... what else is at the bottom of this beautiful lake?

Location: Zermatt, Switzerland Featured Rabbie’s Tour: The Vistas of Switzerland & Italy - 13-Day Tour

The Matterhorn sounds like the name of a superhero, doesn't it? In fact, it's one of Switzerland's most famous mountains in the popular Alps region. No trip to Switzerland would be complete without adding the Matterhorn to your to-do list. The mountain stands proud at 4,478 metres tall and is made of four steep faces. It may not be the tallest in the world but writers, historians, and climbers often say that the Matterhorn is one of the most striking and recognizable peaks on the planet. 

Majestic and inspiring, this highly photographed peak is a great challenge for those who choose to climb. But if you'd rather just stand in the shadow of the Matterhorn and admire it from a safe distance, you can do so in Swiss towns such as Täsch and Zermatt.

Location: Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Featured Rabbie’s Tour: Highlights of Italy & Switzerland - 13-Day Tour

The Valley of Waterfalls. Not its official name, but we think it has a nice ring to it. We're talking about the region of Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland, a region spouting 72 powerful and striking waterfalls which crash down into the Lauterbrunnen Valley. 

And within the town of Lauterbrunnen is the Staubbachfall Waterfall, the highest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland, cascading down 297 metres in a glorious demonstration of Mother Nature. The world-famous poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was inspired by this impressive waterfall and wrote the poem "Gesang der Geister über den Wassern" in 1779.

Location: Lake Geneva, Switzerland Featured Rabbie’s Tour: The Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps Explorer - 6-Day Tour      Last but not least, one final thing we recommend to do in Switzerland is to journey back in time by visiting the mediaeval Chillon Castle which is located on an island in Lake Geneva. Chillon is one of the most popular mediaeval castles to visit in the whole of Europe and with its fairytale aesthetic it's no wonder why! It has inspired both novels, poems and films, including being featured in Lord Byron’s The Prisoner of Chillon , Henry James’s novel Daisy Miller , and even inspired the castle in Disney’s 1989 The Little Mermaid. 

A real highlight are the underground rooms at Chillon Castle. With the dramatic gothic design, and its history as a prison, it's no wonder the vaults and dungeon have several legends and stories associated with it. Perhaps most famously, it inspired the work of English writer Lord Byron, who wrote his 19th-century poem The Prisoner of Chillon  which featured the protagonist Bonivard. 

Thinking about visiting Switzerland soon? We’ve put together the most commonly asked questions about this popular country and have the answers ready for you. So whether you choose to tour this country solo , or grab your friends for an adventure, you’ll be prepared to go.

When is the Best Time to Visit Switzerland?

To avoid busy tourist crowds, but to also experience some nice weather, you’ll want to visit Switzerland in the spring or early summer, or the early autumn. 

What Currency Is Used in Switzerland?      

The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. It can be handy to have your currency already converted prior to your trip, but it’s always best to check the exchange rate first. 

Is Travelling to Switzerland Expensive?  

Switzerland is known for being one of the most expensive countries to visit in Europe. From accommodation to food, it’s certainly pricier than other European countries, so make sure you’ve researched what you want to do and eat ahead of time to make sure you’ve budgeted enough.

With Rabbie’s Tours, some activities are included within your price, but there will be additional optional activities that you can choose to do in your free time on the tour which might cost you extra.

Become a Local in Switzerland With Rabbie’s

Make lifelong memories with your family or friends by joining a Rabbie’s tour this season. We make your trip to Switzerland super easy, just jump on board one of our small-group tours whilst we take you around the stunning sights. Led by knowledgeable drivers and guides, in comfortable vehicles, see the landscapes in all its glory. Ensure you’re signed up to our newsletter and never miss out on knowing our new destinations or tour dates.

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Immerse Yourself in the Swiss Alps on an Express Train That Takes Its Time

For instance, guests can splurge on a multi-course meal or opt for a la carte items like regional cheese plates and chicken tikka masala. As of a 2020 renovation to celebrate the train line’s 90th anniversary, Wi-Fi and power sockets are also available to every passenger for free. Meanwhile, the seats themselves are comfortable, while the cars are spacious and relaxing to be in. Trust us when we say that if you haven’t yet sipped a crisp white from a tilted glass while traversing the Alps , it’s unclear if you’ve even lived. So, ready to climb aboard one of the most scenic train rides in the world ? Here’s what you need to know to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.

How to book your trip on the Glacier Express

An individual ticket ranges from 73 Swiss francs to 268 Swiss francs depending on how far you go and whether you’re cool with second class or want to get fancy in first class . (That’s about $83 and $306, respectively.) The seat reservation fee ranges from 29 Swiss francs to 420 Swiss francs. The cheaper end is for a first or second-class seat during the low season (December to May) going a shorter distance, while the more expensive fees are for those living it up in the so-called “excellence class” during the high season (May to October)—for the full eight-hour trip, of course.

Whatever type of ticket you choose, the journey is mostly about the view, and you can get that anywhere on the train. It should go without saying that snagging a window seat is the way to go, so you don’t have to lean over a stranger to snap your pics. But don’t worry too much about what side of the train you’re on—if you’re going the full route, the train actually reverses directions going into and out of Chur. It is wise, however, to go for a spot in the middle of the coach, so you’ll be guaranteed a wider view regardless of which way you’re traveling.

Where to start and stop on the Glacier Express

One of the Glacier Express’ termini, St. Moritz has twice hosted the winter Olympics. That means it’s heaven for anyone into skiing or snowboarding, though it’s hard to imagine not having a good time there. It’s a place to hike, mountain bike, or even slide down a famous bobsled run at breakneck speeds. And for those who aren’t into the outdoors at all, St. Moritz has a range of swanky shops, grand hotels, and really everything you need to relax without worrying you might also fall on your face.

While the Glacier Express only runs between St. Moritz and Zermatt, you’re not required to start your journey at those specific stops. For many passengers, the town of Chur makes a great starting point. It’s often called the oldest town in Switzerland, and is still host to millennia-old archeological finds. The quaint, car-free Old Town is well-preserved and a great place for a stress-free stroll. Chur also has the highest concentration of restaurants and bars in the country. Not only that, it’s the largest shopping center between Zurich and Milan.

Notable sights along the way

Rhine gorge.

They call it the “ Grand Canyon of Switzerland,” and it was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in June 2002 for good reason. This place is a serious beaut. It’s largely inaccessible by road, so enjoy the opportunity to sit back and see the results of a prehistoric rockslide. Today, it’s where the Rhine River winds through massive geological formations, resulting in a picturesque ravine.

Albula Line

The Albula Line, a twisting section of the railway located between Filisur and St. Moritz, is where you’ll traverse many of those viaducts and tunnels that make the Glacier Express so incredible—including the famous Landwasser Viaduct. Anyone interested in railway engineering—or stunning scenery—is sure to be impressed. It is, after all, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well.

Landwasser Viaduct

Did someone say viaducts? The Landwasser Viaduct is the most famous along the Glacier Express route, standing at 65 meters (or a little over 213 feet high) and stretching 142 meters (or around 466 feet long) before disappearing into a tunnel. Since it comes up just outside of the village of Filisur, it’s a good reason to make sure your chosen itinerary includes the railway’s eastern section. You’ll be able to see—and enjoy—the marvel’s highly pronounced curve from fairly far away.

Oberalp Pass

Cindy Brzostowski  is a contributor for Thrillist.

Kori Perten  is a senior travel editor at Thrillist.

Allie Conti  is a senior travel editor at Thrillist.

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Slow gstaad: summer in the swiss alps is a snow-free dream.

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The mere name of this small resort town in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps brings with it certain preconceptions, in much the same way as Aspen or Vail in the US. Gstaad is a place synonymous with eye-watering wealth, world-spanning celebrity and generations-long royalty.

The Alpina Gstaad towers over Gstaad village amid summer Alpine peaks.

It’s where the world’s elite take their kids to get an international education, and while there, make sure they’re seen in the extraordinary hotels, restaurants and ski runs that pepper the surrounding Kanton Bern.

But while the region is synonymous with snow and skiing, Gstaad at its heart it’s not a ski resort. Instead, it’s a place to take advantage of Switzerland’s incomparably beautiful surroundings year round, and to get a glimpse of how the earth-shatteringly rich vacay. Break out your finest threads, invest in a pair of enormous wraparound sunglasses and get ready to gorge yourself on the best of everything.

Stay: The Alpina Gstaad

For a long time, the place to be seen was the historic Gstaad Palace, a true grand dame of the Swiss hotel scene since 1913. But when the first new luxury hotel to be built in Gstaad in 100 years opened, that all changed.

The Alpina Gstaad is an exercise in how to do decadent right. Built in the local three-storey Simmentaler architectural style on a hillside overlooking the town, it has sweeping views over the Saanenland from the balconies of its 58 rooms and suites. Its grounds hold a sauna, swimming pool and terrace, amiably set among towering cypress trees and pristine hedgerows.

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Determined not to spoil the serenity of these carefully cultivated surroundings, and wary of their guests’ preference for overly noisy sports cars, entry is underground via a specially built soundproofed tunnel. It’s quite the extravagance, but serves its purpose by maintaining the calm above. It does, however, render the electric silence of the hotel’s Tesla fleet, readily available to ferry guests to local hotspots, somewhat mute.

The elegant and welcoming foyer of The Alpina Gstaad.

Step from the tunnel into the sweeping two-story foyer and you’re engulfed in a symphony of Swissness. Timber-clad walls, farmhouse cabinetry, intriguing artworks and a huge, colorful ceiling rescued and restored from an old cowshed found on site during construction. The lighting is low, the buzz from the open plan Alpina Lounge and Bar constant, and the mood cozy and welcoming.

Rooms continue the theme of luxury intertwined with Alpine tradition. Wood beam walls glow with flickering light emanating from the hand built fireplaces, their stone sourced from the mountains just outside. Lovingly restored period furniture roots the room in its surroundings. Beds engulf you in a tapestry of quality textiles, throws and pillows. Windows and doors frame the unadulterated splendor of the mountains beyond. Yet among this ode to the environment, the latest mod cons keep comfort levels firmly in the 21st century.

Cozy, closeting and unbelievably comfy, rooms offer indulgent Alpine luxury.

Beyond the standard and more than lovely enough deluxe rooms, a raft of suites serve those with ever deeper pockets. From three-bedroom penthouses with private kitchens, spas, hamams and Jacuzzis to the mind-boggling Alpina residence that sleeps 12 plus staff and comes complete with sprawling gardens, library, cinema and the kind of security measures demanded by royals, politicians and the most paranoid of celebrities. This is Gstaad after all.

In such opulence, the eating and drinking is every bit as important as the sleeping. The Alpina Gstaad offers four choices, all overseen by exec chef guru Martin Göschel. Sommet by Martin Göschel is the flagship, its Michelin Star a testimony to the quality of its produce and production. French-based it may be, but every item on the menu, no matter how exotic or surprising, is sourced from within Switzerland, and most from within Saanenland itself. The output is as theatrical and intriguing as it is mouthwatering.

Michelin starred Somet by Martin Göschel focusses on local ingredients and crazy artworks.

Tucked away behind it is tiny Swiss Stübli, the as-good-as mandatory Alpine eatery that serves up mountains of melted cheese, beer and good will, although only in the winter season. The other main draw is Megu, complete with its dedicated whisky bar, that puts a modern spin on classic Japanese eating. Overseen since day one by sushi master Tsutomu Kugota, it blends raw and unusual ingredients to perfection nowhere better than with its traditional seven-course Omakase menu. Go hungry.

Underground chic at the Six Senses Spa and pool, the first in Switzerland.

Hidden in the hotel’s depths, Switzerland’s first Six Senses spa. A rustic, monolithic pool room with multiple hot tubs serves those disinterested in an outdoor dip. Massage rooms are tucked away in hidden corners. And for those who’ve overdone it outdoors, a series of therapy rooms offer a range of biohacking treatments—the en vogue remedies du jour designed to optimize the body’s ability to recover. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers, oxygen therapy exercise bikes and, my favorite, the cryotherapy chamber. Perfect after a hard day in nature.

Rates at The Alpina Gstaad for the summer season start at CHF 1100 (around $1,235) for a Deluxe Room Schonried, double occupancy including breakfast. Prepare to dig deep for the Panorama Suite, which costs CHF 18,000 (around $20,200) for six guests, also happily with breakfast included.

Do: take advantage of the lack of snow

In terms of sheer beauty, there’s no bad time to visit Switzerland, and especially the Alps. But in the summer, without the snow, the mountains transform into a riot of colors and textures. Precipitous slopes of flower laden pastures stretch up towards craggy black, brown and gray peaks that claw at mostly cloudless skies above. Enormous hidden lakes scatter among the peaks, glowing from their clear water and proximity to the sky. Waterfalls erupt from hidden flows on high, melting snow and ice fueling their endless cascades, often fringed by rainbows emerging from the spray.

Mountains, pastures and lakes – a classic Swiss summer landscape ripe for exploring.

Throughout Gstaad, Rougement and Saanenland, hiking and mountain biking are the most popular pursuits, be it leisurely excursions in the lower hills or high-adrenaline thrills along upper trails. Kayak and SUP across luminous lakes, or take a rod and cast for trout in hidden fishing holes. For a more leisurely approach, many cable cars now run year round, ferrying hungry passengers to high viewpoints and fine Alpine dining. For those with an artistic bent, The Alpina Gstaad hosts painting and photography workshops in situ among the flora and fauna.

And if you do still feel the urge to see some snow, head for the nearby Glacier 3000 . In the winter this towering peak offers Europe’s steepest black ski run accessed by a narrow, steep and somewhat terrifying ski-through tunnel, and is not for the faint of heart. In summer it’s among the best viewpoints in the entire Alps, high enough that the snow settles year round and with cable cars that make it accessible to all.

The view from the Peak Bridge of Glacier 3000 is spectacular at any time of year.

Test your mettle on the Peak Walk suspension bridge and if your head for heights holds, go a step further on one of three via ferrata tours – the incredible Cascade Du Dar is my favorite.

Eat: mountain food and as much cheese as you can stomach

If you can tear yourself away from The Alpina Gstaad’s culinary delights, there’s a lot of Swiss cheese and mountain food vying for the chance to clog your arteries. What a way to go, though!

The new Mario Botta designed Glacier 3000 restaurant promises food as good as its views.

Perhaps most exciting is the new offering opening this summer at the top of Glacier 3000. Following a devastating fire in 2022 that saw its flagship restaurant burnt to the ground, a new two-story, 400 seat restaurant has risen from its ashes under the watchful eye of famed Swiss architect Mario Botta. Its crowning glory will be the 2,700-square-foot panoramic terrace built on the restaurant roof, 80 feet above the ground, offering an uninterrupted view of the suspension bridge, as well as the Matterhorn and no fewer than 24 13,000-foot-plus high peaks.

Cheese is the lifeblood of the region and it would be remiss to not eat a lot of it during a visit. Cheese production is a centuries-old tradition that has always been the basis of life in the region, Bernese Alpine cheese perhaps the most famous. To sample the very best, there’s only one place to go: the historic Molkerei Gstaad .

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Winter Olympics are officially heading back to Salt Lake City in 2034. Everything to know

PARIS − The Winter Olympics are officially returning to the United States.

More specifically, the Games are coming back to Utah.

International Olympic Committee members voted Wednesday to formally award the 2034 Winter Games to Salt Lake City, making Utah's capital a repeat Olympic host more than three decades after it served as the site of the 2002 Olympics. It will be the fifth time the U.S. has hosted the Winter Games.

"We are ready. Everything is in place," Fraser Bullock, leader of Salt Lake City's bid committee, said in a presentation at the IOC session Wednesday. "But beyond our physical assets, you can count on our people. As great as our venues are, our people are even better."

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Wednesday's vote was essentially a rubber stamp; Salt Lake City already had been handpicked by the committee as the best option for 2034. Though it did come with a bit of unexpected controversy − a strange scene in which committee members used the moment to rip the United States for its recent political actions around the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the controversial doping case involving 23 Chinese swimmers.

"I'm sorry for you, and for us, that this issue arose now," IOC president Thomas Bach told Salt Lake's bid committee.

Ultimately, though, the last-minute concerns were never going to be enough to derail Wednesday's vote, which passed 83-6. The news prompted celebration in the early morning hours back in Utah, where the committee 's vote coincided with a state holiday, Pioneer Day.

Members also signed off on the French Alps as host of the 2030 Winter Games earlier in the day.

IOC airs concerns over U.S. stance on anti-doping

In the hour before the vote to award the Winter Games to Salt Lake City, they took an uncommon detour to express concerns about how a doping scandal involving Chinese swimmers has been handled in the U.S.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and its chief executive officer, Travis Tygart, have been extremely critical of WADA's handling of the Chinese swimmers case, in which 23 athletes tested positive for a banned heart medication ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Games. WADA accepted the results of a Chinese government investigation that attributed the positive tests to contamination at a hotel and neither publicly disclosed the tests at the time.

USADA's criticism has been followed by a congressional hearing and a reported investigation by U.S. law enforcement, apparently under the auspices of the Rodchenkov Act, which allows U.S. authorities to pursue criminal charges in doping cases that affect U.S. athletes.

It is the Rodchenkov Act, in particular, that seemed to prompt the ire of IOC members ahead of Wednesday's vote. And John Coates, one of Bach's top lieutenants, said the committee went so far as to amend Salt Lake's host city contract to address the matter. According to Coates, the IOC can terminate the host contract if "the supreme authority of (WADA) in the fight against doping is not fully respected."

Gene Sykes, who chairs the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, responded to the members' concerns by praising WADA and renewing the United States' commitment to clean sport.

"We certainly accept the obligations and responsibility inherent in the amendment to the Olympic host contract," Sykes said. "So from our perspective, we take very seriously to heart all of your comments, and we pledge to you that we will be good partners and we will support, with you, this very, very important institution."

Salt Lake's road to becoming 2034 Olympic host

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has supported Salt Lake City as a host candidate since 2018, and it has been clear for several years now that the IOC would award Utah another version of the Games at some point.

For a time, the only realistic question was whether Salt Lake would host the Winter Games in 2030 or 2034.

Bid leaders said they would be open to either but preferred 2034 to allow for more of a cushion after the United States' hosting of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

The city is uniquely positioned as a host in part because it has meticulously maintained the venues that were used in 2002 through the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit created after those Games. Olympic officials also value Salt Lake City's reliable winter climate. Because of climate change, fewer cities can be counted upon to have the ideal weather for hosting the Winter Games during their usual scheduling slot in early to mid-February.

What are the proposed venues for Salt Lake 2034?

The Salt Lake Games will use 12 existing venues, only four of which will require additional and permanent upgrades before 2034, according a report released in June by the IOC's future host commission . The only temporary venue that will need to be built is for snowboard big air.

As for the big-ticket items, the University of Utah's campus is expected to double as the Olympic village during the Games, and the Delta Center − home to the NBA's Utah Jazz − will host one of the Winter Olympics' marquee sports, figure skating. Skiing events will be held at Snowbasin Resort, about 35 minutes northeast of downtown Salt Lake City, and snowboarding events will be in Park City.

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How much will Salt Lake City Olympics cost?

Karl Stoss, chair of the future host commission for the Winter Games, has praised Salt Lake's plan for the Games as "very compact" and said it would require no capital investment.

The Salt Lake Games have an official budget of about $4 billion, and organizers claim they will be 100% privately funded − pulling money from ticket revenue, domestic sponsorships and an IOC contribution. The Olympics, however, have a habit of stretching beyond initial estimates. And they tend to put additional strain on public works and utilities in the host city, which is sometimes underestimated in budgets.

Which other bids did the U.S. beat out?

For decades, the IOC welcomed bids from multiple countries for one edition of the Games and essentially let them duke it out for votes. But that's not how it works anymore. The IOC's host selection process is far more amorphous, with potential hosts progressing through several loose stages of "dialogue" so that by the time they are put up for a vote, like Salt Lake City was Wednesday, the decision has essentially already been made.

That's all to say that it's not super-clear which bids, if any, Salt Lake City beat out. It was in the mix with the French Alps, Sweden and Switzerland for potential hosting duties, while Canada and Japan also expressed some level of interest. Ultimately, the IOC appears to have picked the French Alps and Salt Lake City from the bunch and then just figured out the timing of who would host when.

Where are the next Olympic Games?

Here's a quick rundown of future Olympic hosts .

• 2026 : Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
• 2028: Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
• 2030: Winter Olympics in the French Alps
• 2032: Summer Olympics in Brisbane, Australia
• 2034: Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City

Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on social media @Tom_Schad .