A proposal for a star excursion in Switzerland - planning the itinerary ahead of you:
Day 1: Lucerne, Rigi Mountain, Interlaken.
Day 2: Lake Brinz (Istelwald, Brinz, Giesbach Falls), Harder Kolm Lookout
Day 3: Jungfrauyuch
Day 4: Grindelwald, Fierst, Bachelp Lake, Mannlichen
Day 5: Lauterbrunnen, Traumelbach waterfall, Mjorn and Schilthorn
Day 6: Lake Oceanen and Kandersteg
What is the center of the trip in Switzerland?
The trip is based on accommodation in the area of the town of Interlaken, which is located about two hours' drive from Zurich, two hours' drive from Basel and three hours' drive from Geneva.
Where is it recommended to land?
Our recommendation is to land in Zurich, which is about a two-hour drive from Interlaken, both by train and by car. In addition, Lucerne is right in the middle of the road, so you can visit there on your way to Interlaken, as described in the itinerary for the first day. If you choose to start from Basel or Geneva, we recommend arriving in Lucerne after you have already settled in Interlaken and switching between the first day and the second. There is also the option of landing in Milan (4 hours drive).
How to get around in Switzerland: renting a car or relying on trains and public transport?
Switzerland is known as one of the most developed countries in the world regarding public transportation in general and trains in particular. Almost every remote town you will reach during the trip has an active train station with trains that depart from it with relatively high frequency, some of the towns cannot even be entered by car. In addition, if you check train travel times versus car rental travel times, you will see that the differences are negligible to non-existent.
However, there are some significant drawbacks to trains. The first thing is to find out about the trains and change between them. There are many people who would prefer the comfort and safety of a car, because that way you won't have to depend on departure times or changing trains which can sometimes be very intimidating and unclear to tourists who are not familiar with the Swiss train system. Second thing, surprisingly the trains are very, very expensive, so if you are planning more than 4 people and intend to travel a lot, it is very possible that trains will cost you more. There is a way to significantly reduce costs with trains with the help of the Swiss Travel Pass (swiss travel pass) which you can read about HERE , and it is possible that this card will indeed make travel by train (and cable cars) significantly cheaper (offers a 50% discount for traveling by train and discounts for some cable cars), but you will have to check that for yourself.
In conclusion, the car has its convenience and sometimes it is even cheaper, but if you plan to travel with a small family and want to save costs, perhaps you should still choose the trains.
A small note: For those who choose to come from another country, it is possible that the car rental prices will be significantly cheaper than the car rental prices in Switzerland, so if you chose not to rent a car just for financial reasons, this is an option worth checking out.
How to get to Interlaken by train?
For those coming from Zurich by train:
There is a direct train that reaches East Interlaken (Interlaken ost) but its frequency is relatively limited. Another option is to take a train passing through Bern and from there change trains to Interlaken. If you want to work exactly according to the route suggested here, you can take a direct train to Lucerne, travel in the Lucerne area as described and then continue to Interlaken by direct train.
For those coming from Basel by train:
There is a direct train (line IC61) from Basel. If the schedule of the line does not work out for you, you can also change trains in Spietz or Bern.
More details about train times etc. can be found HERE
where to sleep
Since the route is based on a star trip, the place to stay is a very central parameter in planning the trip, our recommendation is to sleep in Interlaken itself. You can also sleep in other towns in the area (like Wilderswil, for example), but keep in mind that you will have to change trains in Interlaken most days before you reach your destination. Here are some recommendations for hotels of different levels and budgets located in Interlaken.
Hotels for those who want to save costs as much as possible:
Hotel lotschberg - hotel lotschberg
4 star hotels:
Stella hotel - stella swiss quality hotel
Zeit & Traum Hotel - zeit & traum hotel
5 star hotels in Interlaken:
BEATUS Wellness- & Spa-Hotel
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
Recommended apartments:
Which discount cards to buy?
First we recommend purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass (swiss travel pass) Even if you are not traveling by train but intend to use several trains or cable cars in Titlis and Mount Pilatus. The card gives a 50% discount on most of the cable cars and all the trains in the country.
Jungfrau Travel Pass:
Since you will be in the Jungfrau area for a large part of your trip, if you want to include several cable cars in your trip, and you do not have a Switzerland Travel Pass. It is highly recommended to purchase the Jungfrau Travel Pass (Jungfrau travel pass). The card gives you significant discounts for all the cable cars in the Jungfrau area, among them, the Jungfrau and Schilthorn and even gives you a free pass to Harder Kulm, Schinnig Platte and more. Also, with the help of the card, you can get discounts for boating in the Brienz and Thun lakes. The card is valid for 3-8 days depending on the program you chose. The card also grants free travel on specific trains and cable cars in the Jungfrau area.
You can purchase the ticket HERE.
How to extend the proposed route?
If you want to extend the route offered here, here are a number of things you can do
A) You can add another day to Interlaken to enjoy more wonderful angles and cable cars.
b) Go to Mount Titlis near the town of Engelberg, which is about an hour and a half drive from Interlaken.
C) travel to the town of Zermatt where the famous Matterhorn mountain is located. Keep in mind that this trip is relatively far, so we recommend sleeping in Zermatt if you want to add a visit to the amazing town.
d) Continue to Zurich and enjoy a Swiss urban experience. Of course there are many more options as Switzerland has no shortage of places to visit...
So let's get to the itinerary...
Day 1: Lucerne, Mount Pilatus and arrival in Interlaken
On this day you will visit the amazing city of Lucerne, located on the shore of Lake Lucerne. The picturesque town will mesmerize you at first sight, you can enjoy the wonderful lake and the mountains surrounding it, eat in one of the restaurants here or just wander around the town and enjoy the wonderful medieval architecture.
After visiting Lucerne, visit Mount Pilatus which you can see towering over Lucerne. The mountain can be reached with a cable car that leaves from the town of Kriens. In the mountain there is an amazing 360 view, a rope park , roller coaster , restaurant and many hiking trails. If you want to enjoy a short route, we recommend going to the "flower route", a route that combines a walk along the amazing landscape of Mount Pilatus with a variety of flowers in all the colors of the rainbow. The route takes about an hour and a half, it is about 5 km long and it starts at the top of the mountain. The cable car ride costs about 78 francs per person, there is a discount for holders of the Switzerland Travel Pass card.
Opening hours in the summer are 8:30-17:00 to purchase tickets for the cable car to Mount Pilatus click here.
After you return from Mount Pilatus, continue to your accommodation in Interlaken, on the way you can pass the beautiful blue lake Lungernersee which provides a perfect alpine view.
Day 2: Interlaken, Harder Kolm, Lake Brinz
After you got up and got organized in your place of accommodation, it's time to start getting to know the amazing region of the country called the Bernese Oberland. On this day we will visit Brienzsee, which is west of Interlaken. First drive to the picturesque town of Iseltwald, located on the shore of the lake, from the town continue to the Gissbachfall, impressive waterfalls that fall from a height of about 500 meters into Lake Brienz. After the tour you can stop for a nice lunch in the town if you want and you can take a boat back to Iseltwald on the way back. From here continue towards the town of Brienz which is at the end of the lake. Wander a bit in the town in order to soak up the charm and calmness that accompanies it, if you haven't eaten in Iseltwald this is an excellent place to eat by the lake. After you have a little bit of the town you can start to return to Interlaken, this time drive from the other side of the lake to get an impressive angle on it and the Bernese Alps towering above it.
After returning from the tour around Lake Brienz, continue to the Harder Kolm lookout, the most beautiful view of the lakes Brienz and Thun and the town of Interlaken located between them (hence the name Interlaken, which is German for "between the lakes"). To get to the lookout you have to go up with the help of a train from Interlaken that operates between 09:00 and 21:40 but this can change, so you have to check on their website. We recommend reaching the peak precisely at sunset to see the sun go down over the valley and enjoy a peace and pastoral that will be hard to find. At the top, you can also go on a number of relatively easy hiking trails that go around the unimaginable landscape.
The cost of the cable car without the various discounts (which of course are also accepted here) is 40 francs for an adult and 20 francs for a child up to the age of 15.
You can purchase train tickets to Harder Kulm HERE
Day 3: Jungfrauyuch
This day focuses on a place that is perhaps the peak of the region - the Jungfrauyuch. The Jungfraujoch is a saddle located between the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains and provides a spectacular view and a variety of activities on the center of the Swiss mountains. The reason we dedicate an entire day to this place is that the round trip from Interlaken only takes about an hour and a half each way and the number of things to do at the summit is almost endless. To get to Jungfraujoch go to the Interlaken Ost train station. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance from here in order to secure a place on the train. The site is very, very popular, so if you want to get here at a good time, we recommend leaving early in the morning so that you won't be with all the crowds of people visiting the site. In addition, the weather is a very significant factor in choosing the day you will climb this peak. If the weather is cloudy or rainy, there is nothing to climb to the top! The trip is too expensive and you won't get to enjoy it properly. However, at the summit it may be cold in any weather and the whole area is snowy, so it is recommended to have warm clothes and gloves.
So what is there to do at the Jungfraujoch summit?
Landscapes: This is probably why you go up so high, the views of the Aletsch Glacier (the largest glacier in Europe) and the high peaks in Switzerland will stay with you for life. The best place for this is the observation deck at the top of the observatory. In addition, at each of the train stations going up to the site there are spectacular and diverse views of the area and the glaciers, you can also stop at Kleine Scheidegg to view the amazing glaciers from below or go on a short walking route from there.
Ice Museum: This is the highest ice museum in Europe and can be a very nice addition to a visit to Jungfraujoch.
Restaurants: There are 3 restaurants on the site, all three are very expensive so you have to take that into account.
After about two or three hours there, you will probably have exhausted the site a bit, after which we recommend stopping for a bit at the Kleina Scheidig station, if you want, you can go from here to a walking route known as The Eiger Trail (eiger trail), just stop at restaurants, or go back to Interlaken to get organized and enjoy peace and quiet.
Day 4: Grindelwald, First, Bachelp Lake, Manlichen
On this day you will return to Grindelwald, which you saw yesterday from above, Grindelwald is an amazing town that is located right under the mighty Eiger glacier. Grindelwald itself is amazing but there is not too much to do there except maybe eat, on the other hand it is a starting point for some of the most beautiful views in the area and that is what you will do today.
First, take the cable car to the first station, which is located above Grindelwald and provides a tremendous panoramic view of the Eiger ridge. If you are a fan of extreme sports and omegas, you can enjoy a variety of exciting activities here, such as paragliding, omega, downhill cycling and more, you can also enjoy walking on a transparent and scary bridge with a 1000 meter abyss below it called the first cliff walk. After enjoying the area, you can take a short trip to the nearby Bachalpsee. The lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland and the Eiger and the Monach are reflected in it, definitely not an experience you want to miss. If you want to go on a slightly more challenging route, you can walk from here to Schynigge Platte on a difficult but very rewarding route.
After you've finished at Fierst and Bachelp Lake, you can continue to Mannlichen, a panoramic lookout located on the ridge between Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. You can go for a short walk around the lookout or continue walking for about an hour and a half to kleine Scheidegg to continue enjoying the view of the Eiger and Grindelwald. The opening hours for the cable car to Manlichen in the summer are 8:15-17:30. Cost is 32 francs for an adult and you can get a 50% discount with Switzerland Travel Pass (and free with Jungfrau Travel Pass)
The cost of going to First is 34 francs one way and you can get discounts with the appropriate tickets (free with the Jungfrau Travel Pass). In the summer, the cable car is open from 9:00 - 12:00 in the morning and 13:30 - 17:00 pm in the afternoon.
Day 5: Lauterbrunnen Valley, Mjorn and Schilthorn
This day includes one of the most beautiful valleys in the world, the Lauterbrunnen valley. The valley is only half an hour away from Interlaken and the views in it will simply leave you stunned. 72 waterfalls pouring from granite walls at a height of about 1000 meters above you, a huge glacier towering over the valley and lots and lots of green.
You will start the day with a trip to the town of Lauterbrunnen, the town after which the valley is named. In the town go to the Staubbachfall. The waterfall is amazing and falls right next to the town's church, this is probably one of the most photographed places in the area, so make sure you also take some kind of souvenir. Then continue to the Trummelbach falls, huge waterfalls carved into the rock that will also provide a great refuge for a rainy day. You can also take a short walk around the valley and soak up the magical scenery and atmosphere there.
After that, take the cable car to the town of Murren, which is located above the valley. It is important to note that the town can only be reached by train and there is no way to reach it by car. The town provides a great angle to the mountains and a large number of day routes depart from it, some short and some long but all beautiful. Even if you don't want to go on a two-hour route in nature, we recommend leaving the town for a bit, right at the exit towards the mountains by the cable car to Schilthorn, there are several benches that provide a wonderful place for a picnic and relaxation. If you want to eat something you can find several restaurants in the tiny town.
After the visit to the magical town, they went up by cable car to the Shilthorn, a peak where they filmed one of the James Bond movies. The summit is one of the highlights of the trip in Switzerland and from it you will see almost the entire range of the Bernese Alps almost as if in the palm of your hand, although there are a considerable number of tourists there, you will feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere.
In the summer, the cable car to Schilthorn is active from 9:00-17:00 and leaves once every 20 minutes. The cost for an adult is 108 francs from Lauterbrunnen (you can get discounts of about 50% using the various discount cards), for a child up to the age of 15 the cost is 54 francs.
Day 6: Oeschinensee
On this day you will go to Oeschinensee, which is located near the town of Kandersteg, about an hour's drive from Interlaken. The lake is one of those places that if you see a photograph of it you will be sure that it is a load of photoshop edits and you will chuckle in disdain, but only when you are there will you realize that the colors were absolutely real. The lake, which according to many is one of the highlights of Switzerland, was not so popular until the time of Instagram, but since then its popularity is increasing and rightfully so. To enjoy this lake as much as possible, we recommend taking the cable car that goes up from the town of Kandersteg and doing the circuit around the lake. The route takes about three hours and even if it sounds like a lot to you, it's so worth it because even after three hours of looking at this lake you won't want to leave. At the end of the route you will reach a restaurant located near the lake shore if you want to eat, another option is to eat in Kandersteg.
