Where to Go in Switzerland for the First Time: A 10-Day Itinerary You’ll Love

Ready for the trip of your life? 10 days in Switzerland is quite the adventure, and here you have a full itinerary to make the most of it!

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When you think of traveling to Europe, Switzerland might not be the first destination that crosses your mind, that’s for sure, and even less for a full 10-day itinerary. But just wait until you get there! You’ll find a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and experiences you won’t have anywhere else in the whole world.

If you like photography and outdoor adventures, don’t forget your camera; the Swiss Alps are breathtakingly beautiful, and you’ll regret not getting a hundred pictures. While you go on long hikes, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make lasting memories, and if you go during winter, you’ll get to ski, snowboard, and ice skate.

But before we start with the itinerary, let’s talk about your internet connection. You’ll want to save your precious photos in the cloud and share them with your friends and family. With Yoho Mobile eSIM, you’ll get a stable and strong internet connection even in the middle of the Swiss Alps. Now offering a free eSIM promotion!

 

What to know about Switzerland before you go?

Is 10 days too much?

Not at all. You can do a shorter trip and spend only 3-4 days in Switzerland, but with that, you’ll only see a small part of the country. To get to know the country in all its aspects and explore more deeply each region you travel to, you’ll need more time. An 8-10 day trip will feel more balanced as you’ll realize with this itinerary. You can do a lot of activities, visit plenty of places, and still get some time to relax and unwind at the end of each day.

When should you visit Switzerland?

This depends highly on what you’re planning to do there. Hikers and bikers prefer summer over other seasons, as Switzerland is pretty high up North, the temperatures are perfect for outdoor activities. Spring and Autumn are incredibly charming, with vivid colors and fewer tourists, and winter, with the Swiss Alps right there, is the favorite of the skiers and skaters.

How to get around Switzerland?

• Trains: Switzerland has one of the best train systems in the world, and with such beautiful landscapes, it’s only a logical choice. To save some money on the journeys from city to city, you can get the Swiss Travel Pass.

• Trams and Buses: Another great way of getting from one place to another, especially from the big cities like Zurich and Geneva.

• Car Rental: If you prefer to follow your own schedule and travel at your own pace, then go ahead and get a car. With one, you can also make more stops to admire the landscapes and discover new places.

 

A 10-Day Itinerary in Switzerland

Day 1-2: Zurich and Lucerne

Let’s start our 10-day itinerary to Switzerland in two of the most iconic cities, Zurich and Lucerne. Both incredible and unique, although close enough for the start of your trip.

Exploring Zurich

• Explore the Old Town: Who can resist the charm of the old part of any city? In Zurich, you can find yourself getting lost in the maze-like cobbled streets, full of medieval buildings and charming squares.

• Ride a boat at Lake Zurich: Incredibly close to the center of the city, this quiet lake can be a respite if you’re still tired of the plane ride. Just relax on a boat cruise and admire the surrounding mountains for a little while.

• Visit the Swiss National Museum: You can’t visit an old city like Zurich and not go to a museum or two. If you’re doing only one, then make it this one, where you’ll learn a lot about the history of Switzerland from prehistoric times to today.

• Try traditional Swiss Food: The most classic dish is the fondue, a rich melted cheese that’s served with bread and vegetables. But there’s also raclette, rosti, and of course Swiss chocolate. In Zurich specifically, you can eat them at spots like Zunfthaus zur Waag and Swiss Chuchi Restaurant.

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Things to do in Lucerne

• Cross the Chapel Bridge: This is one of the best-known spots in Lucerne, and it’s still an incredible view. This bridge was constructed in the 14th century and crosses the Reuss River, leading travelers to the Water Tower.

• See old Churches: You don’t have to be particularly religious to admire the architectural wonders of old churches and temples, and Lucerne has quite a variety. From the Jesuit Church near the Reuss River, to the Renaissance Church of St. Leodegar, and the neo-Gothic church of Glaubenskirche.

• Excursion to Mount Pilatus: If you love adventure and want to see more of the Swiss natural landscapes, then hop on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway and go all the way to the summit of Mount Pilatus. From there, you’ll have incredible views of the Alps and Lake Lucerne.

 

Day 3: Discover Lauterbrunnen, the Valley of 72 Waterfalls

Right at the heart of the Swiss Alps, there’s a little and picturesque village that we’ll be visiting in our itinerary. Lauterbrunnen looks like a place straight out of a fairy tale, surrounded by the mountains and dramatic waterfalls. It’s a great spot to rest for a bit on your trip, enjoy the quiet atmosphere and the nature, and of course, see the waterfalls. And yes, there are indeed 72 in total.

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The most famous waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen

• Trummelbach Falls: One of the most powerful and impressive in all the valley, as they’re the largest subterranean waterfalls in Europe. To see them, you’ll have to walk through several tunnels.

• Staubbach Fall: Continuing with the powerful ones, here’s the highest in the valley, falling from almost 300 meters high. It looks especially magical during the evening, when the fine mist that forms gets illuminated by the setting sun.

 

Day 4: Alpine Adventures in Interlaken

Now our itinerary to Switzerland has taken us fully into the Swiss Alps, so get ready for a long day of incredible views. This day is for adventuring, for being brave and trying new things, and exploring new places.

Adventurous activities to do in Interlaken

• Paragliding over the Swiss Alps: This is not for everyone, but if you’re trying it, there’s hardly a better place in the world. The sensation of gliding through the sky surrounded by such beauty is impossible to describe only in text, so better to go and try it for yourself.

• Hiking and trekking: Free falls are not for everyone, so if you prefer to admire the beauty with your feet planted in solid ground, there are plenty of routes to explore in Interlaken. Like Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte, and the trek from Lauterbrunnen to Murren.

• Skiing and Snowboarding: The previous activities are more suited for the summer, so let’s talk about the winter sports in the area. From there, you’ll have easy access to multiple ski resorts, like Grindelwald, with its stunning views of the Eiger North Face, and Murren, a car-free village with quiet slopes and few crowds.

 

Day 5: Day Trip to Grindelwald and Schilthorn

Keeping up with the Swiss Alps exploration in our Switzerland itinerary, let’s dedicate a full day to the Grindelwald and Schilthorn excursion. And while each one makes for an excellent day trip, you can also visit both in one day if you’re seeing as much of the Alps as you can. You can take an early train from Interlaken and be in Grindelwald in less than an hour, and to Schilthorn is about another hour.

Day trip to Grindelwald and Schilthorn Itinerary:

• Explore the Grindelwald Village: It’s a small village, so you can walk around it and enjoy the alpine charm without tiring out too much. If you started your day too early, stop at one of the cafes there to enjoy some tasty Swiss pastries with hot chocolate.

• Walk the First Cliff: From the village, you can take the Gondola to First and walk from the top along the platform. The views from there are incredible, with the valley and the mountains below.

• Go to Schilthorn: To get there, you’ll have to take the train to Lauterbrunnen first, and from there take a cable car. Keep in mind that Schilthorn is almost 3,000 meters over the ocean level.

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• Eat like James Bond: Which means visiting the Piz Gloria, a rotating restaurant that became globally famous after being featured in the movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. You can also visit the Bond World 007 Exhibitions, at the top of Schilthorn, where there’s various memorabilia.

 

Days 6-8: Zermatt and the Mighty Matterhorn

If there’s a spot you can’t miss on your Switzerland itinerary, is the Matterhorn, but let’s stop first at Zermatt, since you have to get there to visit this iconic spot.

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Rest a bit at Zermatt

• Stroll through the village: Like many of the Alps villages, you won’t find a single car here; instead, you’ll see wooden chalets and boutique shops, with plenty of restaurants to stop for a quick bite.

• Visit the Matterhorn Museum: If you want to be more prepared for the next day, you can visit this lovely museum and learn more about the mountain-climbing culture in the area. Listen to the history of the first ascent, in 1865, and see how Zermatt became a world-class resort.

• Eat at Findlerhof: A cozy and traditional mountain restaurant with incredible views and incredible fondue.

 

To the Matterhorn

You don’t have to travel to Switzerland to recognize this mountain. It’s incredibly iconic and so beautiful. It has a very pyramid-like shape, kinda like the mountains kids draw. From the top, if you could reach it, you’ll feel like the sky is suddenly much closer than normal, which is understandable, since the mountain is 4,478 meters high!

Interesting facts about the Matterhorn:

• Its name: It kinda sounds like mother-mountain, but it actually means “mountain that rises above the meadows”.

• Climbing routes: Getting to the top is not exactly easy, and only well-versed mountaineers with plenty of luck have reached it. If you’re prepared, you can start the route in Zermatt and take the Hornli Ridge, passing by the Hornli Hut. The other main route is the Lion Ridge, on the Italian side.

• Glacier Paradise in Klein Matterhorn: You don’t have to go to the summit to enjoy the mountain. You can take the cable car to the glaciers, passing through the highest cable car station in all of Europe, at 3,883 meters. From there, you can also visit the Ice Palace and admire the ice tunnels with sculptures carved inside the glacier.

 

Days 9-10: Montreux and Geneva

The trip is almost at its end, but you still have a bit left of the 10 days you reserved for this itinerary to Switzerland. Up until now, you’ve seen a lot of the Alps and not that much of the cities, so let’s fix that and spend the last two days in Montreux and Geneva.

Exploring Montreux

• Explore the Montreux Lakeside Promenade: A nice way to relax and see the whole lake. The promenade stretches along the shore of Lake Geneva, with sculptures, flowers, and historic buildings to admire. Depending on the season you’re visiting, the scenery can change quite a bit, with vivid reds and yellows during the autumn and snowy mountains in the winter.

• Attend the Montreux Jazz Festival: If you’re traveling during the summer, you can’t miss this festival! It’s one of the most famous music festivals in the world, and you can watch live performances of world-renowned artists.

• Visit Chillon Castle: It’s quite visible from the Lakeside Promenade, so you might be curious to explore it. And you can! It’s a well-preserved medieval castle, with a dungeon, towers, and historic rooms. If you go with a guide, you can hear fascinating histories going all the way back to the 12th century.

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Finishing at Geneva

Just at the other end of Lake Geneva, we found the beautiful city of Geneva, where our 10-day trip will reach its end. But before you head to the airport and back home, there’s still time to do some activities.

• Explore the Jet d’Eau: One of the most iconic landmarks in Geneva, a beautiful fountain with a 140-meter water jet. This impressive jet provides quite the backdrop for the city and the lake.

• Visit the Museum of Art and History: Geneva is known for its incredible cultural heritage, and the museum is the perfect spot to explore it. In it, you’ll find a vast collection of fine art, archaeology, and applied arts. Art connoisseurs will be pleased to find pieces by great artists like Rembrandt and Goya.

• Visit the United Nations Headquarters: It’s an interesting visit, and you can take a guided tour through the Palais des Nations. There you can see the Assembly Hall and the Council Chamber.