Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited. It is a nature lover’s paradise. If you’re looking for adventure, this is the spot. Spend a week (or two) hiking or skiing snow covered alps, kayaking turquoise blue lakes, and meeting the local cows.

Mountain views in Grindelwald

This is just a small sample of places to visit and things to do, but feel free to use these suggestions as a jumping off point while planning your Switzerland adventure!

Lucerne

If you’ve googled Switzerland you’ve probably seen a photo of Lucerne. This beautiful town is only an hour train ride from Zurich, so it’s a great place to start your adventure. If you are including Switzerland on a European train trip, Lucerne is also super easy to reach with a Eurail pass. While in Lucerne I suggest you check out:

Top of Mt. Pilatus

Cogwheel railway up Mt Pilatus: Take the 30-minute ride to Pilatus Kulm on the steepest cogwheel train in the world. Pass meadows and rock formations as you head up into the mountains. Once you reach the top, you can hike the Dragon Trail for amazing views of Lake Lucerne. To reach the railway, you will need to take a boat or a train from Lucerne to Alpnachstad. The Golden Round Trip ticket includes all the necessary transportation for this trip.

Views from Mt. Pilatus
Ascending Mt. Pilatus

Chapel Bridge: Walk across the famous covered wooden footbridge as you wander through Lucerne on a sunny day. It is often adorned with beautiful bright flowers and is a wonderful place for photos.

Jungfrau Region

This area is full of amazing activities for outdoor enthusiasts. I suggest spending 4-5 days in this area (or more if you have time!). The most economical option for exploring this area is the Jungfrau Travel Rail Pass for unlimited travel in the region. It can be purchased for 3-8 days and includes most railways, cable cars, and boats in the region as shown here. During your visit I suggest you stay in Interlaken as your home base, but all of the towns in this region are stunning!

Here’s a few highlights of each town that you definitely shouldn’t miss!

Interlaken

  • Harder Kulm (included in rail pass): Take the funicular to the mountaintop for views of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. We enjoyed a traditional Swiss dinner at the Panorama Restaurant and listened to a live band playing alphorns!
  • Lake Brienz: Kayak one of the bright blue lakes Switzerland is famous for. We also took a hike around the lake and rented bikes for a quick scenic ride.
  • Funky Chocolate Club: Have a sweet tooth? Take a chocolate making class! Learn about how the Swiss make chocolate and try your hand at making and decorating your own chocolate bars to take home with you.
Funky Chocolate Club
View from Harder Kulm
Lake Brienz

Grindelwald

  • Grindelwald First (transportation to Grindelwald included): For a day of high flying fun, take a gondola to the top of Grindelwald’s famous mountain. Here you can zip line in the alps on the First Flyer and First Glider. For the best view, climb the west side of the summit to reach the Cliff Walk platform and experience the breathtaking alpine view of Grindelwald.
Ride a gondola to Grindelwald First

Pro Tip: After your day at Grindelwald First, visit C und M Café Bar Restaurant for chocolate fondue with a view!

  • Skiing in winter: In the winter go skiing at Grindelwald Ski Resort. Of note, this is more of an intermediate and advance ski area, not the best for beginners.
  • Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort: For those who need a more relaxed visit. This resort offers yoga, spa treatments, and guided nature walks.

Wengen & Lauterbrunnen:

In my opinion the best thing to do in this region is go hiking! The hiking trails in the Jungfrau region are marked super well and tell you how long it will take to get from town to town. We explored this region by starting at Jungfraujoch and then hiking down all the way to Lauterbrunnen, which I will talk about in another post. For now, I will highlight a couple things not to miss in each area.

Cows of Wengen

Wengen:

  • Hiking! Wengen is a car free town, so spend plenty of time enjoying the crisp clean air.
  • Take the local cable car from Wengen to Männlichen. It’s only a 5 minute ride and you can grab a bite to eat at the top while enjoying the views!

Lauterbrunnen:

Get a great view of Staubbach Falls as you hike down from Wengen
  • Visit Staubbach Falls. This waterfall is iconic in Swiss tourism materials and for good reason! Take the path up to the Staubbach Gallery for a close up view and maybe a little spray from the falls.
  • Again, go hiking! Lauterbrunnen is full of amazing meadows, valleys, and falls. There are numerous trails to hop on and see what there is to see. If you are particularly interested in a certain site (waterfalls, farming, chalets), try a UNESCO themed trail.

Jungfraujoch Top of Europe:

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site and highest railway station in Europe. You can catch this train from Interlaken. If you’re lucky to visit on a clear day you can see the longest glacier in the Alps from the viewing platform. If you are unlucky (like us) you can stand in the middle of a fun little snow storm! But really, it’s still a great activity in any weather as there are plenty of things to see inside the station like the Ice Palace and the Lindt Chocolate Shop.

Catch this train high in the alps!
Snow storm on the Jungfrajoch platform

I hope this helps you get started planning your Switzerland adventure! There are endless beautiful destinations to explore in this amazing country. For more suggestions, message me @paigeemclintock.

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