How many days are required in Switzerland?
Small enough to traverse end-to-end in a few hours and with excellent public transport, Switzerland can be explored in as little as three days, specifically if you stick to one or two key regions. A five to seven-day trip will let you see a broader mix of city and countryside attractions.
Four days in Switzerland are definitely not enough to explore and soak completely in the beauty that it is world famous for. However, you can make the most of your trip by defining your itinerary the way we did. If I were to return here, I would spend close to 10 days doing all that which I didn't get time for.
Spending 10 days in Switzerland is a dream vacation and romantic travelers hope to spend even just a day in this stunning country. Switzerland in 10 days would include a lot of sightseeing and activities. The best way to explore this beautiful place is to be prepared and stick to an itinerary.
Wondering how many days are enough in Switzerland? 5 days in Switzerland is enough to explore the highlights that the country has to offer. Keep a city as your base (like Zurich or Geneva), and then travel via trains/tours or choose a city to stay overnight as you go through the day by day itinerary.
The best time to visit Switzerland is between April and October, though winter sports enthusiasts may prefer December to March. The country has four distinct seasons, each with its own attractions. The spring months of March to May bring Alpine blooms, flowering trees and cows heading out to pasture.
Zurich is home to plenty of museums and has a vibrant culture of its own, but if you want a global perspective, choose Geneva.
Are 3 days enough in Switzerland? Yes, 3 days are enough to visit the important attractions of the beautiful country of Switzerland.
Yes. Switzerland is expensive. While there are more budget-friendly options for things like accommodation and meals, you will still pay more for these things in Switzerland than in other destinations.
Switzerland is a small country compared to many of its European neighbors, but you'll still need more than a week to take it all in. If a week is all you've got, this itinerary will give you a taste of the best the country has to offer, taking you from cities to mountains and medieval towns to sparkling lakes.
Which City Is Better to Stay In as a Base – Lucerne or Zurich? Lucerne is better to stay in compared to Zurich if you are touring Switzerland in your own car and/or prefer to spend more time in the mountains. It is also a better base in Switzerland if you spend a couple of days, a week, or longer.
How many days are enough for Zurich?
Zurich isn't a huge city, so 2 days is the perfect amount of time to explore all the interesting activities and beautiful sights Zurich has to offer. You could spend 36 hours in Zurich, but it's definitely not necessary. Your time would be better spent heading somewhere else nearby, like Lucerne!
The average price of a 7-day trip to Switzerland is $1,642 for a solo traveler, $2,423 for a couple, and $3,125 for a family of 4. Switzerland hotels range from $80 to $374 per night with an average of $144, while most vacation rentals will cost $180 to $510 per night for the entire home.

Use public transport for local day trips. A Swiss Half Fare Card can drastically reduce the costs of such trips. If you have booked accommodation in a village with limited or no public transport, you will need a car. You can then drive to the nearest rail station and enjoy train rides from there.
English is the most common non-national language and is regularly spoken by 45% of the population in Switzerland. English is more widespread in the German-speaking part of the country than in Italian- and French-speaking regions (46% vs 37% and 43% respectively).
Monsoon in Switzerland: During Monsoon in Switzerland, it receives about 1000 mm of precipitation every year. The rainy season in Switzerland falls between May and August. If you love the rain, then the monsoon is the best time to visit Switzerland. June is the wettest month in Switzerland.
- Lucerne. Flanked my majestic mountains and old city walls, Lucerne is the quintessential Swiss town. ...
- Zermatt. ...
- Bern. ...
- Grindelwald is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland. ...
- Sion. ...
- Montreux. ...
- Basel. ...
- Interlaken.
Airports. The biggest airport in Switzerland, and the hub for Swiss International Airlines, is Zurich International. The other two main airports are Geneva International, which is located in the city center; and Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, aka EuroAirport.
Three days is generally the best amount of time to spend in Geneva to experience the city fully. It's also best to follow a detailed Geneva itinerary if you really want to get the most out of a visit.
Zurich is often at the top of any Switzerland itinerary. As the financial capital of the country, the largest city in Switzerland, and a picturesque setting on Lake Zurich and the Limmat River there are plenty of things to keep you busy. 3 days in Zurich is just enough time to experience it all.
If you want to keep your expenses under control, be prepared to spend something between Sfr 200 to Sfr 250 per person per day. For budget travelers, the average daily cost to travel in Switzerland is 80-100 Swiss Francs.
How far is Paris from Switzerland by train?
The train journey time between Paris and Switzerland is around 4h 8m and covers a distance of around 611 km. This includes an average layover time of around 2 min.
Central Switzerland: Average coffee price is 4.20 Swiss Francs (6.8 minutes of work)
- Don't stress the transportation. Travel is a breeze with a Swiss Rail Pass. ...
- Head to the water. ...
- The Matterhorn is a must. ...
- Plan a wellness day (or two) ...
- Fuel up. ...
- Hit the slopes. ...
- The language is diverse, as is the currency.
A commonly asked question is 'Do I need to carry cash in Switzerland? ' The simple answer is no however I believe it's always a good idea to have a small amount of cash with you for purchases such as a coffee or ice cream or for luggage storage lockers at train stations.
Geneva is very nice to spend a day. There are plenty of things to do, but some of the things I enjoyed including strolling around the old town, visiting the cathedral with its interesting archeological museum underneath and climbing the cathedral tower for lovely views.
- Day 1: Arrive at Zurich Airport and visit Rhine falls. ...
- Day 2: Lucerne: Mt. ...
- Day 3: Lucerne to Interlaken: Jetboat and Harder Kulm. ...
- Day 4: Interlaken: Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe & Visit to Trümmelbach Falls. ...
- Day 5: Interlaken to Zurich. ...
- Day 6: Departure.
So if you can adjust your itinerary, we highly recommend spending at least one or two nights in Zermatt. As already mentioned, even if you can stay just 1 night, it will already be more relaxed. But ideally, you spend at least 2-3 nights in Zermatt, so that you have 1 or 2 full days to explore.
- Chillon Castle.
- Gruyères.
- Bern.
- Lucerne.
- Lauterbrunnen.
- Jungfraujoch.
- Thun.
- Oberhofen Castle.
On Sundays shops are generally closed, though there are exceptions for bakers, some jewellers, souvenir shops and others, and everything at the train station. Opening times are often shorter - or shops are closed altogether - on official holidays.
So if you are interested in higher views and higher mountain peaks around you, then definitely Interlaken is the better choice compared to Lucerne. Especially if you plan on hitting two to three mountains during your stay. The views from the mountains around Lake Lucerne are gorgeous.
Is Zurich worth going?
Zurich is well worth a visit for its fascinating museums, epic nightlife, extravagant shopping, and discovering different cuisines. However, you cannot yet view any breathtaking mountains and spectacular glaciers in Zurich. It's the gorgeous churches, picturesque lake, and fantastic zoo you'll find instead.
- Public transportation – Cities and towns in Switzerland are incredibly well connected with trams, buses, funiculars, and trains. ...
- Train – Train is the best way to travel in Switzerland and is the most preferred method for locals. ...
- Bus – FlixBus offers a few routes around the country.
Absolutely, Lucerne is worth visiting! It is a charming town with a scenic lake, remarkable landmarks, and easy access to Mount Pilatus. Visitors can discover history with the Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument. Also, enjoy numerous relaxing & adventurous activities solo or with their families.
Grocery shopping is costly in Switzerland. If you have been to any other country, it should be pretty clear that groceries are too expensive here! If you shop at a medium price shop like Coop and Migros, you can save a lot of money by buying in another European country.
Austria has the advantage of being a less ludicrously expensive destination, while Switzerland is culturally more diverse. Austria's architecture and cities are arguably more impressive once one is out of the mountains but Switzerland has taller mountains (although neither have the tallest).
- Cambodia. Southeast Asia is a notoriously cheap area to visit. ...
- Laos. Laos is another affordable country in Southeast Asia. ...
- Vietnam. ...
- Indonesia. ...
- Nepal. ...
- Morocco. ...
- Nicaragua. ...
- El Salvador.
The road system is very well maintained, and easy to use once you know the rules of the road, however Switzerland is also known for having one of the best public transportation systems. Switzerland is a great country to explore whether you are looking to spend a day in Zurich or go skiing in the Swiss Alps.
- New Zealand. #1 in Scenic. #11 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Greece. #2 in Scenic. #25 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Italy. #3 in Scenic. #14 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Switzerland. #4 in Scenic. #1 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Spain. #5 in Scenic. #16 in Best Countries Overall. ...
- Norway. #6 in Scenic. ...
- Australia. #7 in Scenic. ...
- Ireland. #8 in Scenic.
Switzerland is famous for its mesmerizing alpine scenery, luxury branded watches, and deliciously milky chocolate. A melting pot of many different cultures, Switzerland is also known for its alluring cities and scenic train rides that showcase the best of the country's natural vistas.
Murren and Grindelwald are two small, car free villages that are often offered as good suggestions for where to base yourself in Switzerland.
Where is a good base in Switzerland?
Lucerne is top on our list. We would also like to visit the villages in the Jungfrau region, in particular Wegen, Lautenbrunnen, Grindelwald. We are also interested in Zermatt and Montreux. We would use Montreux as a base to visit Gruyere.
- Nash Airport Hotel. Budget Hotel in Geneva. ...
- MEININGER Hotel Zürich Greencity. Budget Hotel in Zurich. ...
- Funny Farm Backpackers. Budget Hotel in Interlaken. ...
- Ruby Mimi Hotel Zurich. Budget Hotel in Zurich. ...
- B&B HOTEL Basel. Budget Hotel in Basel. ...
- Leonardo Hotel Zurich Airport.
In Switzerland, road users drive on the right-hand side. If not regulated otherwise by traffic signs, priority to the right applies.
Reserve a ride with Uber in advance in Zurich
Complete your plans today by reserving a ride with Uber in Zurich. Request a ride up to 30 days in advance, at any time and on any day of the year.
Swiss rail fares are expensive, so a Swiss pass can save money, depending what you plan to do and whether you're adult or youth.
Zurich isn't a huge city, so 2 days is the perfect amount of time to explore all the interesting activities and beautiful sights Zurich has to offer. You could spend 36 hours in Zurich, but it's definitely not necessary. Your time would be better spent heading somewhere else nearby, like Lucerne!
The 3 days Swiss Itinerary is as: Day 01: Lucerne - Mount Titlis, City Tour, and Lake Lucerne. Day 02: Interlaken - Jungfrau, Top of Europe. Day 03: Zurich City Tour and the Rhine Falls.
Three days is generally the best amount of time to spend in Geneva to experience the city fully. It's also best to follow a detailed Geneva itinerary if you really want to get the most out of a visit.
- Day 1: Arrive at Zurich Airport and visit Rhine falls. ...
- Day 2: Lucerne: Mt. ...
- Day 3: Lucerne to Interlaken: Jetboat and Harder Kulm. ...
- Day 4: Interlaken: Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe & Visit to Trümmelbach Falls. ...
- Day 5: Interlaken to Zurich. ...
- Day 6: Departure.
Which City Is Better to Stay In as a Base – Lucerne or Zurich? Lucerne is better to stay in compared to Zurich if you are touring Switzerland in your own car and/or prefer to spend more time in the mountains. It is also a better base in Switzerland if you spend a couple of days, a week, or longer.
Is Geneva worth visiting?
Geneva is very nice to spend a day. There are plenty of things to do, but some of the things I enjoyed including strolling around the old town, visiting the cathedral with its interesting archeological museum underneath and climbing the cathedral tower for lovely views.
Zurich is often at the top of any Switzerland itinerary. As the financial capital of the country, the largest city in Switzerland, and a picturesque setting on Lake Zurich and the Limmat River there are plenty of things to keep you busy. 3 days in Zurich is just enough time to experience it all.
Although you would ideally spend at least two weeks in Switzerland, one week is enough for an introduction to the country. This allows you to see the Swiss Alps, plus spend at least one night each in the Zurich area, and in either Geneva or the Italian-speaking Ticino region.
So if you can adjust your itinerary, we highly recommend spending at least one or two nights in Zermatt. As already mentioned, even if you can stay just 1 night, it will already be more relaxed. But ideally, you spend at least 2-3 nights in Zermatt, so that you have 1 or 2 full days to explore.
2 days are enough to visit most of the primary attractions in Lucerne. You might consider extending your visit to a 3-day trip to give yourself more time to relax and enjoy each place you visit. However, if you plan to see more places in Switzerland for a week or more, a day trip to Lucerne is good.
For the most part Geneva is a very walkable city and it is quite nice walking through the old town and all along the lake area. However, there may also be times where you end up farther away from your hotel or need to get to the train station for example. For those situations you can rely on busses, trams and Ubers.
Switzerland is a small country compared to many of its European neighbors, but you'll still need more than a week to take it all in. If a week is all you've got, this itinerary will give you a taste of the best the country has to offer, taking you from cities to mountains and medieval towns to sparkling lakes.
Yes. Switzerland is expensive. While there are more budget-friendly options for things like accommodation and meals, you will still pay more for these things in Switzerland than in other destinations.
The average price of a 7-day trip to Switzerland is $1,642 for a solo traveler, $2,423 for a couple, and $3,125 for a family of 4. Switzerland hotels range from $80 to $374 per night with an average of $144, while most vacation rentals will cost $180 to $510 per night for the entire home.