Seven-Day Itinerary for Montreux, Interlaken, Lucerne, & Basel, Switzerland
Switzerland is a land of majestic mountains, turquoise blue lakes, charming Alpine chalets, chocolate, and cheese (with an emphasis on the latter two). If your vacation goals include adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventures combined with culture, history, and the most scenic of scenic views, look no further than this country that can deliver it all.
*This post contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on my site at no additional cost to you.
Above photos: Picnic in Montreux (left); Blausee near Kandersteg (right)
I’ve traveled to Switzerland multiple times and still have not made it to all twenty-six cantons. Which just goes to show, this small-ish country really packs it in. There is so much to explore and experience. So, how do you plan an itinerary? Deciding on the airports to fly in and out of (not necessarily the same) is a good place to start.
Switzerland’s three most populous cities – Zurich, Geneva, and Basel – have international airports and are ideal as starting and/or ending points for travel throughout the country. In the past, I have also traveled country-to-country via Europe’s international rail system. The possibilities are endless, but this is definitely something to consider early in your planning as flight schedules and costs can certainly dictate the best options at times.
My husband and I recently spent 7-days adventuring across western and central Switzerland. We put a lot of research and planning into this trip so it would be well-rounded. We were aiming for the best cross-section of the great outdoors and urban culture, without too much duplication from prior visits (though I will definitely share those options in this post). We loved how this trip flowed and I am here to share all of our inside intel so you can copy what we did — or modify it to suit your interests.
Above photos: Paragliding in Murren
When is the best time of year to visit Switzerland?
Before I dive in to each of the places we visited, it is worth mentioning that the time of year we visited was early autumn. This season is ideal for fewer crowds, mild temperatures, and shoulder season rates. I loved seeing Switzerland in the fall with the leaves starting their encore and the ground littered with fallen chestnuts.
Above photos: Fallen chestnuts at Meggenhorn Castle (left); Roasted chestnuts in Lucerne (right)
When you go really depends on what you want to do. If my main goal was skiing, I would go during the winter (duh) and probably focus more on the cantons to the south and east where the lofty peaks of the Alps and charming resort towns beckon winter sport enthusiasts. The summer is ideal for swimming in the crystal clear blue lakes and attending festivals.
There is a very awkward time in late October thru early November where many of the cable cars and funiculars close for annual maintenance prior to the start of the winter ski season. It’s not ideal if you want to experience mountain peaks and views. We were fortunate to squeeze in our visit just before the end of summer operations. Word to the wise, it is advisable to check on operating hours for your transportation and activities before you lock in your travel dates.
Our 7-day itinerary
Our 7-day itinerary was as follows:
- Day 1: Arrival in Geneva; train to Montreux
- Day 2: Montreux; train to Interlaken
- Day 3: Daytrip to Lauterbrunnen & Murren
- Day 4: Daytrip to Kandersteg & Lake Oeschinen
- Day 5: Interlaken; train to Lucerne
- Day 6: Daytrip to Mt. Titlis
- Day 7: Lucerne; train to Basel
- Day 8: Departure
Day 1: Ar. Geneva; train to Montreux
We arrived in Switzerland via an early morning domestic flight from Brussels where we had spent a few days on the front-end of our trip. Geneva’s airport is located on the border of France and Switzerland and serves both countries. We immediately hopped on our train destined for Montreux, although we could have included Geneva in our itinerary by adding an extra day or two. Just an option to think about!
Montreux is a resort-area so there is a myriad of things to see and do that will vary according to the season. For example, there is an International Jazz Festival held annually in July, the Montreux Comedy Festival in November, and the Christmas Market in December.
The train from Geneva Airport to Montreux was under an hour and followed the shoreline of the lake. We arrived early enough that we still felt like we had the entire day. After checking in to our beautiful room at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, we wasted no time and immediately headed out to take the cog train to Rochers-de-Naye.Â
Above photo: Taking in the views from Rochers-de-Naye
Montreax is also famous for its lakeside promenade, grand Belle Époque buildings, and of course, it’s strong attachment to Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the band Queen.
Above photos: Montreux lakeside promenade, Belle Époque architecture, and Freddie Mercury
Day 2: Montreux & Train to Interlaken
We had the entire next morning and lunch hour in Montreux, which was the perfect amount of time for a ferry boat ride on Lake Geneva to Chateaux Chillon. The castle is the number one tourist attraction in Montreax and the most visited historic landmark in Switzerland.
Above photo: Chateaux Chillon
To read my complete post about our stay in Montreux, click here.
The next part of our journey was an epic train ride on the Golden Pass Express to Interlaken. This is a very special scenic train that passes through gorgeous scenery. The huge panoramic windows of the carriages provide unhindered views of vineyards, mountains, lakes, and Swiss villages. The train starts (or ends) in Montreux and goes to Interlaken and then on to Lucerne (or you can also travel in the reverse direction). We just took the first leg of the journey to Interlaken (and the resumed to Lucerne after our stay in Interlaken).
The Golden Pass Express has two departure times in Montreux – a morning departure and an afternoon departure. We took the afternoon departure so we could enjoy our morning activities in Montreux and arrive in Interlaken in time for an evening walk and dinner.
Above photo: Interlaken
Day 3: Daytrip to Lauterbrunnen & Murren
Interlaken was our home base for several nights while we explored the Bernese Oberland region. This area of western Switzerland is famous for the dramatic mountain scenery of the Bernese Alps and adventurous outdoor activities.
Above photos: Views from Interlaken’s top attraction, the Harder Kulm
To read my complete post about our stay in Interlaken, click here.
From Interlaken, visitors have so many great options for day trips to the surrounding villages and mountains. Our first day trip was to Lauterbrunnen & Murren.
The train ride from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen is approximately 28 minutes. Here you can experience a quiet Alpine town against the stunning backdrop of Staubbach Falls, the highest free falling falls in Switzerland.
Above photos: Lauterbrunnen
Mürren is a car-free village that sits above Lauterbrunnen. It is accessible by a mountain tram and train (or on foot) from Lauterbrunnen. The big draws are winter spots and the cable car to the Schilthorn Summit where you can capture glorious photos of the snow covered peaks and views for miles.
Above photos: Mürren
To read my complete post about our day trip to Lauterbrunnen & Mürren, click here.
Day 4: Daytrip to Kandersteg & Lake Oeschinen
Kandersteg is another gorgeous Apline town. It is located to the southeast of Interlaken. Because of the mountains, you’ll need to first travel west along Thun Lake to Spietz and then turn south to Kandersteg. By train, the journey is about an hour.
Above photos: Kandersteg
Most people visit Kandersteg as a first-stop on the way to Oeschinen Lake, which is one of the most beautiful and bluest lakes in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. There are all kinds of fun things to do around Oeschinen Lake including a summer toboggan run, hiking trails, and boating. We had an incredible day here and capped it off with a visit to Blausee, another crystal clear blue lake just down the road from Kandersteg.
Above photos: Oeschinen Lake
To read my complete post about our day trip to Kandersteg and Oeschinen Lake, click here.
Day 5: Interlaken & Train to Lucerne
When we were ready to move on from Interlaken, we resumed our journey on the Golden Pass Express train to Lucerne. If you take this scenic train, as opposed to the train through Bern, be sure to sit on the left side of the train for the best views between Meiringen and Lucerne. Be aware however, that the right side of the train between Interlaken and Meiringen has the better views of Lake Brienze. The train does a funny switcheroo in Meiringen where the front of the train changes direction (i.e., the front becomes the back). Personally, I felt the leg between Meiringen and Lucerne was more picturesque.
Lucerne is a captivating city located nearly smack center in the middle of Switzerland that offers tourists a complete package of rich cultural sights, medieval history, incredible natural beauty, and so much more. Given its centralized location, it is hard to bypass Lucerne no matter your itinerary – and you really don’t want to!
Between the Jesuit Church and the famous landmark bridges, Chapel Bridge and Spreuer Bridge, and of course the magnificent Lake Lucerne, there is every reason to be drawn to spend at least a day here.
Above photo: View of the Jesuit Church from the Chapel Bridge
To read my complete post about our visit to Lucerne, click here.
Day 6: Daytrip to Mt. Titlis
Lucerne is a popular place to stay while venturing out for day trips to the surrounding mountains. The well-connected and efficient Swiss transportation system of trains, funiculars, trams, and boats makes it so easy – and so fun – to get to the dreamiest places.
We decided to take a day tip to Mt. Titlis because the idea of walking through an ice cave was too amazing to pass up. To get to Mt. Titlis from Lucerne, we took a train to the town of Engleberg where a series of cable cars connects visitors to the peak.
Above photo: Mt. Titlis
Besides the amazing views, there are also many activities offered at Mt. Titlis, which vary a little between the winter and summer months. Obvi, snow sports are the draw during the winter. But, during the summer, visitors can still walk through the Glacier Cave, cross the Cliff Walk Suspension Bridge, and go tubing at Glacier Park (which always has snow!).
Read my complete post about our day trip to Mt. Titlis here.
Day 7: Lucerne; train to Basel
If this had been my first trip to Switzerland, my next stop would have been Zürich. I looooovvveee this city! The posh shopping in Old Town, views from the Grossmünster, and activities on Lake Zürich offer everything you could possible want in a perfect Swiss city break. This is definitely an option to consider and you won’t regret it!
Since I had already had spent several days in Zürich on a previous trip, we decided to go somewhere we hadn’t been before – Basel. In the end, I was so happy with this decision because Basel truly surprised me more than any other place we visited. The city has an artsy vibe, full of museums, antique book and art shops, urban sculpture and murals, and a blend of historical and modern architecture.
The Basel Cathedral and City Hall are the predominant and most recognizable landmarks in the city. But, my favorite thing here was simply wandering through the cobblestone streets of the Old Town and stumbling upon hidden treasures.
Above photos: View of Basel Cathedral from the Rhine River (left); Courtyard of Basel City Hall (right)
Basel is a great option for the starting and/or ending point of a visit to Switzerland due to the Basel Mulhouse Airport and the international trains that connect Basel to other major European cities. From Basel, it would be easy to continue on up into Alsace, France or Bavaria, Germany (tempting if you are there during December and visiting the Christmas Markets!).
To read my complete post about our visit to Basel, click here.
Additional Travel Tips
Getting around Switzerland
We found it very advantageous to have the Swiss Travel Pass for the length of our entire time in Switzerland. When we priced out the cost of the individual tickets (and also took the level of hassle into consideration), we came out slightly ahead with the Swiss Travel Pass. There was never a need to arrive at the station early to purchase tickets or figure out how to use a ticket kiosk. We just kept our passes and passports with us at all times. Easy peasy!
There isn’t a big difference between 1st and 2nd Class on most of the trains, with the exception of some of the scenic panoramic trains. Even then, the 2nd Class carriages are perfectly fine. Some of the local trains don’t even offer 1st Class seating. So, if you are debating which one to buy, my suggestion would be to go for the 2nd Class option and upgrade on the scenic trains if you’d like.
Another really nice benefit of the Swiss Travel Pass is that it can also be used on buses, boats, funiculars, and cable cars. In most cases, the pass will cover the entire fare. But, in a few cases, the pass will only provide a discount. A general rule of thumb to remember: If you are going to a place where people live (e.g., city to city) the fare will be completely included. If you are going to an uninhabited place (e.g., a remote mountain peak), you may still have to pay a few dollars.
- Purchase your Swiss Rail Travel Pass in advance so you can access public transportation as soon as you arrive. When you purchase, you can select your arrival date and the number of days you will be in Switzerland.
- The Golden Pass Express train from Montreux to Interlaken and from Interlaken to Lucern (and the reverse direction) are included in the Swiss Rail Travel Pass, but you will need to reserve seats. Click here for more information on this iconic route.
Thank you for reading my post! Please feel free to add friendly comments or questions below!
I couldn’t resist commenting. Very well written!