TravPa

Switzerland

See Chagall's windows in Zurich's Old Town, cross Lucerne's covered bridges, ride the cogwheel railway up Pilatus and take the train to the Jungfraujoch from Interlaken.

Best timeJun to SepMoneySwiss franc (CHF)Plugs[plug types and voltage]Main airportZurich (ZRH)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 4, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips link Zurich, Lucerne and Interlaken by train. The Luzern-Interlaken Express takes about 2 hours over the Brünig Pass, and from Interlaken Ost the mountain trains reach Grindelwald in 29 min and Lauterbrunnen in 20 min.

Summer is the mountain season: the Pilatus cogwheel railway runs May to October and Harder Kulm from April to November, while the Jungfraujoch opens all year with snow and ice even in August. Winters are cold, and Lake Brienz boats stop in early December.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janColdfebColdmarColdaprMildmayMildjunBestjulBestaugBestsepBestoctMildnovColddecCold

Swiss National Day falls on 1 August. Zurich's Sechseläuten spring festival is on 19 April 2027, when the Swiss National Museum closes for the day.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Lucerne]
Lucerne in 2 daysChapel Bridge, Musegg Wall, Lion Monument, Swiss Museum of Transport, Spreuer Bridge, Pilatus Kulm, KKL LuzernPacked pace
[Photo: Zurich]
Zurich in 2 daysLindenhof, Fraumünster, Grossmünster, Swiss National Museum, Niederdorf, Uetliberg, Kunsthaus, Lindt Home of ChocolateBalanced pace
[Photo: Interlaken]
Interlaken in 3 daysIseltwald, Harder Kulm, Jungfraujoch, Kleine Scheidegg, Grindelwald, Staubbach Falls, Trümmelbach Falls, MürrenBalanced pace
[Photo: Switzerland]
Switzerland in 7 daysZurich Old Town, Swiss National Museum, Chapel Bridge, Pilatus, Luzern-Interlaken Express, Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen, MürrenPacked pace

Where to stay

InterlakenAround Interlaken Ost for early mountain trains and boats; central Interlaken by the Höhematte for walks and views; Unterseen for a quieter old town.Best areas to stay in InterlakenHotels in Interlaken
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LucerneThe Old Town for the bridges and riverside restaurants; around the station and the KKL for boats and trains; the eastern lakeshore near the Museum of Transport for a quieter base.Best areas to stay in LucerneHotels in Lucerne
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ZurichThe Old Town (Altstadt) for first-timers on foot; around the main station for day trips by train; Zurich West for its market hall, shops and bars under the railway arches.Best areas to stay in ZurichHotels in Zurich
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Getting around

  • Lucerne to Interlaken: The Luzern-Interlaken Express crosses the Brünig Pass in around 2 hours, with panoramic windows and a bistro.
  • Jungfrau Region trains: From Interlaken Ost, trains reach Grindelwald Terminal in 29 min and Lauterbrunnen in 20 min; they split at Zweilütschinen, so check your car.
  • To the Jungfraujoch: The Eiger Express from Grindelwald Terminal and the Jungfrau Railway reach the top in about 45 min; seat reservations are mandatory May to October.
  • Pilatus: The Golden Round Trip from Lucerne combines a boat, the cogwheel railway and gondolas from May to October; in other months use the gondolas from Kriens.
  • Lake Brienz boats: BLS boats sail from Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald in about 45 min from April to early December, most often from late May to mid-October.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates, including mountain hiking if you plan to walk high trails.
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Phone dataMobile data keeps live train and boat timetables, mountain webcams and your Jungfraujoch seat reservation at hand between Zurich, Lucerne and Interlaken.How a travel eSIM works
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