A 6-Day Switzerland Road Trip Itinerary (Highlights)

Located in the heart of the Alps of Europe, Switzerland offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and a high standard of living. Its pristine landscapes are a sight to behold and range from snow-capped peaks to verdant valleys and crystal-clear lakes. In this six day Switzerland road trip itinerary, we'll guide you through a perfect mix of exhilarating hikes and adventures, as well as some medieval towns and places to relax.

Swiss cow in Mürren

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The Perfect 6-Day Switzerland Road Trip Itinerary

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Day 1: Lucerne

• Driving distance from Zürich Airport: 70 km / 43 mi (1 hour) 

• Highlights: Chapel Bridge, Spreuer Bridge, boat tour on Lake Lucerne, cable car to Mount Pilatus, Zürich

• Where we stayed: Modern & Central Apartments ($$)

Lucerne is the perfect starting point for your six day adventure around Switzerland. It’s easily accessible by train or rental car from Zurich Airport or other major Swiss cities. Often referred to as the most beautiful city in Switzerland, Lucerne offers a charming blend of medieval architecture, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant cultural scene. Wander through the cobbled streets of Lucerne's Old Town and admire the iconic Chapel Bridge, the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe. If you’re there on a sunny day, we recommend taking a boat trip on Lake Lucerne. You can get a guided group tour or rent your own boat. We decided to do the rental option and really enjoyed the views and swimming opportunities.

Lake Lucerne Boat Tour

Lucerne Old Town & Chapel Bridge

Day 2: Stoos Ridge

• Driving distance: 40 km / 25 mi (45 mins)

• Highlights: funicular railway, Stoos village, Stoos ridge hiking trail

• Where we stayed: Lucerne Modern & Central Apartments ($$)

Escape the city and head to Schwyz, which is only a 45 minute drive from Lucerne. You can park at the funicular station (Parkhaus Stoosbahn) and take the world's steepest funicular railway to the quaint village of Stoos. This is also the starting point of the Stoos Ridge hike, a moderately challenging trail with stunning vistas of Lake Lucerne, the surrounding mountains and valley. We rode the chair lift from Stoos to Klingenstock, hiked 4.5 kilometers or 2.8 miles on the ridge to Fronalpstock, and then took the chair lift back down. If you want more of a fitness challenge, you can skip the chair lifts on either side of the trail.

Day 3: Interlaken

• Driving distance: 70 km / 43 mi (1 hour)

• Highlights: Cruise on Lake Thun, kayak on Lake Brienz, St. Beatus-Höhlen cave, visit Spiez castle & harbor, eat fondue and raclette, paragliding, Harder Kulm panorama restaurant, Schynige Platte Ridge Trail 

• Where we stayed: Adventure Hostel Interlaken ($$)

From Lucerne, it’s a 1 hour drive over some beautiful mountain passes to the popular Interlaken. Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken is a vibrant town renowned for its stunning natural beauty and thrilling outdoor activities. Explore the charming town, take a kayak or boat tour on the lake, go paragliding, or hike one of the many trails. Savoring the local delicacies at one of the many cozy restaurants is also a must. We really loved the raclette and cheese fondue ourselves. For a relaxed activity, visit the picturesque harbor of nearby Spiez with its idyllic vineyards and castle. And for a unique adventure, visit the St. Beatus Caves, a system of impressive caves with underground waterfalls.

Tip: June to August get very busy in Interlaken so make sure to book accommodation well in advance!

Spiez harbour

Day 4: Lauterbrunnen & Grindelwald

• Driving distance: 20 km / 12.5 mi to Grindelwald (30 mins) & then 17 km / 10.5 mi to Lauterbrunnen (25 mins)

• Highlights: Jungfraujoch cable car, Grindelwald First Cliff Walk, Lake Bachalpsee hike, Männlichen Royal Walk, Grindelwald Glacier Canyon, paragliding Lauterbrunnen, canyoning, staubbach falls, panoramaweg trail, Trümmelbach Falls, take the cable car to Birg & Schilthorn

• Where we stayed: Camping Jungfrau ($$)

From Interlaken, it’s a fairly short drive to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region. Both picturesque towns are located in two separate scenic valleys next to each other. Grindelwald provides a vibrant atmosphere with a wide range of shops, restaurants, and accommodation options. There are great spots to have a coffee and enjoy the view, but if you want to get a higher vantage point, you can take a cable car to the top of the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station. Lauterbrunnen, on the other hand, is a more secluded and tranquil village and is known as the "Valley of 72 Waterfalls". You can enjoy panoramic views of the town and the famous Staubbach Falls from various viewpoints and hiking trails. If you have some extra days, we would recommend spending a few days at each location.

Lauterbrunnen valley as seen from Panoramaweg trail

Day 5: Mürren

• Driving distance: 5 km / 3.1 mi (10 mins drive) + 30 mins by gondola

• Highlights: Via Ferrata Mürren to Gimmelwald, North Face Trail, cable car to Birg

• Where we stayed: Camping Jungfrau ($$)

On day 5, drive to Stechelberg and then take the gondola to Mürren. Mürren is a charming alpine village that sits above Lauterbrunnen Valley at an altitude of 1,650 meters or 5,413 feet. Since this town has a car-free environment, you can peacefully stroll through its picturesque streets next to the wooden chalets and flower-filled balconies. But if you are looking to immerse yourself more into the surrounding nature, hike one of its many trails. We hiked the gorgeous North Face trail, which was a short 7.5 kilometers or 4.7 miles long trail with a gentle elevation gain. This left us enough time to do the Via Ferrata route descend from Mürren to Gimmelwald in the afternoon. The via ferrata was an adventure to say the least since during some parts of the route there was nothing but a few steel bars and air beneath our feet. We also had plenty of time to get back to our accommodation in Lauterbrunnen later that evening.

Day 6: Oeschinensee

• Driving distance: 54 km / 33.5 mi (1 hour)

• Highlights: swimming, boating, relaxing, Kandersteg-Oeschinensee trail, Oeschinensee loop trail

• Where we stayed: Chalet Hotel Adler AG ($$)

Finally, head to Oeschinensee and admire its pristine waters. To reach this gem, you first have to drive about an hour to Kandersteg. From there, you can either embark on a steep hike or take a gondola ride for a more leisurely journey. We opted for the hike, which was about 2.5 kilometers or 1.5 miles of uphill trekking to reach the cable car station. From there, it’s an easy stroll to the lakeshore, where you can enjoy relaxing views, boating, or swimming. There are also other trails that go above the lake.

Oeschinensee

Map Switzerland

Find all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay in Switzerland on a Google Maps. To follow and save the list, do the following:

1. Tap on the link to open it (click button below)

2. Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.

3. Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.
   

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Switzerland will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.

Save Google Maps Places

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Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To Switzerland

• Booking.com for places to stay

• Skyscanner for cheap flights

• GetYourGuide for local tours

• Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals

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