Switzerland is a small country and its transport links open up a wide possibility of cities and mountain regions to visit. It can be hard to decide where you want to go and what you want to see, but most importantly, for how long.
Depending on budgets, scenery, and chosen cities, trips to Switzerland can be completed in three, five, or seven days. Here’s a breakdown of how many days to spend in Switzerland and what you can achieve on your visit.
A three-day trip:
Three days in Switzerland are great for city breaks to either explore Geneva or Zurich, although it’s possible to visit both as they’re roughly a three-hour drive apart.
Zurich is the place to be for the scenic Old-Town, city bars, restaurants, and shopping. It’s dubbed one of the most expensive cities in the world, and a stroll along Bahnhofstrasse will see you on the most expensive shopping street in Europe. Explore the backstreets of Schipfe to experience one of the oldest neighborhoods in Zurich.
In Geneva, the airport is only 4km from the city so exploring can start almost immediately after landing. Geneva Old Town dates back to the Roman Empire, with lots of city landmarks to visit such as the iconic 140m high water jet on Lake Geneva, the flower clock alongside the English Garden, and St Piere Cathedral.
A five or seven-day trip:
In addition to Zurich and Geneva, there are even more cities and towns to explore for five or seven-day trips. Laussane is on the other side of Lake Geneva and is less than an hour’s drive, with mountain and lake views, it’s a picturesque sight worthy of a postcard. Strolling along the lakeside will bring you to Lausanne Cathedral, where visitors can explore inside or stroll up the stairs to take in breathtaking city views from the top.
Bern and Interlaken are mid-way points between Zurich and Geneva and are perfect spots to do some further exploring. Bern is a calm, scenic city with lots of parks and the Alps as its backdrop. It’s the place to be to experience all of the beautiful nature Switzerland has to offer, and at sunrise, hot air balloons can be seen in the sky.
Interlaken is smack bam in the middle of two Swiss lakes and is dubbed the country’s adventure capital. It’s where you want to base yourself for venturing into nature, exploring the Swiss Alps, or if you just want to leave the bustle of a city and stay in a small mountain village. From a walk through town or along the river, to adrenaline activities such as paragliding or parasailing, it’s a small but mighty location that’s popular amongst all visitors.
Traveling around Switzerland
Whether you stay for three-seven days, it’s worth investing in the Swiss Travel Pass (STP) which can be used on all public transport across the country, and gives you free admission to 500 museums, plus discounts or freebies too!
