The Ultimate Switzerland Itinerary: 4 Days in Switzerland By Train
Are you planning 4 days in Switzerland, but you’re not sure where exactly to go?
Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. With its fairy tale-like towns, snow-capped mountains and alpine lakes, it’s a dream destination for many travellers. But deciding where to go, when there are so many options, can be difficult.
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We’ve visited Switzerland three times together, the most recent being in March 2025, when I, Reanna, spent 4 days travelling by train from Zurich.
It took a lot of planning to decide where to go and work out the best route to minimise travel time whilst seeing as much as possible and keeping the budget as low as possible. My planning paid off, and I had the most incredible long weekend, hiking, exploring picture-perfect spots such as Lauterbrunnen and going on two magical boat trips through the Alps.
In this post, I’ll talk you through the exact route I took to maximise your time, where to stay in each of these spots and which trains offer the most scenic views along the way, plus a tip that Google Maps won’t tell you (but, it’s a bucket list experience!).
Keep reading to start planning your 4-day itinerary for Switzerland!
In a hurry? Here is our quick guide to visiting Switzerland!
How to get here: This guide is planned around flying into Zurich airport, however, you can also fly into Geneva or any other Swiss airport and tailor the itinerary.
What language is spoken? In Switzerland, a mix of German, French and Italian is spoken, so be sure to check which dialect is used in the area you visit.
What currency is used? CHF – Swiss Franc
Buy your Swiss Travel Pass here (the best way to travel around Switzerland!)
When to visit: Summer (June – August) and Winter (December – February) are peak seasons to visit. However, I think Spring is the best time to visit.
How to spend 4 perfect days in Switzerland by train: The ultimate Switzerland travel guide
Here’s a quick look at what this 4-day Switzerland itinerary will cover!
Day 1:
- Train from Zurich to Kandersteg
- Hike to Oeschinensee
- Explore the town of Kandersteg
Day 2:
- Train to Mörel-Filet
- Cable car up to Aletsch Glacier
- Spend the night in Visp
- Optional: Glacier Express to Zermatt
Day 3:
- Scenic train to Lauterbrunnen
- Explore the town of Lauterbrunnen
- Boat ride on Lake Brienz in Interlaken
Day 4:
- Luzern–Interlaken Express (in reverse order) with village stops along the way
- Boat ride in Lucerne
Before we dive into the itinerary, I’m going to cover some other important things to know before your visit, such as the best way to travel around Switzerland, whether the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it, and the best time to visit Switzerland.
Here is a handy guide to help you find each spot in Switzerland:
Everything you need to know to visit Switzerland
Where is Switzerland?
Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe neighbouring Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany. It is mainly covered by the Alps in the south and the Jura mountains in the north.
How to get to Switzerland
Switzerland has three main airports and quite a few smaller ones. The three main ones, which usually offer the best budget-friendly flights and most options, are Zurich, Geneva and Basel. You can also travel via land to Switzerland from any of its neighbouring countries.
For this 4-day Switzerland itinerary, you’re going to fly in and out of Zurich as, when I was travelling, it had the best flights. However, the itinerary could easily be adapted to fly into Geneva or any other Swiss airport.
When is the best time to visit Switzerland?
Like most places in Europe, peak season is between June – August. However, December – February is also peak season to visit Switzerland. Especially if you are a skier.
I visited in late March, and whilst it is off-season, I actually think March- May is one of the best times to visit Switzerland. It’s quiet everywhere and prices are lower. But the best thing? In the mountains, it feels like a snowy winter wonderland still, but on the ground, spring is in full force, with flowers blooming and the sun shining (on a good day, anyway).
The sun was out and reached highs of 18 Celsius. Of course, this isn’t a guarantee, so if you are after guaranteed sunshine, then I recommend visiting during peak summer.
The biggest downside to visiting off-season was that a lot of cable cars and funiculars weren’t open, so I either had to hike or skip viewpoints.
Where to stay in Switzerland
Switzerland is known as an expensive country, however, I’m here to show you that it doesn’t have to be. I stayed in budget-friendly accommodation throughout my 4-days in Switzerland, with the most expensive costing me £70/ 91 USD for one night. Although every spot wasn’t exactly luxury, they were all well located, clean and comfortable.
In case you are also looking for a more luxurious place to stay in Switzerland, I have also added in my suggestions based on recommendations:
Accommodation in Kandersteg
(£) Hotel Des Alpes: A cute little spot to stay in the mountains. I had a single room with a balcony with INCREDIBLE views of the mountains. It’s about a 6-minute walk from the town and a 15-minute walk from Kandersteg train station. I paid £65/ 85 USD for one night, which included breakfast.
(££) If you’re looking for somewhere that’s a bit more luxurious, then I recommend the Typically Swiss Hotel Ermitage. Offering a mixture of cosy cabins (some with hot tubs) and hotel rooms with balconies overlooking the mountains, it’s one of the best in Kandersteg. (P.S., if there’s 2 of you, it’s actually not much more expensive than Hotel Des Alpes.)
Accommodation in Visp
(£) Hotel & Bildungshaus St. Jodern: Slightly out of the city centre (about an 8-minute walk uphill. This hotel was an absolute steal for the price I paid—a large double room with a balcony and mountain views. I paid £70/ 91 USD for the one night.
(££) Baxter Hotel: Located in the centre of Visp, right near the train station this modern hotel offers mountain views, large rooms with balconies, a terrace with views to relax on and a great breakfast.
Accommodation in Interlaken
(£) Hotel Harder Minerva: Interlaken is popular and expensive, so finding a budget-friendly option isn’t always easy. However, this little hotel comes in at just over £70/ 91 USD for one night with breakfast. It’s also just off the main road, making it incredibly convenient to explore, but still quiet at night.
(££) SALZANO Hotel – Spa – Restaurant: I honestly can’t think of anything better than swimming outside with a view of the snow-capped mountains. A typical Swiss hotel complete with a gorgeous spa to relax in.
Bonus recommendation in Interlaken:
Unique Tiny Eco Lodges with gorgeous views to Jungfrau Massiv: I can’t think of a better spot to stay in Interlaken than these cute little lodges to really make you feel at one with nature!
How to travel around Switzerland
The easiest and arguably the best way to travel around Switzerland is by train. The train lines are incredibly well connected and the views are some (if not, the) best in the world.
The trains are modern, efficient, and comfortable and come complete with picture-postcard views. Some have windows that you can lower to enjoy the view, and some come with panoramic windows so that you can see the beautiful view all around.
Train journeys in Switzerland can really add up. It’s also really nice to have total flexibility. This is why I opted for the Swiss Travel Pass. It’s a pass that allows you an unlimited amount of trips on trains, buses and boats for a set period of time and gives you 50% off cable car rides.
I opted for the first class 4-day pass as my motto for this trip was ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination’.
Another way to travel around Switzerland is to drive, this is also a great option as it gives you even more flexibility than the train. However, the driver won’t be able to fully relax and enjoy the views, and you’ll have to consider parking in every spot. It also takes longer to travel between places.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
You might be wondering, ‘Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?’ In my opinion, yes. If you’re looking to travel to multiple places in Switzerland, then it really does take any of the pressure or stress to book tickets for you. It also stops you worrying about planning your journey too far in advance to get the best prices. Travelling through Switzerland by train is also the best way to travel, in my opinion.
I totalled up all of the journeys that I took in Switzerland (including my half-price cable car) and would have spent £452.21/ 592 USD if I had bought my tickets separately. This isn’t including the multiple times I jumped off the train to explore the little village I was in, and this would be with no flexibility to get trains at different times if I had wanted.
The cost of the 1st class Swiss Travel Pass for 4 days is 469 CHF or £424.10/ 555 USD. Overall, I saved £28.11/ 37 USD. However, I also didn’t have any stress and had total freedom and flexibility, which when you’re travelling around such a beautiful country that you want to jump off the train in continuously, is worth 100s.
Had I done this trip using 2nd Class trains, then I actually would have saved more. The total that I would have spent would have been £327.29/ 428 USD, and the pass costs £266.67/ 349 USD, saving a total of £60.62/ 79.30 USD.
The prices for the Swiss Travel Pass are as follows as of April 2025:
Swiss Travel Pass 3 days
2nd Class: 244 CHF
1st Class: 389 CHF
Swiss Travel Pass 4 days
2nd Class: 295 CHF
1st Class: 469 CHF
Swiss Travel Pass 6 days
2nd Class: 379 CHF
1st Class: 602 CHF
Swiss Travel Pass 8 days
2nd Class: 419 CHF
1st Class: 665 CHF
Swiss Travel Pass 15 days
2nd Class: 459 CHF
1st Class: 723 CHF
Pros of the Swiss Travel Pass:
- Train travel in Switzerland really is a bucket list adventure in itself
- It takes the stress out of planning before you travel
- You can travel as much as you like and hop on and off whenever you like without having to buy a separate ticket
- It also includes boat rides (I did two of these)
- You get 50% off cable car rides
- You get free admission to over 500 museums
- Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns & cities
Cons of the Swiss Travel Pass:
- It is an expensive upfront cost
- If you’re only planning on doing a few train journeys, then it probably won’t be worth the money
Overall, for the freedom and flexibility it allows, I think that the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it, but before booking, be sure that you will use it enough to cover your costs.
You can also opt for the Swiss Half-Fare Card, which gets you half-price travel across Switzerland and costs half the price or the Jungfrau: Travel Pass, which just allows you to travel as much as you want within the Jungfrau region.
I recommend buying your Swiss Travel Pass before you travel, you can do so here.
You can have a browse at all of the options here:
Perfect 4-Day Switzerland itinerary: day-by-day breakdown
Day 1: Hike to Oeschinensee Lake & explore Kandersteg
Late Morning: Arrive in Kandersteg
This itinerary assumes that you have either spent the night in Zurich the night before or that your flight arrives early (mine was the latter and I arrived into Zurich around 10:15 AM and got straight on a train from Zurich airport).
The train leaves directly from Zurich airport and takes you to Kandersteg with one change at Spiez. It’s not the most beautiful one that you’ll go on during this trip, but it’s still pretty amazing to see the landscape change from city to mountains.
Alternatively, the drive takes 2hrs 20mins.
Kandersteg is a gorgeous little mountain village in the Bernese Oberland. There are a few little local restaurants, bars shops to explore. But, honestly, the views are what steal the show in Kandersteg.
Afternoon: Hike to Oeschinensee Lake
Oeschinensee Lake is the main reason that people visit Kandersteg (but even if you don’t plan on hiking it, I still think that you should visit).
The hike to Oeschinensee Lake starts from the Tourism office in Kandersteg and follows the same route the cable car takes.
It takes approximately 3 hours round trip and is steep. It’s rated ‘hard’ by alltrails, and I have to say, I agree. The first 60% is very steep; it then levels out, and you walk around the rim of the mountain before reaching the spot where the cable car would drop you, and it’s mainly downhill for 30 minutes to the lake.
At the lake there’s a restaurant and toilets. I believe that in the summer you can also hike a boat to ride on the lake and, about a 30 minute walk away, there is also a mountain coaster that looks like SO much fun!
You can also hike around the rim of the lake in the summer to enjoy an incredible panoramic view over it – something I’ll definitely be returning to do!
Cable Car Operation: The Kandersteg-Oeschinensee cable car operates daily from 8:30 to 18:00.
Discounts: Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card holders enjoy a 50% discount on fares, while Bernese Oberland Pass holders ride for free.
Swimming in Oeschinensee Lake: You can swim in the lake in the summer and walk on it when it’s frozen in the winter.
Top tip: If you don’t have a Swiss Travel Pass or any of the others but are staying at one of the hotels in Kandersteg and want to take the cable car, ask for a ‘guest card’ at your hotel. It gives you a small discount for the cable car ride.
Read before visiting: Oeschinensee Lake has grown increasingly popular in recent years, especially during peak season. To help manage visitor numbers and reduce wait times, advance booking for the cable car will be required from May 2025. Tickets will be issued for specific time slots, which can be rescheduled if needed due to illness, weather conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances. This new system aims to improve the overall experience by ensuring a more balanced flow of visitors to the mountain.
Evening: Relax and grab a local dinner
Chances are, you’re going to be knackered after your hike. Use tonight to grab dinner in one of the local restaurants, maybe a glass of wine or two and enjoy an early night ready for day 2 of exploring in Switzerland.
Stay: Hotel Des Alpes
Day 2: Take the cable car up to Aletsch Glacier
Late Morning: Enjoy breakfast and take the train to Brig
After breakfast, head back on the train in the direction of Brig. In Brig, change trains to Mörel-Filet. This is where you can get the cable car to Aletsch Arena. The journey in total takes around 2 hours.
To locate the train to Mörel-Filet, come out of the train station and turn right; the trains should be in front of you.
In Brig, you can use the lockers at the train station to store your bag for the day if you want. I did this and paid 5 CHF for a small bag for 6 hours.
If you have time, you can spend the rest of your morning exploring the town of Brig. It’s a historic town surrounded by mountains. The Stockalper Castle (Stockalperschloss) is worth a visit.
Afternoon: Take the cable car to Aletsch Glacier
Once you have arrived in Mörel-Filet, you’re going to get the cable car to Aletsch Arena.
To reach Aletsch Glacier, you will need to get two cable cars. One from Mörel-Filet to either Riederalp or Betten, and then a second from Riederalp to Moosfluh or from Betten Talstation to Bettmeralp, followed by a short walk or connecting lift to Bettmerhorn or Eggishorn, the best viewing points over the glacier.
The walk between the two is beautiful, along the edge of the ski town with snowy views in one direction and mountain views of the town below in the other.
For the most iconic views, head to Eggishorn. From there, you’ll get panoramic views of the entire 23km-long Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps, framed by peaks like the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
I opted to head to Eggishorn, and even though the staff at Riederalp told me that there wouldn’t be a view of the glacier that day (and showed me the webcam with no view), once I arrived, the clouds mostly cleared, and I got some incredible views. So, even if the weather doesn’t look great, if you have the time and budget, it’s still worth going.
At the top, there’s a viewing platform with a telescope.
The cable cars cost CHF 55.44, approximately £50/ 65 USD. However, if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll receive 50% off.
Evening: Enjoy dinner in Visp or Brig or take the Glacier Express to Zermatt
After travelling back to Brig, you have the option of spending the night in Brig or hopping back on the train and travelling to the neighbouring town of Visp.
After a lot of research, I opted to stay in Visp. Whilst both aren’t highly rated places to visit in Switzerland (although they’re both still lovely), Visp is a smaller town that has more character. I also found a more budget-friendly place to stay, which was a huge win for me as I was trying to keep the costs down.
There’s a great range of restaurants in Brig and Visp from Japanese, Indian, Swiss and American.
Optional stop: If you’re feeling particularly energetic, you can also hop on the Glacier Express (one of Switzerland’s most iconic and beautiful panoramic trains) from Visp to Zermatt for the evening. If you do opt to get the train to Zermatt, then I recommend leaving no later than 17:20 (in March), so you have at least a couple of hours in Zermatt in the light before you need to get the train back. I left an hour later than this, arrived in Zermatt in the dark, and only had one hour here before getting the Glacier Express back to Visp.
I only really recommend doing this if you have the Swiss Travel Pass, otherwise, you will be paying around £50-60/ 65-78 USD for a couple of hours in Zermatt. Although the journey here is a bucket list one and well worth it.
If you have the time, then I recommend adding an extra night to make 5 days in Switzerland and spending it in Zermatt. I have visited it previously (at Christmas time, which was incredible), and it’s a wonderful town, especially in the winter.
Day 3: Explore the town of Lauterbrunnen & enjoy a boat ride on Lake Brienz, Interlaken
Late Morning: Take the scenic train to Lauterbrunnen
Leave as early as possible on your third day in Switzerland, as today is another busy day. Lauterbrunnen can get busy, so the earlier you arrive, the better.
To travel from Visp to Lauterbrunnen, you will need to take three trains:
Vips – Spiez (26 minutes)
Spiez – Interlaken Ost (20 minutes)
Interlaken Ost – Lauterbrunnen (22 minutes)
The latter half of this journey is one of the most beautiful that I’ve been on. Winding through the little villages and mountains was magical. You can also put the windows down to get an even better view of the beautiful landscape.
Take note that the train from Interlaken Ost – Lauterbrunnen splits, with half the train travelling to Grindelwald and the other half going to Lauterbrunnen. Make sure that you are sitting in the correct half, or you will end up travelling in the wrong direction. I did exactly this and ended up halfway to Grindelwald before I could get off.
Whilst I ended up losing some time, I ended up changing at Burglauenen, which is SO picturesque. So, it wasn’t all bad.
Afternoon: Explore the town of Lauterbrunnen and take a boat ride on Lake Brienz in Interlaken
The town of Lauterbrunnen is like stepping into a fairy tale; it’s gorgeous. Known as the town with 72 waterfalls, it’s a small town surrounded by the rugged mountains, tiny wooden huts, waterfalls (of course) and iconic snow-capped peaks in the distance.
It’s regularly called the “the most beautiful village in Switzerland”, which has led to an explosion of visitors, so don’t visit Lauterbrunnen expecting it to be a hidden gem. But do expect it to be incredibly beautiful. Nonetheless, surprisingly, I didn’t find it too busy except for the iconic ‘Instagram photo spot’.
How to find the most ‘Instagrammable’ spot in Lauterbrunnen
To find this spot, turn left outside of the train station and head along the main high street towards Staubbach Falls (away from the Train Station) for about 150m. Once you reach two stone spheres made up of tiny stones on your left, you’ll know you’re at the right place. To the right of these, there’s a path. Head down here for about 3 minutes until you arrive at the turning in the path. You’ve made it to the most popular photo spot in Lauterbrunnen.
If you’re not too worried about finding this spot, don’t worry; there’s plenty more to see in Lauterbrunnen. Spend your time exploring the picturesque town, hiking around the valley, or taking the cogwheel railway to the Kleine Scheidegg or the cable car to the Mürren. Both look absolutely incredible; just be sure to check if they’re open during the season that you visit, as they can be closed for the winter period.
Once you have explored the town of Lauterbrunnen (I left at around 1:15 PM), hop on the train to Interlaken. It’s a short, picturesque 20-minute train journey.
Interlaken
Interlaken is known as the adventure capital of (some say) the world. It’s also surrounded by two gorgeous lakes: Lake Thun (to the west) and Lake Brienz (to the east).
If you’re after adrenaline and adventure, then I completely recommend booking yourself a trip paragliding over Interlaken, It’s one of the most popular and bucket list things to do.
Another option, if you’re looking for something more relaxing, is to take a boat trip along Lake Brienz (or Lake Thun from April onwards). I opted for the boat trip option, and it did not disappoint. It was beautiful and relaxing, and the scenery was stunning.
As I visited in March, the boats only ran on Lake Brienz and only ran three times per day:
12:00, 14:00 and 16:00. The boat also leaves from Bönigen instead of Interlaken because of low waters during the winter months. You can view the timetable here.
The boat trip lasted for around 1.5 hours, and honestly, I could have stayed on it and done it again. The cost of it is included in the Swiss Travel Pass. If you don’t have one, it costs 14 CHP. You can also book a pass so that you can enjoy as many boat rides as you want in Interlaken.
Book an unlimited boat trip pass here so you don’t have to worry about buying tickets on the day!
Evening: Go out for dinner and explore Interlaken
Interlaken is a great town home to a lot of bars, restaurants and hotels. It’s even home to a Hooters and McDonalds, so if you’re after some chain food, here is your spot!
Enjoy your last evening in Switzerland before a slightly more relaxed last day.
Where to stay in Interlaken: Hotel Harder Minerva
Day 4: Take the iconic Lucerne-Interlaken Express and enjoy another boat journey before heading home
Late Morning: Take the famous Lucerne-Interlaken Express
One of the most iconic train journeys in Switzerland. The Lucerne-Interlaken Express travels past the shores of five gorgeous lakes and an abundance of incredible Swiss countryside. It is the perfect way to spend your final morning.
I ended up jumping off the train twice to relax in two of the spots that the train went through, which extended my journey by an additional two hours, but the views were just TOO GOOD!
A few things you need to know about the journey:
- The train journey takes 1hr 50 minutes in total.
- For the best views, from Lucerne or Interlaken, sit on the right-hand side in the direction of travel.
- You don’t need to reserve a seat, however, during peak season, it’s recommended.
Top Tip: If you type in Interlaken to Zurich in Google Maps, it won’t recommend the Lucerne-Interlaken Express. Instead, it will recommend a completely different route that goes via Spiez and Bern. It’s direct, but you will miss out on this incredible journey. Instead, type into Google Interlaken – Lucerne and look for the train with LIX next to it. This is the Lucerne-Interlaken Express. Then from here, make a separate search for Lucerne – Zurich airport.
Afternoon: Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Lucerne
Another day, another boat ride. Located conveniently opposite the train station is the Ferry Terminal where a range of different boats leave from, these trips go to different spots, for varying lengths of time.
I only had the afternoon, so I opted for a 1.5-hour Round-Trip Catamaran Cruise. This takes you along Lake Lucerne, where you can enjoy beautiful views of Mount Pilatus, Rigi, and Bürgenstock. The views were breathtaking; you got to what felt like you were incredibly close to the mountains. It was once again a delightful way to spend an afternoon (I’ve realised how much I love boat trips on this trip!).
Book the Catamaran Cruise here to secure a ticket!
Alternatively, you can explore the city of Lucerne, it’s a beautiful city packed full of history, culture and views. I visited a gorgeous little wine bar right opposite Chapel Bridge, which is considered to be Europe’s oldest covered bridge! It’s a charming city and the perfect place to end your 4-day itinerary for Switzerland.
Evening: Catch your flight home
And that concludes your 4-day itinerary for Switzerland! Either hop on the train to Zurich airport (ZRH), which takes around 1.5 hours or spend an additional night in either Lucerne or Zurich.
Final Thoughts on a 4-day itinerary for Switzerland
That wraps up my guide on how to spend 4 days in Switzerland! As you can tell, there is so much to see and do, and 4 days in Switzerland is the perfect amount of time to see a huge variation of different places, towns and villages.
Travelling via train also takes the stress out of planning and allows you to relax and take in the views as you travel.
I had SO many incredible moments, but some of my favourites had to include exploring the fairy-tale-like town of Lauterbrunnen, taking the train from Interlaken-Lucerne and relaxing on a Catamaran Cruise on Lake Lucerne.
I hope that this guide will inspire you to travel to Switzerland and will allow you to see that you really can see so many spots with just 4 days in Switzerland!
