Itineraries for Your Trip to Swiss Alps
3 Days in Swiss Alps for First Timers
I've been lucky to visit the Swiss Alps in winter and summer. Picking my favorite would be like picking a favorite child, as they both are pretty amazing. Skiing was my main focus in winter, while summer weather made exploring the region's many villages easier.
When you have three days in the Swiss Alps, you can move from town to town to get the best of the region. I recommend you take advantage of the many cable cars and cogwheel trains throughout the region. They are fun to ride and usually have expansive views once you reach the top. Here's how to make the most of your time in the Swiss Alps.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Gornergrat Railway.
Expect cool summers in the valleys and year-round snow at higher elevations in the Swiss Alps.
Start your visit to the Swiss Alps with a day in Lucerne. This pretty town is on the shore of Lake Lucerne, so you'll find plenty of boat tours and water sports to keep you busy. The city is known for its Medieval architecture, so spend time walking around and taking it all in.
Lucerne is the gateway to Mount Rigi, so you can take the cogwheel train or aerial cable cars to reach the top of the mountain. The journey to the top is part of the fun, but views from the top are the highlight.
For your second day, make your way to the adventure capital of the Swiss Alps, Interlaken. Here, you can kayak around Lake Brienz, rent e-bikes to explore the area, and see the castles along the way.
When you're ready for some higher-elevation views, take the cable car up the mountain to Harder Kulm, a viewpoint above Interlaken. You can also hike here if the weather permits. Dine at the Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant, which serves Alpine-style cuisine with views of the Bernese Alps. There's a playground nearby for the kids, too.
The final stop on your Swiss Alps jaunt is Zermatt, the village of the Matterhorn. Here, skiing reigns supreme, but you can also enjoy other high-adventure sports, such as paragliding. Keep an eye out for moose, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife as you soar above the town.
It's all about the views in Zermatt, so take the Gornergrat Railway to the 10,135-foot (3,089-meter) station. At the top, you can enjoy a meal in the restaurant, visit the interactive Matterhorn exhibit, and simply take in the Matterhorn views.
