Our memorable 4 Days in Switzerland Itinerary

We had just four days to explore Switzerland, but with a well-planned route and efficient train travel, we covered a lot. We visited with my sister’s family, who are settled in Germany. They had been to Switzerland several times before and knew their way around, which helped plan this itinerary. Our trip was in the first week of August.

We started with a stay in Zurich and a visit to the mighty Rhine Falls, went up to Mt Titlis for snow fun, cruised on Lake Lucerne, rode the scenic Glacier Express, explored the alpine village of Zermatt, and ended with a stay in Bern and a chocolate and cheese day in Gruyères.

This itinerary allowed us to experience a mix of nature, adventure, and above all, jaw-dropping Swiss scenery without feeling rushed. I am still amazed at how much we did in four days. Read on for more details about my itinerary and some suggestions on what you can add if you have an extra day or two.

Day 1: Zurich & Visit to Rhine Falls

We arrived in Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Zurich HB) by train from Munich, which took around four hours. Zurich is one of Switzerland’s major cities and a popular entry point, whether you’re flying in or arriving by train. It’s well connected to the rest of the country and makes a convenient base for day trips and travel across regions.

Rhine Falls

After checking into our hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Zurich North, we headed out to see Rhine Falls, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. From Zürich HB, we took a direct train to Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall, which takes just under an hour.

The train station is a short 5-minute walk from the visitor entrance. If you want to get very close to the falls, there is an observation deck with a use fee. We were planning to do the boat ride, so we skipped this, but saw the observation deck from the boat.

There is a pedestrian bridge that spans the river just above the falls. The views from the bridge of the falls rushing down and the surrounding scenery are incredible. We crossed the bridge and then followed the trail down to the boat dock.

➡️ Check out this 4 hour Rhine Falls Coach Tour from Zurich

The boat ride took us near the base of the falls. It was thrilling, especially when we got close enough to feel the spray.

Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich

After returning to Zurich in the evening, we took a walk along Bahnhofstrasse, the city’s famous shopping street. It stretches from the main train station, Zurich HB, to Lake Zurich and is lined with department stores, boutiques, souvenir stores, and cafes. It was a nice, relaxed way to unwind after our outing to the falls.

For dinner, we went to Hiltl Dachterrasse, a vegetarian restaurant in the Bahnhofstrasse. It had a unique buffet concept of paying by the weight of food taken, which allows less waste. The buffet had several Indian food options as well, which we were delighted to find.

Altstadt in Zurich

After dinner, we took a relaxed stroll through Altstadt, Zurich’s old town. This historic part of the city is full of narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, beautiful churches, bridges, and small town squares. We didn’t explore deeply, but even a short walk gave us a glimpse of Zurich’s charm and character before calling it a night.

➡️ If you want to see more of Zurich, you can take this 2-hour Zurich Highlights Sightseeing Tour and see the top sights.

Day 2: Day Trip to Mt Titlis and Lake Lucerne Cruise

Mt Titlis and Jungfraujoch are two of the most famous mountain destinations in Switzerland with incredible alpine scenery.

We only had time to visit one of these in our four-day trip. I chose Mt Titlis because several popular Bollywood movies were shot here. There is a life-size cutout of my favorite Bollywood actor, Shah Rukh Khan, on the summit of Mt Titlis. If you are wondering why there are so many Indians on Mt Titlis, it’s because of this!

We had an early start from Zurich for a day trip to Mt Titlis. From Zürich HB, we took a train to Engelberg, the base town for Mt Titlis. The journey took just under two hours, with a quick connection at Lucerne. The route itself was scenic, especially as we got closer to Engelberg, with views of alpine meadows and mountain peaks.

➡️ You can also do this day trip as a guided tour from Zurich. Check out Mount Titlis and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich

Mount Titlis

From the Engelberg station, we walked to the Titlis cable car station, where we began our ascent to the summit.

It takes about 30 minutes in total and involves two cable cars, a regular gondola for the first leg, followed by the Titlis Rotair, a rotating cable car that slowly turns 360 degrees as it climbs, offering panoramic mountain views.

At the top, we spent a couple of hours exploring the different attractions. I was amazed at the many things to do on Mt Titlis. My family had a blast.

We walked through the Glacier Cave, took in sweeping views from the summit terrace, and rode the Ice Flyer chairlift over the glacier. The Ice Flyer was such an incredible experience with 360-degree views around us. I think that was one of the most memorable experiences for me on this trip. We also did snow tubing, which was a fun and unexpected activity in the summer.

Another unique experience was the Titlis Cliff Walk, a narrow suspension bridge that hangs 500 meters above the glacier. It’s known as Europe’s highest suspension bridge.

For lunch, we ate at the Titlis Panorama Self-Service Restaurant, located at the summit. The food was okay, standard cafeteria-style fare.

After we descended back to Engelberg, we stopped at Spice Bistro, located near the base station. This place had surprisingly good chai, samosas, and wraps, which made for a perfect warm snack before heading back. It was a delight to find Indian comfort food at Mt Titlis.

Lake Lucerne

In the afternoon, we took the train to Lucerne and spent some time by the lake. Lake Lucerne is one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland, surrounded by mountains and traditional villages. We did a 1-hour boat cruise, which glided past forested hills, lakeside homes, and snow-capped peaks in the distance. The ride was calm and relaxing, a nice change of pace after the mountain activities earlier in the day.

➡️ Check out this 1-hour Lake Lucerne Sightseeing Cruise

After the cruise, we had dinner in Lucerne near the train station at La Bestia before returning to Zurich for the night. A few restaurants near the train station to consider if you’re spending the evening in Lucerne:

• La Bestia – Pizza Pizza – a cozy Italian spot known for pizza and pasta. The pizzas were really authentic, with great flavor.
• Tibits Luzern – Located on the upper level of Lucerne’s main train station, Tibits offers a vegetarian buffet where you pay by the weight of your plate.
• Zunfthausrestaurant Pfistern – traditional Swiss food near the Chapel Bridge with outdoor seating.

We took the evening train back to Zurich and ended the day feeling like we’d experienced two classic Swiss experiences, snowy mountains and lakeside charm, all in one day.

Day 3: Scenic Glacier Express to Zermatt, reaching Bern

The Glacier Express scenic train was on my Switzerland bucket list, and we made sure to devote half a day to it. In the US, train travel is not that common, so we were very excited to experience a long-distance train ride with lush green mountain scenery. My husband loved the Switzerland trip because he could sit back and enjoy the train travel instead of driving.

Glacier Express train ride

In Chur, we boarded the Glacier Express at 11 AM, often called the slowest express train in the world. It’s famous for its panoramic windows and incredible views of the Swiss Alps. We had reserved seats in advance, which is mandatory on this popular route.

The ride from Chur to Zermatt took about 6 hours, and it was one of the most scenic train rides of our Switzerland trip. We passed through mountain valleys, crossed stone bridges, and went over high-altitude passes.

The train goes through the Oberalp Pass, the highest point on the route at over 2,000 meters, and then winds through narrow gorges and tiny alpine villages.

My family enjoyed coffee, hot chocolate, and pastries from the onboard dining service as we took in the views. The train moved at a leisurely pace, so we had plenty of time to relax and watch Switzerland’s scenery unfold like a moving postcard through the large panoramic windows.

As the train neared Zermatt, the majestic Matterhorn came into view, and it was truly spectacular. Its iconic pyramid shape is hard to miss! I humbly say that I have seen its miniature replica in California’s Disneyland.

Zermatt

Zermatt is best known as the base for visiting the Matterhorn. The Matterhorn is one of Switzerland’s most iconic peaks, known for its sharp, pyramid-like shape towering over the alpine village of Zermatt.

We reached Zermatt around 5 PM, and although we didn’t have time to head up the mountains, we still got to experience a bit of the village’s charm. Zermatt is a car-free village, and it’s easy to walk around. I loved Zermatt so much that if I ever get the chance to revisit Switzerland, I would love to stay overnight here.

We had a couple of hours to explore and spent the time wandering through the pedestrian streets, browsing souvenir shops, and taking in views of the Matterhorn from various angles around town. The weather was clear, so we were lucky to catch some nice views of the iconic peak in the background.

If you have more time, there are options to take the Gornergrat Railway or cable cars up to viewing platforms.

➡️ Check out this Zermatt 2-Hour Walk with add-ons to head up to Gornergrat or Glacier Paradise

As we were walking along the Bahnhofstrasse in Zermatt, we were surprised to catch the goat parade, also called the Goat’s Tour. This is a traditional daily summer procession in which a herd of blackneck goats is led through the main street. It was such a fun and unexpected local moment.

We ate at Golden India Zermatt, which was right outside the train station. We were seated right away. We didn’t want to wander too far for food as we had to catch the train to Bern. There are plenty of restaurants on the Bahnhofstrasse, and you can explore more options.

Later that evening, around 8 PM, we took a train from Zermatt to Bern, with a connection in Visp. The total travel time was around 2 hours and 15 minutes. We arrived in Bern and checked into the Holiday Inn Bern – Westside, where we would be staying for the next two nights.

After a long day filled with trains, breathtaking Swiss scenery, and a taste of alpine village life, we got some much-needed rest for the next day’s chocolate and cheese adventures.

Day 4: Chocolate Tour in Broc and & Cheese factory at Gruyères

After a convenient breakfast at our hotel in Bern, we set off for a day trip to two Swiss bucket list attractions – Maison Cailler chocolate factory, and the Gruyères cheese factory, both located in the Fribourg region.

Maison Callier Chocolate Factory in Broc

We took a morning train from Bern to Broc-Fabrique, with a connection in Bulle. The total journey took just under two hours. The second leg of the ride on a smaller regional train was especially scenic as we passed green pastures and small Swiss villages.

Our first stop was the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in Broc, just a short walk from the station. The tour is self-guided but very well done. It starts with a brief walk-through museum of the brand’s history, with immersive exhibits that show how chocolate came to Europe and how Cailler began making it in Switzerland. We especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the production line where chocolates are actually being made and packed.

The best part, of course, was the tasting room at the end, a generous selection of Cailler chocolates, lined up for sampling. It’s hard to stop at just one. We all tried a variety of flavors. There’s also a large shop where we picked up some souvenirs and a lot of chocolate to take home.

Swiss cheese factory in Gruyères

After the chocolate tour, we took a local bus from Broc village to Gruyères, which only took about 10 minutes. From the bus stop, it was an easy walk to the La Maison du Gruyère cheese factory, located right behind the bus stop.

We did the self-guided tour with headphones, which walked us through the steps of how Gruyère cheese is made. You can see parts of the production process through viewing windows, and the tour ends with tasting samples of Gruyère cheese.

After the tour, we had lunch at Restaurant de La Maison du Gruyère, right next to the factory. We ordered their classic Gruyère fondue, which was served bubbling hot in a traditional fondue pot called a caquelon. The fondue came with chunks of crusty bread and other dippers like boiled potatoes, pickles, etc. We had never tried a cheese fondue before, and it was a unique and delicious meal experience.

Gruyères Castle and Village

After lunch, we walked up into the village of Gruyères, a small medieval town with cobbled streets, a beautiful village square, and a handful of artisan shops and cafes.

At the top of the village sits the Château de Gruyères, a well-preserved medieval castle that dates back to the 13th century. We walked through its rooms, admired the historic furnishings and artwork, and enjoyed the panoramic views from the castle gardens.

No reservations are needed for a visit unless you’re booking a guided tour. The castle is open daily, with tickets available at the entrance and last entry 45 minutes before closing.

Later in the afternoon, we took the train back to Bern, retracing our route through Gruyères, Bulle, and Fribourg. It was a quiet and scenic ride back, and we arrived in Bern in time to grab a light dinner near our hotel.

This day was a great change of pace, after all the mountains, lakes, and train rides, it was fun to spend the day learning about (and tasting!) two of Switzerland’s most famous foods, chocolate and cheese, in such picturesque settings. Plus, we got to visit a village and a historic castle at Gruyères!

Day 5: Return to Munich

I wish we had some time to explore Bern, but we had to return to Munich. If you have some time in Bern, check out this 2-hour Guided Walking Tour in Bern.

Our Swiss adventure concluded as we took a train from Bern back to Munich, cherishing the unforgettable memories we made over the past four days.

Bonus Day Trip Suggestion

If we had one more day in Switzerland, I would have loved to do a day trip to Jungfraujoch and Interlaken. From Bern, it’s about an hour by train to Interlaken Ost, and from there, the scenic journey up to Jungfraujoch takes about 1.5 hours each way, passing through Grindelwald.

Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe, and the views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers are spectacular. Interlaken, a lively resort town set between two lakes and surrounded by mountains, is also great for an overnight or a longer stay. Interlaken and Jungfraujoch are on my bucket list for a future trip!

Final Takeaways: Our Switzerland 4 day Itinerary

This 4-day itinerary gave us a little taste of everything that makes Switzerland special. We visited big cities like Zurich and Bern, took in the views from the snow-covered mountain peak of Mt Titlis, cruised across the peaceful alpine waters of Lake Lucerne, rode the scenic Glacier Express through stunning landscapes, wandered through the charming village of Zermatt, visited a medieval castle in Gruyères, and enjoyed the country’s rich food traditions with stops at Maison Cailler and La Maison du Gruyère.

Switzerland is truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. Even though we packed a lot into four days, the trip still felt relaxing. I think being surrounded by nature does that to you. I can’t wait to visit again someday and explore even more of what Switzerland has to offer.