Switzerland itinerary: 4 days
Let’s dive into the best of Switzerland in 4 days. Get ready to explore some of the country’s most beautiful cities, charming towns, and breathtaking landscapes. This itinerary will help you fall in love with Switzerland, and by the end of your trip, you’ll already be planning your return.
With limited time, I’ve focused on must-see destinations. To make the most of your journey, it’s essential to have a well-organized plan, allowing you to maximize every moment.
Itinerary summary:
- Day 1: Zurich and Lucerne.
- Day 2: Lauterbrunnen Valley and Interlaken.
- Day 3: Grindelwald Valley.
- Day 4: Lake Oeschinensee and Blausee.
🚗 If you need to rent a car to do this route through Switzerland, I recommend checking prices at Discover Cars and Auto Europe, two of the best car rental search engines.
Day 1 in Switzerland: Zurich and Lucerne
Although I think that in Switzerland the nature is much more special than the cities, which I also like, I think it can be very interesting to dedicate the first day to visit Zurich and Lucerne. The historical centers of both cities are small, and you can get to know them through a pleasant walk.
Zurich
If you are traveling to Switzerland by plane, it is very likely that you will fly to Zurich, so this city will be the first stop on your trip.
You can start your visit with a stroll through Niederdorf, an area full of pedestrian streets with cafes, bars, and stores. Continue to the Grossmünster Church and, if you feel like it, climb its towers for 5€. I also recommend walking around the lake, at least as far as the Opera House. Other places that will catch your attention are the Fraumünster Church, St. Peter’s Church, and the Bahnhofstrasse.
If you want to go deeper in your visit to this city, I advise you to read my article on what to see in Zurich in one day.
Lucerne
After exploring Zurich, it’s time to take a short drive of less than an hour to reach Lucerne, one of Switzerland’s most enchanting cities. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting three times, and it never fails to surprise me.
While in Lucerne, be sure to stroll through the beautiful old town and discover its hidden gems, such as the Jesuitenkirche, Spreuer Bridge, Lion Monument, and the Church of St. Leodegar. However, the highlight is undoubtedly crossing the Kapellbrücke, a picturesque wooden bridge with a tower that links the historic part of the city with the modern area.
If you’re interested in exploring the surroundings, consider visiting Mount Titlis or Stanserhorn for some stunning views.
For more details on this destination, check out my article on what to see in Lucerne in one day.
📲 If you want to have internet and your company does not include it, you can buy a sim card at the destination or, much more convenient, you can purchase an eSIM from Holafly at a discount. You can book it here 5% cheaper with the code “comeamaviaja”. You will have internet from the moment you land or cross the border! We used them on our trip and it worked great for us.
Day 2 in Switzerland: Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken
We leave the city of Lucerne behind, if you didn’t already do it the night before, to enter the area of Switzerland that hides some of the most beautiful landscapes: the district of Interlaken.
I have visited this region on several occasions, and I think it is one of those places I would never get tired of going to. Be prepared to visit a nature that will leave you speechless on numerous occasions.
From this area, we can especially highlight the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys, both beautiful. Although they are quite close, the landscapes are very different, so it is well worth visiting both of them.
Lauterbrunnen
The next stop in our tour is another highlight of your Switzerland in 4 days itinerary: the village of Lauterbrunnen. Many people have told you about this place, possibly one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. I won’t be able to say if it is really the best, but it is surely picturesque and special.
Lauterbrunnen is particularly famous for its surroundings, as it sits between dramatically steep cliffs from which glacial waterfalls cascade down. It is a pleasure to simply stroll through its charming streets and take in the breathtaking scenery.
Of course, there is much more to do other than village exploration. We have seen Trümmelbach Falls, a set of powerful waterfalls hidden inside the mountain, and gone by cog railway up to Wengen, a little village high above.
To read more of my suggestions on what to see in the valley, refer to my article on the best places to visit in Lauterbrunnen.
Interlaken
If you have time to spare in the afternoon, you can go to the town of Interlaken and take a walk through its streets or do some activity in the surroundings.
My biggest recommendation, if it is warm, is to go swimming in Lake Brienz. I did it several times, and it is an incredible pleasure to swim in those blue, clean, and cool waters, surrounded by mountains. You can also rent a kayak and go into the interior of the lake. I did it at Hightide Kayak School.
Another good plan to do in Interlaken is to go up to the Harder Kulm viewpoint or visit the St. Blessed Caves. In this article about what to see in Interlaken, you can discover all the plans in the area.
Day 3 in Switzerland: Grindelwald Valley
On the third day, I recommend you visit the valley of Grindelwald.
Once you get into the valley and reach the village, you will have plenty of activities at your disposal. Although walking through its streets dotted with wooden houses surrounded by green meadows and snow-capped mountains is an activity in itself.
I am going to propose two options for you to choose according to your preferences or budget. If you organize your time very well, maybe you can sign up for both plans. I leave that decision up to you.
Grindelwald-First and Bachalpsee Lake
In the same village, you have to go to the Grindelwald-First cable car to go up to this second station. The views from the cabin are amazing, so pay attention.
Once at the top, you will find the First Cliff Walk (you can enter for free), a walkway built into the side of the mountain. From it, if the weather is nice, you have views of the highest peaks in the area: the Eiger, the Mönch, and the Jungfrau. It’s amazing!
At First, you’ll also find plenty of adventure activities, such as zip lining, but I highly recommend the hiking trail to Bachalpsee Lake. It’s an easy hike, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. If you’re interested, my guide to visiting Bachalpsee provides all the details you need to plan your excursion.
The Grindelwald-First cable car costs 68 CHF for a round trip or 34 CHF if you choose a one-way ticket, either up or down. It’s a good idea to book the cable car in advance to ensure everything is set for your visit.
Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe)
My other recommendation is to climb up to Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe), a mountain pass located between the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks. It is also the highest railway station in Europe.
What is most impressive about this excursion is being surrounded by the highest peaks in the area and being able to have the Aletsch Glacier at your feet. The views are fantastic. In addition, you can walk inside an ice palace or ride a zip line.
Getting to Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald is easy. First take the Eiger Express cable car to Eigergletscher (20 minutes). Then take the train to Jungfraujoch (25 minutes). The price for this excursion is 164 CHF per person.
In my article on how to get to Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe), I tell you everything you need to know to visit this place.
For other activities you can do in this valley, I recommend you read my article about what to do in Grindelwald.
🏥 It is recommended to purchase travel insurance for Switzerland, since it is a very expensive destination and you never know what can happen. I always use and recommend Heymondo travel insurance, in which I can offer you your next travel insurance policy 5% cheaper here.
Day 4 in Switzerland: Lakes Oeschinensee and Blausee
On the fourth day, I would recommend a visit to Lake Oeschinensee. There are quite a few great lakes in Switzerland, but Oeschinensee is the best for me because it is completely incomparable due to its great view.
It takes about an hour’s drive from Interlaken to reach Kandersteg, which houses the cable car that leads to Oeschinensee. One-way cable car rides cost 24 CHF per person, with a round-trip ticket available for 32 CHF.
Upstairs, various routes open. You can swim on the beach of the lake, go for a walk, or both, depending on your energy.
We took Route 8, which is a 3-hour trail with an elevation gain of nearly 500 meters. It was spectacular at all times, especially from a viewpoint in the first quarter of the route—it’s just great. You can take a hike to this viewpoint if you don’t have enough time and get back to the lake for a refreshing plunge into its waters.
The cable car down runs until 17:00 or 18:00 depending on the season, so you might want to calculate your time accordingly. If you want to walk down, then you can stay for longer; it takes about an hour walking down.
From Lake Oeschinensee, go to the Blausee Lake, which is very picturesque. It’s easily accessible, and there is convenient parking close by. The site is well equipped for visitors, and access closes at 21:00, so you will have enough time to see everything.
💡 If you have more time in Switzerland, you could include a visit to the village of Zermatt and make the excursion to Gornergrat to see the spectacular Matterhorn (Matterhorn).
Tips for visiting Switzerland in 4 days
It is very important that you take into account the following tips to organize your 4 days in Switzerland itinerary.
Hotels in Switzerland
Given the structure of this itinerary, I suggest spending the first night in Lucerne, followed by the second and third nights in Interlaken. From Interlaken, it’s about a 45-minute drive to Kandersteg for visiting Oeschinensee.
Alternatively, depending on your preferences and travel plans, you could consider spending the final night in Kandersteg to make the most of your time there.
I recommend some hotels below:
- In Lucerne, a hotel that is moderately inexpensive is Bettstatt-Neustadt.
- In Interlaken, a couple of good options are Walters Hostel Interlaken and Chalet-Gafri.
- In Kandersteg, you can check out Hotel Des Alpes.
Remember that hotels, like many things in Switzerland, are extremely expensive. I recommend you book a place to stay as soon as possible to have more choice or consider the option of going to campsites (it is cheaper and you will be more in contact with nature).
Finally, I share my articles about where to stay in Lucerne and where to sleep in Interlaken, in case they are useful.
Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card or Jungfrau Travel Pass
In Switzerland, there are several cards that you can take out to use all public transport networks in an unlimited way. These also include mountain excursions or discounts on tickets.
When you organize your trip to Switzerland, it is very interesting to calculate the money you would spend for all the tickets you have to buy and to calculate if it is more profitable to opt for some of the available cards, such as the Swiss Travel Pass, the Swiss Half Fare Card, or the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
If you are going to travel by car, I would say that the Swiss Travel Pass is not worth it (if you choose to travel by train, maybe it is—you can buy the STP here), but the one you may be interested in is the Swiss Half Fare Card. This card costs 126€ and gives you a 50% discount on mountain tours.
Finally, the Jungfrau Travel Pass includes all mountain excursions in the Jungfrau area, the region to which Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen belong. To climb the Top of Europe, you have to pay a supplement. You can purchase the JTP here.
Other tips for visiting Switzerland in 4 days
Here is a compilation of other small tips to keep in mind when organizing your trip:
- As I mentioned above, I recommend Discover Cars or Auto Europe to rent a car. It will probably already have the sticker that allows you to use the country’s highways. However, if you are traveling with your own vehicle to Switzerland, you will need to purchase the vignette that allows you to use the highways. You can buy it at gas stations before entering the country.
- The European Health Insurance Card is valid in Switzerland, but if you prefer to have more complete medical coverage, I recommend booking travel insurance for Switzerland. I always use and recommend Heymondo, where I can offer you 5% discount.
- The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc. 1 CHF is usually 1 Euro. I recommend you use a card like N26 to pay with it in the local currency or withdraw cash without extra commissions. You can order this card here.
- Some companies do not include internet in Switzerland (as was my case). If your company does not include it either, the most convenient option is to buy an eSIM from Holafly. You will have internet from the moment you enter the country, and you won’t spend any time looking for a SIM card at your destination.
- Eating out is very expensive in Switzerland. My recommendation is to go to supermarkets and buy prepared food. You will save a lot of money. As for drinking, take a canteen with you and refill your water. There are many fountains everywhere.
Map: Switzerland 4 days itinerary
In the map below, I’ve marked the essential stops for this 4-day trip to Switzerland, organized day by day. You’ll also find the driving route to help you get a clear idea of the itinerary.
If you end up with more time (or perhaps for your next visit), be sure to check out my 7-day Switzerland itinerary.
I hope this Switzerland in 4 days itinerary has been helpful in planning your adventure. You might be left wanting more, but this itinerary will be a great start for future explorations. Until next time, and safe travels!
