Our plan aimed to minimize the cost, maximize our stay in fixed vacation days to be used, and to allow for potential last minute flight rescheduling.
We had red eye flight to Zurich, leaving home Friday night, and arriving Saturday morning. We left Zurich on a red eye flight again, leaving Saturday night, and returning home Sunday. This gave us 8 full days in Switzerland.
Our visit was from July 5th to 12th, 2025, in the height of summer season, and we started the planning relatively late, only a month before the travel, hotels at some good locations became very expensive or not available. We booked hotel near Airport at Zurich instead of the more convenient old town area, and for the Interlaken area visit, we stayed at a hotel at Wilderswil, a couple train stops away.
The public transportation in Swiss is very good, convenient but very expensive. After detailed comparisons, we decided to purchase Swiss travel pass for the domestic travel from place to place, instead of individual ticket purchase, or half price card, or rental car.
Here is our realized itinerary for the 8 day Swiss Alps Trip.
July 5th, 2025, Sunny, Day 1
Arriving at Zurich early morning, planned to leave luggage at Zleep Hotel near the airport. We were lucky that the hotel room was ready for us, we checked in!
Took train to Zurich HB, city walk along the Limmat River to Lake Zurich (Zurichsee)
Take Ferry to the charming town Rappersil-Jona, which is at the south end of Zurichsee
Had lunch at Rappersil-Jona
Walked around Zurich near the lake
Take train from Zurich HB back to hotel
Had dinner at a restaurant by the hotel, went to bed early
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| a small island in Lake Zurich |
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| Rappersil-Jona |
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| Rappersil-Jona - fortress |
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| Rappersil-Jona |
July 6th, Lucerne, Rigi Kulm, Sunny, Day 2
Breakfast at the Zleep hotel
Left Zurich on early morning train (8am), arrived at Lucerne at (9am)
Left Zurich on early morning train (8am), arrived at Lucerne at (9am)
Stepped out of the train station, we were instantly charmed by Lucerne. Left is lake Lucerne, right is river Reuss, and the Spreuerbrücke (the covered pedestrian bridge with hundreds of paintings)
Stored luggage at our hotel Rothas
Rigi Kulum (mountain Rigi)
Rushed to the pier for the cruise to Vitznau
Cogwheel to Rigi Kulm but get off two stops before the destination
Hiked Rigi from midway
Take Cogwheel downhill
Boat return to Lucerne in the afternoon
Toured the city in the afternoon
Jesuit Church & Spreuer Bridge
A baroque masterpiece along the Reuss River.
Spreuer Bridge features eerie “Dance of Death” paintings inside.
Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal)
A somber and beautifully carved rock relief honoring Swiss Guards killed in the French Revolution.
Dinner at Bolero, a Spanish restaurant, had Pella
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| view from the train ride |
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| The arch outside Lucerne Train station |
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| the covered pedestrian bridge (Spreuerbrücke) |
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| hotel/residential area |
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| shore of Lake Lucerne |
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| View Lake Lucerne from the Cogwheel |
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| View of Pilatus Massif from the Cogwheel to Rigi |
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| Hiking to Rigi Kulm from mid-mountain |
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| Rigi Kulm |
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| city street near hotel Rothas |
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| old Swiss house |
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| Lion Monumnet |
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| Jesuit Church |
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| Another view of the covered Chapel bridge |
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| Spanish National Dish - Pella |
July 7, Lucerne/Pilatus, Rainy to Cloudy, Day 3
Take Train from Lucerne to Alpnachstad at the foot of Pilatus
Breakfast at train station at Alpnachstad
Cogwheel to Pilatus Kulm
Hike peak to peak see Blog for detail)
Return - cogwheel going downhill on a different route - aerial gondola to to Fräkmüntegg, then panoramic cable car to Kriens. Kriens bus to Lucerne
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| Swiss Breakfast at the foot of Pilatus |
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| look down at the sea of clouds from the summit of Matthorn |
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| River Reuss, Lucerne |
July 8, Zermatt, Sunny, Cloudy, Snowy, Sunny, Day 4
Train from Lucerne to Zermatt early morning - breakfast at train station
Arrived at Zermatt at noon - Sunny
Take Funicular, then Gondola to Blauherd - trail head of 5 lake trail
Hiking 5 lake trail (read blog for details)
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| Zermatt main street on a Sunny noon |
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| Funicular Tunnel |
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| Banner Cloud |
July 9, Zermatt...Gornergrat , Gorner gorge, Sunny, Day 5
Take Cogwheel to Gornergrat Summit
Hike downhill - thoroughly enjoyed the vista of Matterhorn
Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge - the longest suspension bridge in Alps
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| View of Matterhorn from Gornergrat |
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| The longest Suspension Bridge in Alps |
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| Gorner Gorge |
July 10, Interlaken/Wilderswil/Lauterbrunnen, Day 6, Sunny
Train from Zermatt to Interlaken/Wilderswil - hotel at Wilderswil - could not book hotel at Interlaken
Explore Lauterbrunnen (ride train from Wildeswill to Lauterbrunnen)
Visit Staubbach Falls
Short hike to Trümmelbach Falls (10-min bus or ~45-min walk, need to pay)
Picnic at Trümmelbach Falls area
Take train + cable car combo to Wengen
beautiful city
spectacular views of glaciers peaks
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| train station at Zermatt |
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| A street at Wilderswil |
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| village at Lauterbrunnen |
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| Staubbach Falls |
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| underground water falls - Trümmelbach Falls |
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| residential area at Wengen |
July 11, Interlaken...Grindelwald, Day 7, Sunny
Take gondola to Grindelwald first ((ride train from Wildeswill to Grindelwald)
Panoramic views of the Eiger, Wetterhorn, and Schreckhorn
Hiking Bachalpsee Lake trail an beyond - hiked downhill to Bort Gondola station
Take gondola back Grindelwald
(read blog for details)
Lake Cruise on Brienzersee
Walked around Interlaken and had dinner there
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| Bachalpsee Lake |
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| take a break at Bort Gondola station |
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| Brienzersee Lake |
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| a church at Interlaken |
Paragliding over Interlaken in the morning (see detail in the blog)
Lake Thun cruise
Had dinner at Airport, Fly home
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| a paraglide landing |
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| a port town by Lake Thunnersee |
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| a covered bridge at Thun |
Notes:
1. Swiss travel pass is proven to be very convenient to us, the saving from it was not big. No check on public transportation - which makes getting on and off really efficient. Inspection of tickets on long trip on the train/bus, fine is very high if found no valid tickets
2. Weather changes fast, bring umbrella/rain coat/light coat!
3. Sun screen is a must at high altitude even on a cloudy day; Carry water when hiking
4. Staying at a hotel away from tourist hotspot has its perk - quiet/beautiful villages and no crowd. Public transport to hotspots available.
