Compare The Switzerland - Heartland Untour by Untours vs Switzerland in 8 days - Enchanting Alps & Glacier Scenic Railway - Exoticca Group Sup. by Exoticca

What To Do On Your Swiss Heartland Vacation

Day trips and sightseeing: Between charming towns, museums with world-class collections, gorgeous lakes, snow-capped mountains, hiking and good wine and food, you will wish you had booked a several-months' trip. There is so much to do in Switzerland that we list just a few of the many possibilities: There are the cultured cities of Bern, Thun, Brienz, Interlaken, Basel, Luzern, Zürich, Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, St. Gallen, Locarno and Lugano. Switzerland has many lakes and rivers to visit: Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, Lake Luzern, Lake Geneva, Lake Zürich, Lake Zug, Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, Lake Biel, Lake Constance, the Aare River and the Rhine River. Alpine highs not to be missed: Schilthorn, Jungfraujoch, Schynige Platte, Pilatus, Titlis, Stanserhorn, Schönbüel, Brienzer Rothorn, Balmeregghorn, Planplatten.

Switzerland has some of the finest museums on the Continent including the Kunstmuseum in Bern, the Sammlung Rosengart, the Picasso Museum and the Verkehrshaus (Transportation Museum) in Luzern, the Kunstmuseum in Zürich, the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum near Brienz, the Hergiswil Glass Factory, and the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Castles in Spiez, Thun, Oberhofen, Gruyères, and Chateau de Chillon are great trips and you can often combine them with a famous rail journeys: Golden Pass Panoramic Express, Glacier Express, Bernina Express.

Off-the-beaten-track attractions that can’t be beat: Seeing and tasting Swiss cheese made on a family-operated farm in the Alps, listening to local musicians and yodlers at our farewell get-together, buying fresh bread at your local bakery, hearing a (free) symphony of cowbells as you stroll to your home-away-from-home after a dinner at a lakeside restaurant. buying fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and cheese at the local open air market..

Day 1: US - Night on board

Ready to discover the spectacular cities and landscapes of Switzerland? Arrive at your departure airport, ready to catch a flight to Zurich.* Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Zurich

Touch down in Zurich, famous as a global center of finance on the north shore of beautiful Lake Zurich. Transfer to the hotel, get settled in and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Zurich.

Day 3: Zurich - Bern - Thun - Interlaken

After breakfast at the hotel, a 2-hour walking tour of Zurich with a professional guide. Explore the atmospheric Old Town, see the 12th-century Grossmunster cathedral and stroll down bustling Bahnhofstrasse. Discover Paradeplatz, the 11th-century Fraumunster Church and stroll along the river banks at Limmatquai. Afterwards, set off for the Swiss capital of Bern, a small city known for its medieval old town. Upon arrival, enjoy a 2-hour guided city tour with a professional guide. Pass through the old town where you can admire the Zytglogge medieval clock tower, the beautiful Rose Garden and Parliament Square. See the Gothic-style Bern Cathedral and visit Bear Park, named after the brown bear which is the symbol of the city. Later on, pass through Thun before continuing to Interlaken, a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region. Get settled at the hotel and enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery and charming alpine architecture. Overnight stay in Interlaken.

Day 4: Interlaken - Zermatt

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a short panoramic tour with your driver through Interlaken this morning, one of Switzerland's most important resort towns. Later, transfer to Zermatt, in the shadow of the famous Matterhorn mountain! This car-free resort is a natural paradise where you can soak up the tranquillity of the Swiss mountains. Overnight stay in Zermatt.

Day 5: Zermatt

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Zermatt. Admire the majestic silhouette of the Matterhorn or soak up the charming atmosphere of this Alpine town as you wander through its pretty streets, flanked by wooden architecture and chocolate-box style lodgings. One of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the famous Matterhorn is to take the Gornergrat Cogwheel Railway, which reaches a maximum height of 3,100 metres above sea level for spectacular views of the mountain and surrounding scenery!* Overnight stay in Zermatt. * Tickets for the Gornergrat Cogwheel Railway can be purchased at the destination. Timetables for the service are available locally.

Day 6: Zermatt - St. Moritz by Glacier Express

Breakfast at the hotel. Prepare for an exciting day ahead as you set off on the famous Glacier Express*, one of the most scenic train rides in the world! Journey through the inspiring landscapes of the Alps as you travel from Zermatt to St. Moritz, an unforgettable journey of around 7.5 hours. Pass through 91 tunnels, across 291 bridges and climb as high as 2033 meters as the Glacier Express crosses the Oberalp Pass. The journey includes a three-course meal and the panoramic windows ensure ample opportunities to kick back and take in the views! Arrive in St. Moritz and transfer to the hotel. St. Moritz is the most luxurious alpine resort in Switzerland so be sure to get out and explore the upmarket eateries and glamorous streets. Overnight stay in St. Moritz. *The possibility to upgrade your seats to first class is available in the next step of the booking process.

Day 7: St. Moritz - Davos - Klosters - Bad Ragaz

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning to explore St. Moritz at your leisure, famous for hosting the Winter Olympics twice and one of the most prominent ski resorts in Europe. Afterwards, head off to Davos, the highest town in the Swiss Alps. Enjoy this unique town, famous for holding the annual World Economic Forum before heading to Klosters which has a more laid-back atmosphere and boasts plenty of pretty wooden Alpine architecture. Afterwards, head to Bad Ragaz, one of Switzerland's most famous spa resorts. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. We recommend a visit to the Tamina Therme, a spa oasis that harnesses the healing properties of the thermal waters of Bad Ragaz. Overnight stay in Bad Ragaz.

Day 8: Bad Ragaz - Lucerne - Zurich

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave beautiful Bad Ragaz behind you today as you depart to Lucerne, an enchanting Swiss city filled with medieval architecture. Take in the views of Lake Lucerne and see St. Peter's Chapel, the Jesuit Church, the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge as you enjoy a 2-hour guided city tour, accompanied by a professional guide. Afterwards, continue your journey back to Zurich. On arrival, get settled at the hotel and enjoy your final evening in Switzerland. Overnight stay in Zurich.

Day 9: Zurich - US

Breakfast at the hotel.* Bid farewell to the charming culture and unforgettable landscapes of Switzerland. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for your return flight back to the US.* Arrive in the US and end of your trip. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.