26 Best Experiences Worth Day Trips from Zurich, Switzerland
After unexpectedly adding Switzerland to our European itinerary, I quickly fell in love with the country. Despite my low expectations, I was won over within 10 minutes of arriving. Switzerland’s beauty surpassed my expectations, and there’s still much more to explore. If you need convincing to visit Switzerland, you’ve come to the right place! I hope this post of day trips from Zurich inspires you to book your flights and visit this incredible country with your family.
So why Switzerland? To quickly summarize, the Swiss Alps, the variety of transportation options, the endless views, and the incredibly kind people are just a few. One of the best things about Switzerland is the wide variety of activities, including easy day trips from Zurich and Europe’s largest waterfall, amazing panoramic views, and serene lakes. There is something for everyone, and it’s all among views that you couldn’t even imagine are real.
Let’s talk about your great home base while in Switzerland. Zurich is not just a city, it’s a vibrant hub of efficiency, cleanliness, and stunning lakeside beauty. As Switzerland’s largest city, it’s a great location to have easy access to the best day trips for your time in the country. Zurich is a perfect blend of a historic old town that meets modern innovation, with a thriving cultural scene, beautiful architecture, and abundant shopping and dining options. No matter what you’re looking for, Zurich has it, making it an ideal and reassuringly comfortable tourist destination.
Public Transport Around Zurich, Switzerland and Beyond
Switzerland offers a variety of efficient and convenient transportation options for getting around the country. The extensive train network is renowned for its punctuality and scenic routes, making train travel an excellent choice for exploring the country. Additionally, Switzerland has well-maintained roads, and driving or hiring a car provides flexibility, especially for reaching remote areas. Trams, buses, bikes, and boats offer reliable and comprehensive coverage for shorter distances within cities. Switzerland’s reliable and interconnected transportation system makes navigating and exploring the country relatively easy.
Train Travel
Traveling by train from Zurich is a convenient and efficient way to reach various destinations within Switzerland, offering stunning views of the Swiss landscapes. Routes are released six months in advance, and some of them may sell out. I suggest booking in advance if you plan to travel using any of the Scenic options.
You will start your train journey from the Zurich main station, a vibrant and bustling area. I suggest popping into a cafe to grab a coffee and drinks before getting on the train.
Here are a few routes to familiarize yourself with:
- Bernina express will take you on the best Alpine train experience you could imagine through Churn and Tiarno
- Glacier Express is a scenic train ride between Zermatt and St. Mortiz
- Golden Pass route will get you between Montreux > Interlaken > Lucerne
- Jungfraubahn will take you to the Top of Europe (more on this experience below!)
Look into train tickets from Trainline in advance or when you arrive.
Biking In Zurich
Thanks to its well-developed network of cycling paths and lanes, biking in Zurich is a popular and environmentally friendly way to explore the city and its surroundings. With its flat and compact terrain, Zurich is highly conducive to biking, allowing visitors to easily navigate the city and enjoy the beautiful lakeside and urban landscapes at their own pace.
There are three main options for getting bikes while in Zurich
Travelers can rent a bike for free through Zurirollt (including children’s bikes!). You can upgrade to an electric bike for a fee.
Publibikes has stations throughout the city.
Rent-a-Bike is another rental options with multiple exchange stations.
Trams or StreetCars
Zurich boasts a highly efficient tram system that provides convenient and reliable transportation within the city and its neighboring areas. The extensive tram network in Zurich offers easy access to various attractions, making it an excellent option for getting around and exploring the city’s diverse districts and landmarks.
You can buy a tram or streetcar ticket at any station throughout the city. This is a quick and convenient way to get around the city; there is a station within a short walk of wherever you are.
Boats in Zurich and Beyond
Traveling by boat in Zurich offers a unique perspective of the city and its stunning lakeside location. Various boat ride day tours are available, and visitors can enjoy picturesque views and explore the beauty of Zurich’s surrounding areas. (This is my favorite option!)
The ferries/boats around Lake Zürich and the Limmat River are a wonderful option for slower travel while enjoying breathtaking views of the alps in the distance.
You can buy tickets in advance or at many of the ferry stops.
Let’s get into the day trips from Zurich (and a few overnight stops!) With each day trip location, I have included their travel time based on driving. If you are taking other modes of transportation, the time may be longer or shorter.
By time:
1-hour or less, a short drive outside of Zurich
Basel
A beautiful city located at the meeting point of Switzerland, France, and Germany, known for its vibrant cultural scene, including art, music, and theater. The city is also famous for its well-preserved medieval old town and stunning architecture, making it a popular destination for tourists and art enthusiasts alike.
Rhine Falls
A cool experience that gets you up close with the waterfall. It’s the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and you will easily confirm this is true as you follow the guided path from the top of the falls. You can also take a boat ride to see the falls from another vantage point on the Rhine River.
Stein Am Rhein
A quaint little town just outside of Zurich where you will notice a beautiful castle overlooking the town from the top of the mountain, cobblestone streets, and a beautiful waterfront view.
St. Gallen
A beautiful town in Northern Switzerland with a stunning twin-towered cathedral, a library, and incredible baroque architecture.
If you are interested in a tour guide, there are multiple options to get you from Zurich to Rhine Falls and Stein Am Rhein.
Many cities in Central Switzerland are worthwhile for a day trip at an hours distance.
Lucerne
A great place to visit if you want to experience many different activities in one day while only being a short ride from the city of Zurich.
Don’t miss the Lion Monument or the famous chapel bridge, and be sure to admire the well-kept medieval architecture throughout the city.
The Shores of Lake Lucerne is a great way to relax or take a boat ride to Weggis, then a cable car ride to the top of Mt Rigi or a boat to Vitznau and take the cogwheel train to see views from Mount Rigi.
Mount Pilatus
The place to be if you want magnificent views of Lucerne and the Swiss Alps. It’s easy to get to from either Zurich or Lucerne and is well worth the visit. Mt Pilatus offers multiple viewing platform options off of the rack railway. Oberhaupt and Ese, are the highest, though you will notice other lower platforms as well if you don’t want to climb the stairway.
1.5-3 hours
Mount Titlis (1 hr 15 min)
known as the icon in the heart of Switzerland; I recommend researching the best tour option to fit your family’s preferences. You could spend a day hiking exciting trails, ziplining, or even just enjoying the playground. The Titlis cliff walk looks incredible if you are looking for lots of adventure. If you want to spend a full day in the area (which you easily could!) look into a guided day trip.
Andermatt (1.5 hrs)
In the heart of the Swiss Alps sits this beautiful, historic town, perfect for a ski vacation, beautiful landscapes and short hikes (when with kids- there are plenty of longer hikes available too!) This valley village has cable car access to the Gemsstock ski area as well.
Chur (1.5 hrs)
Switzerland’s oldest and most authentic small town. Nestled between the mountains, you will find rich history and charming sights. It is a car-free town, so be prepared to walk through as you enjoy the area.
Lake Brienz (2 hrs)
A stunning turquoise lake in Switzerland’s Interlaken region. Surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery, it offers opportunities for boating, swimming, and leisurely lakeside strolls.
Lauterbrunnen (2 hrs)
This small town with beautiful scenery is home to over 70 waterfalls and beautiful views of the mountains.
Gruyeres (2 hrs)
A charming medieval town with charming houses, cobblestone streets, and cafes. It looks like it is straight out of a fairytale. Known for cheese and chocolate, there are factories and museums for both. I also recommend seeing the Medieval Gruyere Castle.
Bern (2 hrs)
Visit Bern’s Old Town, which is a unesco-listed old town and the Swiss Capital, visit a few museums, like the Natural History Museum, or even walk around to explore. There are many options for tours in the area, I highly recommend booking a private tour to ensure you see the sights most important to your group.
Wengen (2 hrs)
A beautiful town no matter the season. The summers are warm with crisp evenings, and the winters offer great skiing or winter sports options.
Lake Thun (2 hrs)
Great day trip to spend a day on the water. The crystal blue lake is gorgeous, and the impressive medieval fortress overlooking the town of Thun serves as a captivating landmark. The many cafes are perfect for a stop while you relax.
Bernese Oberland (2 hrs)
Region in Switzerland is known for its stunning mountain landscapes, including the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountain peaks. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and paragliding while taking in the breathtaking alpine scenery.
Montreux (2 hr 20 mins)
Known as the Swiss Rivera, this town is a popular destination for art lovers who want to hike, relax, and be on the lakeside.
Locarno (2.5 hrs)
Thus, the picturesque town is home to a popular International Film Festival, which attracts visitors from all over the world to Switzerland.
Morcote (2.5 hours)
This town is a mountainside dream! I am in awe of how beautifully situated this area is. Previously voted as the most picturesque town in Switzerland, you would never know it used to be a fishing town.
Geneva (3 hrs)
Headquarters of Europe United Nations and the Red Cross, Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland. If you are here for a day, I suggest the City Pass to see as much as possible. You will want to see the MAMCO, take a boat ride on the lake, take a cheese tour, and enjoy all the historical landmarks.
Geneva is another great base if you are staying in Switzerland for an extended period of time and want to take day trips.
Fribourg (2.5 hrs)
A lively university town draws in a younger crowd.
Grindelwald (2 hours 15 minutes)
The largest ski resort area in Switzerland has beautiful greenery in the summer for hiking and ziplining.
Full-Day Excursions
It’s personal preference how far is too far for a full-day excursion for your family. While we would generally max out at 3 hrs one-way for an excursion, these locations are either that far or further, so an overnight experience may be a better fit.
Train ride on the train to Jungfraujoch is the center of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch and is known as the Top of Europe as it is the highest train station in Europe. If you have the time, this is a must-visit.
Sion (3 hrs)
This historical town has monuments, beautiful architecture, and two stunning castles.
Grimmelwald (3.5 hrs)
Traffic free, quiet village at the cliff tops. Perfect for hiking, exploring the half-timbered houses, and escaping the busy, popular city center of Zurich.
Zermatt (3.5 hrs)
Zermatt is a popular Swiss town for a reason. It has a fairytale-like town, views of the Matterhorn, and only gets more beautiful at night. The resort area is also known for skiing, as it’s one of the highest resorts in Switzerland, so you can expect to ski all year around. This area of Switzerland borders Italy, so it’s a great stopping point if you are on your way there.
While in Zermatt, plan time for the Gornergrat Cog railway to see incredible views of the Matterhorn.
How to get here: train from Zurich with a change in Visp. You can also stop to see Bern and Thun along the way.
Gornergrat (3.5 hrs)
The most popular ridge for a view of the Matternhorn. Great destination for hikers and anyone wanting to spend time amongst the mountains.
By day trip type
Best boat ride day tours
- The Limmat River Cruise takes you from the National Museum in Zurich to the Zurichhorn. It is a one-hour roundtrip ride.
- Lake Zurich boat ride
- Mt. Pilatus via Lake Lucerne
- Mt Rigi to Lucerne
- Sightseeing cruise in Geneva (book one with a wine tasting!)
- Sailing on Lake Thun
- Jetboat in Interlaken
- Lake Brienz
Train Day Trips
- The scenic train rides in Switzerland will be hard to beat!
- Bernina Express
- Glacier Express
- Golden Pass
- Glacier Express
- Top of Europe tour
Cable cars – the best way to see sites while staying warm in the winter!
- Mt. Rigi
- Stans in Lucerne
- Pilatus Dargon
- Eiger Express
- Matterhorn Glacier Ride
- Bernese Oberland region
- Titlis rotator – rotates 360 to see all of the Mt. Titlis views!
- Mont Fort
- Stoosbahn (the steepest funicular in the world!)
Castles
Are you a fan of castles? Switzerland has no shortage of beautiful architecture, including medieval castle, historic chateaus, and more. This list is not exhaustive but will be near some of the surrounding regions from the day trips from Zurich above.
- Hohenklingen Castle (Stein am Rhein)
- Chillon Castle (Lake Geneva)
- Gruyeres Castle (Gruyeres)
- Neuchatel Castle (Neuchatel)
- Augle Castle (Rhone Valley)
- Oberhofen (Lake Thun)
- Sion Castle (Sion)
- Bellinzona Castles (3 of them!)
Ski Resorts
This list is not exhaustive but includes some of the locations above!
- Andermatt
- Zermatt
- Grindelwald
- Wengen
- Gstaad-Saanen
Best places for views of the snow-capped mountains
Again, this is not an exhaustive list, but it includes the areas mentioned above!
- Gornergrat
- Zermatt
- Jungfrau
- Lucerne
- Zurich!
There are many options when it comes to the best option for your day trips in Switzerland. I strongly encourage you to research the country and find the ideal place for your family, rather than choosing somewhere because it is a popular place.
Depending on your itinerary, I would look into the Swiss Pass or Swiss Travel Pass, City Tours, hop-on/hop-off bus options and go from there.
Summary of the 28 options for a day trips from Zurich, Switzerland
- Rhine Falls
- Stein am Rhein
- St. Gallen
- Lucerene
- Mount Pilatus
- Mount Titlis
- Andermatt
- Chur
- Lake Brienz
- Lauterbrunnen
- Gruyeres
- Bern
- Wengen
- Lake Thun
- Bernese Oberland
- Montreux
- Locarno
- Morcote
- Geneva
- Fribourg
- Grindelwald
- Jungfraujoch
- Sion
- Grimmelwald
- Zermatt
- Gornergrat
Have I talked you into a trip to Switzerland yet? We had the greatest time and want to visit again and again. The atmosphere was incredible, the people were kind, and the views were breathtaking (literally at some points far above sea level). I absolutely recommend planning a family vacation!
We’re the Volpes and we want to show you how to see the world with kids along for the adventure, and between school schedules the the 9-5.
