Looking for the 10 best day trips from Zurich in Switzerland? With 11 listed, this guide can go one better than that! There are so many places to visit within easy reach of the big, glitzy Swiss city.
Here you’ll discover the three top day trips to take by train, all of which can be accessed in under an hour by rail from Zurich. Next up there are three very different half-day tours to choose from. Last but definitely not least, I offer you five of the best full-day trips, including several mega-popular mountain excursions.
I’ve also included do-it-yourself alternatives to the most popular organized day tours from Zurich. That way you can visit in your own time by train or by car if you prefer to.
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You could take the train to Basel, Bern, or Lucerne – or are you planning to pick between Mount Pilatus, Mount Rigi, and Mount Titlis? Do you want to see the stunning Jungfrau region or marvel at a magnificent waterfall? Perhaps you’d prefer to tour a chocolate or cheese-making venue or visit a couple of the most famous Swiss destinations – Grindelwald and Interlaken.
Some of these trips include truly unforgettable experiences. Such as traveling by rotating cable car, or vintage cogwheel train, or even by boat across a glittering Swiss lake. In Switzerland, getting from A to B really can be the best part of the experience, believe me!
There are so many historic, cultural, and natural attractions to get to know, too, particularly within an hour’s train ride of Zurich. Or head to a mountain summit for panoramic Alpine views, winter sports, and an array of activities to get involved in, such as visiting a glacier cave or an ice palace.
If you’re wondering about day trips from Zurich, ponder no longer. Read on to find out all about the best places you could soon be visiting!
3 Best Day Trips from Zurich by Train
Bern
By car: 1 hour & 40 minutes via A1
By train: from 55 minutes direct
Good to know: Parking can be difficult, so use parking garages on the city fringes.
Contrary to what some people think, Bern is the capital of Switzerland, not Zurich. It makes a great day trip, too, especially as it can take under an hour to travel between the two cities by train.
The 12th century, medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Swiss capital is also positioned on the banks of the River Aare. Don’t miss the moving bears at the Zytglogge Clock Tower, and you can take a guided tour too.
Other Bern highlights include the Gothic cathedral, the Zentrum Paul Klee Art Museum, the Untertorbrucke Bridge across the Aare, the Bern Historical Museum, the Bundeshaus or Swiss Parliament Building, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
In summer, you can even do as the locals do by taking a dip in the Aare, which you can access from the Marzili swimming pool. There’s also many fountains to admire, dotted all over Bern. You could even take a funicular railway trip up to Gurten Mountain, head to hilltop Rosengarten, or see the bears at BarenPark.
Basel
By car: 1 hour & 20 minutes via A3
By train: from 55 minutes direct
Good to know: Basel is Switzerland’s cultural capital with many museums to visit.
Basel is possibly as underrated as Bern, and also takes under an hour to get to from Zurich. It’s located on the famous Rhine River, so it can be popular with cruise passengers. The city is close to the borders with France and Germany.
If you’re a bit of a water baby, you’ll love Basel. Not only can you swim in the Rhine during summer, you can even take your clothes along with you in a Wickelfisch swim bag, which was invented locally. You can also tour the river in a flat-bottomed Weidling boat.
Other things to do in Basel include dining at the distinctive Markthalle Basel food hall or beautiful Bottmingen Castle. You can also find the oldest collection of public art on the planet at Kunstmuseum Basel. In fact, the city has more museums per square foot than anywhere else in Switzerland.
Don’t miss Marktplatz, at the heart of Basel’s medieval old town, and home to the 16th century Town Hall. Basel also has a Gothic cathedral dating from the 1500s, where you can see the Dutch scholar Erasmus’s tomb.
As with many Swiss and European cities, you can also shop at the local Christmas markets if you visit Basel during the festive season.
Lucerne
By car: 45 minutes via A4 & A14
By train: from 40 minutes direct
Good to know:
Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most popular cities to visit. And as a bonus, it’s so quick to get to from Zurich, with trains taking from only 40 minutes. There is also so much to do in Lucerne that you might end up wishing you’d stayed over!
Lucerne has a truly lovely old town, with original oriel windows and painted facades adorning some of the beautiful buildings. Head to Weinmarkt to see the best examples. It’s also a great place to shop, particularly for Swiss goods such as army knives, watches, and chocolate.
The famous wooden bridge in Lucerne is Chapel Bridge – or Kapellbrücke. Selfies are a must at this bridge, which dates back to 1333. It narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire in 1993.
Other things to see in Lucerne include the white Jesuit Church, with two onion domes; Horkirche with its twin towers; the moving dying Lion of Lucerne monument and the nearby Glacier Garden; the view of Reuss Weir, a rare needle dam, from Spreuer Bridge; the Bourbaki Museum with its big circular mural; and Musegg Wall and its towers.
Visitors of all ages will also enjoy the Swiss Transport Museum, by the lake. This is also home to the Swiss Chocolate Adventure. There’s also the Rosengart Collection art museum, which specializes in Modernist and Impressionist paintings, or the Richard Wagner Museum for music fans.
You can also take sightseeing cruises on Lake Lucerne, or see what’s on at the KKL cultural center.
3 Best Half Day Trips from Zurich
Lindt Home of Chocolate + city tour
Duration: 5.5 hours
Location: Zurich
Includes: Coach tour, Old Town, Lake Zurich cruise, 24-hour public transport ticket
Good to know: Walking required, no hotel pick-up or drop-off
Before thinking about places to visit from Zurich, don’t forget to explore the city itself! This five-and-a-half hour tour is a fabulous way to familiarize yourself with Switzerland’s biggest city. You’ll see the old town, take a sightseeing cruise across the lake, and even visit the Lindt Home of Chocolate.
At the latter you can sample this delicious Swiss chocolate, renowned for its high quality, and tour the museum. Once the tour ends, you can continue to use the included 24-hour public transport ticket, too.
Do it yourself
If you don’t want the city tour, you can buy stand-alone tickets for the Lindt experience.
Click here to book the Lindt Home of Chocolate + city tour
Click here to buy Lindt Home of Chocolate tickets
Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein
Duration: 5.25 hours
Location: Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein
Includes: Coach transport, Stein am Rhein tour, Rhine Falls, Laufen Castle, & Historama
Good to know: Optional summer boat ride costs extra, no hotel pick-up or drop-off
Stunning Rhine Falls and historic Stein am Rhein close to the Swiss-German border make the perfect destination for half-day Zurich day trips. You’ll travel by coach past rolling vineyards, and visit the cascading falls by Laufen Castle.
Next you’ll move onto Stein am Rhein, with a beautiful old town famous for its frescoed medieval buildings. In summer, you can pay extra if you like to take a boat trip up close to the thundering falls.
Do it yourself
The do-it-yourself alternative here is to take the train between Zurich and Stein am Rhein, which takes around an hour and 10 minutes. Or you can drive in around 50 minutes. If you have a rental car, you can drive to the falls, which are around 25 minutes from town.
Click here to book the Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein tour
Chocolarium and the Appenzeller Schaukäserei
Duration: 6 hours
Location: Chocolarium, Appenzeller Schaukäserei (cheese), & Appenzell village
Includes: Coach transport, driver guide, entry to chocolate & cheese experiences
Foodies will love this afternoon tour. If you’re more into experiences than ticking off things to see near Zurich, then you can visit a chocolate making and tasting venue plus a cheese production facility in one trip.
You’ll also get to spend time in the lovely Swiss village of Appenzell. It’s a very picturesque village in northeastern Switzerland, with cobbled streets, cute cafes, and frescoed houses. The village is also set among the scenic Appenzell Alps.
Do it yourself
You can travel between Zurich and Appenzell by car in around an hour and 10 minutes. By train, it takes about an hour and 40 minutes with a change, often in St Gallen.
The Chocolarium is in Flawil, and trains from Zurich take about an hour. By car, the journey takes around 50 minutes.
Appenzeller Schaukäserei is in Stein, and it takes around an hour and 40 minutes to get there from Zurich by train, or about an hour when driving.
If you want to visit all three destinations, the simplest way is to drive or book the organized tour.
Click here to book the Chocolarium and Appenzeller Schaukäserei tour
5 Best Full Day Trips from Zurich
Mount Titlis and Lucerne
Duration: 9.5 hours
Location: Lucerne & Mount Titlis
Includes: Coach transport, Lucerne tour, Rotair gondola ride, Activities (weather dependent)
Good to know: Winter clothing required, no hotel pick-up or drop-off
Taking at least one mountain excursion while in Switzerland is a must. This trip including Lucerne is among the best day tours from Zurich, Switzerland. It lasts for around 9.5 hours and takes you to the top of Mount Titlis, one of the most popular options. You’ll also visit Lucerne en route.
A tour of Lucerne is included, and you’ll also have some free time to spend as you like. To reach Titlis, you’ll take a trip on a revolving cable car. Once you get to the summit, various weather-dependent activities await, and are covered by the tour cost. These include the Ice Flyer, snowtubing, and a glacier cave.
Do it yourself
If you’d rather make your own way to Engelberg by car or train, you can book Mount Titlis tickets that include the gondola ride and mountain activities.
Click here to book the Mount Titlis and Lucerne tour
Click here to buy Mount Titlis tickets
Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne
Duration: 9.5 hours
Location: Lake Lucerne & Mount Pilatus
Includes: Coach transport, Seasonal travel via cable car, cogwheel train, and/or boat
Good to know: Winter clothing required; itinerary varies in early May, late October, & November; no hotel pick-up or drop-off
An alternative to a Lucerne and Mount Titlis day trip is to visit Mount Pilatus, plus the lake, instead. At around 9.5 hours, this tour takes the same length of time, but includes a different mountain destination. Do note that the itinerary and modes of transport for this one can vary, according to your chosen dates.
If you travel outside of early May, late October, and November, then you’ll be transported by the Dragon Ride gondola, and the steepest cogwheel train in the world. You’ll also take a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne to see the mountains reflected in the water.
Do it yourself
You can build your own Mount Pilatus excursion by taking a train or driving to Lucerne, which can take as little as 40 minutes. Next you can use a Golden Round Trip ticket to travel to and from Pilatus by bus, cable car, boat, and cogwheel railway.
Click here to book the Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne tour
Click here to buy Mount Pilatus Golden Round Trip tickets
Mount Rigi and Lucerne
Duration: 9.5 hours
Location: Lucerne & Mount Rigi
Includes: Coach transport, Cable car, Cogwheel train, Boat
Good to know: Winter clothing required, no hotel pick-up or drop-off
The third popular mountain to visit from Zurich is Rigi. Referred to as Queen of the Mountains, getting to and from the summit also involves travel by cable car, cogwheel train, and boat. This organized tour also includes coach travel from Zurich.
Rigi is known for snow in winter, and hiking in summer. There are four stops along the way, Rigi Kulm being the summit and Rigi Kaltbad a popular stop for its spa and wellness center, restaurants, and shops.
Do it yourself
The easiest way to reach Mount Rigi from Zurich yourself is to drive or take a train to Arth Goldau. Both take about 40 minutes. You can then take the Arth Goldau Rigi bahn – or cogwheel train – to Rigi Kulm.
Click here to book the Mount Rigi and Lucerne tour
Interlaken and Grindelwald
Duration: 11.5 hours
Location: Interlaken & Grindelwald (+ optional Mount First)
Includes: Coach transport, Guide, Free time
Good to know: Optional summer cable car ride costs extra, no hotel pick-up or drop-off
Another option for taking a mountain excursion is this one day trip from Zurich to Grindelwald and Interlaken. Lasting for almost 12 hours, it includes coach travel, the services of a local guide, and free time to explore in both locations.
During summer, you can take a cable car ride up to the summit of Mount First if you want to (at your own expense). Interlaken is known as Switzerland’s sports capital, while Grindelwald is also called the Glacier Village.
Do it yourself
It takes around two hours to travel from Zurich to Interlaken by train or car. The journey by road or rail from Zurich to Grindelwald takes about two-and-a-half to three hours. Interlaken and Grindelwald are around 30 minutes apart, by car or train.
Click here to book the Interlaken and Grindelwald tour
Jungfraujoch and Bernese Oberland
Duration: 12 hours
Location: Jungfrau region, Jungfraujoch, Bernese Oberland & Interlaken
Includes: Coach transport, Eiger Express, Cogwheel train, Activities (weather dependent)
Good to know: Winter clothing required, no hotel pick-up or drop-off
Travel to the Top of Europe, aka Jungfraujoch, with this pick of the Switzerland day tours from Zurich. A luxury coach will whisk you off to the mountainous Jungfrau region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A gondola and cogwheel train combination will then get you to the summit.
The day – weather permitting – also includes the Alpine Sensation, Sphinx Observatory, and Ice Palace, plus a stop in lovely Interlaken. Expect jaw-dropping scenery throughout the day, from the coach window, Interlaken, and the top of Europe.
Do it yourself
At around three hours and 40 minutes plus, it’s a fairly long trip from the main station in Zurich to Jungfraujoch train station. It is a scenic journey, however, as you might expect. You can buy round-trip tickets to get you from the station to the mountain summit.
Click here to book the Jungfraujoch and Bernese Oberland tour
Click here to buy Jungfraujoch tickets
Overall lots of great options for day trips from Zurich. Also check out The Best Switzerland Villages and Italy in December.
