Want an itinerary like this for your trip?
Tell us where you're going and get a personalized plan in seconds — completely free.
Plan My Trip

5-Day Art & Design Focused Trip: Munich (no Oktoberfest) → Zurich → Lucerne → Interlaken → Munich

Day 1: Munich - Museums

Munich, Germany on September 20, 2025

8:30AM

Breakfast at Café Luitpold

Historic café with classic Bavarian breakfast pastries and a refined interior — a good, design-friendly place to start the day.
EUR18, 1h0m

10:00AM

Alte Pinakothek

One of the world’s great collections of European old masters; visit for classical painting composition and historic museum architecture (opens typically Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00; closed Mon).
EUR11, 2h0m

12:30PM

Lunch at Café Glockenspiel (Marienplatz)

Lunch with a view over Marienplatz and modern-café interiors; convenient for a midday break between museums.
EUR20, 1h0m

2:00PM

Lenbachhaus

Home to the Blue Rider (Blaue Reiter) collection and a beautifully renovated villa — essential for early-20th-century modernism and exhibition design (usually open 10:00–18:00; closed Mon).
EUR12, 1h30m

4:00PM

Pinakothek der Moderne (including Neue Sammlung: The Design Museum)

A major modern art and design complex combining contemporary art, architecture, graphic arts and industrial design — plan 2 hours; note opening hours are typically 10:00–18:00, Wed often open late.
EUR12, 2h0m

7:30PM

Dinner at Dallmayr (Delicatessen Restaurant)

Iconic Munich gourmet spot with refined Bavarian and modern cuisine in an elegant, design-rich setting — great for a relaxed evening.
EUR45, 2h0m

Day 2: Travel to Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland on September 21, 2025

7:30AM

Breakfast at hotel

Quick hotel breakfast to make the morning train; most hotels open breakfast buffets from 7:00–8:00AM.
EUR15, 0h45m

8:30AM

Train Munich → Zurich

Direct EuroCity/IC trains take about 4h; scenic ride through southern Germany into Switzerland (book advance for best fares).
EUR50, 4h0m

1:00PM

Lunch at Confiserie Sprüngli (Bahnhofstrasse)

Classic Swiss cafe for light lunch and Luxemburgerli macarons right on Bahnhofstrasse — great for design-minded food lovers.
CHF20, 1h0m

2:30PM

Kunsthaus Zürich

Zurich’s major art museum with strong modern and contemporary collections — open Sundays (typical hours 10:00–17:00); excellent for Swiss and European modern art.
CHF23, 2h0m

5:00PM

Lake Zurich promenade & Sechseläutenplatz walk

Leisurely design-and-architecture-focused walk along the lakeshore to admire urban waterfront planning and public-space design.
CHF0, 1h0m

7:30PM

Dinner at Restaurant Swiss Chuchi

Classic Swiss fondue/raclette in a cozy setting — a chance to experience Swiss culinary design and communal dining.
CHF40, 2h0m

Day 3: Lucerne - Lake & Heritage

Lucerne, Switzerland on September 22, 2025

8:00AM

Train Zurich → Lucerne

Fast intercity trains take approx. 1h — arrive into picturesque Lucerne to begin a compact day of architecture and lakeside design.
CHF15, 1h0m

9:30AM

Breakfast at Confiserie Heini

Local bakery and café known for quality pastries and a pleasant interior — wonderful for people-watching in the old town.
CHF12, 0h45m

10:30AM

Chapel Bridge & Old Town walking tour

Walk the iconic Kapellbrücke and the decorated wooden bridge; great for historic urban design and timber-bridge architecture (open daily).
CHF0, 1h0m

12:00PM

Lunch at Wirtshaus Galliker

Family-run restaurant serving classic Swiss dishes in a traditional interior — a good spot to sample regional cooking and interior atmosphere.
CHF28, 1h15m

1:45PM

Boat cruise on Lake Lucerne

Scenic lake cruise (services typically run mid-morning to late afternoon) highlighting the interaction between landscape and lakeside settlements.
CHF30, 2h0m

4:00PM

Lion Monument & Musegg Wall

Short visits to the poignant rock-carved Lion Monument and the Musegg defensive wall — interesting examples of memorial and civic architecture.
CHF0, 1h0m

7:00PM

Dinner at Restaurant La Cucina

Italian-Swiss restaurant favored for quality produce and stylish interiors — relaxed dinner before an early train next day.
CHF40, 1h30m

Day 4: Interlaken - Alpine Design

Interlaken, Switzerland on September 23, 2025

7:00AM

Train Lucerne → Interlaken (Luzern–Interlaken Express)

Scenic 2-hour panorama train showcasing Swiss alpine rail engineering and landscape-integrated design.
CHF35, 2h0m

9:30AM

Breakfast at Café Schuh (Interlaken)

Local café near the Interlaken station — practical and pleasant before heading up to viewpoints.
CHF12, 0h45m

10:30AM

Funicular to Harder Kulm viewpoint

Short funicular ride to panoramic terrace with vantage points that highlight alpine tourism infrastructure and viewing-architecture (funicular runs approx. 10:00–18:00).
CHF38, 1h30m

1:00PM

Lunch at Restaurant Taverne

Casual Swiss lunch with mountain views — a good place to sample regional dishes and alpine hospitality design.
CHF30, 1h15m

3:00PM

Optional: Paragliding over Interlaken or Lake Brienz boat

For a design-of-experience perspective, try tandem paragliding to appreciate landscape and human interaction with space (weather dependent; paragliding generally available in good conditions) or choose a calm scenic boat on Lake Brienz.
CHF150, 1h0m

6:30PM

Dinner at The 3 Tells Irish Pub (or local alpine restaurant)

Relaxed evening meal with international and local options; informal place to review photos and notes on alpine design and infrastructure.
CHF30, 1h30m

Day 5: Return to Munich - Design Finale

Munich, Germany on September 24, 2025

7:00AM

Breakfast at hotel

Early breakfast to prepare for the longer rail journey back to Munich.
CHF20, 0h45m

8:00AM

Train Interlaken → Munich

Direct and connecting trains take roughly 4–5 hours; enjoy alpine-to-urban transition and prepare for afternoon museums in Munich.
EUR55, 5h0m

1:30PM

Lunch at Viktualienmarkt stalls

Casual lunch sampling Bavarian specialties and design of food stalls in Munich’s central marketplace — quick, local and colourful.
EUR20, 1h0m

3:00PM

BMW Welt & BMW Museum

Explore automotive design, exhibits on mobility and museographic presentation — BMW Welt is a contemporary architecture and display design highlight (typically open 9:00–18:00).
EUR12, 1h30m

5:00PM

Museum Brandhorst or Haus der Kunst (contemporary art)

Choose Brandhorst for focused contemporary collections and colorful installation work, or Haus der Kunst for rotating contemporary exhibitions — both give insights into exhibition design (usually open until 18:00; Wed often open later).
EUR10, 1h30m

8:00PM

Farewell dinner at Schwarzreiter Tagesbar & Restaurant

Modern Bavarian fine dining with contemporary plating and interior design — a fitting finale to an art- and design-focused trip.
EUR65, 2h0m
0