Leave Stuttgart after an early breakfast and enjoy the roughly 2-2.5 hour scenic drive through the A81 and A4 into central Switzerland, arriving in Lucerne mid-morning. Park near the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) and begin with a wander across the bridge and along the Museggmauer (Musegg Wall) for panoramic views, then pop into a cozy café on Hirschenplatz for coffee and a Swiss pastry to warm up.
Spend the afternoon exploring Lucerne’s compact Old Town: admire the painted facades on Weinmarkt and Hirschenplatz, visit the Rosengart Collection if you enjoy modern art, and make time for the 17th-century Jesuit Church. From there, take a relaxed lakeside stroll along the Seebrücke toward the Lucerne Lakefront, or hop on a short 45-60 minute boat cruise on Lake Lucerne (weather permitting) to see the surrounding snow-dusted peaks from the water.
As dusk falls, have dinner at a traditional Swiss restaurant such as Wirtshaus Galliker or Restaurant Fritschi to try local specialties like raclette or Luzerner Chügelipastete. After dinner, take a final post-prandial walk across the illuminated Chapel Bridge and along the Reuss riverbanks—the gentle reflections and historic towers create a perfect, peaceful end to day one before returning to your hotel and preparing for the alpine day ahead.
Set out after breakfast and enjoy the roughly 1-1.5 hour drive from Lucerne to Interlaken, arriving in time to park near Höheweg and breathe in crisp alpine air with panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. If the weather and timetable allow, take the short drive or train up to Lauterbrunnen and then the Wengernalp or Grütschalp route to Kleine Scheidegg for spectacular mountain vistas — alternatively, for a gentler start, board the Brünig/Brunni cable car from nearby Engelberg (via a slightly different route) or take the cogwheel up to Rigi for sweeping views over lakes and snow-dusted peaks.
Spend the afternoon exploring Interlaken’s lakeside promenades and Höheweg gardens, then choose an alpine excursion: ride the historic Jungfrau Railway from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe) for glacier views and the Ice Palace, or opt for a more relaxed Rigi or Brunni hike with panoramic photo stops and a cozy mountain-restaurant lunch. If you prefer to stay lower, take a steamer on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz for postcard scenery and a visit to nearby lakeside villages like Iseltwald or Spiez.
Return to Interlaken as daylight fades; warm up with a hearty Swiss dinner at Restaurant Taverne or Bistro-Restaurant Laterne, sampling fondue or rösti, then stroll the illuminated Höheweg to admire the distant lit peaks and the Aare river. Finish the night with a quiet drink at a hotel bar or café near the station before heading back to your accommodation, perfectly positioned to continue your journey or to drive back to Stuttgart the next day.