Switzerland Itinerary from Zurich: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt

Arrival and Check-in

From Zürich Airport, take the frequent direct train to Zürich Hauptbahnhof—the journey is about 10–15 minutes. From the station, walk or take a short tram ride to your accommodation, allowing 30–60 minutes for luggage drop-off and settling in. If you have heavy bags, use the station’s lockers or ask your hotel to store them; Zurich is easy to navigate, but the Old Town’s cobbles are tiring with suitcases.

Afternoon: History and the City Centre

Start at the Swiss National Museum, directly beside Zürich Hauptbahnhof. Allow around 1½ hours for the collections covering Swiss history, crafts, and everyday life; check the museum’s current Tuesday–Sunday opening hours and admission, which is typically around CHF 13–15 for adults. Afterwards, walk south along Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s polished shopping boulevard, for about 45 minutes. This is more enjoyable as an architectural stroll than a shopping mission—look into the side streets around Rennweg and Augustinergasse, where the atmosphere becomes quieter and more characterful.

Late Afternoon and Evening: Old Town

Continue toward Grossmünster, Zurich’s landmark twin-towered church. Visit the interior, then climb the tower if it is open and the weather is clear; the narrow staircase leads to one of the best central views, usually for a modest extra fee. From there, wander through the Lindenhof quarter and finish at Lindenhof, a peaceful raised square overlooking the Limmat and the rooftops of the Old Town. Go around sunset if possible, but note that the square itself is free and unsupervised, so keep valuables secure. For dinner, walk to Zeughauskeller, a lively historic armoury near Paradeplatz, and order a classic Swiss dish such as Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, sausages, or rösti. Budget approximately CHF 30–50 per person; arriving before 19:00 helps avoid the busiest period, and reservations are sensible for a popular evening.

Morning

Take the morning train from Zürich Hauptbahnhof and aim to arrive in Lucerne around 09:00–09:30. Leave your bags at your accommodation or use the lockers at Luzern station—the large lockers are convenient for day luggage. From the station, walk about 10 minutes across the waterfront to Chapel Bridge and the Water Tower. Go early for clearer views and fewer tour groups, then pause to look at the painted triangular panels beneath the bridge roof. The bridge is free to visit, and 45 minutes is enough for photographs and a relaxed riverside stroll.

Continue along the Reuss River to the Jesuit Church, whose white-and-gold interior is one of Lucerne’s most beautiful surprises. Entry is generally free; keep voices low, as it remains an active church. Check the church noticeboard for any service restrictions. From here, it is only a few minutes’ walk back toward the lakefront and the Luzern pier. For the two-hour Lake Lucerne boat cruise, check the seasonal April timetable before setting out—services are less frequent than in summer, and some sailings may be weather-dependent. A short cruise is still worthwhile in spring, when the surrounding mountains may carry snow; bring a warm layer and sit inside if the wind picks up.

Afternoon and Evening

After returning to Lucerne, wander through the old centre around Weinmarkt, Hirschenplatz, and Kornmarkt, where painted façades, small galleries, and quiet side lanes make for an easy, unhurried afternoon. Then walk toward the Musegg Wall and climb the accessible towers if they are open. In early April, tower access can be seasonal and weather-dependent, so treat this as a flexible stop rather than a guarantee. Allow about 1½ hours for the colourful squares, wall walk, and viewpoints; comfortable shoes are useful on the uneven cobblestones. Finish with dinner at Wirtshaus Galliker, a traditional old-town restaurant known for hearty Swiss dishes such as rösti, sausages, and seasonal specialities. Expect roughly CHF 30–50 per person before drinks, and reserve ahead if possible—seating is limited and the restaurant is popular with locals.

Morning

Take the Luzern–Interlaken Express from Luzern at around 08:00 and settle in on the right-hand side where possible for the best views of the lakes and Brünig Pass. The journey takes roughly two hours, so you should reach Interlaken Ost before 10:00. Leave larger luggage at your accommodation or in the station lockers, then walk about 15 minutes toward the centre through Höheweg to Höhematte Park. This broad meadow is one of the easiest places to appreciate the Jungfrau panorama, and on a clear day you may see paragliders landing nearby. April weather can be cool and damp, so bring a waterproof layer; the park itself is free and open all day.

Afternoon

From Höhematte Park, continue east along Höheweg to Interlaken Ost, where the Harder Kulm funicular begins. Allow two to three hours for the return trip, including the ride up and time at the viewing platform. The funicular is seasonal, so check the operating calendar before leaving; if it is running, tickets are typically around CHF 40–45 return without a pass. At the top, the viewing platform looks across Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and the surrounding peaks. If visibility is poor, keep the visit flexible rather than spending too long at the summit.

Late Afternoon and Evening

After returning to Interlaken Ost, take a short local train toward Brienz and get off at a convenient lakeside stop such as Ringgenberg or Niederried, depending on the service and weather. Walk for about an hour along the quieter shore of Lake Brienz, where the water is especially vivid turquoise in good light; check the return timetable before setting off, as April services are less frequent than in summer. Return to central Interlaken for dinner at Bebbis Restaurant, a relaxed choice for rösti, fondue, and other Swiss dishes—allow roughly CHF 30–50 per person. Fondue is best ordered for two or more people, and reserving a table is sensible in the evening.

Morning

Take the BLS train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen around 08:00–08:30; the ride takes roughly 20–25 minutes. Leave larger bags in your accommodation or in the lockers at Lauterbrunnen station—then walk into the village and continue to Staubbach Falls, about 10 minutes away. Allow around 45 minutes to follow the short path beneath the waterfall; in early April, spray and lingering snow can make the trail slippery, so waterproof shoes are useful. The falls are free to visit, though the higher viewpoints may be restricted depending on conditions.

From Staubbach Falls, begin the Lauterbrunnen valley trail toward the Trümmelbach Falls area. The mostly level valley-floor walk takes about two hours at an easy pace, passing meadows, farm buildings, dramatic cliff walls, and smaller cascades. Pack a snack or pick something up in Lauterbrunnen, as cafés and facilities farther down the valley may have limited April hours. Check the seasonal opening date for Trümmelbach Falls before setting out: the underground lifts and galleries generally reopen around spring, but access can vary with weather. Entry is usually around CHF 16–18, and allow 1–1½ hours; the paths are wet, steep in places, and not suitable for pushchairs.

Afternoon and Evening

After Trümmelbach Falls, return toward Lauterbrunnen and take the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp, followed by the mountain railway to Mürren. Allow about three hours for the transport, village wandering, and photo stops. Mürren is car-free and particularly beautiful in clear weather, with close views toward the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Walk through the village lanes and along the short viewpoints above the valley, but keep the timetable in mind: in April, services may be less frequent and the last connections can be earlier than in summer. A return ticket for the Lauterbrunnen–Grütschalp–Mürren route is typically around CHF 25–35, depending on discounts and the exact connection.

Return to Lauterbrunnen for dinner at Hotel Oberland Restaurant, a relaxed choice near the village center. Expect about CHF 30–50 per person for a main course and drink; try a rösti or another regional Swiss dish. Reserve if possible, especially if you are staying in the valley, and check the evening kitchen hours before leaving Mürren.

Morning

Leave Lauterbrunnen around 07:00–07:30 for Zermatt, allowing roughly 3¼–3¾ hours including the change at Visp. On arrival, remember that Zermatt is car-free: walk from the station into the centre or use your hotel’s electric shuttle, then leave your luggage at the accommodation. Start with an easy village wander along Bahnhofstrasse, continuing into Hinterdorf, where weathered wooden hay barns and stone foundations give a better sense of old Zermatt than the busier main street. Allow about an hour, and grab a coffee or pastry near the station before heading to the mountain railway.

Afternoon

Take the Gornergrat Railway from Zermatt station for the round trip to Gornergrat, allowing three to four hours including time at the summit. The train climbs through larch forest and opens onto superb views of the Matterhorn, Gorner Glacier, and the surrounding peaks; sit on the right-hand side when ascending if seats are available. Check the webcam and weather forecast before boarding—cloud can completely obscure the summit—and dress for considerably colder conditions than in the village. Tickets are expensive, generally around CHF 90–120 return before any pass discounts, so avoid committing until visibility looks worthwhile. Back in the village, visit Matterhorn Museum–Zermatlantis, usually open roughly 14:00–18:00 in the quieter season, for an hour of engaging local history and the dramatic story of the first Matterhorn ascent; admission is typically around CHF 10–12.

Evening

For dinner, make your way to Chez Vrony in Findeln, above Zermatt, only if its April opening schedule and access are confirmed in advance. The restaurant is known for excellent traditional mountain food, regional ingredients, and one of the classic Matterhorn-facing terraces; budget approximately CHF 40–70 per person. Access normally involves the Sunnegga funicular followed by a signed walk, though evening transport and the final path can vary with snow conditions, so ask the restaurant about the safest route and reserve a table. If the mountain route is not operating or conditions are poor, have dinner in the village instead and treat Chez Vrony as a daytime stop on a future clear-weather visit.

Morning

Leave Zermatt early enough to reach Zürich Airport at least 2–3 hours before an international flight; as a rule, depart a minimum of 4½ hours before take-off because the journey involves a connection in Visp and can take around 3½–4 hours. Travel with a small breakfast and keep passports, tickets, and valuables easily accessible. At Zürich Airport, follow signs from the railway station directly to check-in—there is no need to travel into central Zürich unless your flight is late in the day and you have substantial spare time.

Before Departure

Once checked in and through security, use the Zürich Airport food and shopping area for a relaxed final hour or two. The Airport Shopping complex in the public area generally opens from early morning, while the airside shops and restaurants follow flight schedules; exact hours vary by terminal and date. For a proper Swiss meal, look for rösti, sausages, or seasonal dishes in the airport restaurants, or pick up sandwiches, fruit, and chocolate for the flight. Allow extra time for security, especially during school holidays, and check your gate before settling into a café—some gates require a short underground train ride. If you still need souvenirs, Swiss chocolate, watches, regional biscuits, and compact gifts are easiest to buy here without carrying them around the country.