Breathtaking Switzerland

Today you will arrive in what is considered one of the happiest cities in the world – Zurich. It also is the de facto banking capital of the world, and the scenery is breathtaking to boot. On your first day in the country, your guide will meet you at the airport and deliver you to your hotel. You’ll have a short time to get settled in before hitting the streets on foot to explore the city. 

Your tour will start in Altstadt, the oldest part of the city. The cobblestone streets and collection of buildings dating back to 1800 transport visitors to another place and time. There are plenty of local shops and cafes to explore in this area of town. Next, the group will board cable cars for a bird’s eye view of the city before heading back to the street level for an authentic Swiss fondue dinner. 

This morning, you’ll take a short train ride to Lucerne, about an hour south of the city. You’ll spend the evening here. During your stay, the group will enjoy another cable car ride up Mt. Pilatus, also known as Dragon Mountain, for a remarkable view. From this vantage point, you can see more than 70 peaks of the Alps dotted with countless alpine lakes. The group will eat at one of the restaurants located at the top of the mountain.

Your guide will lead you on a tour of Lucerne today. The group will start in the Old Town. There are plenty of shops, galleries and restaurants in this area of the city. The group will cross the fabled Chapel Bridge, which is the oldest truss bridge in the world and one of the most famous landmarks in the city. After a quick lunch, you’ll visit the Lion Monument and Glacier Garden for the afternoon finishing the day with a tour of Lucerne’s famous basilica – Hofkirche. 

Today you will enjoy another scenic train ride, this time traveling one hour south to Interlaken. During your day in Interlaken, you’ll ride a funicular up Harder Kulm. At the summit will be another epic vantage point from which to view the surrounding jagged peaks and mountain lakes. You’ll spend some time on the banks of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun before a tour of the S. Beatus Caves used by Irish monks in the 6th century A.D. 

You’ll board another train this morning for a two-hour ride south to Zermatt, home to the famous Matterhorn Mountain.  You’ll have the day free to explore the town which is 100 percent pedestrian. There are incredible views around every bend, delicious restaurants from which to choose, and world-class spas where you can relax the day away. For the more adventurous visitors in the group, your guide can help you arrange parasailing or helicopter tours of the area. 

The group will travel further south today, a three-hour train ride to Bern, which was founded in the 12th century. It was named after the Swiss word for “bear,” and the brown bear is the symbol of the city. You will spend the day exploring the UNESCO World Heritage-certified Old Town area here on foot. Bern is home to Toblerone, the delicious chocolate bar, so stock up while in town. You’ll spend the afternoon at the Kunstmuseum, home to more than 50,000 works of art and the oldest museum of art in Switzerland.

This morning you will board a train to Geneva. The ride will take about 2 hours. When you arrive in Geneva, you’ll have time for a quick lunch and souvenir shopping before your guide delivers you to the airport to make your flight home.