I know it’s fall, BUT I’m finally sharing about our Switzerland trip from the spring. But hey – save this as inspo for your trip next spring (or anytime really because I am absolutely certain that Switzerland is beautiful during any season).
Switzerland is small country, so we knew we definitely wanted to check out a few different cities. We decided to make Zurich our home base since this is the airport we were flying in and out of, and we would take the train somewhere new almost everyday! (Swiss Rail Pass is a must – sharing more on that later in this post!)
Check out our 5 day itinerary + all the tips and tricks we learned during our vacation:
DAY 1: ZURICH
We arrived in Zurich around 10am and took the train from the airport to Zurich HB (about 15 minutes), then we walked about 10 minutes to our hotel. We stayed at CitizenM which we found to be a super convenient location. The rooms are small, but cozy and modern, but it was perfect for us.
We checked into our room and freshened up before exploring Zurich for the afternoon. It was a bit rainy but not enough to slow us down.
First things first: find food!
We were STARVING from our long flight. We looked on google maps to see what was near our hotel and we found a ramen shop (Ikoo) that looked amazing (and sounded PERFECT on a chilly, rainy day). The ramen was so good. I feel like it’s become our little inside joke to find the best ramen anywhere we go (check out our finds in Berlin and Copenhagen…and obviously Japan)
After lunch we spent the rest of the day exploring Zurich:
• Alstadt (Old Town): Quaint area with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings along the Limmat River.
• Church of St Peter: The largest clock face in Europe.
• Fraumunster Church: Famous for its stained glass windows.
• Coffee break at Mame Zurich
• Lake Zurich: Take a stroll along the lake promenade. It was a little overcast and rainy but still beautiful. A lack cruise would be fun if you visit when the weather is nice and warm.
• Gotta have some swiss chocolate and Confiserie Sprüngli is one of the most famous (specifically the one on Bahnhofstrasse – it’s the original!) Of course we picked up a few treats to taste.
For dinner, our original plan was to go to ZEBRA BAR – fondue and chicken wings – seemed like a super local place with great reviews but when we arrived they were closed! From what I read it’s run by 1 old man and he was on vacation the EXACT days of our trip. Good for him but sad for us! We ended up finding a Thai restaurant (Sweet Basil) that was great too.
We wanted to grab a late night cocktail and saw the Widder Bar on Google Maps which looked like it could be cool. Spoiler alert: It was incredible. Turns out the Widder Restaurant above the bar has TWO Michelin stars so the vibes 10/10 and the cocktails were *chefs kiss.* It’s definitely on the pricier side (but honestly, everything in Switzerland was on the pricier side…) Also fun fact: the bar has over 650 whiskies and more than 1200 spirits. That’s…a lot!
DAY 2: LUCERNE
We grabbed coffee and breakfast to go from Babu’s (which was right by our hotel) and headed to the train station for a day trip to Lucerne (aka Luzern). We looked up the train times online (using Google Maps) and since we had a Swiss Rail Pass, we didn’t need to buy tickets or anything. Tickets from Zurich to Lucern run approximately every 30 minutes – just be sure to choose a direct train!
When we arrived in Lucerne, we walked to Pier 1 (Landungssteg 1) which is right by the train station to check the ferry times to Vitznau (to visit Mount Rigi). Since it was really foggy, we decided to explore Old Town first and come back for the afternoon ferry in hopes that it would clear up a bit.
Some can’t miss sights in Old Town:
• Chapel Bridge (covered in flowers)
• Spreuer Bridge (timber bridge over River Reuss)
• Stroll through Old Town Lucerne
• Lion Monument / Lion of Lucerne (giant lion carved into the side of a cliff)
It’s about a 2 mile “loop” around town to see hit all of these!
We decided to pop into a brewery for lunch (Rathaus Brauerei). The vibe was cool, and we ordered some beers and pretzel sandwiches.
And we were THRILLED when we walked outside after lunch to see that the fog was totally gone, and the sun was out! And we could see the snow capped Alps surrounding us! The fog was so thick it completely blocked out the mountains, so it was absolutely breathtaking to see!
It was absolutely perfect timing too, because it was time to head back to the pier to catch the ferry.
Mount Rigi is a must visit if you’re in Lucerne. Here’s how to get there plus a few helpful tips:
• Take the ferry to Vitznau (Pier 1 – aka Landungssteg 1 by main train station).
• No reservation needed and the ferry is included with the Swiss Rail Pass
• The ferry ride from Lucern to Vitznau is about 1 hour.
• After arriving in Vitznau, take short walk to Rigi Klum cogwheel station and take the train up the mountain (Europe’s oldest railway from 1871)
• Make sure to ride all the way to highest station: Rigi Kulm. It’s about a 30 minute ride and the best views are on the left side on the way up.
On the way down you can get off at Rigi Kaltbad (first station) and check out this area. From here you can take the super scenic cable car down – “cable car to Weggis” From Weggis, it’s a 15 minute walk to the boat dock. Unfortunately we didn’t get to do this stop because the cable car was closed for maintenance.
And let me tell you, a trip to Lucerne is not complete without visiting Mount Rigi. The views during the ferry ride were beautiful, and the views going up the mountain were stunning, but the views from the top – absolutely UNREAL! The photos actually don’t do it justice!
We were surprised by how much snow was at the top. I mean, it makes sense but for some reason I just wasn’t expecting it! It really didn’t feel all that cold though.
We soaked in the views for a bit and walked around to various viewpoints before taking the train back down the mountain.
We took the train back to Zurich and grabbed dinner at Ikoo ramen (yes, again, but it was really good!).
Dinner was followed by some late night cocktails at Old Crow, which was a very cute bar, and we got lucky and snagged the last table in a cozy corner by the window.
DAY 3: LUGANO
Off to Lugano for the day!
Lugana is a Swiss town that sits on the border of Switzerland and Italy, and it’s most notable attraction is Lake Lugano. Quick tip: If you decide to visit Lugano, make sure you choose a direct train to make things easier and quicker. It’s about a 3 hour train from from Zurich to Lugano, but the views are beautiful.
We arrived just before noon, and our first stop was the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, located right by the train station. Then we strolled through Old Town Lugano which was stunning and gave off Italian vibes for sure.
And Italian vibes meant we HAD to find a delicious Italian lunch…and we both really wanted pizza. We found a cute little restaurant, the Spaghetti Store, right by Lake Lugano where we ordered a margherita pizza to share, plus a limoncello spritz for me and a Negroni for Zack. The weather was nice enough to eat outside as well.
After lunch we strolled along Lake Lugano, stopped by Santa Maria degli Angioli Church, and checked out Ciani Park before making our way to the funicular that would take us up to Monte Brè.
To visit Monte Brè you have to take a serioes of 2 funiculars:
• Funicular 1: Cassarte to Suvigliana – every 15 minutes until 9pm.
• Funicular 2: Suvigliana to Monte Brè – every 30 minutes until 5pm.
• If you have the Swiss Rail Pass you’ll get a discount on the tickets!
Even though it was a bit hazy during our visit, the views at the top of Monte Brè were beautiful. Photos really couldn’t capture it!
Eventually we made our way back down to Old Town where we grabbed some gelato before hopping on a train back to Zurich.
Lugano was a great day trip, but you could easily spend more time here and visit some of the other towns nearby, take a boat out on the lake, or even rent pedal boats.
We made it back to Zurich around 8pm and decided to visit the Widder bar again. We enjoyed a few drinks and order a few tapas to munch on as well.
DAY 4: COLMAR, FRANCE
The day trips continue! And this time we were headed to Colmar, France.
I’m not sure how I found this tiny little town (that looks exactly like the town from Beauty and the Beast), but as soon as I saw a photo of it, I knew I wanted to visit!
There are no direct trains from Zurich to Colmar, so we had a quick transfer in Basel. (Note: If you are using the Swiss Rail Pass you will have to purchase a ticket from Basel to Colmar, as the rail pass will not work for trains that are leaving the country).
The entire trip was about 2 hours, and the train station is about a 15 minute walk to the historic district known as Little Venice, which is full of canals, bridges, and colorful buildings. Located in Little Venice is the Fisherman’s Quay (Quai de le Poissonnerie) which is one of the most photogenic streets in Colmar. We decided to take a boat tour through the canals which was a great way to see the city. It’s only $8 per person. and there are several areas you can hop on. Boats run every 15 minutes or so and the tour is about 25 minutes long.
Lunch Break: Everything I researched told me we had to try Tarte Flambée and Alsace wine, and Restaurant La Soi was on just about every restaurant list and travel guide I saw. One thing I learned – you definitely need a reservation if you want to eat here! We got there a few minutes after opening and they were already full and booked up for the day.
BUT it ended up working out just fine – we walked into another restaurant nearby that looked cute and ended up having one of the best lunches of our trip! Caveau Saint Jean was cozy and CUTE, and everyone was so friendly. We ordered a bottle of Alsace wine (the waiter recommended one to us and it was perfect) and ordered two tarte flambees to share – one traditional (fromage blanc, onions, and bacon) and one chèvre (fromage blanc, onions, bacon, goat cheese, honey, and nuts).
After a long, relaxing lunch, we decided to explore more of Old Town. There’s quite a few iconic buildings that are worth checking out including:
• Koifhus (Customs House): 15th-century Gothic-style building that now houses shops and restaurants and hosts cultural events
• Pfister House: A historic merchant house that dates back to the 16th century famous for its long wooden gallery and murals
• St Martin’s Church: Dominating the center of the Old Town is St. Martin’s Church, a Roman Catholic church that dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
• House of Heads: Perhaps the most unhinged – built in the 17th century and is adorned with 111 sculptures of heads.
The Covered Market Hall is also worth checking out – filled with small shop selling produce, cheese, pastries, meat, and fish. (Free public restroom here too!)
In the late afternoon we made our way back to the train station to head back to Zurich, and when we got to Basel for our transfer we decided to check out the city. There were frequent trains from Basel to Zurich and we had the time, so we thought why not? We made our way toward the Basel Minster (cathedral) by the river.
If I’m being honest, Basel didn’t really “wow” me. The cathedral was beautiful, and we did get to see a group playing the alphorn which was really cool, but overall it seemed like the main thing to do was visit museums (which we didn’t have time for).
DAY 5: ZURCH
Last day of vacation already?!
We walked to Bank for a sit down breakfast – very cute restaurant, but I’d recommend making a reservation. We got lucky and grabbed the last two seats.
For our final day we explored more of Zurich:
• Lindenhof Hill: Offers nice views of Old Town and the Limmat River.
• Climbed Grossmunster: Centuries old Romanesque cathedral – you can climb 187 stairs to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city, the Alps, and Lake Zurich. The weather was much clearer than our first day in Zurich so I was glad we waited to make the climb!
We grabbed lunch at Burgermeister then spent headed to Uetliberg Mountain for the afternoon.
Uetliberg is a great half day activity if you find yourself in Zurich for a few days. Grab the S10 train at Zurich HB and ride about 20 minutes to the top of the mountain for some pretty insane views. It was honestly even better than I imagined! And there’s an observation tower at the top that you can climb which I absolutely recommend. It had a small entry fee but 100% worth it for the views!
After making our way back down the mountain, we decided to try a new bar – BarMünster. Casual and cool with great drinks.
As we walked back to hotel we decided…you know what, it’s our last night – let’s live it up. SO we went back to the Widder Bar (for the third time) because it was our favorite and the best way to end our vacation.
TRAVEL TIPS:
• Buy the rail pass! The Swiss Travel Pass gets you to unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus, or boat (and you can choose between 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days depending on your length of travel). Plus several other perks like discounts on cable cars and more. I did the math, and it definitely saved us money with all the day trips we did, PLUS the ease of simply hopping on and off trains at our leisure was such a convenience (no need to make reservations!).
• For such a small country there are SO many places to visit. Zurich is a great place to make your “home base” (Zurich airport is ranked one of the best!), and you can hop on a train and get to so many great cities.
• Switzerland is known for being pricey, and while you can always find some budget friendly options, you’re also going to have to accept that certain things will just be expensive.
Anyway, Switzerland was absolutely beautiful, and I could definitely see myself visiting again and exploring some different cities. Check out even more from our trip on youtube:
Switzerland Highlights
Switzerland Vlog
– Courtney
hardys on holiday 
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