Highlights
- Learn the secrets of Swiss chocolate in Zürich
- Sample Ticinese cuisine on a food tour of lakeside Lugano
- Ride a cable car up to the high-altitude summit of Mount Rigi
- Taste your way through the historic wine region of Lavaux
- Enjoy scenic train rides through Alpine landscapes
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Zürich, Sunset Fondue Cruise | Zürich |
| Day 2 | Swiss Chocolate Workshop | Zürich |
| Day 3 | Train to Lugano, Self-Guided Food Tour | Lugano |
| Day 4 | Day Trip to Italian Lakes: Como & Maggiore | Lugano |
| Day 5 | Train to Lucerne, Mount Pilatus & Night Watchman Tour | Lucerne |
| Day 6 | Day Trip Up Mount Rigi | Lucerne |
| Day 7 | Train to Bern, Guided Old Town Tour | Bern |
| Day 8 | Day Trip to Gruyères, Cheese & Chocolate Tours | Bern |
| Day 9 | Train to Montreux, Lavaux Vineyards Wine Tour | Montreux |
| Day 10 | Train to Geneva, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Zürich, Sunset Fondue Cruise
Welcome to Switzerland! This grand tour begins in the north in the famous lakeside city of Zürich. Famous as the center of Swiss finance, there's plenty of culture and history lying just beneath the surface. You can see for yourself after transferring from the airport to your hotel. If you like, embark on a self-guided tour around Altstadt (Old Town). Here, cobblestone streets lead past medieval buildings, historic churches, museums, and quaint squares.
Later in the afternoon, you're in for quite a treat (literally) as you enjoy a foodie boat cruise on Lake Zürich. At the waterfront, you'll board a ship for a three-hour sunset ride around the lake. During the outing, refreshments like wine and hot tea will be served with the main course: cheese fondue!
Day 2: Swiss Chocolate Workshop
You've traveled a long way; now it's time to reward yourself in that most quintessential of Swiss delicacies: chocolate. In the morning, you'll transfer to the workshop of a renowned chocolatier for a two-hour masterclass in preparing this decadent treat. It's a group activity during which you'll learn to prepare dozens of handmade pralines and truffles.
There will be several delicious chocolate fillings to choose from, all made from the finest Swiss ingredients. After putting the finishing decorations on your tasty confections, you can snack away to your heart's content. At the end of the workshop, you'll have the rest of the day free to enjoy Zürich.
Day 3: Train to Lugano, Self-Guided Food Tour
Leave in the morning on a scenic three-hour train ride to Lugano. Located on the eponymous lake in southern Switzerland in the Italian-speaking canton (state) of Ticino, this historic town draws visitors for its idyllic waterfront setting and mix of cultures. Also, it's colorful Old Town is filled with highlights like old Renaissance churches and fine museums, like the Museo d'Arte della Svizzera Italiana (Art Museum of Italian Switzerland). After checking into your hotel, you'll discover this unique fusion one bite at a time on a self-guided food tour.
After checking into your hotel, head to the historic center, where you'll have the option to visit a few eateries specializing in cuisine from the Ticino region. Sample some traditional dishes, like minestrone (vegetable soup) and squid ink risotto, all paired with delicious local wine. You'll definitely want to treat yourself to a scoop or two at a local gelateria, where you can sample the Swiss interpretation of this tasty treat. Conclude the culinary journey at Vanini, one of the city's oldest cafés, located at the renowned Piazza Riforma.
Day 4: Day Trip to Italian Lakes: Maggiore & Como
In the morning, board a train for the two-hour ride into northern Italy's Lombardy region and Lake Maggiore, which lies on the southern side of the Alps. Surrounded by forest-covered mountains, Maggiore is famous for its Borromean Islands—three isles named after the aristocratic Borromean family who owned the land in the 16th and 17th centuries. The islands of Bella and Madre were transformed into luxurious resorts with villas and gardens, while the third island—Isola dei Pescatori—kept its traditional way of life. You'll visit these locales on a morning boat tour around Maggiore.
In the afternoon, transfer about 1.5 hours east to Lake Como, a fashionable tourist resort and the third-largest lake in Italy. On a boat tour, you'll pass by opulent lakeside villas (including one owned by George Clooney). More than that, the lake abounds in rich history. All around Como are well-preserved remains of historic fortifications, as this area was prized by the ancient Romans as well. You might even make it to the town of Bellagio. Known as the "Pearl of Lake Como," it enjoys a strategic location on a peninsula offering panoramic views. At the end of the day, you'll return to Lugano.
Day 5: Train to Lucerne, Mount Pilatus & Night Watchman Tour
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Wake up early for the three-hour train ride into northern Switzerland and Lucerne (known locally in this German-speaking region as Luzern). Sitting on the shores of Lake Lucerne and backed by snowcapped peaks, this city is the perfect hub for nature excursions. After checking into your hotel, you'll head out to discover the best views in the region with a trip up Mount Pilatus.
The journey to get there is a highlight unto itself, as it begins with a tranquil boat ride across the lake. From the village of Alpnachstad, board the Pilatus Railway, the steepest cogwheel train in the world. The 30-minute ascent has great views of Alpine meadows and craggy rock formations. Once at the 6,982-foot (2,128 m) summit, you'll be treated to stunning views of the Swiss Alps, Lake Lucerne, and the surrounding landscapes. Capping the experience is a fun cable car ride down to the suburb of Kriens in Lucerne. From there, you'll transfer back to your hotel.
When the sun goes down, it's time to discover the ample charm of Lucerne. It boasts a rich medieval history, and you'll see the highlights on a fun guided walk that's not your typical city tour. Meet a local "night watchman" who will take you back in time on a stroll down cobbled streets and across stone bridges. During this 1.5-hour group tour, your guide will point out historic architectural landmarks dating back hundreds of years.
Day 6: Day Trip Up Mount Rigi
Get ready for a mountaineering adventure in the Swiss Alps! In the morning, meet your guide/driver for a short ride around the lake to the resort town of Weggis. There, you'll board an aerial cable car for the 10-minute ride up forested mountain slopes to the village of Rigi Kaltbad. Leave the cable car and continue riding on Europe's first-ever cogwheel mountain railway up to the summit of Rigi-Kulm, the highest peak in the Rigi massif at 5,905 feet (1,800 m). At the top, relish amazing views of a dozen lakes and the surrounding mountains.
After a snack at a summit restaurant, take the train down to the waterfront town of Vitznau. There, you'll board a boat and enjoy a scenic one-hour cruise across the lake back to Lucerne. Upon arrival, you can enjoy a self-guided walk around Lucerne's Old Town. Stroll the cobbled streets and visit historic highlights like the Musegg Wall medieval ramparts, the 17th-century Baroque Jesuit Church, and the 14th-century Chapel Bridge.
Day 7: Train to Bern, Guided Old Town Tour
Leave in the morning on a one-hour train ride west to Bern. Not many cities anywhere in the world have managed to preserve their historic features quite as successfully as Switzerland's capital. Bern's Old Town enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status, and the city also features 3.7 miles (6 km) of arcades (known locally as the Lauben)—one of the longest shopping promenades in Europe.
After checking into your hotel, you'll meet your guide and venture out to discover Bern's highlights and history. It starts on the cobbled streets of the famous Old Town. You'll see many iconic landmarks throughout this enclave, like the 13th-century Zytglogge clock tower and the Einstein House, where the German-born physicist lived from 1903 to 1905. Other historical landmarks include the neo-Renaissance Parliament Building, the Kornhaus (Granary), and the Käfigturm (Prison Tower).
Day 8: Day Trip to Gruyères, Cheese & Chocolate Tours
It's time to enjoy Switzerland's finest cheeses. This country is proud of its cheesemaking heritage, and you could spend months here sampling various regional cheeses and still not exhaust the delicious possibilities. Today's outing focuses on the famous Gruyère cheese combined with a countryside tour and a visit to a historic castle.
This full-day tour begins in the morning at your hotel, where you'll meet your driver/guide. Then, transfer through rural Alpine landscapes to the medieval village of Gruyères, known for the eponymous cheese. While here, you'll visit a cheesemaking factory to learn about Gruyère's hundreds of years of history, see the aging process, and enjoy free samples of this nutty, sweet, and salty delicacy.
Afterward, there will be time to wander the town's cobbled streets and tour its most famous landmark: the 13th-century Gruyères Castle. The excursion concludes at the Maison Cailler chocolate museum in the nearby village of Broc. Here, you'll enjoy a multisensory tasting experience and even create your own chocolate bar. Later, you'll return to Bern.
Day 9: Train to Montreux, Lavaux Vineyards Wine Tour
Your morning begins with a two-hour train ride from Geneva to Montreux. Located on the northeast end of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), this resort town is famous for its scenic beauty and pleasant climate. All around Montreux are UNESCO-listed vineyards and historic castles.
Speaking of which, after checking into your hotel, you'll head out to visit the nearby Lavaux wine region, which consists of terraced vineyards on hillside slopes running down to the lakeshore. The history of these vines can be traced back to the 11th century when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area—and there's some evidence grapes were planted here in Roman times. Because of this rich history, the region was bestowed UNESCO World Heritage status.
During a half-day tour accompanied by local experts, you'll travel to different vineyards as well as a family-run winery. Here, you'll dive deep into the terroir, sampling the region's high-quality chasselas and pinot noirs. The former is the most common grape variety cultivated here, producing crisp and refreshing white wines. Of course, today's trip includes plenty of sommelier-led tastings. Afterward, you'll return to Montreux.
Day 10: Train to Geneva, Depart
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