Switzerland in 7 Days
Switzerland is expensive but not unaffordable if you plan the rail passes properly. This route uses two bases and one scenic transfer, which keeps the cable-car days cheap and the hotel changes to a minimum.
7
Days
£170–£260 / $215–$330 per person per day
Per day
June–September for hiking; December–March for snow
Best time
8
Nights
Your day-by-day plan
Arrive Zurich, on to Lucerne
Morning · Land, train from the airport (about an hour)
Afternoon · Chapel Bridge, old town walk, lake promenade
Evening · Dinner by the Reuss
Mount Pilatus loop
Morning · Boat across the lake to Alpnachstad
Afternoon · Cogwheel railway up, cable car and gondola down
Evening · Back in Lucerne for an early dinner
To the Jungfrau
Morning · Train to Interlaken via the Brünig line
Afternoon · Up to Lauterbrunnen, waterfall valley walk
Evening · Check into Wengen or Grindelwald
Top of Europe
Morning · Jungfraujoch early — the first train has the clearest air
Afternoon · Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen hike downhill
Evening · Alpine dinner
Schynige Platte or First
Morning · Cliff walk at First, or the panorama trail at Schynige Platte
Afternoon · Paragliding over Interlaken if the weather holds
Evening · Pack for the transfer
Zermatt
Morning · Train via Spiez and Visp, car-free arrival
Afternoon · Gornergrat railway for the Matterhorn view
Evening · Bahnhofstrasse and a fondue
Home
Morning · Sunrise on the Matterhorn from the church bridge
Afternoon · Train back to Zurich (about 3.5 hours)
Evening · Fly out
Local tips that save you money
- Do the maths on the Swiss Travel Pass vs Half Fare Card — with two mountain days a week, the Pass usually wins.
- Mountain excursions are weather lotteries. Check the live summit webcams before you buy the ticket.
- Supermarket picnics (Coop, Migros) cut a £40 lunch to £8 without feeling like a sacrifice.
Switzerland: common questions
How many days do you need in Switzerland?+
This plan covers 7 days, which is the sweet spot for Switzerland without doubling back. You can trim the last two days or add a beach stop if you have longer.
What is the best time to visit Switzerland?+
June–September for hiking; December–March for snow. Shoulder months give you the same sights with lower prices and shorter queues.
How much does a trip to Switzerland cost?+
Budget roughly £170–£260 / $215–$330 per person per day, excluding international flights. That covers accommodation, food, local transport and entry tickets at a mid-range pace.
How do you get around in Switzerland?+
Trains, boats and most cable cars are covered or discounted by a Swiss Travel Pass. Everything runs to the minute — a 4-minute connection really is enough.
