This 10 day Switzerland itinerary covers the best of the country — Zurich, Bern, our favourite town in Switzerland (Thun), the Bernese Oberland mountains and Lauterbrunnen valley, Lake Geneva and Lausanne, and the Lavaux wine terraces. Ten days is the right amount of time to do Switzerland properly without rushing, and this 10 day Switzerland itinerary is built from our own visits across multiple trips to the country.
10 DAY SWITZERLAND ITINERARY OVERVIEW
Days 1–2: Zurich | Days 3–4: Bern | Days 5–7: Thun and the Bernese Oberland | Day 8: Lauterbrunnen | Days 9–10: Lausanne and the Lavaux
DAYS 1–2: ZURICH
Arrive into Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and main international gateway. Spend the first evening along the Limmat River in the old town — the Niederdorf neighbourhood on the east bank has the best concentration of bars and restaurants. On day two, visit the Kunsthaus Zurich (one of the best art museums in Switzerland), walk across the Grossmünster bridge for the classic old town view, and take the boat out on Lake Zurich in the afternoon. Zurich rewards slow exploration more than ticking off sights.
DAYS 3–4: BERN
Take the train to Bern — about an hour from Zurich. Switzerland’s capital is a UNESCO-listed medieval city built on a loop of the Aare River. The 6km of covered arcades (Lauben) running through the old town are unique in Europe. See the Bear Park on the Aare’s banks, climb the Bern Minster tower for views over the city and river bend below, and walk the Rose Garden above the old town for the best panoramic views. Bern is underrated and worth the two days.
DAYS 5–7: THUN AND THE BERNESE OBERLAND
Take the 30-minute train from Bern to Thun — our favourite place in Switzerland. Check into your accommodation (try for a castle-view Airbnb on the old town), then spend the afternoon in Thun itself: Schloss Thun, the unique raised walkways of Obere Hauptgasse, and the Aare river surfers.
On day six, take the boat from Thun across Lake Thun to Interlaken. We used this as our Alps booze cruise — glasses of wine, the mountains getting bigger as we crossed, the water turquoise. It takes 1.5 to 2 hours and is one of the most beautiful journeys in Switzerland. Spend a few hours in Interlaken and return by train.
On day seven, take the train to Lauterbrunnen — 40 minutes away and one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Europe. Seventy-two waterfalls cascade down sheer cliff walls into a flat valley floor. The valley is widely believed to have inspired Rivendell in Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and standing in it you understand completely why. Take the cogwheel train up to Mürren for views from above. Maddy teared up at the view of the Alps from Lake Thun — Lauterbrunnen takes that feeling further.
DAY 8: LAUTERBRUNNEN TO LAUSANNE
Take the train from Thun to Lausanne — about 1.5 hours via Bern. Check in and spend the afternoon in Ouchy on the lakefront, then the evening in the old town around Place de la Palud. The descent from the Gothic cathedral through the medieval streets to the lake level is one of the best urban walks in Switzerland.
DAYS 9–10: LAUSANNE AND THE LAVAUX
Day nine: the Olympic Museum in the morning (Lausanne is the home of the IOC and the museum is excellent), then the Lausanne Cathedral and old town in the afternoon. End with dinner on the Ouchy waterfront with the Alps across the lake in the fading light.
Day ten: take the train east to Lutry and walk the Lavaux wine trail through the UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards to Rivaz — about 6km with Lake Geneva and the Alps as the backdrop the whole way. Stop for wine tasting at a producer on the route. Continue by train to Montreux for an hour at the lakeside before heading to Zurich or Geneva for your departure flight.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR YOUR 10 DAY SWITZERLAND ITINERARY
Buy the Swiss Travel Pass for the duration — trains, buses, boats, and most mountain railways are all covered. Book accommodation in Thun early and look for Airbnbs with castle or lake views. Pack layers regardless of the season — mountain weather changes fast. Read our Switzerland budget travel tips before you go. And get an eSIM — Saily (code THEJETLAGJOURNEY25 for 25% off) or Airalo (code JLJ10 for 10% off).
ETIAS — WHAT AMERICAN TRAVELERS NEED TO KNOW
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, so ETIAS will apply to American travelers from late 2026. It takes about 10 minutes to apply and costs €20. Read our complete ETIAS guide for everything you need to know.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SWITZERLAND ITINERARY
Is 10 days enough for Switzerland?
Ten days covers the highlights of this 10 day Switzerland itinerary very comfortably — Zurich, Bern, Thun, Lauterbrunnen, and Lausanne with the Lavaux. Switzerland has much more to offer — Lucerne, the Valais, Graubünden — but ten days is a genuinely satisfying first visit.
What is the best base in Switzerland?
Thun for the Bernese Oberland — it is our favourite town in Switzerland, significantly less crowded than Interlaken, and has its own castle, lake, and river surfing. Lausanne for the Lake Geneva region. Read our individual city guides for both.
Should I get the Swiss Travel Pass?
For a 10 day itinerary covering multiple regions, usually yes — trains, buses, boats, and most mountain railways are included. Run the numbers against individual tickets for your specific route before buying.
MORE FROM THE JET LAG JOURNEY
Read our individual guides to things to do in Thun and things to do in Lausanne, plus our Switzerland budget travel tips. For planning your wider European trip, our Europe trip planning guide covers everything.
