41 days in Switzerland Itinerary

Chur or Coire is the capital and largest town of the Swiss canton of Grisons and lies in the Grisonian Rhine Valley, where the Rhine turns towards the north, in the northern part of the canton. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Old Town Chur and Grabser Muhlbach. Discover out-of-the-way places like Wine Tours Switzerland and Santis der Berg. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Chur: Appenzell (St Mauritius Church & Flauderei), Landwasser Viaduct (in Filisur) and Lenzerheide Ski Resort (in Lenzerheide). There's still lots to do: relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas and step into the grandiose world of Castle Haldenstein.

To see ratings, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Chur day trip planner.

Berlin, Germany to Chur is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Lugano.

Located in the popular holiday region of Ticino, Lugano is the largest Italian-speaking town in Switzerland.

Castelgrande and Castelli di Bellinzona are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Get some historical perspective at Castello di Montebello and Sacromonte e Santuario Madonna del Sasso. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Lugano: Falconeria Locarno (in Locarno), Ascona (Bagno Pubblico Ascona & Lungolago Di Ascona) and Cascate di Santa Petronilla (in Biasca). There's lots more to do: pause for some serene contemplation at Santa Maria degli Angioli, don't miss a visit to Piazza della Riforma, stop by Laderach Chocolaterie Suisse, and stroll around Parco Ciani.

For photos, more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Lugano online route planner.

Traveling by car from Chur to Lugano takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. December in Lugano sees daily highs of 10°C and lows of 0°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Fri) early enough to travel to Zermatt.

Best known as home the Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt serves as a chic ski resort town of the Swiss Alps.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Mountaineers' Cemetery and Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis. Explore hidden gems such as Simplonpass and Stockalper Palace. The adventure continues: enjoy breathtaking views from Gornergrat, hop aboard Scenic Railroads, stop by Laderach, and take in the spiritual surroundings of Kapelle Winkelmatten "Zur Heiligen Familie".

For photos and tourist information, read our Zermatt trip planning site.

Getting from Lugano to Zermatt by combination of car and ferry takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or do a combination of train and tram. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Tue) so you can go by car to Montreux.

Mostly known for its world-renowned jazz festival, Montreux serves as a picturesque lakeside resort town on the Swiss Riviera.

Explore hidden gems such as Les Bains de Lavey and Queen Studio Experience. Visit Escaliers du Marche and Gruyeres Castle for their historical value. Venture out of the city with trips to Lac Alpin De Champex (in Champex), Villars Gryon (in Villars-sur-Ollon) and Fondation Pierre Gianadda (in Martigny). There's much more to do: go for a walk through Montreux Lakeside, test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms, admire the masterpieces at Collection de l'Art Brut, and explore the historical opulence of Chateau de Chillon.

To see ratings, photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the Montreux vacation planning app.

Traveling by car from Zermatt to Montreux takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Sun) so you can go by car to Geneva.

Geneva brings the world to one small city with a huge expat population and the highest number of international organizations in any one city.

Visit Archeological Site at St. Pierre's Cathedral and Notre Dame Basilica for their historical value. Explore hidden gems such as Plage de Celigny and Musee D'Art Et D'Histoire. On the 11th (Wed), give your taste buds a day to remember with a local gastronomic tour. There's still lots to do: take in the spiritual surroundings of Eglise Russe, see the interesting displays at Musee Ariana, stroll through Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Geneve, and walk around Parc Des Bastions.

Plan my trip to Geneva with suggested itineraries provided by Klarna Trips.

Traveling by car from Montreux to Geneva takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. In January, daily temperatures in Geneva can reach 6°C, while at night they dip to 0°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) so you can drive to Bern.

The capital and political center of Switzerland, Bern sits on a peninsula formed by the U-shaped River Aare.

Visit The Cathedral of Bern and Cathedrale St-Nicolas for their historical value. Explore hidden gems such as Oeschinen Lake and Ambra Minerals. Change things up with these side-trips from Bern: Parasailing & Paragliding (in Interlaken), Jeunes Rives (in Neuchatel) and Vieille Ville de Thoune (in Thun). There's lots more to do: get engrossed in the history at Bernisches Historisches Museum - Einstein Museum, admire the verdant scenery at Lauterbrunnen Valley Waterfalls, take in panoramic vistas at Gurten, and wander the streets of UNESCO-Altstadt von Bern.

To see ratings, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Bern itinerary builder.

You can drive from Geneva to Bern in 2 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. Traveling from Geneva in January, Bern is little chillier at night with lows of -3°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Basel.

Situated where the Swiss, German, and French borders meet, Basel is considered the hub of Dreilandereck, this "three countries corner." Its location makes Basel a center of culture and history, brimming with important theaters and museums.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Basel's Old Town and Basel Paper Mill - Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Naturhistorisches Museum Basel and Museum Tinguely. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Basel: Schloss Ebenrain (in Sissach) and Seebad Eich (in Eich). And it doesn't end there: examine the collection at Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel, make a trip to Spalen Gate, indulge in some personalized pampering at Wellness-Welt sole uno, and get engrossed in the history at Basel Historical Museum - Barfuesserkirche.

To see other places to visit, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Basel trip planner.

Drive from Bern to Basel in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or take a bus. In January, plan for daily highs up to 6°C, and evening lows to 0°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Tue) early enough to take a train to Zurich.

The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Old Town and Kloster Einsiedeln. Explore hidden gems such as Niederdorf and Jesuitenkirche. Change things up with these side-trips from Zurich: Kapuzinerkloster Rapperswil (in Rapperswil), Mt Pilatus (in Kriens) and Lucerne (Museum Rosengart Collection, Bourbaki Panorama, &more). There's much more to do: take in the architecture and atmosphere at Kathedrale St.Gallen, explore the activities along Lake Zurich, explore the world behind art at Museum Rietberg, and admire the landmark architecture of Church of St. Peter.

To see more things to do, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Zurich travel route site.

You can take a train from Basel to Zurich in 1.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. In January, plan for daily highs up to 5°C, and evening lows to -1°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 1st (Wed) early enough to catch the flight back home.