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Trip Report

Central Switzerland By Train In 8 Days

A week transversing through Switzerland with stunning views on train rides and beautiful hikes in West and Central Switzerland

by nam@laugh travel eatAbout Me:Nam Cheah is a third culture millennial who spent half her life in Hong Kong and the other half in the UK. With a passion for travel, hikes, food, and puns, she documents her travel on her suitably named blog: Laugh, Travel, Eat. When she’... read more

EuropeSwitzerland, France8 days / August - September 2019

Highs & Lows

Every single train ride in Switzerland is stunning

Having to skip Jungfrau due to bad weather

Itinerary Overview

Switzerland is a vast and beautiful city and planning an itinerary to visit it for 7 days is not easy. With gorgeous cities, stunning railways, and majestic Swiss Alps, it’s important to prioritise your focus on your visit so you don’t overstretch yourself. After several headache episodes and being realistic about travel time and what I want to and can feasibly see, I’ve decided on a 8 day itinerary that focuses on hiking in mostly the western part of Switzerland.

  • 2 Nights: Geneva
    Surround yourself with beautiful mountains and Lake Geneva
  • Day trip: Montreux
    From rolling hills to lake to castle, this is by far the best of Switzerland
  • 2 Nights: Lucerne
    Enjoy the historic central town of Switzerland on the river with old city walls and the famous Chapel Bridge
  • Day trip: Rigi
    Cruise along Lake Lucerne then take a scenic train ride up to Rigi for a panoramic view.
  • 2 Nights: Lauterbrunnen
    One of the most famed region in Switzerland is the gorgeous mountains and valleys of Jungfrau.
  • Day trip: Schilthorn
    Mountain hopping in Jungfrau
  • 2 Nights: Zermatt
    Famous for the Matterhorn, Zermatt is not just a skiing paradise but also great for summer hikes.
  • Day trip: Gornergrat
    For the best view of Matterhorn before you leave

Q & A

  • What would you have changed?

    I would love more time in the Jungfrau region, and time to take a day trip to Bern!

  • Anything go wrong during the trip?

    It's hard to predict the weather so unfortunately, I didn't go up to Jungfrau but went up to Schilthorn instead.

  • How was the food?

    Co-op - the supermarket - is your best friend in Switzerland to keep your trip under budget! Eating out in Switzerland is expensive.

  • What tips would you give a friend?

    Download the Swiss Train app to check the train time, you can also set reminders for getting off and changing lines. I also planned my trip meticulously to make sure that I don't miss out on anything.

  • Packing tips?

    Definitely pack for warm and hot weather even in the summer. It was 0 degree celcius when I went up to Schilthorn!

  • Transportation Tips?

    Get a Swiss Travel Train Pass - this saves you so much money and many attractions become free or 50% off.

  • Any surprises?

    Schilthorn was a nice surprise - it wasn't on my radar but I was happy to visit it since Jungfrau wasn't an option (it's also cheaper).

  • Booking details?

    Even the end of summer is a busy time in Switzerland, so definitely book your accommodations in advance.

Lodging

  • Geneva, Switzerland

    I stayed at a friend's apartment near the train station

  • Lucerne, Switzerland

    I stayed at Barabas Hostel and Hotel which is walkable to the train station and on the edge of the old town in front of the Musegg Walls. Aside from its former prison status making the room stuffy (because the window is small), I enjoyed it a lot.

  • Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

    Valley Hostel! They had luggage storage and everything was quite DIY but you can’t beat the price point and the view of the town. The big kitchen and close proximity to the train station are also ideal!

  • 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland

    Cervo Zermatt, which was an absolute dream come true with a great view of the Matterhorn, lovely breakfast, many free food in the room itself, and yes, a lovely and spacious room