Day Trips

This is the high point of any Swiss holiday. 

The experience of reaching Europe's highest railway station at 11,332 feet is worth the trip, but there is also the panoramic view down Europe's longest glacier. 

Don't miss visiting the Sphinx Observatory which has an observation hall where you have a 360 degree view.

The Ice Palace has sculptures of wildlife and other exhibits.

Time: All Day
Travel: By rail only
Weather: Better on a sunny day
Cost: sFr. Varies
Addl Cost info: Trip to Wengen or Grindelwald is free with Swiss Pass
Addl Cost info: Trip from either town to Junfraujoch is discounted with Swiss Pass

Take the train from Interlaken East to Wilderswil and switch to the Schynige Platte Bahn for the start of your adventure. Ride the cog wheel train to the top of Schynige Platte; where in good weather conditions the summit offers spectacular views to many surrounding mountains, including Jungfrau, Eiger, Silberhorn, and others.

An alpine garden is located near the summit where various alpine plants can be found together with labels, indicating their Latin names (many of these plants also grow around as wild species). At the top of the railway station there is a hotel and mountain restaurant.

Schynige Platte is a starting point for the popular hiking trails to Faulhorn or First. A number of shorter loop trails also extend east from the train station, reaching Oberberghorn and Loucherhornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loucherhorn.

If you are thinking of a hike to First, please plan on starting early. The cable car from First down to Grindelwald stops at 4PM. Anyone still on the mountain will have to spend the night. There are multiple mountain huts along the trail, but comfort should not be expected. This is true "roughing it".

Time: approximately 4 to 6 hours
Travel: By rail
Weather: Better when it doesn't rain
Cost: sFr. 63.-
Addl Cost info: 50% discount with Swiss Pass

The Sherlock Holmes Museum opened in the old English Church in the center of the village of Meiringen one hundred years after the death of Sherlock Holmes. The parlor of the Victorian home located at 221b Baker Street in London, where Holmes lived with his assistant Dr. Watson, is authentically recreated.

A short distance way from the museum are the falls. This was where Sherlock Holmes staged his own death on the observation platform above the highest of the seven tiers of the waterfall.

The village of Meiringen is also known for its claim to be the place where meringues were first made. Enjoy a meringue with ice cream, fruit and cream at one of the local tea rooms.

Time: Minimum 2 hours
Travel: By rail or car
Weather: Rain or Shine
Cost: sFr. 4 for Museum, sFr. 11.50 for Reichenbach Falls
Addl Cost info: Combine with Aareschlucht for sFr. 13

The Brienzer Rothorn is an 800 mm gauge (2 ft. 71/2 in.) gauge rack railway which climbs from Brienz (1857 feet) at the eastern edge of Lake Brienz to the summit of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain (7362 feet). Although other Swiss mountain railways offer special "steam" trips, this is the only line which offers a full steam service.

Time: Minimum 4 hours
Travel: By rail or car to Brienz. Steam train to Rothorn
Weather: Sunny day is preferable for spectacular views
Cost: Many packages available
Addl Cost info: Half price with Swiss Pass

Take the train from Interlaken West to Wengen, changing in Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen. Once in Wengen, walk to the Luftseilbahn (Cable Car) and take this to the top of Männlichen.

This is a great starting point for many different hikes varying in difficulty and altitude. Hike to Kleine Scheidegg or down to Grindelwald or Wengen. There are many possibilities and each will give you an exceptional experience.

Ask us and we will be happy to give you details on the various possibilities.

Time: 4 hours
Travel: By train
Weather: Sunny day is preferable
Cost: Various
Addl Cost info: Free to Wengen and 1/2 price to Männlichen with Swiss Pass

Time: 4 hours
Travel: By train
Weather: Sunny day is preferable
Cost: Various
Addl Cost info: Free to Grindelwald and 1/2 price to First with Swiss Pass

Zermatt lies below Switzerland's most iconic mountain, the Matterhorn.  Transport within the village is by horse drawn carriage or electric taxi only - cars not permitted. 

The Matterhorn Glacier Paradise is supposed to be Europe's highest altitude aerial cableway that takes you directly up to 3,883 meters above sea level. The panorama view of 38 peaks over 4,000 meters high is breathtaking!

Time: All day
Travel: By Rail or Car (to Täsch and Rail to Zermatt)
Weather: Sunny day is preferable
Cost: Free except for Cable Cars and Glacier Experience

Pick up a city map and go exploring. There is quite a bit to see and do.

Explore some of Zürich's famous streets:

• Augustinergasse: a beautiful old narrow street with many colorfully painted oriel windows
• Bahnhofstrasse: the world famous shopping district is 1.4 km in length and it connects the main train station to Lake Zürich. Stop along the way at Sprüngli and enjoy their delicious chocolates, the truffle of the day, the famous luxemburgerli (macaroons) or a pastry.

Some other places not to be missed are the:

• Fraumünster with the famous Marc Chagall stained glass windows
• Grossmünster, where Charlemagne discovered the graves of the city martyrs
• Lindenhof where you get a glorious view of the Grossmünster
• the Old Town
• City Hall
• Limmat River
• University high on the hill.

Time: Minimum 4 hours
Travel: By Rail or Car
Weather: Sunny day is preferable
Cost: Free

Murten is a medieval walled town. Walk the ramparts along one side of the town and look over the rooftops and chimneys toward the Lac de Morat. Enjoy a lunch of perch from the lake or try a piece of their famous Nidelkuchen at a tea shop.

Time: Minimum 2 hours
Travel: By Rail or Car
Weather: Rain or Shine
Cost: Free

Is 11 your lucky number? If it is, then you must visit Solothurn. Solothurn was the 11th canton to join the Swiss Confederation; the medieval walls have 11 towers; there are 11 painted fountains and 11 churches and chapels. The Cathedral of St. Ursus  even has 11 bells, 11 clocks and 11 altars and the stairs in front of the cathedral have levels between every 11 steps. Even the local brewery has named itself Öufi which is Swiss German for 11. Other sights to see are the Jesuit Church, the Clock Tower and the Museum of the Old Arsenal which houses the most ancient collection of armor in Europe.

Time: Minimum 3 hours
Travel: By Rail or Car
Weather: Rain or Shine
Cost: Free

While the cities focal point is its magnificent cathedral, its beautiful medieval center contains many half timbered houses and mansions with oriel windows.

Make sure to also visit the library attached to the cathedral. The Abbey Library is  Switzerland’s oldest library, containing a unique collection of books and manuscripts dating back to the middle ages.

Time: 6 hours
Travel: By train or car
Weather: Sunny day is preferable
Cost: Various

Geneva is a global city, a financial center, and worldwide center for diplomacy due to the presence of numerous international organizations, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross.

Be one of the 100,000 visitors who take the tour of the Palais des Nations each year. The tours are available in more than 15 languages and last for one hour.

Check on the UN website before planning for this tour. There are times when the tours are closed due to U.N. functions and events.

Time: 6 hours
Travel: By train or car
Weather: Sunny day is preferable
Cost: Various

Take the Golden Pass Train all the way to Montreux.

First take the Golden Pass Train from Interlaken to Zweisimmen across the Simmental region where the valley gets narrower and the forests darker along the river. Then take the Golden Pass Train from Zweisimmen to Montreux. You ride through alpine forests, bubbling mountains streams and picturesque mountain villages. You pass through a tunnel and finally end in Montreux home to the Montreux Jazz Festival held in July.

The Château de Chillon is 3 km away from Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. Either walk the 45 minutes from the train station along the lake or you can get on a bus that drops you off right there. See what inspired such writers as Lord Byron and Victor Hugo.

Time: Minimum 5 hours
Travel: By Rail or Car
Weather: Rain or Shine
Cost: sFr. 12.50

This isn't a city on the main tourist trail but the old town section represents a fine example of medieval architecture. The city is situated on a peninsula of the Saane River. Those living on the west side are mostly French speaking while those living on the east of the river are German speaking. 

Suggest you obtain a street map at the tourist office by the train station. Explore the Altstadt on foot. The town is well preserved with around 1.25 miles of its defensive wall and 14 watchtowers still pretty much intact. Visit the Cathedral of St. Nicolas or view the 40 sculptures along the Sculpture Trail through the city center. You must ride the Fribourg Funicular which is one of the city's curiosities. It was built in 1899 to link the upper and lower parts of town. It is the last of its kind in Europe to run solely on waste water. It operates daily with departures every 6 minutes.

Time: Minimum 4 hours
Travel: By Rail or Car
Weather: Rain or Shine
Cost: Free