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2 Week Honeymoon Route make sense?

Hi all, my fiancé and I are from the US and will be having our wedding in July 2025 and want to go to Switzerland directly afterwards! Want to get some feedback on this initial route we planned. Both of us are late 20s, wanted something active with a lot of hiking and outdoors, but didn't follow Rick Steves 2week itinerary because we want less time traveling between locations to have a more leisurely paced honeymoon.

This is what we have so far.

Day 1 - Fly to Zürich - Arrive in the morning - Sleep in Lucerne

Day 2 - Lucerne - Sleep in Lucerne

Day 3 - Lucerne - Sleep in Lucerne

Day 4 - Travel to Lauterbrunnen - Sleep in Wengen

Day 5 - Lauterbrunnen - Sleep in Wengen

Day 6 - Lauterbrunnen - Sleep in Wengen

Day 7 - Lauterbrunnen - Sleep in Mürren

Day 8 - Lauterbrunnen - Sleep in Mürren

Day 9 - Travel to Zermatt - Sleep in Zermatt

Day 10 - Zermatt - Sleep in Zermatt

Day 11 - Travel to Bern - Sleep in Bern

Day 12 - Bern - Sleep in Bern

Day 13 - Bern - Sleep in Bern

Day 14 - Bern to Zürich - Fly out same day.

My biggest questions are:

Q1. Is this too much time in Lauterbrunnen region? Thoughts on the split nights at Wengen+Murren, or would Grindelwald be better for one of those?

Q2. Alternatives to Zermatt? I've heard if weather is bad this isn't really worth it, and we will already get plenty of hiking in at Lauterbrunnen. Why/Why not would you recommend instead? Conflicted on either swapping out for Appenzell, Murten or maybe Lugano (Lugano seems a little far out of the way).

Thanks again!

Posted by
650 posts

What an amazing trip for your honeymoon, you will love it!

A few thoughts -
Your time in the BO is definitely not too much. I always recommend a minimum of 5 nights to truly experience the area and have buffer for weather. And even more if possible. You won’t run out of things to do, trust me :) We spend our summers living in Mürren every year and I have yet to get bored with all the hiking, biking, adventure activities, lakes, restaurants, etc. You’ll get different opinions on this, but I don’t personally feel like it’s worth moving between Wengen & Mürren. You can literally see one from the other across the valley. Mürren is better for those wanting to focus on hiking & a bit slower pace. Wengen is best for slightly more convenient day trips. Either is great. Murren has a couple nice hotels with great spas for a massage/spa day (Mürren Palace & Hotel Eiger)

If you’re going to do Zermatt, take a night away from Bern to give yourself a better chance of seeing the Matterhorn. And Bern doesn’t need as much time as you’re giving it.

An alternative option to Zermatt and/or Bern is somewhere like Montreux if you want to experience the French part of Switzerland and spend some more time on a lake. You can take a boat over to France (Yvoire), see a beautiful castle (Chateau de Chillon) and hike the Lavaux vineyard terraces that were built by monks over 1,000 years ago.

If I was planning your trip, I’d probably recommend
Luzern 3 nights / Mürren or Wengen 6 nights / Montreux or Zermatt 3 nights / Bern 1 night

Or do 1 less base, which frees up more time for day trips, relaxation and soaking in where you are, which is really nice for a honeymoon.
Montreux or Zermatt 3 nights / Mürren or Wengen 7 nights / Luzern 3 Nights (day trip to Bern is very easy)

Hope you have an amazing time!

Posted by
5250 posts

wanderweg said everything I was thinking--so just ditto (and congrats!)
PS Start looking at accommodations, especially if you want "honeymoon worthy" anything--it's an expensive place for basic so you might want a splurge in one place, and that will be easy to do!

Posted by
712 posts

You have a very nice schedule with lots of flexibility. I wholeheartedly agree that staying in either Wengen or Mürren is best. Definitely no need to relocate. There are enough things to do including day tripping. I was quite lucky to have phenomenal weather during my visit to Zermatt. You may find Bern less appealing for outdoor activities thus needing one less day there. Personally, I would add a day to Lucerne and drop one from Bern. I’m going back to Lucerne later this year to enjoy the trip up the mountain.

Posted by
5776 posts

I'd maximize time in the BO. July gets quite hot in the Swiss cities, so being in the much cooler mountain climates is a relief. We were caught off guard a few summers ago, not having summer clothes for the cities. I'd change the Bern nights to elsewhere. No one is ever ready to leave the BO.
You do have a well researched itinerary, and have a treat in store visiting this beautiful country. Book lodging asap!
Safe travels!

Posted by
39 posts

I agree this looks like a great trip! Slowing down is the best way to enjoy Switzerland. I have spent a week in Lauterbrunen and was not bored at all!
I would agree with the other response about going to the French area. The lake towns are beautiful and very romantic, I think. It could be a time to slow down a bit, take some boat rides, explore the vineyards, and just enjoy some gorgeous scenery that is different from the B.O. I loved Zermatt, so would suggest taking time away from either Bern or Luzern. The French cuisine and ambiance will be a nice complement to the mountains!

Posted by
2 posts

Awesome! Thank you all for the great information! We I think we are gonna add Montreux for and extend time, have Bern as a day trip, and I think leave off Zermatt as well for another trip. Got to have something to come to! Thanks again!

Posted by
1667 posts

It'd be a pity to drop Zermatt. As suggested, add one day and take it from Bern.

Posted by
457 posts

My last (3d trip) to the Lauterbrunnen Valley region in 2014 we stayed 8 nights. Previous trips have been 7 and 9 night stays.
I do have detailed descriptions of 18 hikes in the area, some of these might be a little dated but not too much changes.
On the last trip we spent a night in Stechelberg, 5 nights in Gimmelwald (not Grindelwald) another night in Stechelberg and our last night in the region was spent at the Obersteinberg Mountain Hotel.
Oddly Obersteinberg doesn't feature often on this forum.
You do have to get there on foot and it is off grid but it is as close to a "must do" as there is in the region, provided you are in half decent shape.
We talked our friend's into visiting it on their honeymoon and they raved about it.
On that last trip we left our packs in the Alpenhof basement and just took a small daypack with the necessities.

Zermatt.
Also 3 visits. It was pretty crazy crowded back in 2014 but easy to lose the crowds. I remember walking 10 mins out of town and copping the perfect Matterhorn view, just me and my wife not another person in sight.
We only stayed 3 nights in 2014. Main goal was to do the Gornergrat Train. It was perfect that day. Great close views of Matterhorn and Rosa and dozens of other 4000 metre peaks. Take the train up, hike back.
On a previous trip I hiked up to Hornlihutte on the Matterhorn itself. If you are in good nick it is brilliant stuff, you do need some decent weather. It isn't treacherous but probably not for those with acrophobia.
Schonbielhutte is another fabulous hike from Zermatt, spectacular views. It is a solid day's work so an early start is necessary.
I think I have spent a total of 7 or 8 nights in Zermatt. I have never experienced a day where I couldn't see the Matterhorn, lucky I guess.

You seem keen to stay in Bern, any particular reason? A nice enough city but there are better options nearby IMHO. I would recommend staying in Thun really beautiful, great castle and not too far from Bern.

Cheers.