21-Day Itinerary Check

Posted by lucasbittar on 07/15/25 07:32 PM

I’m planning a 21-day trip around Switzerland in late August/early September and would love feedback on the pacing, logistics, and any key spots I might be overlooking.

Day 1: Arrive in Zurich at 10:40 AM, take the train to Appenzell, check in at the hotel. Head to Ebenalp in the mid-afternoon, explore the area, maybe walk to Seealpsee from Wasserauen through the service road if there 's time and energy left. Overnight in Appenzell.

Day 2: Take the train to Frumsen, go up to Staubern and hike Saxer Lucke. Possibly visit Fahlensee if there’s time and energy. Overnight in Appenzell.

Day 3: Travel to Lucerne, explore the city. Overnight in Lucerne.

Day 4: Visit Mt. Pilatus. Overnight in Lucerne.

Day 5: Day trip to Stoos for the Klingenstock–Fronalpstock ridge hike. Overnight in Lucerne.

Day 6: Travel from Lucerne to Mürren with stops at Lungern and Iseltwald. Overnight in Mürren.

(Days 7-12 are interchangeable according to weather, mood and energy.)

Day 7: Hike the Panorama Loop at Schynige Platte. Overnight in Mürren.

Day 8: Train to Grindelwald, gondola to First, hike to Bachalpsee, explore Grindewald on the way back and return to Mürren. Overnight in Mürren.

Day 9: Visit Schilthorn, stop at Birg on the way down, hike down to Mürren from Allmendhubel via the North Face Trail. Overnight in Mürren.

Day 10: Jungfraujoch visit (if clear weather), hike to Mönchsjochhütte. Overnight in Mürren.

Day 11: Walk from Mürren to Gimmelwald, down to Stechelberg, Lauterbrunnen Valley walk with waterfalls. Option to go to Männlichen and hike Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheidegg. Overnight in Mürren.

Day 12: Free day as a buffer for weather or to catch up on missed activities, such as the trail from the day before. Overnight in Mürren.

Day 13: Travel to Zermatt with a stop at Oeschinensee for the Oeschinesee Panorama Hike. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 14: Visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, hike to Schwarzsee. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 15: Visit Gornergrat Top Station. Do a hike, such as Riffelsee-Riffelberg via Rotenboden or Stellisee-Fluhalp via Blauherd. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 16: Extra day in Zermatt as a buffer for weather, train to Lausanne in the early evening. Overnight in Lausanne.

Day 17: Explore the Lake Geneva region. Overnight in Lausanne.

Day 18: Take the Chocolate Train from Montreux via Gruyères to Broc, then leave the excursion (which returns to Montreux) and take the train from Broc to Bern. Overnight in Bern.

Day 19: Visit Bern and Murten. Overnight in Bern.

Day 20: Travel to Zurich, explore Zurich. Overnight in Zurich.

Day 21: Zurich day, flight back home at 10:40 PM.

I tried to balance hiking, sightseeing, and some buffer for bad weather. Open to suggestions on routing, timing, or must-see spots I may have missed. During days 6, 13 and 18, I'll have to carry my luggage while sightseeing. The idea is to leave it at the station lockers. Do you think that's a problem? Thank you!

Posted by wanderweg

Nashville, TN

07/15/25 09:15 PM

1067 posts

I’d remove your overnight in Zurich. If you want to see anything in Zurich, you have plenty of time with such a late night flight to go there in the morning from Bern, store your luggage for the day to explore and then go to the airport. Personally, I’d spend the time in Bern, as I think it’s a nicer city than Zurich.

I’m assuming you’re coming from somewhere where you’ll be experiencing jet lag your first couple days. Because of that, I’d probably add a night to Appenzell if you’re intent on hiking Seealpsee and Saxer Lucke. Your first afternoon is always a bit of a throw away just getting situated.

With all your mountain activities in Appenzell, Murren & Zermatt, I’d skip Pilatus and use that day to do a boat ride from Luzern to Fluelen. The views are beautiful and it will be a good change up from all the mountain activities. You can also get off at stops to walk around villages, such as Brunnen.

Iseltwald isn’t a great stopover on the way to Murren, as it’s logistically complicated via either boat or bus and with luggage it’s just too much.

I’d add a night to Lake Geneva and consider staying in Montreux or Vevey. Lausanne is not the greatest base, as it’s on a steep hill, so you end up having to take the subway up to the train station every time you want to go somewhere. Montreux and Vevey both have train and boat access, so they make good bases for exploring the highlights of the area.

Something like this….
Appenzell 3 nights > Luzern 3 nights > Murren 7 nights > Zermatt 3 nights > Montreux or Vevey 3 nights > Bern 1 night

Day 1: Arrive in Zurich at 10:40 AM, take the train to Appenzell, check in at the hotel. Explore the village.
Day 2: Ebenalp/Seealpsee
Day 3: Saxer Lucke
Day 4: Appenzell > Luzern - explore the city
Day 5: Boat ride to Fluelen
Day 6: Stoos Ridge Hike
Day 7: Luzern > Murren
Day 8: Schilthorn/Birg/Allmendhubel/NorthFace
Day 9: Schynige Platte
Day 10: Jungfraujoch
Day 11: Grindelwald First/Bachalpsee
Day 12: Gimmelwald/Lauterbrunnen Valley
Day 13: Wengen/Mannlichen
Day 14: Murren > Zermatt (Oeschinensee if it’s good weather)
Day 15: Gornergrat
Day 16: Etc. Zermatt
Day 17: Zermatt > Montreux
Day 18: Chateau de Chillon + Boat ride on Lake Geneva

Day 19: Lavaux Vineyards
Day 20: Montreux > Gruyères > Bern
Day 21: Bern for the day > Zurich airport in the evening