6 days Swiss trip - what would you include?

Skip the nights in Zürich. You can get from Zürich airport direct by train to your first destination, and direct from your last destination back to the airport (as long as your flight is not first thing in the morning).

I count 5 nights. I would split it up:
2 nights Luzern
3 Nights Berner Oberland.

Use one of your days in Luzern to take a boat to the far end of the lake (Flüelen), and the train back. Use the other day to go up one of the local mountains (Rigi, Pilatus or Ttlis). Don't forget ½ day to explore the town.

Berner Oberland: Choose one of Mürren, Wengen Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald.
Info and hotels in these places here: https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/summer/
Grindelwald is the largest, more hotels, restaurants and expensive shops.
Lauterbrunnen is in the valley. Google for photos.
Mürren and Wengen are up the opposite sides of the valley. No cars.
Your choice.

"Ride the Gotthard Panoramic train (how far? spend the night?)" - you've run out of nights! The Lake trip above is the first part of that route.
The rail line from Luzern to the Berner Oberland is the "Brünig Pass line", one of the scenic routes.
Info here: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/premium-panorama-trains/premium-panorama-trains-luzern-interlaken-express.html

Hi Chris -

Thank you for your reply. Ok since you twisted my arm, what if we added a day? :) Would there be some version of this trip that you'd recommend that involves, say, the Glacier Express? This is sort of a sticking point.

The Glacier Express route is described here: https://grandtraintour.myswitzerland.com/en/glx/
And here: https://www.seat61.com/GlacierExpress.htm

It runs West-East through the Alps, but south of Luzern and the Berner Oberland. You could make it a "Grand Finale" last day, as follows:
1) From the Berner Oberland, cut south to Visp. Change to the Glacier Express
2) Glacier Express route to Chur
3) Overnight in Chur
4) Return by train to Zürich airport, catch afternoon flight.

Jtraveler,

With 6 nights, fly into Zurich and head to Luzern.
Luzern 1 night
Wengen or Muerren 4 nights
Luzern 1 night
fly home from Zurich

If you can add a night, simply add it to either Wengen, Muerren or Luzern at the end of the trip. You will not see more spectacualr alpine scenery in Switzerland, nor will you see it from a train window.

I'd skip the train day. You'll be on trains during your stay. Imagine a clear, crisp day and you're on a train looking at scenery through a window, instead of walking a path or sitting having a picnic looking up at the Eiger.

Paul

Take the wonderful advice that these previous experts offered. They are exactly correct!

You realize that the train from Lucerne to Interlaken is part of the the Golden Pass, correct? (You have to go this way to get to the Berner Oberland.) So if one of your goals is to do a scenic railroad trip in Switzerland, you will be accomplishing this by default. That is an absolutely gorgeous section of track.

I heartily agree with all that has been said so far; in fact, Chris took the words right out of my mouth--"Don't stay in Zurich!"

If you want mountain scenery "within reach" then a scenic train ride is fine, but not the best. You want to be IN the scenery and not just see it go by, which is a very passive experience (and you can't stop it and hit "rewind"). Instead, stay as long as possible in the Berner Oberland and get out and explore.

If you click on my name you'll find a link to our dozen favorite hikes in the area, with maps and pics. They've all been "teen tested" by my kids, who have returned to the same trails as adults.

With 6 days only I recommend Luzern and Lauterbrunnen and around.

Thanks everybody for the tips. I'm coordinating this trip for a family with different needs and requests. I think a stay in Zurich at least on arrival or before departure would be good - I for one am curious to see the city a little. We'll have a 2.5 year old in tow, so the less time spent on trains and the more time seeing the scenery from the valley the better!

What time is your flight scheduled to arrive at Zurich? If it’s early you probably won’t be able to check in to your lodging anyway. Luzern is only 70 minutes away by train. Two trains per hour.. if you look back at the old posts here almost everyone will suggest skipping Zürich and heading straight to Luzern. It’s a smaller town on a very pretty lake surrounded by mountains.

Here's a stab at a revised itinerary:

Fly Zurich
Train to Lucerne
2 Nights Lucerne
train to interlaken
1 night Interlaken
2 nights Murren
1 night Zurich
Fly home

We will have a 2.5 year old with us and I think this sounds not too breathless. I left Zurich in the plan because some of us would like to take a look at the town. I understand your suggestions against this.

1 night Interlaken
2 nights Murren

Make that 3 nights Mürren. They are only 53 minutes apart and Mürren is so much better.
If you want to check out Interlaken, you will be going through it (changing trains) on the way to and from Mürren. You could spend a few hours there. Easier than an extra hotel change.

Bern is also worth a few hours if you want a city, and in my opinion more scenic than Zürich. You go via Bern on your way from Mürren/Interlaken to Zürich (airport or city). Luggage lockers at station.
Make sure your 2½ year old sees the bears at the far end of the "main street". See here: https://www.bern.com/en/detail/bern-animal-park-bearpark

Chris -
My travel experience suggests that with our parents and a 2.5 yo child in tow, we won't want to see either Interlaken or Bern "on the way" with our luggage. That's why I'd think doing a night in Interlaken (and maybe also Bern) would be worthwhile. Moving very slow seems better for our whole party than stuffing things in lockers, and having nowhere to put child down for a nap, etc. If it were just my wife and me, we'd be more than game for "a few hours of sightseeing" after changing trains.

There’s really nothing in Interlaken to see. People stay there to make day trips to the villages like Murren. Don’t know why the do, but they do 😉

Your time will be much better spent in Murren. If changing trains is difficult and slow for you then just take your time and don’t rush for the next train. If you miss it just relax and have a seat and wait on the next one.

Not concerned about changing trains, everybody here knows how to use public transit. Thanks for the tip on Interlaken. For some reason it's famous, and its fame lures you, even if there's nothing to see! I will try and include Bern in our itinerary and spend the bulk of our time in Mürren.

Thanks everyone.

"For some reason it's famous, and its fame lures you, even if there's nothing to see!" - I think you just described Zürich.
There are some things to see, but they are eclipsed by the mountains and other places.

So IF Zurich is a must, then:
2 nights Lucerne
3 nights Muerren or Wengen
1 night Zurich

There you have it. Skip trying to see anything else. Take the little time you have to enjoy what's on the itinerary.

Paul beat me to it - that's the itinerary I'd recommend too.

As for what to see and do in Interlaken: There is a large Migros and a large Coop, which are very handy if you want or need something at an affordable price (they're roughly similar to Target). When my day bag broke, I bought a small backpack at Migros for 20 CHF. There's also casinos, sex shops, jewelry stores, and lots of tourists (particularly from Asia and the Middle East). There are lots of restaurants, including a "Paksitani" restaurant (that's what the sign said, like Punxsutawney Phil in Groundhog Day) and one called "TrulyAsia" which promised food from "Vietnam China Thailand Korea" (looking at my picture of their sign always makes me smile). And there's a small Museum of Tourism, which was good for 45 minutes or so (free with my Swiss Travel Pass).

If you don't want or need any of these things, there is no reason to spend any more time in Interlaken than it takes to change transit modes (trains, buses, boats). The same way that some people are "famous for being famous," Interlaken is a gateway to great places, but itself has much less to offer.

I think you made your point, Harold!