Best 5 night/6 day plan for Switzerland

• From Zürich (airport or city centre) take a train to Chur. Stay 1 night.
• Then take the Glacier Express route (not necessarily the named train, other trains run the same route) to Zermatt (2 nights). Option to go up the Matterhorn.
• Then take a train to the Berner Oberland (Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Grindelwald etc.) and spend the rest of your time there. Option to go up Schilthorn and/or the Jungfrau.
• Depending on how early your flight is from Geneva, either a train to the airport train the morning, or on the night before.

How are you arriving? By train (from which direction)? Or by air? If by train you may be able to avoid Zürich and shorten your route to Chur.

I suggest something like this:

Land in Zurich and go straight to Luzern. There are direct trains from the airport once an hour, and others with a change at the Zurich main station.

Spend two nights in Luzern. On the full day, you could do the Rigi loop, a trip to the tops of the mountain (much lauded by Mark Twain) by lake boat, and cogwheel train, with return by cablecar and finally another boat. From the top there are gorgeous views over the lake and into the mountains.

https://www.rigi.ch/en/Experience-Enjoy/Summer

On Day 3 take the scenic Golden Pass route to Interlaken via the Brunig Pass. At Interlaken Öst, chNge to the train intomthe Lauterbrunnen Valley where you will stay 3 nights. Choose between Lauterbrunnen in the valley and Mürren up on the mountain for your lodging. You can take the cablecar up to the top of the Schilthorn for a true "Peak experience."

Then return to Interlaken Öst and continue on the Golden Pass route to the end at Montreux. Depending on the time of your flight from Geneva, you could spend Night 6 in Montreux, or move closer to Geneva, such as the lakeside village of Morges ( Audrey Hepburn's home for many years).

A four-day Flex Pass might be advantageous for this itinerary, as both the Rigi trip and the Schilthorn ann are fully covered, as are museums if you have time to visit. Maybe the Chateau du Chillon at Montreux?

Thank you both. I am flying into Zurich and since my wife wants to see the city was planning on at least doing the Rick Steves walk in Zurich and then heading out.

The flight out of Geneva is first thing in the morning.

Chris and I were posting at the same time. That is a nice itinerary too, although I would find the long journey from Chur to Zermatt tedious (almost six hours on the Glacier Express, over 6 hours if you take the regional trains on the same route, because of stops).

Note that the cablecar does not go up,the Matterhorn. It ascends to a very high viewing platform on the shoulder of the Breithorn, with views across the glacier to the Matterhorn.

https://www.matterhornparadise.ch/en/winter/panoramalive-winter

Adjusting my suggested itinerary:

If you need to spend the first night in Zurich, head to Luzern the first thing the next morning and spend just one night there. You will still have time for the Rigi trip if that appeals to you.

On Saturday, after taking the Golden Pass train to Montreux, continue on the line running toward Geneva to a place within comfortable travel distance of the airport. The train will take you right to the airport.

Thank you. Do I need to purchase train tickets or passes ahead of time or can I purchase them when we arrive in Zurich?

Purchase when you arrive. They are always the same price and unreserved. The only trains that need reservations are the actual Glacier Express trains with panorama viewing cars, headsets describing the scenery in your choice of language, and table service for lunch and refreshments. Those you have to pay for.

Thank again for your help!