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Finalized itinerary, how does this look?

This is very fluid itinerary, it will change if need be based on how we feel and weather, but gives us an idea on what we would like to do day by day. Times are also general estimates. Thanks so much.

Switzerland Itinerary (June 2–12, 2025)

Day 1 – Mon, June 2: Arrival & Lucerne
• Flight: Arrival in Zurich
• Train: Zurich Airport → Lucerne (~1 hr)
• Hotel check-in
• Explore Lucerne’s Old Town & Chapel Bridge
• Optional: Boat ride on Lake Lucerne or lakeside dinner

Day 2 – Tue, June 3: Stoos Ridge Hike (Mount Rigi as backup)
• Train: Lucerne → Schwyz (~45 min), then bus to Stoosbahn
• Funicular to Stoos
• Hike: Stoos Panorama Trail (~4.5 miles, 2.5–3 hrs)
• Lunch/snacks in Stoos village
Backup Plan: Mount Rigi
• Boat: Lucerne → Vitznau (~1 hr)
• Cogwheel Train: Vitznau → Rigi Kulm (~40 min)
• Panoramic views from Rigi Kulm
• Optional Hike: Rigi Kulm → Rigi Staffel → Rigi Kaltbad (~1.5–2 hrs, downhill)
• Optional stop: Rigi Kaltbad spa/café
• Cable car: Rigi Kaltbad → Weggis
• Boat: Weggis → Lucerne

Day 3 – Wed, June 4: Travel to Wengen
• Scenic train: Lucerne → Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Wengen
• Hotel check-in
• Optional: Hunnenfluh Panorama Trail (~1.5 hrs RT)

Day 4 – Thu, June 5: Oeschinensee Hike
• Train: Wengen → Lauterbrunnen → Interlaken Ost → Kandersteg (~2 hrs)
• Gondola to Oeschinensee
• Hike down to Kandersteg (~1.5 hrs) or lake loop
• Return to Wengen

Backup Option: Bachalpsee Hike
• Train: Wengen → Grindelwald Terminal (~1 hr)
• Gondola to Grindelwald First (~25 min)
• Hike: Bachalpsee RT (~3.5 miles / 2 hrs, moderate)
• Optional: Cliff Walk or zipline
• Return via Grindelwald Terminal

Day 5 – Fri, June 6: Lauterbrunnen, Mürren & Gimmelwald
• Train to Lauterbrunnen (~15 min)
• Visit Staubbach Falls
• Bus or hike to Trümmelbach Falls (~10–40 min)
• Explore Trümmelbach Glacier Falls
• Continue to Stechelberg → Gimmelwald → Mürren
• Explore Mürren, lunch with views
• Optional: Birg Thrill Walk
• Hike Mürren → Gimmelwald (~40 min), gondola to Stechelberg
• Return to Wengen

Day 6 – Sat, June 7: Brienz Rothorn Steam Train & Giessbach Falls
• Train: Wengen → Brienz
• Steam train: Brienz → Rothorn summit (~1 hr)
• Boat to Giessbach Falls
• Walk down to lake shore
• Lake Brienz cruise toward Interlaken (~1 hr)
• Return to Wengen

Day 7 – Sun, June 8: GoldenPass Scenic Train to Montreux
• Scenic train: Wengen → Montreux (~4 hrs)
• Hotel check-in
• Walk along Lake Geneva promenade
• Tour Chillon Castle (~1.5 hrs)

Day 8 – Mon, June 9: Montreux to Zermatt
• Train: Montreux → Visp → Zermatt (~2.5–3 hrs)
• Hotel check-in
• Explore Zermatt Old Town & Matterhorn Museum (~1 hr)
• Optional: Gorner Gorge or Kirchbrücke viewpoint at sunset

Day 9 – Tue, June 10: Gornergrat & Sunnegga
• Morning: Gornergrat Bahn to summit (~35 min)
• Walk to Riffelsee (~10–15 min)
• Hike: Riffelsee → Riffelberg (~1.3 miles, ~45 min, downhill)
• Return to Zermatt
• Visit Gorner Gorge (~30–45 min RT)

Day 10 – Wed, June 11: Zermatt to Zurich
• Train: Zermatt → Visp → Zurich (~3.5–4 hrs)
• Hotel check-in
• Explore Zurich Old Town: Grossmünster, Fraumünster, Bahnhofstrasse
• Lindt Home of Chocolate Tour (~1.5 hrs, pre-booked)

Day 11 – Thu, June 12: Departure Day
• Train to Zurich Airport (~15 min)
• Flight: Return home

Posted by
894 posts

Your schedule is really jam packed, but I’ve already given you advise a couple times elsewhere, so I won’t say anything else except to correct some of your unrealistic timing….

*You allowed 2.5-3 hours for Stoos. With cable cars, hiking any enjoyment time, you need to allow 6-8 hours.

*You have 1 hour for Brienzer Rothorn, but that’s just 1 way. You need to allow 5 hours for this activity (waiting in line, roundtrip travel + time at top)

*You’ll need more than 1.5 hours to tour Chateau de Chillon + get back to Montreux

*Exploring Old Town Zermatt + Matterhorn Museum takes more than 1 hour

*Gorner Gorge doesn’t take 30-45 minutes. Gornergrat + hiking is a full day, as there are multiple stops along the way to get out and explore + time at the top, etc.

Posted by
17 posts

Thanks so much. I think we now will be skipping Stoos, I was looking at it this morning and the lift looks like it will be closed on the date we want to go.
I will further adjust the times accordingly to reflect more of an accurate timing.
I appreciate all your help and feedback.

Posted by
336 posts

What wanderweg said...
Re: Giessbach falls, the boat goes past the falls ( beautiful view), and stops at the dock for a few minutes. It's already at the lakeshore. From there you can hike or take a funicular up to the hotel for a meal, and then back to catch another boat. I don't know how long that trip would take, haven't done it. Due to lack of time that day, you could just stay on the boat, and continue on to Interlaken. In June, I don't know how late the boat runs, better check the sched.

Posted by
1723 posts

Good that you put in a lot of thinking in making this itinerary. The timing, as mentioned, is aggressive. June is the beginning of peak season and there will be lines everywhere.

Do have Plan B's for each destination. Alpine weather is fickle, and, not to discourage you, it's difficult to have great weather on all days.

Posted by
17 posts

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Tweaking again and taking your advice. Much appreciated!