How to spend two free days in Switzerland

Well it would take up half a day to get to Mürren, and another half day to go somewhere else from there, even though it looks close on the map. Luzern is another option, since you can get direct train to the Zurich airport from there, in about 1 hour 20 minutes.

You seem to have two nights - Thursday and Friday - unless you can take a late train somewhere Wednesday evening.

You can get to Lauterbrunnen in less than 2 hours from Bern with last departure about 10pm, so you might squeeze in Wednesday night there too.

You can get to Lausanne from bern in less than 90 minutes, again with late departures till just after 10pm.

https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

However, although I love both areas, I would pick one and enjoy it rather than spending parts of three mornings training around. Murren has great food, hiking and the Alps, Lausanne has great food wine, vineyards to visit and the Alps across the lake.

I was in Switzerland last July. Are you spending time in Zurich at the beginning of your trip? If not, I'd recommend spending your free time there. I think it's a very underrated city. I actually preferred Zurich over Bern and enjoyed it as much as Lucerne (though that's kind of like comparing apples and oranges). On the other hand, if you have your heart set on experiencing the French speaking part of the country, Zurich won't do you much good. I hope you have fun, whatever you decide!

Pick one spot and spend both nights there. Luzern is probably best since your flight is out of Zurich. Going to Murren for just one day is cruel.

As a “certified Francophile” you will probably be disappointed in Lausanne if you are looking for French culture. Suisse Romande, the French-speaking area of Switzerland, is still Swiss in nationality and culture (and food); you will not feel like you are in France, even if you can speak the language.

With your limited time, I suggest you head to one place not far from Bern (and Zurich) and spend two nights there. If your flight from Zurich is mid-afternoon or later, you can easily make that from Muerren. Otherwise, head to Luzern.

I love FastEddie’s commend that “going to Mürren for just one day is cruel.”

Thanks to all for the replies. In the interest of not being cruel, and given I will have had time on both Zurich and Bern prior to getting cut loose from business, and given that I intend to get my France fix in September on a different trip, I think Mürren for two days after Bern is the right call.

So... on the SBB site looks like getting from Mürren to Zurich Airport on a Saturday morning is a 3h 15m journey consisting of a train from Mürren to Grütschalp, lift to Lauterbrunnen, train to Interlaken Ost, train to Zurich Flughafen via Spiez and Bern

Have I got that right?

Yes, although some journeys may have an additional change at Bern, or Zurich main station.

Note that the journey from Mürren train station to Lauterbrunnen is pretty seamless, in that you simply leave the little train at Grutschalp and walk over to the cablecar and board. If you put luggage in the cart ay Mürren they attach that to the cablecar ( underneath) and you pick it up at the lower cablecar station. Then follow the people to the Lauterbrunnen station platform. There may or may not be a train waiting there to take you to Interlaken. Just don’t get on the little red one going to W gen!