Switzerland/ Bavaria/ Vienna/ Prague

It is an ambitious trip, and one could argue that you should stick to 2-3 countries rather than 4. Yet it still seems feasible with some rearranging. Here is what I would do.

In Switzerland: head straight to Luzern upon arrival, skip the Rhine Falls (they are really underwhelming...). Stay for 2 nights. Then, replace Interlaken with Lauterbrunnen (or, better, Mürren or Wengen) and stay 3 nights. For most people, it will be much more interesting to explore the mountains around Lauterbrunnen than Thun/Brienz/etc.

On to Germany and Austria:
Then on Day 6 you can go straight to Innsbruck by train and pick up a rental car there (you'll have to go to the airport) to get to Garmisch-P, or perhaps Oberammergau or Ehrwald would be better bases (Garmisch is really a town). It will be a really long travel day, but still OK.
Use that base for 4 nights: Neuschwanstein, Zugspitze, and another day for perhaps more relaxed activities.
On Day 10, you can drive to Berchtesgaden for 3 nights as planned.
Day 13, drop the car in Salzburg and stay the night. I personally think the Salzkammergut region with all the lakes east of Salzburg is very worthwhile, but I leave it out for now
On Day 14, train to Vienna, stay 3 nights.
Day 17, train to Prague, stay 3 nights.

2 extra nights miraculously appeared: I would spend 1 in the Lauterbrunnen area, and perhaps 1 in Vienna or 1 in Salzburg.
Munich was skipped to minimize backtracking, but could be added before Berchtesgaden.

This is by no means a definitive itinerary, but it should cut down on backtracking and improve the pace.

Ludwigs Herrenchiemsee is easy to see on the drive from Munich to Berchtesgaden. Linderhof is very close to Garmisch. Very close. See it while there.

I think you’re short changing Lauterbrunnen valley. Once you see it, you will wish you stayed there.

I’d got right from Zurich to Lucerne. Short trip. Save any Zurich area sights for a stay in or near Zurich as a stop over on the way from Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken to Munich.

Wow. So many thoughts.

1. Everyone is different and if you know what you're getting into, great. But we would find that many travel days, and that many changes of accommodation to be exhausting. Zurich - Lucerne - Interlaken - Zurich or Munich - Berchtesgaden - Garmisch - Munich - Vienna - Prague, that's 9 bases in 21 nights. What to cut and what to extend depends on your interests, but I have learned over the years to see fewer places and spend more time at each. No more than 2 places a week.

2. I wouldn't bother staying in Interlaken. Either stay in Murren or somewhere else up in the Alps, or don't bother at all. Interlaken is not much more than a couple of train stations.

3. Interlaken to Munich would be one exhausting day. Google Maps shows 7 1/2 hours with at least 6 transfers. SBB or DB might be able to give you a better connection, but still.

4. Likewise Zurich-Munich-Berchtesgaden. All day in transportation.

5. When you do finally settle down for 3 nights in Berchtesgaden and 4 nights in Garmisch, you have filled every day with daytrips.

6. If you want to see Salzburg, why not put it between Munich and Vienna, instead of as a side trip from Garmisch? Its an easy 90 minute train from Munich, and then another 2 1/2 hour train to Vienna.

Sorry to be such a downer, but I think you will really regret making the investment of time and money to go to Europe, only to spend 75% of your time in trains, train stations or in the car.

Great advice here. I'll echo proposal to skip Zurich and go directly to Luzern via train station at airport. Munich a time wasting detour just to get a car. Stay in Lauterbrunnen versus Interlaken. I'm tired just reading the itinerary.

Awesome thanks for the replies, definitely will do some re arranging to keep from back tracking and make it more efficient. Got some time before we go so more info the better. I know I have probably bitten off a lot for this one. I’m kinda like I’m already over here might as well hit Switzerland to from my previous itinerary. Since we’re traveling with 4 it makes sense for us extended our trip than have to buy airfare again for another trip. But keep the ideas coming! It helps out a lot!

Since we’re traveling with 4 it makes sense for us extended our trip than have to buy airfare again for another trip.

I agree with that concept unless one or two get tired of it and pull the others down.

If you are going to add more places in you then need to slow down and add more nights in too. And you are up to the point where a several day vacation from the vacation will be appreciated by all.

Ok here’s an update on the suggestion I have eliminated Munich all together as Munich doesn’t really interest us. Let me know what you think:

Day 1- Arrive in Zurich/ Train to Lucerne
Day 2- Lucerne/ Mount Rigi
Day 3- Train to Murren hang around town
Day 4- Explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley
Day 5- Day Trip to Lauterbrunnen
Day 6- Train to Innsbruck/ Pick up Rental Car
Day 7- Drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen/ 4 nights
Day 8- Zugspitze (On a Clear Day)
Day 9- Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau Castle
Day 10- Free Day in the GP area
Day 11-13: Drive to Berchtesgaden (Eagles Nest, Lake Konigsee, Salzbergwerk, and a free day)
Day 14- Drive to Salzburg/ Drop Car Off
Day 15- Salzburg
Day 16- Train to Vienna from Salzburg
Day 17- Vienna
Day 18- Vienna
Day 19- Train to Prague
Day 20- Prague
Day 21- Prague
Day 22- Home

What you outline is close to what I had in mind.
Day 6 isn't ideal, on second thought, but it is still workable. If you try to look at trains now for Day 6, you will find that the Zürich-Innsbruck "Railjet" train is not running at present, so journey times are really excessive. But under normal circumstances, you are looking at :
- 3 hours from Mürren to Zürich, with several coordinated transfers
- 3.5 hours from Zürich to Innsbruck
- cab to Innsbruck airport
- 45-60 minute drive to Garmisch-P.
So, not the best day, but it does work out.

Just curious on day 6 should we go back to Zurich for the night and on day 7 go to Innsbruck and add an entire day to our trip? Would that make it easier for train travel?

On day 6, you will have to transfer at Zurich main station anyway. I don't suggest moving hotels too often, due to the high fixed cost of packing/unpacking+checking in/out.

I’m wondering if we should stay in Lauterbrunnen vs Murren for ease of access to to the train when we head to Innsbruck. And do a day trip to Murren. And add extra night here. I added a night for Salzburg on the day we drop off the rental car. But can Salzburg be ok for a day trip and stay 1 night before we head to Vienna the next day?

can Salzburg be ok for a day trip and stay 1 night before we head to Vienna

yes and no.

depends.

Which things do you want to do and see while in Salzburg?

I've been there several times and have yet to do it all. If all you want to do is walk around and maybe do a little shopping (I bought a Fiat 500 model there once), sure, a day is plenty.

If you want to ride a jetboat, have a meal and afternoon under the sweet chestnuts at Augustiner, have a horse drawn carriage ride around, find the places that Sound of Music fans go to, go to the Eagles Nest, get wet in the trick fountains, explore the cathedral and its cemetery and bakery, go up the funicular and/or elevator to the mountain and stronghold/castle, ride the cable car up into the mountains, have a sausage from the Balkans, or many other things, no way.

Your vacation - you choose what's important.

I've never stayed in Lauterbrunnen - much prefer the views and ambiance and quiet of Mürren. The cable cars, trains, mountain trains, buses are all synched to work together and have seamless connections. I wouldn't stay in Lauterbrunnen if the only reason is convenience to the train to Interlaken for the onward journey. The times don't add much and views do.

That makes sense for sure. Sounds like staying in Murren will be the best and visiting the Lauterbrunnen valley and town from there doesn’t sound to complicated. I had planned 3 nights in Berchtesgaden. But we are wanting to do Eagles Nest, Salt mines and Lake Konigeess. So I’m thinking just 2 nights in Berchtesgaden and adding a night for Salzburg. Thoughts?

I didn't see that you have 3 in Berchtesgaden and then another Salzburg. Those in that area can be done from there. But there's still a lot possible in Salzburg if it appeals.

Just a few thoughts. I hope I am not repeating or contradicting other posts:

Day 4/5 - I would just generally call these "Exploring Lauterbrunnen area". Laurebrunnen is a good base camp at the bottom of the valley but not necessarily worth a day trip.

Day 6 - that's a 6 hour train trip to Innsbruck. I know this because I've made that run in the past & making it again in late Sept. Doing just an overnight in Innsbruck? I would take that extra day (Day 10) and spend it in/around Innsbruck.

I'm glad you revised your schedule a bit. I'm not certain even in my younger days of bouncing around Europe that I would have kept up that pace!

Agree with others, Day 6 is an issue, skip Zurich.
Around Day 10, add Hallstatt, an hour drive from Salzburg, and my favorite destination among 6 countries visited back in the days when Europe Through the Back Door was my guide.

One more suggestion - investigate the Jungfrau Travel Pass for Lauterbrunnen. Train travel can get pricey in Switzerland. A 3-Day pass is $200USD per person! And the only way to get around there is with a pass, as it covers rail and lifts.

Awesome thanks for the input I figured in Innsbruck when we pick up the car we can just check in and walk around town and than the next day before we drive to GP area since it’s about a an hour drive is spend the day in Innsbruck and head out mid afternoon to GP. And in Salzburg should I keep the rental car and stay in Salzburg for 4 nights and use that as a base instead of Berchtesgaden, and day trip to Eagles Nest, salt mine from Salzburg? And I was looking at day tripping to Hallstatt from Salzburg (drive or train?)

in Switzerland. ... And the only way to get around there is with a pass, as it covers rail and lifts.

regular tickets, for just what you need when you need it, do too. And you buy from A to B, regardless of the combination of the various buses, trams, trains, gondolas, or cable cars it takes to get there.

I would base in Salzburg rather than Berchtesgaden. It is an easy day trip. Regarding car rental, your call. I have never required a car to get around the greater Salzburg area. But depending on how you want to get about, the number in your party, etc., it could be a better option for you. While you can drive to Hallstadt the parking can be a challenge. And as others have said, by train you get the epic view of the city from across the lake.