Best of Switzerland Tour Logistics

You do not need to book any trains in Switzerland.

The tour ends in Bern, and there are direct trains to Zurich Airport every 30 minutes beginning at 5:30 am. Some take 1 hour and 23 minutes and some take 1 hour and 12 minutes. So if your flight is direct to North America, any flight departure after 10 am should be OK. There is also a 4:18 am train if your flight is at 9:00 am.

As Sam said. If you’re referring to the 7 am flights, you probably need to stay in Zurich the night before. The 10 am flights shouldn’t be a problem. Last month at the Zurich airport going home, it took us over an hour to check bags, go thru security, then passport control (this was a very long line), then the passport control again right before our gate.

I stayed in Switzerland 3 extra days after the tour, so can't comment on the Bern to Zurich train.
I'd just like to mention that the day flying east back home is really long, so I prefer to not start the day too early. The goodbye dinner the night before usually results in a late night, too. I would check all the logistics/time for getting from the hotel in Bern to the Zurich airport and decide if you are okay with the necessary wake-up time.

I really enjoyed the Switzerland tour, hope you do, too!

Thank you all for your replies. I’m looking forward to the trip!

Hi Pearzee,
I was on the Switzerland tour this year. It depends where you’re traveling to as to where you want to fly in/out of- but Zurich airport is pretty small.
I was traveling from London so I had better connections through Geneva. There’s a direct train from Geneva airport to Lucern that takes 2.5 /3 hours.
I flew back to London from Zurich, but unfortunately my flight was cancelled and I had to stay the night anyway- but there are frequent direct trains from Bern to Zurich airport that take about 45 minutes. But book ahead for trains so you’ll save some money. Train travel (well, everything) is very expensive in Switzerland!
It’s a good tour though.

We stayed 2 nights before tour started in Lucern at RS hotel. Train station is at airport, very easy. from Bern we went back to Lausanne to go to the Olympic museum. (Not enough time on the tour to attend.) we then trained to Zurich. You can purchase tickets as you need them in your phone thru the app. There was lots to do in Lucern and so glad we had the extra time there. Have you considered Lucern before the tour and Zurich after?

There is a hotel in Zurich right at the airport (Blu), that makes transitioning for early flight super easy.

Pearzee,
Which tour are you on? I’m booked for the June3-14, 2025 tour. It’s exciting to be going to Switzerland!

@Jill I thought about going immediately to Lucerne once I landed in Zurich but since I'm taking an overnight flight from the US, I figure I won't want to hop on a train right away. Plus, I'd like to see a bit of Zurich. And thanks for the tip about Lausanne. Going to the Olympic museum is one of my "must dos." How much time did you have on the tour to spend at the museum? And how much time did you feel you ultimately needed? I may have to do what you did and go back to Lausanne once the tour is over before I head to the airport.

@Judy B I am going on the tour September 28-October 9.