Where to go, what to skip, how to plan it. Zurich, Lucerne, Geneva, and beyond.
19 posts
Chamonix is 80 km from Geneva and the most dramatic Alpine day trip in Europe. Here's how to do it well — with real prices, timing, and what not to skip.
Read moreGruyères is 1h 20min from Geneva by train or 1h 45min by coach. The medieval village, cheese dairy, and Callier chocolate factory make for a very full half-day — here's how to combine them efficiently.
Read moreGeneva to Interlaken is 2.5 hours by train or guided coach. Add Jungfraujoch and you're at the highest railway station in Europe. Here's what to expect, what it costs, and how to time it.
Read moreMontreux is 65 km from Geneva on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva — a riviera of palm trees, a medieval castle, and the museum dedicated to Charlie Chaplin who spent his last 25 years here.
Read moreZermatt is 3h 20min from Geneva by train. The Matterhorn view is genuinely extraordinary — but you need to plan it carefully or you'll spend more time on trains than in the village.
Read moreLausanne is 1h 40min from Interlaken by train — a quicker journey than Geneva. You get an extra 45 minutes in the Alps. Here's how to use that time well.
Read moreLausanne is 2h 50min from Zermatt by train — 30 minutes less than from Geneva. That extra half-hour gives you time for Gornergrat and the village. Here's the efficient way to do it.
Read moreThe Jungfraujoch is Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 m. From Zurich, the full round trip takes 8–9 hours and costs CHF 140–230. Here's how to plan it right.
Read moreLucerne is 45 minutes from Zurich by train. Here's how to spend a full day — Chapel Bridge, Pilatus or Rigi, and where to eat without paying tourist-trap prices.
Read moreRhine Falls is 50 minutes from Zurich and Europe's largest waterfall by volume. Most visitors spend 2–3 hours. Here's how to combine it with Stein am Rhein for a full day.
Read moreFrom alpine peaks to medieval towns, these are the 15 best day trips you can take from Zurich by train — no car needed.
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