20 days in Basel & Zurich Itinerary

Situated where the Swiss, German, and French borders meet, Basel is considered the hub of Dreilandereck, this "three countries corner." Its location makes Basel a center of culture and history, brimming with important theaters and museums.

Take a break from the city and head to Parasailing & Paragliding and Rochers des Sommetres. Explore Basel's surroundings by going to Bern (Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten), Tierpark Bern, &more), St. Beatus Hoehlen (in Sundlauenen) and Swiss Chocolate Chalet (in Interlaken). The adventure continues: delve into the lush surroundings at Creux du Van, get great views at Pfalz, see the interesting displays at Basel Paper Mill - Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing, and pause for some serene contemplation at Basel Minster.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Basel route planner.

Washington, USA to Basel is an approximately 17.5-hour combination of flight and car. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 6 hours traveling from Washington to Basel. In March, daytime highs in Basel are 53°F, while nighttime lows are 34°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Thu) early enough to drive to Zurich.

The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.

Visiting Lake Zurich and Titlis will get you outdoors. Change things up with these side-trips from Zurich: Lucerne (Altstadt Luzern, Rigi, &more), Michaelskreuz Kapelle (in Root) and Seebad Mit Strand Am Vierwaldstattersee (in Kuessnacht am Rigi). There's lots more to do: take a stroll through Old Town, admire the sheer force of Rhine Falls, look for all kinds of wild species at Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, and fly down the slopes at Grindelwald-First.

For ratings, photos, and more tourist information, use the Zurich online travel route planner.

Traveling by car from Basel to Zurich takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In April, daytime highs in Zurich are 58°F, while nighttime lows are 41°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 14th (Wed) to allow time for travel back home.