20 days in Zurich & Geneva Itinerary

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

Visiting Lake Zurich and Maennlichen will get you outdoors. Venture out of the city with trips to Funks Ballonfahrten Firma erloschen! (in Wolfwil), Lucerne (Luzerner Wochenmarkt, Chapel Bridge, &more) and Collegiale Saint-Germain (in Moutier). The adventure continues: glide through the air with a parasailing or paragliding tour, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Uetliberg Mountain, look for all kinds of wild species at Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, and wander the streets of UNESCO-Altstadt von Bern.

To find more things to do, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Zurich trip site.

Washington DC, USA to Zurich is an approximately 12.5-hour flight. You can also fly. Traveling from Washington DC to Zurich, you'll lose 6 hours due to the time zone difference. When traveling from Washington DC in February, plan for a bit cooler days in Zurich, with highs around 43°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 30°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Wed) to allow time to fly to Geneva.

Geneva brings the world to one small city with a huge expat population and the highest number of international organizations in any one city.

Get outdoors at Lake Geneva and Bains des Paquis. Explore Geneva's surroundings by going to Trail Vallee de Joux (in Le Sentier), La Garenne (in Le Vaud) and Lindt Chocolate Shop Aubonne (in Aubonne). There's still lots to do: ponder the design of The Geneva Water Fountain, fly down the slopes at Tobogganing Park, see the interesting displays at International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, and get a sense of history and politics at Palais des Nations, Genève.

Before you visit Geneva, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Getting from Zurich to Geneva by flight takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 52°F in March, and nighttime lows around 35°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Wed) to allow time to fly back home.