30 days in Switzerland Itinerary

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

Step out of the city life by going to Lake Zurich and Rigi. Family-friendly places like Lake Lucerne and Chapel Bridge will thrill your kids. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Zurich: Rheinbrucke Diessenhofen–Gailingen (in Diessenhofen), Elsener Messerschmied AG (in Rapperswil) and Rhine Falls (in Neuhausen am Rheinfall). Next up on the itinerary: stop by Old Town, explore the world behind art at Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich), get to know the resident critters at Zoo Zurich, and make a trip to The Nine Towers.

To find where to stay, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Zurich travel planning tool.

Washington, USA to Zurich is an approximately 17-hour flight. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually a 6 hour difference. When traveling from Washington in April, plan for slightly colder days in Zurich, with highs around 58°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 41°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Engelberg.

Engelberg offers outdoor activities for a variety of skill levels and remains much less well-known than other Swiss resorts.

Attractions like Titlis and Zwergenweg Magisalp-Bidmi make great kid-friendly stops. When in Engelberg, make a side trip to see Swisspecial in Hergiswil, approximately Hergiswil away.

To find other places to visit, more things to do, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Engelberg travel route website.

Traveling by car from Zurich to Engelberg takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or do a combination of bus and train. April in Engelberg sees daily highs of 58°F and lows of 39°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Interlaken.

Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the heart of the Jungfrau region, Interlaken became popular for its proximity to the mountains and lakes of the Bernese Oberland region.

Get outdoors at Mt Pilatus and Lauterbrunnen Valley Waterfalls. Kids will enjoy Parasailing & Paragliding and Harderkulm. Change things up with these side-trips from Interlaken: Aare Gorge (in Meiringen) and Grindelwald-First (in Grindelwald). There's still lots to do: take in the dramatic scenery at Trümmelbachfälle, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Schlosskirche, explore the activities along Lake Brienz, and look for gifts at Swiss Chocolate Chalet.

To see more things to do, maps, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Interlaken trip builder app.

Traveling by car from Engelberg to Interlaken takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or take a train. In May, daily temperatures in Interlaken can reach 63°F, while at night they dip to 45°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 7th (Fri) so you can catch the train to Zermatt.

Best known as home the Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt serves as a chic ski resort town of the Swiss Alps.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like The Matterhorn and Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis. Get outdoors at Gornergrat and Aletsch Glacier. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Zermatt: Zauberwasser (in Graechen), Riederalp (in Riederalp) and Hangebrucke Furgangen-Muhlebach (in Ernen). There's lots more to do: tour along fresh powder with Matterhorn Diamonds Ski School, pause for some serene contemplation at Intercontinental Church Society, take some stellar pictures from Viewpoint Kirchbrucke bridge, and fly like a bird with a parasailing or paragliding tour.

To find where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Zermatt trip itinerary maker.

Traveling by train from Interlaken to Zermatt takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Cap off your sightseeing on the 13th (Thu) early enough to go by car 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.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Lake Geneva and The Geneva Water Fountain. Step out of the city life by going to Bains des Paquis and Reserve Naturelle des Grangettes. Change things up with these side-trips from Geneva: Chateau de Chillon (in Veytaux), Chaplin's World (in Corsier-sur-Vevey) and Lausanne (Palais de Justice de Montbenon, The Olympic Museum Lausanne (Musee Olympique), &more). Next up on the itinerary: take in the spiritual surroundings of Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre, pause for some photo ops at Reformation Wall, make a trip to The Flower Clock, and explore the fascinating underground world of Grottes de Vallorbe.

To find maps, reviews, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Geneva trip planner.

You can drive from Zermatt to Geneva in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. In May, daytime highs in Geneva are 66°F, while nighttime lows are 47°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 20th (Thu) early enough to travel back home.