Ultimate Swiss Cities & Lakes in Winter With Swiss Travel Pass

 Some of the world's most spellbinding winter scenery and stunning alpine destinations lie ahead as your incredible Swiss discovery begins today in Zürich. As your plane touches down, you can make your way to the city center to check into your hotel for the next three nights. One of the most convenient ways to do this is by rail, and you can board the train to the city center right at the Zürich airport railway station.

Walk to the hotel from the station, and after settling in, you are free to begin getting acquainted with Switzerland and see how the country comes to life during the wintertime. Your time here includes a 15-day Swiss Travel Pass, which makes traveling between cities, visiting museums and embarking on mountain rail excursions free or steeply discounted, putting a wide range of possibilities at your fingertips. Overnight Zürich.

Located alongside Lake Zürich and with a cityscape that seamlessly blends technology, culture and age-old architecture, Zürich sets an unbelievable backdrop in every season. Two full days here opens your eyes to its many sides or can take you outside its limits to places where nature and history go hand-in-hand.

Staying in Zürich, you could wander around Old Town to see Grossmünster Church or Peter's Church, which has Europe's largest clock face. Visiting ahead of Christmas brings the opportunity to browse the Christmas market in the Niederdorf quarter - home to the famous Singing Christmas Tree.

With your Swiss Travel Pass, enjoy included admission to dozens of local museums, including the Landesmuseum Zürich and the Migros Museum of Contemporary Art. Also included is the opportunity to cruise Lake Zürich with snow-covered Alps in the backdrop. Traveling further from your base using free public transportation, you could wander the capital, Bern, or see Rhine Falls, whose power transcends the seasons.

You are also welcome to book an optional excursion at a supplement, including any of the following tours. Overnights Zürich.

Includes: Breakfast

 Waking in Zürich this morning, you are free to wrap up any sightseeing you might wish to accomplish in this diverse city before your journey continues onward to a new base in the heart of Switzerland. Using an open-ended rail ticket and traveling independently, make your way to Zürich's railway station to board the train to the medieval city of Lucerne. The journey takes under an hour to complete and transports you into a world vivid with lakeside scenery contrasting snow-laden alpine views and delightful 14th-century architecture, which becomes even more atmospheric under winter skies.

Upon arriving, walk to your centrally located hotel to check in for the first of four nights, and then, with your Swiss Travel Pass in hand, you are free to begin discovering the beauty of this part of Switzerland at your own pace. Overnight Lucerne.

Includes: Breakfast

Uncover the romance of yesteryear in Lucerne, a well-preserved medieval city on the shores of Lake Lucerne. This city sits at the foot of the Mount Pilatus massif, putting some of Switzlerand's most impressive mountain adventures within reach. There is a distinctly sleepy atmosphere here, punctuated by narrow streets lined with history and beautifully painted buildings, making Lucerne a joy to discover with three full days here.

You might like to visit one of the included museums or bundle up to stroll along the lakefront. Meandering through the Altstadt (Old Town) presents attractions like the Water Tower, the Lion Monument and Jesuitenkirche Luzern, and from November until Christmas, Franziskanerplatz is transformed into a festive haven. Crossing the iconic Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) connects Old Town with New Town, opening the door to even more opportunities.

Using your Swiss Travel Pass, perhaps cruise Lake Lucerne to access places like Vitznau or Brunnen, or travel by train to Engelberg, a charming village overlooked by Mount Titlis - one of Switzerland's best skiing destinations.

Optional excursions are also bookable at a supplement. Overnights Lucerne.

Includes: Breakfast

 With a new destination on the horizon today, you might like to head to a sidewalk café to warm up with a kafi-crème (an espresso with cream) or mark off the remaining items on your Lucerne bucket list. You have an open train ticket and are traveling independently, so take the day at your own pace.

When you do make your way to Lucerne's station, board the Lucerne-Interlaken Express for the two-hour journey to Interlaken in the picturesque Bernese Oberland. This rail route is wrapped in pure Swiss beauty and presents unending vistas of typical alpine villages nestled in snow-blanketed valleys, frosty mountains, glazed lakes, and sugar-dusted forests.

Sit back and relax as the train passes Lake Sarnen, and keep your camera ready while climbing the Brünig Pass. This stretch is beloved for its views of the Bernese Alps and stunning waterfalls, including the Giessbach. Admire the traditional architecture of Brienz before arriving in Interlaken, tucked between Lakes Thun and Brienz.

On arrival, walk to your centrally located hotel and check in for a three-night stay. Overnight Interlaken.

Includes: Breakfast

Winter wonderland scenery surrounds Interlaken at every turn. This resort city serves as the gateway to the impressive Jungfrau region and is overlooked by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. With its location near the mountains and between Lakes Thun and Brienz, endless outdoor adventures await - though there is plenty to do within the city.

With two days to soak up Interlaken's many appeals, you could head to the Höheweg promenade, a boulevard lined with shops, restaurants and lovely views of the Jungfrau range. Wandering to the waterfront, perhaps use your Swiss Travel Pass for a complimentary lake cruise surrounded by magical wintry scenes.

Interlaken is an outdoor-lover's paradise, with idyllic trails easily accessible within the town, including around Lake Brienz, and many others within reach using your Swiss Travel Pass's free bus and train transportation. Discover beloved Bernese Oberland locales, such as Grindelwald or Kleine Scheidegg - both acclaimed ski resorts, or take the train to Zermatt, a quaint car-free mountain town.

For more structured adventures, you can book a range of optional excursions at a supplement. Overnights Interlaken.

Includes: Breakfast

 Enjoy a final morning amidst the otherworldly beauty of the Bernese Oberland, perhaps having breakfast while overlooking the snow-clad "Swiss Skyline" - Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Your Swiss vacation continues toward the Swiss Riviera today aboard the incredible GoldenPass Express. Make your way to Interlaken's rail station later in the morning to join the train for its route to Montreux.

Look upon Lakes Thun and Brienz and admire the gorgeous mountain peaks cloaked in white framing the backdrop. The train's panoramic windows provide a fantastic perspective on alpine passes heavy with snow and icy pine forests. The magic continues as you weave past charming villages like Gstaad, Château-d'Oex and Montbovon, and eventually, Lake Geneva comes into view as the GoldenPass Express descends into Montreux.

Arriving mid-afternoon, you can walk to your hotel from Montreux's train station, and after checking in for three nights, you can begin to discover why this city is so beloved. Overnight Montreux.

Includes: Breakfast

Winter adds an extra layer of coziness to Montreux, and its views are majestic, overlooking Lake Geneva and the French Alps, powdered with their winter white. Imagine the adventures this lakeside region can hold as you spend two full days immersed in its offerings.

Montreux is a cultural locale that has long been a haven for artists. Walking along its lakeshore promenade reveals views that highlight the calm tranquility of winter, as well as statues of its most famous residents, including Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. For a deeper look at its artistic side, you could head to one of the local galleries.

You might like to wander around the picturesque old town, where narrow, cobbled streets weave past well-preserved buildings. For a better look at Montreux's fairytale cityscape and the French Alps, use your Swiss Travel Pass to cruise Lake Geneva. Venturing further afield, you could use public transportation to visit towns like Lausanne, Vevey or Gruyères, where admission to Château de Gruyères is included with your pass.

Optional excursions are bookable at a supplement, as well. Overnights Montreux.

Includes: Breakfast

 Unimaginable Swiss grandeur and winter ambiance lined every mile of this seasonal expedition from Zürich in the north to Montreux in southwestern Switzerland. You have had the opportunity to explore four unique destinations, each bringing its own culture, traditions and landscapes to the table, giving you plenty to explore over the last two weeks.

This one-of-a-kind independent vacation allowed you to take the reins upon arrival, delving into as much or as little of Zürich, Lucerne, Interlaken and Montreux as you preferred. Whether you spent time venturing between destinations with the convenience of your Swiss Travel Pass or relaxing in your home base, soaking in the snow-cloaked views, this has been a magical way to experience Switzerland.

Your time here comes to a close this morning as you check out of your hotel and use your Swiss Travel Pass for a final time to travel to Geneva, where you can begin your onward journey home.

Includes: Breakfast