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Austria & Switzerland

Ultimate Swiss Cities & Lakes With Swiss Travel Pass

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202520262027
15 days From $4,195 $3,995 per person

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Spend 15 memorable days in Switzerland, traversing the Alps on world-class trains and embarking on epic adventures at your pace with a Swiss Travel Pass

Travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary
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2026 Tour code: WE-USCW-26

About the tour

More than two weeks of dramatic alpine scenery, charming destinations and remarkable rail adventures beckon on this independent trip to Switzerland. With an included Swiss Travel Pass providing unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat; complimentary admission to 500-plus museums; select mountain rail excursions; and a 50% discount on many other excursions, Switzerland is truly yours to behold.

See the nation's many sides while staying in Zürich, Lucerne, Interlaken and Montreux, and enjoy scenic rail transfers between each - traveling on lines like the Lucerne-Interlaken Express and the GoldenPass Express.

Rather travel in the winter months instead?

You might be interested in Ultimate Swiss Cities & Lakes in Winter With Swiss Travel Pass

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Unforgettable Experiences

Enjoy 15 days of Swiss Travel Pass freedom
Enjoy 15 days of Swiss Travel Pass freedom
For the entirety of your Switzerland vacation, enjoy the freedom to explore as you please with an included Swiss Travel Pass, which provides unlimited access to transportation and complimentary access to museums, excursions and more.
Travel aboard the Lucerne-Interlaken Express
Travel aboard the Lucerne-Interlaken Express
Lucerne to Interlaken on a two-hour route filled with views of lakes, waterfalls and stunning mountain passes.
Admire panoramic views from the GoldenPass Express
Admire panoramic views from the GoldenPass Express
Follow a route filled with uninterrupted views while traveling from lakeside Interlaken to Montreaux in the Swiss Riviera on the GoldenPass Express, passing idyllic lakes, notable mountain peaks and charming alpine villages en route.
Explore the cultural city of Zürich
Explore the cultural city of Zürich
5 Spend four nights in Switzerland's second-largest city, enjoying the freedom to explore alongside Lake Zürich or beyond.
Delight in Lucerne’s medieval center
Delight in Lucerne’s medieval center
Enjoy three nights in a city defined by well-preserved medieval history and stunning lakeside scenery, Lucerne, with the option to delve into its past or explore further afield.
Stay in beautiful Interlaken
Stay in beautiful Interlaken
Nestled between Lakes Thun and Brienz and sitting at the gateway to the dramatic Jungfrau region, Interlaken makes a stunning base for a three-night stay.
See the picture-postcard Swiss Riviera
See the picture-postcard Swiss Riviera
The jaw-dropping scenery of the Swiss Riviera is yours to behold while staying for four nights in the romantic resort town of Montreux, situated on the shore of Lake Geneva.

What’s included

Personalize Your Vacation

Arriving in Switzerland’s financial center, Zürich

Day 1 - Arriving in Switzerland’s financial center, Zürich

Some of the world's most spellbinding mountain scenery lies 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 four 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 its bountiful offerings. 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.

Discovering Zürich or further afield

Days 2-4 - Discovering Zürich or further afield

Located alongside Lake Zürich and with a cityscape that seamlessly blends modern technology, enthralling cultural offerings and age-old architecture, Zürich sets an unbelievable backdrop for explorations. Three full days here can open your eyes to its many sides or take you outside its limits to places where nature and history go hand-in-hand.

Staying in Zürich, you might like to wander around Old Town to see sights like Grossmünster Church or Peter's Church, which has the largest clock face in Europe. Alternatively, you could shop along the Bahnhofstrasse, an exclusive shopping avenue boasting upscale retailers.

With your Swiss Travel Pass, enjoy included admission to dozens of local museums, including the Landesmuseum Zürich, the FIFA World Football Museum and the Migros Museum of Contemporary Art. Also included is the opportunity to take a scenic boat cruise on Lake Zürich. Traveling further from your base using free public transportation, you might like to see Europe's largest waterfall, Rhine Falls, located near Schaffhausen, or visit Rapperswil, the "Town of Roses," so named for its more than 16,000 fragrant summer blossoms.

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

Includes: Breakfast

Optional Excursions

Traveling to Lucerne

Day 5 - Traveling to Lucerne

Waking in Zürich this morning, you are free to wrap up any sightseeing you 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, alpine views and delightful 14th-century architecture.

Upon arriving, walk to your centrally located hotel to check in for the first of three 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

Uncovering Lucerne or mountainous central Switzerland

Days 6-7 - Uncovering Lucerne or mountainous central Switzerland

The romance of yesteryear surrounds the beautiful city of Lucerne, a wellpreserved medieval city on the shores of Lake Lucerne. This city is rich in history and 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, which is punctuated by flower-filled window boxes and narrow streets lined with history, making Lucerne a joy to discover with two full days here.

You might like to visit one of the included museums or stroll along the lakefront. Meandering through the Altstadt (Old Town) presents attractions like the Water Tower, the Lion Monument and Jesuitenkirche Luzern, while 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 lakeside destinations like Vitznau or Brunnen, or travel by train to Engelberg, a charming village overlooked by Mount Titlis. You could also embark on a scenic rail excursion, such as on an all-day rail and cruise adventure to southern Switzerland on the Gotthard Panorama Express.

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

Includes: Breakfast

Optional Excursions

The Lucerne-Interlaken Express to Interlaken

Day 8 - The Lucerne-Interlaken Express to Interlaken

With a new destination on the horizon today, spend your final hours in Lucerne wrapped in its allures. You might like to head to a sidewalk café to enjoy a kafi-crème (an espresso with cream) while surrounded by the city's old-world ambiance 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 LucerneInterlaken 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 mountains, lakes, forests and typical alpine villages.

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

Discovering the sensational Bernese Oberland

Day 9-10 - Discovering the sensational Bernese Oberland

Magical Swiss 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 two idyllic bodies of water, 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. Additionally, the street has several lush gardens to explore. Wandering to the waterfront, perhaps use your Swiss Travel pass for a complimentary scenic cruise on Lake Thun or Brienz.

Interlaken is an outdoor-lover's paradise, with hiking trains 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 the charming alpine village of Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, surrounded by steep cliffs and 72 waterfalls, 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

Optional Excursions

Aboard the GoldenPass Express to the Swiss Riviera

Day 11 - Aboard the GoldenPass Express to the Swiss Riviera

Enjoy a final morning amidst the otherworldly beauty of the Bernese Oberland, perhaps having breakfast while overlooking the "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 the shimmering waters of Lakes Thun and Brienz and admire the gorgeous mountain peaks framing the distance. The train's panoramic windows provide a fantastic perspective on the passing alpine meadows, deep valleys and lush vineyards. 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 four nights, you can begin to discover why this city is so beloved. Overnight Montreux.

Includes: Breakfast

At leisure aside Lake Geneva in Montreux

Days 12-14 - At leisure aside Lake Geneva in Montreux

One look around, and it is easy to see why celebrities like Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury made Montreux their home. Vineyards surround this quintessential Swiss Riviera destination, and it boasts majestic views across Lake Geneva and the French Alps.

Imagine the adventures this lakeside region can hold as you spend three full days immersed in its offerings. Montreux is a cultural town home to the famous Montreux Jazz Festival - and this is just a taste of its artistic offerings. The flower-lined lakeshore promenade features a statue of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, and there are numerous art galleries throughout the city.

You might like to wander around the picturesque old town, where narrow, cobbled streets weave past well-preserved buildings. For a look at Montreux's fairytale cityscape and the French Alps, use your Swiss Travel Pass to cruise Lake Geneva or take the train to the UNESCO-listed Lavaux Vineyards, first cultivated by monks in the 11th century. Venturing further field, you could use public transportation to visit towns like Lausanne, Vevey or Gruyeres, each with its own charms.

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

Includes: Breakfast

Optional Excursions

Tour conclusion

Day 15 - Tour conclusion

Unimaginable Swiss grandeur lined every mile of this scenic 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 reigns 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 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 begin your onward journey home.

Includes: Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours, they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. Please reference our Mobility Ratings Information, and if you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-877-929-7245.

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Trains

The GoldenPass Line
Lucerne-Interlaken Express
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