From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. Switzerland runs on its trains, so work out the rail and the weather first and leave the car at home.Details
From the airport
Zurich is the usual airport for central Switzerland, with direct trains to Lucerne in about an hour. Geneva and Basel also work. The station is right at the airport, so there is no need for a taxi.
Getting around
Trains, lake boats, buses and cable cars link almost everything on this trip, and they run to a printed timetable. Look up the connections the evening before. A rail pass or point-to-point tickets both work, so check what suits your days.
Where to sleep
Lucerne for the first two nights, then Interlaken or one of the villages in the Lauterbrunnen valley for the last three. Beds fill early in summer and in the ski season, so book ahead. Pack for cold even in July, because the high stations are in snow all year.
Before the first morning
Day 1 is gentle and low. Walk across the old bridge at dusk, find the lake front and sleep well, because the mountain days start early. Watch the forecast, since the big views need a clear sky.
Day 1. Lake Lucerne and the Rigi and Lucerne
4 stops · 27.2 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth the time
Rigi Kulm
The summit of the Rigi, a rounded mountain above Lake Lucerne with a view that reaches the Alps and several lakes. The railway from Vitznau is among the oldest mountain railways in Europe. Dress warmly and check ahead for the weather.
Go whenMorning on a clear day, ideally the first or second day of good weather.
Local tip Check the forecast the night before, since the whole point is the view. Bring a warm layer and a hat even in summer, because the top is windy.
A Central Swiss mountain dish of macaroni, potatoes, cheese and onions, served with a spoon of apple sauce. Filling and plain.
Local tip Share a plate, since portions are large, and try the apple sauce even if it sounds odd.
About 27 min by car or transit11.9 km
3
MiddayWorth a short stop
Vitznau
A small village on the lake at the foot of the Rigi, where the cogwheel railway begins. Stroll the waterfront, watch the boats and let your head clear after the top.
Go whenMidday, after the mountain.
Local tip Walk along the water and have a drink at a lakeside table. The pier is where the boat to Lucerne leaves.
Grated potatoes fried until crisp and topped with an egg, the Swiss everyday dish. Hearty after a day on the mountain.
Local tip Order a green salad on the side.
If it rains. Swiss Museum of Transport is covered, so keep it. Move Rigi Kulm, Vitznau and Weggis to a dry day if you can.
Day 2. Lucerne
4 stops · 11.6 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from WeggisAbout 23 min by car or transit9.9 km
Where Day 1 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Chapel Bridge
A covered wooden footbridge across the Reuss, dating from the 14th century and rebuilt after a fire in 1993, with an old stone water tower beside it. Walk across slowly and look up at the painted panels under the roof.
Go whenEarly morning, before the tour groups arrive.
Local tip Walk the whole length and look up at the painted panels under the roof. Come back after dark, when the bridge and the tower are lit and the water is still.
A huge lion carved into a rock face, dying with a spear in its side, in memory of the Swiss Guards killed in Paris in 1792. A quiet, moving place in a small garden with a pond.
Go whenMidday, when the light falls on the rock face.
Local tip Stand by the pond and take a quiet minute. It is a memorial, so most people speak softly here.
Part of the medieval wall that once closed the old town, with several towers on the hill above the roofs. A short climb for a view over the city, the lake and the peaks. Check ahead on which towers are open.
Go whenAfternoon, for the view over the roofs.
Local tip Walk up through the lanes behind the old town. Check ahead on which towers are open, because it is seasonal.
About 7 min walk0.6 km
4
EveningA place to sit
Lucerne lakefront
The promenade along the lake by the Seebrücke, with the boats, the swans and the mountains at the end of the water. A good place to finish the day and watch the light change.
Go whenEvening, around sunset (about 9:23 PM).
Local tip Walk the promenade as far as you like and sit on a bench facing the mountains. The boats go quiet as the light fades.
Small fried or pan-cooked fillets of lake perch, called egli, with lemon and potatoes. A classic of the lakes.
Local tip Ask what came from the lake that day.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 3. Interlaken and the lakes and the Jungfrau side
4 stops · 125.4 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Lucerne lakefrontAbout 50 min by car41.5 km
Where Day 2 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Giessbach Falls
A long series of cascades dropping through the forest into Lake Brienz. You can reach it by boat from Brienz and a short funicular, or on foot. The mist and the sound are part of it.
Go whenMorning, when the mist is still in the trees.
Local tip Take the funicular up or the path through the woods. The path is damp and can be slippery, so wear shoes with a grip.
About 44 min by car32.5 km
2
MorningA half day up
Pilatus
A jagged mountain above Lucerne, reached by a cogwheel railway and a cable car, with a view over the lake and the central Alps.
Go whenMorning on a clear day.
Local tip The railway from the lake side is one of the steepest cogwheel lines in the world. Dress warmly, check ahead on the weather and on what is running.
A village at the end of the lake, known for wood carving, with old wooden houses and a calm waterfront. A good place for lunch before the last stretch to Interlaken.
Go whenMidday, with a long lunch.
Local tip Look into a wood carving shop and walk to the lake front. The turquoise colour of the water is the glacier flour in it.
A pot of melted Swiss cheese and white wine, eaten by dipping cubes of bread on long forks. A classic for a cool evening.
Local tip Share one pot between two or three people and order a pot of tea with it.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 4. Interlaken and the lakes and the Jungfrau side, part 2
4 stops · 59.7 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from BrienzAbout 32 min by car or transit16.9 km
Where Day 3 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Männlichen
A broad ridge between Wengen and Grindelwald, reached by a gondola, with a wide view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and an easy path along the top.
Go whenMorning, on a clear day.
Local tip A gondola from Wengen or Grindelwald climbs to a broad ridge with a wide view of the big peaks. An easy walk along the ridge needs no special gear, but dress for wind.
A viewpoint on the hill above Interlaken, reached by a funicular, with the town between two lakes below and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the valley. A short walk from the top station to the platform.
Go whenLate afternoon, for the light on the peaks.
Local tip Take the funicular and walk the last few minutes to the platform. Check ahead on when it runs, and bring a warm layer.
Pan-fried lake fish served with potatoes and a simple sauce, by the water.
Local tip Ask for the fish of the day.
About 32 min by car or transit16.4 km
3
AfternoonWorth a short walk
Grindelwald
A village at the foot of the Eiger north face, with wooden chalets and a view up to the peaks. The railway comes down the other side of the pass, so you end in a different valley.
Go whenAfternoon, as the end of the day.
Local tip Walk the main street and look up at the Eiger wall above the roofs. It is a calm place after the high snow.
A wide meadow in the middle of Interlaken with the Jungfrau straight ahead over the roofs. Paragliders sometimes land here. A good place to sit on the grass in the long evening light.
Go whenEvening, with the last light on the Jungfrau (about 9:23 PM).
Local tip Sit on the grass and watch the paragliders come down. It is the town's lawn, so be gentle with it.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 5. The Jungfrau side and the Lauterbrunnen valley
4 stops · 28.3 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from HöhematteAbout 26 min by car or transit11.3 km
Where Day 4 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Staubbach Falls
A waterfall that drops straight off the cliff beside the village of Lauterbrunnen, one of the highest free-falling falls in Europe. It spreads into spray before it reaches the ground, and it is an easy walk from the station.
Go whenMorning, when the valley is quiet.
Local tip It is an easy walk from the station. Walk up to the base for a closer look, and bring a light jacket for the spray.
A mountain pass at the foot of the Eiger north face, where the railways meet. Wide meadows, the big wall above you, and a view down both valleys. Dress for the cold.
Go whenEarly morning, on a clear day.
Local tip Look up at the north face of the Eiger and use the terrace for a warm drink before the rest of the climb. Carry a coat, hat and gloves.
A saddle among the glaciers at over 3,400 meters, reached by a railway that climbs through tunnels inside the Eiger and the Mönch. The terraces look over the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps. Take it slowly, because the air is thin, and check ahead for the weather.
Go whenMidday on the clearest day of your week.
Local tip The air is thin, so walk slowly, drink water and sit down if you feel dizzy. Sunglasses and a warm coat are essential. Check ahead for the weather and for what is open.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 6. The Lauterbrunnen valley
4 stops · 18.2 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from WengenAbout 21 min by car or transit8.5 km
Where Day 5 ended.
1
MorningA big day up
Schilthorn
A high summit above Mürren with a revolving restaurant and a view over the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, reached by a cable car in several stages.
Go whenMorning on a clear day.
Local tip A cable car climbs in stages from Mürren to a summit with a revolving restaurant and a view over the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Check ahead on the weather and on the cable car.
Ten glacier-fed waterfalls that thunder inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift and walkways cut into the rock. It is cool, wet and loud. Check ahead on the season and the water level.
Go whenMidday, as a cool break from the sun.
Local tip The paths are wet and the noise is huge, so wear a jacket with a hood and shoes with a grip. Check ahead on the season and the water level.
Lunch
A picnic of bread, cheese and fruit
From a village bakery or a small shop, eaten on a bench or in a meadow with a waterfall in view.
Local tip Buy it the evening before so you can leave early.
About 25 min walk2.0 km
3
AfternoonWorth the time
Mürren
A car-free village on a high terrace with a view straight across to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. You reach it by cable car and a short train. A calm place to walk and look.
Go whenAfternoon, with the sun behind you on the peaks.
Local tip Walk the village and out along the terrace for the view. There are no cars, so the sound is mostly bells and wind.
A tiny car-free village of wooden farmhouses on the slope below Mürren, with cattle bells and a long view. A short walk down from Mürren, and one of the quietest corners of the trip.
Go whenEvening, around sunset (about 9:23 PM).
Local tip Walk down from Mürren along the lane between the farms and take the cable car or train back. Respect the working farms and keep to the paths.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. The trains are on time, so the main job is the bags and the connection.Details
The last morning
Do not plan a high lift for the day you leave. Cable cars and mountain railways can pause for wind, snow or low cloud. A slow breakfast and a walk on the Höhematte is a better last hour.
To the airport
Zurich is about two hours from Interlaken by train, with one change. Check the connection the night before and leave a generous margin.
Luggage
Many stations and some hotels will look after bags for a day. Ask the evening before, and keep a warm layer in your hand luggage.
If the weather ate a day
If cloud hid a mountain day, swap it for a valley day. The waterfalls and the lake boat are fine in light rain, and the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne is the best wet-day plan in the extras.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Interlaken?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, June and August to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Interlaken. This plan is built for late June, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 6 days in Interlaken, planned for late June. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 1.8 to 83.9 kilometers between its stops, and 182.3 kilometers in all across 6 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
3 lazy days on Lake ComoAbout 120 km awayAn easy add-on
7 days in Chamonix and the Mont Blanc valleyAbout 140 km away
7 days in the Black ForestAbout 160 km away
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