This Switzerland itinerary will take you on a tour of all the highlights, including breathtaking lakes and majestic mountains, adventurous activities, and chic hotels.

A trip to Switzerland is a top choice for magical European adventures. The country is compact enough to allow you to do many things in one day, but it’s also diverse enough to take in the sights and do many more.

It’s great that you can start your day in a big city and then in the afternoon, you can be biking past beautiful lakes or skiing in the mountains. There are so many places that offer this much variety.

Jacuzzi time at Hotel Sonne Zermatt, Switzerland

There are many beautiful places you can visit in Switzerland. I will guide you along a route that covers a lot of it.

It was a trip I took in December with Preferred Hotel, which is the largest independent hotel brand worldwide and includes 750 hotels, resorts, and residences throughout 85 countries. It would be just as beautiful and less snowy in the summer months. You’ll see Lake Geneva, take photos of the Matterhorn, and indulge in all the chocolate and cheese you can dream of. What could be more on a Swiss road trip?!

Best Time To Visit Switzerland

Switzerland is an excellent destination for all year, but before you decide when you will visit, you need to decide what type of holiday you want. These are your main options…

• This snowy winter wonderland adventure includes a mountain stay and many icy activities.
• Enjoy a sunny spring or summer vacation where you can spend all your time outside hiking, biking, and enjoying lush valleys.

Temperatures can be expected to reach 26°C in the summer and -30°F in the winter. You can expect a wide range of temperatures in high-altitude areas like Zermatt and Geneva.

It is not surprising that Switzerland is so expensive. Although there are ways to lower prices, Switzerland is an excellent place to save money for a memorable vacation, such as a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday. You will create special memories by enjoying the luxurious hotels and gourmet restaurants.

How To Get To Switzerland

Every day, there are many flights to Geneva or Zurich. It’s a short flight from London, and you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Swiss Alps during your journey.

I booked my return flight from London for around PS150, including baggage, just three weeks before departure. You can get deals below PS50 if you book in advance or can take the earliest flight available. Although it is not an ideal country for budget travelers, the flight prices are very affordable.

Lake Geneva, Switzerland, from Montreux

Many trains connect to Europe’s major cities, such as Zurich, Geneva, and Bern.

It’s a great idea to rent a car once you have reached Switzerland. This will allow you to explore the country at your own pace. You can enjoy a fantastic trip through Switzerland, especially when you get to the alps.

How Long Do You Want To Stay In Switzerland?

To get a feel for Switzerland, I recommend five days. If you have a shorter time frame, you can still get a good overview of Switzerland in three days.

You can see my Switzerland itinerary map to find the exact route and lots of suggestions.

LAUSANNE ITINERARY

Explore Lausanne

Lausanne is a beautiful city with a Gothic cathedral, historic buildings, and colorful facades. It also has a lively shopping scene. For a panoramic view of the city, I recommend taking a stroll through the center of Lausanne, climbing the Escaliers du Marche (wooden steps that date back over 400 years), and then climbing up to the top to see the magnificent views.

I am exploring Lausanne’s city center (Jacket – Dare2b).

Lausanne city center

Afterward, you can head down to Les Arches for a unique bar within the Grand Pont bridge’s archways. It overlooks Place de l’Europe and is an excellent spot for people-watching. You’ll also find Christmas markets in this area during the festive season.

Lausanne Cathedral

Views of Lake Geneva

No matter which route you choose for your Switzerland itinerary, and it is likely that you will pass Lake Geneva or Lac Lemon, as I fondly remember it being called in Lausanne.

Although we didn’t have the best weather in Lausanne during our stay, the views from Ouchy (Lausanne’s port area) were spectacular on clear days. You can walk along the shore of Lake Geneva to see boats passing by and the beautiful views of the snow-covered Swiss Alps behind you. This city area has many restaurants, some with stunning views of Lake Geneva.

These photos were taken from Montreux, a short drive from Lausanne. Look at the clarity of the water!

Lake Geneva, Switzerland, from Montreux

Enjoy a luxury hotel stay in Lausanne.

We stayed at the five-star Royal Savoy Hotel in Lausanne and Spa in Spa, which is part of Preferred Hotel’s Swiss collection. It was like staying at The Ritz in London.

Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa, Lausanne

You’ll feel grand, historical, and royal as you walk from the marble-clad lobby to the luxurious lounge areas. You’ll find a fine-dining brasserie and winter chalet with a delicious cheese-filled menu. There is also a cocktail bar, cigar lounge, and cigar lounge.

Marc Haeberlin, the Michelin-starred chef, oversees the brasserie, which features seasonal ingredients from local sources.

The spa was a highlight for me. Although it was cold outside, the steamy jacuzzi made me feel warm.

Find out more about fragrance in Lausanne.

On my first day in Lausanne, I visited the fragrance shop of perfume expert Philippe K for an Art Of Fragrance experience. Philippe would conduct a consultation and match me with the right perfume.

Philippe K. Lausanne

However, it was a challenging analysis. It was like a counseling session with a psychologist who is a perfume expert! I gained insight into myself and let go of some of the burdens I had been carrying. I also left with a scent I would have preferred. It was amazing!

Philippe K. Lausanne

The evening was complete with dinner at Royal Savoy Lausanne’s Brasserie. There, the barman made a cocktail that matched my selected fragrance.

Cocktails are part of the Art of Fragrance Experience.

ITINERARY SAAS-FEE

Enjoy a luxury mountain hotel in Saas-Fee.

Saas-Fee, one of Switzerland’s most popular ski resorts, is the perfect Place to spend a memorable holiday. This boutique hotel is part of the Preferred Hotels Collection and is built with a wooden-chalet design. It boasts 29 rooms and a personal service style. The large lounge is a cozy haven.

The Capra, Saas-Fee

The Capra Saas-Fee offers a cozy lounge for coziness.

The hotel’s interior is warm and inviting. It has a large fireplace, flickery candles, plush pillows, and an old-fashioned drink trolley. One of the penthouse suites offered incredible views of the village’s snowy roofs and straight to the Swiss Alps.

Although we didn’t ski on this trip, the hotel offers a ski-in/ski-out cabin next to the pistes. It has heated boot racks and equipment lockers, so you don’t have to bring your gear to the slopes. Five-star service?

My Favorite Place at The Capra is? Peak Health Club is the hotel’s spa. It was surprising that a small hotel could have such a large spa. The resort features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, steam rooms, lounge areas, and a wellness area. There is also a yoga studio and treatment rooms.

Peak Health Club at The Capra in Saas-Fee

Peak Health Club at The Capra in Saas-Fee

A gourmet restaurant is also available at the hotel, which serves delicious and sophisticated dishes. You can choose from healthy poke bowls for lunch or fish and steak dishes for dinner. Even a sommelier is available to match words with delicious Swiss wines.

Take the cable car to the Ice Pavilion or the highest revolving restaurant.

Our final morning in Saas-Fee was filled with Swiss Alps goodness! Two cable cars and a train took us to Mittelallalin, a 3,500-foot peak located just below Allalinhorn. We had planned to visit the Ice Pavilion once we got there. Unfortunately, it was closed due to safety concerns (apparently, there was some movement in the glacier). You can generally go inside the glacier to see incredible ice sculptures and experience an avalanche simulation.

However, we enjoyed the viewing platform’s stunning views before going inside Allalin Restaurant. This is the highest-revolving restaurant in the world. This was the perfect spot to enjoy a hot cup of chocolate and warm yourself up.

You’re likely skiing in Saas-Fee, and many people start their day outside. But if you’re a tourist like us, this is a place I recommend!

Hike around Saas-Fee

Alex, a Ski Zenit expert guide, led us on a morning hike around the area. We had planned a snowshoe hike, but there was no snow, so we decided to take on the trail in our hiking boots.

Beautiful hiking trails take you through the village and alpine forests to the top of the ski slopes.

Gletschergrotte, Saas-Fee

The Place was crowded with skiers who stopped for their mid-morning pints of gluhweins or rostis. It is a beautiful spot to take in the stunning snowy mountains in the sun.

ZERMATT ITINERARY

Enjoy a luxury hotel with stunning views of Matterhorn.

It was my second visit to Zermatt during winter. I was ready for the stunning views of Matterhorn and the picturesque town of wooden chalets, fairy lights, and other charming towns. This time, however, was particular because we stayed at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, one of the most recognizable hotels in Switzerland and another in the Preferred Hotels’ collection.

Grand Hotel Zermatterhof

This hotel is well-known to anyone who has visited Zermatt. This magical building is located in the heart of Zermatt, boasting a large outdoor bar and grand entrance. The hotel uses a unique mode of transport to pick up guests at the train station. It is a horse-drawn carriage pulled by two white horses. You’ll feel like royalty when staying at a five-star hotel such as this.

Grand Hotel Zermatterhof – Horse and carriage

The hotel is elegant and chateau-like. It has plush furnishings, beautiful chandeliers, and a gorgeous spa.

This hotel is a must-see for foodies, with three restaurants: Brasserie Lusi, Fondue Haven SayCheese, and fondue Haven SayCheese. Prato Borni is Michelin-starred.

The third-floor suite was a beautiful place to stay, with large windows that looked out at the Matterhorn. The perfect Place to base yourself for some adventures in the region.