Switzerland · Itineraries
One week in Switzerland by car: the loop from Lucerne
A week is enough to drive one loop from Lucerne through the best-known parts of Switzerland. The route runs west to Bern, down to Lake Geneva and Chillon Castle, up the valley to Zermatt and the Matterhorn, then back north to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. It is about 600 kilometres and nine hours of driving in total.
Day by day
- 1
Lucerne
Start with a night in Lucerne, a small lakeside city with a medieval centre. The Chapel Bridge, a covered wooden footbridge with a stone water tower beside it, crosses the river in the middle of town. The old town on the north bank is car-free and takes a couple of hours on foot. Boats leave from the quay by the station for trips on the lake, and Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi are both half-day outings by cable car or mountain railway. Zurich airport is about an hour away.
- 2
Bern
About an hour and twenty minutes west. The Swiss capital has an old town built on a bend of the river Aare, with kilometres of covered stone arcades along the main streets. The Zytglogge, a medieval clock tower with moving figures, is in the centre, and the cathedral tower can be climbed for the view over the rooftops. On hot days locals swim in the river. One night is enough. Park outside the old town and walk in, since the centre is compact and mostly traffic-free.
- 3
Chillon Castle
A stop on the way south, not an overnight. Chillon is a medieval castle on a small rock island at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, just outside Montreux, linked to the shore by a short bridge. Inside are courtyards, great halls and vaulted cellars at lake level. Allow about two hours. The lakeside path from Montreux to the castle is a pleasant flat walk if you have time. From here the road turns east up the Rhône valley towards Zermatt, just under two hours away.
- 4
Zermatt and the Matterhorn
Two nights under the Matterhorn. Zermatt does not allow visitors' cars, so everyone parks in Täsch, the last village on the road, and takes the shuttle train for the final twelve minutes. Mountain railways and cable cars climb from the village to viewpoints such as Gornergrat. The small lakes above the village reflect the peak on a still morning, and are reached by a lift and a walk. Mountain weather changes fast, so keep the first clear morning for the high viewpoints.
- 5
Lauterbrunnen
Two nights. Lauterbrunnen sits on the floor of a narrow valley between vertical cliffs, with 72 waterfalls counted along its length. Staubbach Falls drops almost 300 metres beside the village. From the valley, cable cars and trains climb to the car-free villages of Mürren and Wengen on the terraces above. The walk along the valley floor is flat and easy. The drive from Zermatt is the longest of the trip at close to three hours, so leave after breakfast.
- 6
Grindelwald
Twenty minutes from Lauterbrunnen, in the next valley. Grindelwald is a larger mountain village spread across a green slope facing the north wall of the Eiger. A cable car runs up to First, where there are marked walks to a mountain lake and a walkway fixed to the cliff. Other lifts from the village connect towards the Jungfraujoch railway. One night works well. From here it is under an hour and a half back to Lucerne to close the loop.
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Plan it
- Best time
- June to September for open high roads, running cable cars and walking. Winter is ski season, and several mountain passes are closed by snow for months.
- How long
- Seven days for the loop. With five, skip Bern and Chillon and go straight from Lucerne to Zermatt or the Jungfrau valleys.
- Getting around
- A rental car, plus trains and cable cars for the last stretch at each mountain stop. Swiss motorways need a vignette, sold as a sticker or as an e-vignette linked to the number plate.
Good to know
- Rental cars picked up in Switzerland normally come with the motorway vignette. Check before buying one.
- Zermatt is car-free. Park in Täsch and take the shuttle train.
- Mountain lifts stop in bad weather. Keep a flexible day at Zermatt and in the Jungfrau valleys.
Frequently asked
Do you need a car in Switzerland? +
No, the trains reach every stop on this route, and many visitors prefer them. A car is useful for flexibility, for stops between towns such as Chillon, and for families with luggage. The mountain villages themselves are reached by train or cable car either way.
Can you drive to Zermatt? +
No. The road is closed to visitors' cars beyond Täsch. Park in the large terminal car park there and take the shuttle train, which runs every twenty minutes and takes about twelve minutes to reach Zermatt.
Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald: where should you stay? +
Lauterbrunnen is smaller and sits on the valley floor among the waterfalls, with quick access to Mürren and Wengen. Grindelwald is bigger, has more hotels and restaurants, and faces the Eiger. They are twenty minutes apart, so either works as a base for both.
How many days do you need in Switzerland? +
A week is a good first trip. It covers a city or two, Lake Geneva, the Matterhorn and the Jungfrau region without rushing. With four or five days, choose either Zermatt or the Jungfrau valleys and add Lucerne.
