From Sweltering to Switzerland: A 7-Day Coolcation

Begin in Zurich, the country’s most accessible international gateway. After arriving and settling into your hotel, take a relaxed walk through the Old Town, where narrow medieval lanes wind between pastel buildings and church towers. Head toward the lakefront promenade near Bürkliplatz, where locals gather in the evenings to watch boats drift across Lake Zurich.

One of the best ways to understand Zurich is from the water. Start the morning with a scenic cruise on Lake Zurich, where the shoreline reveals leafy neighborhoods, hillside villas, and distant alpine views. It’s a calm, beautiful introduction to Switzerland’s lake culture.

After the cruise, board the direct train to Lucerne (about one hour). The journey is short but scenic, passing through rolling countryside before the mountains begin to appear.

Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most iconic lake towns, where mountains rise dramatically behind the water. Begin the day exploring the Old Town and crossing the 14th-century Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), one of Europe’s oldest covered bridges. In the afternoon, take your first cruise on Lake Lucerne. Historic paddle steamers glide across the water toward small villages tucked into mountain coves.

Today follows one of Switzerland’s most classic travel routes: boat and mountain railway. Begin by crossing Lake Lucerne by boat to the village of Vitznau, where the lake narrows and the mountains rise steeply from the water. From Vitznau, board the historic red cogwheel railway up Mt. Rigi, often called the “Queen of the Mountains.” At the summit, gentle walking trails reveal sweeping views across multiple lakes and alpine peaks, and the cooler air at altitude feels especially refreshing in summer.

Insider tip: There are two railway routes to Mt. Rigi from Vitznau. Ride the cogwheel train at least one direction. Opened in 1871, it was Europe’s first mountain railway and remains one of the most iconic train journeys in Switzerland.

For a different alpine perspective, take a mountain excursion from Lucerne. Mt. Pilatus offers dramatic ridgeline views reached by panoramic gondolas, while Mt. Titlis climbs even higher into glacier terrain with a rotating cable car and suspension bridge. Both experiences showcase the dramatic vertical landscapes of central Switzerland. If skies are clear, go early in the morning for the best views before afternoon clouds roll in.

After several scenic excursions, take time to simply enjoy Lucerne itself. Walk the lakeside paths where locals swim from wooden platforms in summer, or board a classic paddle steamer for a leisurely cruise across the lake. Take a swim in the lake or indulge in a spa day. This kind of unstructured time is where Switzerland’s calm atmosphere really pays off.

Lucerne offers one of the easiest departures in Switzerland. Direct trains run from Lucerne to Zurich Airport in about an hour, making travel day straightforward and stress-free. If your schedule allows, take one final morning walk along the lake before heading to the station.