Beyond Zurich: A Guide to Adventure Filled Swiss Day Trips

Interlaken

Travel time: two hours by train

Interlaken is an outdoor lover’s paradise—you will find hikers, paragliders, canyoners, and more! If you’re looking for more of a laid-back experience, you can take the cable car up to Harder Kulm if the hike is looking a bit daunting. You can also continue the journey a bit further and head to Jungfraujoch by cogwheel, also known as the Top of Europe, for beautiful views of the Alps and even an ice palace.

Lucerne & Mount Pilatus

Travel Time: 45 minutes by train (add 20–45 minutes to Pilatus depending if you take bus/train/boat)

When people think of Lucerne, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the beautiful covered bridge across the lake. While breathtaking, Lucerne has so much more to offer if you’re looking for adventure. While still in the city, walk up the hill to the Musegg wall and step back in time to the 1400s. You can walk along the 800 meter wall and even visit some of the towers that were constructed for the Battle of Sempach (note: there are quite a few stairs and narrow passageways).

Next, take the train or boat to Alpnachstad or Kriens and transfer to either the cogwheel, cable car, or hike it! If you don’t fancy hiking the entire mountain, there are also shorter hikes you can do once you reach the summit. There are package deals available, too, if you’d rather have your transportation planned out for you through the Golden or Silver Round Trip tickets.

Rhine Falls

Travel Time: one hour by train

The Rhine Falls are the largest waterfalls in Europe and can be experienced on foot or by boat. For a relaxing day full of viewpoints and even a castle, you can take the adventure path around the falls. For something more exhilarating, take a boat tour and get up close to the falls with an opportunity to climb a rock right in the middle of the waterfall! After, head over to the adventure park and test your agility and adrenaline on one of their various ropes courses.

View from Rigi Kulm

Rigi Kulm

Travel Time: 90 minutes by train and cogwheel

The Rigi railway was the first railway to be opened in Europe, and the Rigi Kulm summit offers jaw-dropping views of all Switzerland (and even Germany and France) on a clear day. There are many stops on the way to the top, so you can choose to take it all the way, or get off early and hike the rest. (I personally like to take it up and walk down!) In the winter, there are also numerous sledding and ski opportunities on the mountain.

Uetliberg

Travel Time: 20 minutes by train

For an adventure right in Zurich’s backyard, head over to Uetliberg, where you can enjoy hiking, biking, strolling, sledding, or even paragliding. Just a 20 minute train ride transports you just a 10 minute walk from the summit. There is also a planet trail, which takes you through the solar system using accurate measurements from planet to planet. At the summit, you can find a tower that you can climb and a restaurant to relax and enjoy the views.

Travel can be quite expensive in Zurich, but there are a few options to help save money while you’re in the area. If you’re planning to take many modes of transportation over a few days, the Swiss Pass is your best bet. You can choose a number of days and pay a flat fee for unlimited travel on all modes throughout the country. If there is one day you know you will be doing a lot of travel, you can buy the Saver Pass. The earlier you buy this pass, the cheaper it is—so plan early! This pass gives you one day of unlimited travel for as little as CHF50.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Zurich page.