13 Best Day Trips from Zurich

Switzerland is a beautiful country with a very pleasant climate, and many of the experiences you can have travelling from Zurich allow you to see special places far away from the city centre. So if you're travelling for relaxation, this is one of the best things to do and see in Zurich and beyond.

Among the sights you'll see on these tours are out-of-the-way cities such as Lucerne and other interesting attractions such as the largest suspension bridge in Europe - just imagine what you'll find on these trips.

This is one of the most special tours you can do in Zurich in 3 days, according to the complete guide on how to make the most of your visit, and that's because not only will you see a place within Switzerland, but you' ll also visit Liechtenstein, an independent territory bordering Switzerland.

As you may have noticed, Switzerland gives you the opportunity to visit its bordering countries without a lot of protocol or hassle. This makes it easy to make an excursion to neighbouring territories.

Heidiland is typical Alpine countryside, an area where you can discover flavours through cheese and chocolate tasting, and see what life is like in the Alpine countryside. Some of the most beautiful and appreciated rural villages are to be found here.

During your visit to Liechtenstein, you'll be able to explore the historic centre and learn a little about its culture and traditions.

Interesting details

• Price: From 95 euros per person.
• Duration: This is a full day experience of approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: This trip takes place in an air-conditioned bus.

The Black Forest is one of the most interesting destinations in Germany, so this tour will not only take you to a fun, intrepid and interesting place, but you will also have the chance to see two countries in one day. What's more, the postcards this trip leaves you with are truly extraordinary.

On the other hand, before leaving Swiss territory, you will visit the Rhine Falls, a waterfall that is one of the most exuberant natural wonders of the Alpine landscape. Your tour guide will comment on the most important things you need to know about visiting the Rhine Falls from Zurich and the Rhine Falls.

Interesting details

• Price: From 50 euros per person.
• Duration: Approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transport: The transport to the meeting point will be on your own, but from the beginning of the adventure, you will go in a bus with all the comforts.

This tour is ideal for those who love extreme and adventure tourism, because each of the experiences you will live during the tour will take your adrenaline to the extreme. One of the activities you will enjoy the most on this tour is the zip-line from Mount First

You will also have the opportunity to visit alpine villages such as Interlaken and Grindelwald. One of the most extreme experiences you will have during this tour is undoubtedly the hike along the Tissot cliffs.

If you're looking for even more adventure, you can't miss out on the scooter and mountain cart experiences on offer. You will also have the option of taking a cable car ride to take photos from the heights.

Details of interest

• Price: From 180 euros per person.
• Duration: Approximately 12 hours.
• Means of transport: From Zurich to Mount First you will go by bus. Afterwards you can take a mountain carriage, scooter or even the cable car.

If you are looking for a dreamlike landscape surrounded by mountains and glaciers, this excursion to Jungfraujoch is an experience not to be missed. You will travel to the heart of the Swiss Alps and climb to the highest railway point in Europe, known as the "Roof of Europe".

The journey will take you through the Bernese Oberland, passing picturesque alpine villages such as Interlaken and Grindelwald. Then, you'll board the cogwheel train up to Jungfraujoch, where you'll find the impressive Aletsch Glacier, an ice palace and panoramic platforms with breathtaking views.

As well as taking in the alpine scenery, you can walk through the Ice Palace, an ice tunnel carved into the glacier, and hike the Sphinx Platform, one of the highest viewpoints in Europe. It is a unique experience that combines adventure, nature and spectacular views.

Interesting details

If you've ever dreamed of seeing the Matterhorn up close, this tour to Zermatt and Gornergrat will take you to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Swiss Alps. You'll travel from Zurich to Zermatt, a charming car-free Alpine village surrounded by towering mountains.

From there, you'll take the Gornergrat rack railway to an altitude of 3,089 metres, where one of the best panoramic views of the Alps awaits you. From the top, you can admire the Matterhorn in all its splendour, along with other snow-capped peaks and glaciers.

During the tour, you will also have time to explore Zermatt, stroll through the streets with their typical wooden houses and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this mountain village. It is a perfect experience for nature and photography lovers.

Interesting details

If you want to see the authentic side of Switzerland, this tour to Appenzell is a perfect experience. On this tour, you'll explore the rural landscape of eastern Switzerland, with rolling green hills, traditional villages and one of the country's best cheese factories.

The trip will take you through the Appenzell region, famous for its alpine farms and gastronomy. You will visit a cheese factory, where you will learn about the process of making the famous Appenzeller cheese and have the opportunity to taste it.

You will also tour the village of Appenzell, with its colourful houses and cobbled streets, where you can immerse yourself in Swiss culture and discover artisan shops. This is an ideal trip for those who are looking for a relaxing day in the middle of nature, enjoying the history and traditions of the country.

Interesting details

On this full-day tour of Lucerne and Mount Rigi, the independent traveller will have a great opportunity to see the city of Lucerne in all its splendour, from its buildings to its old town and especially Lake Lucerne, where you can take a boat trip if you wish.

You can also take a cable car ride to the top of Mount Rigi for breathtaking views of Lucerne and the surrounding area.

One of the best things about this tour is that after visiting the attractions included in the experience, you can continue exploring the city of Lucerne on your own for as long as you like.

Details of interest

• Price: It is priced at approximately €145 per person.
• Duration: This tour lasts approximately 9.5 to 10 hours.
• Means of Transport: Transport is by bus from Zurich to Weggis and from Lucerne to Zurich. You will also take a rack railway, a cable car and a boat.

This is a full day tour which is especially dedicated to small groups of up to 9 people. Part of what you will see on this tour involves the production of Swiss delicacies, including Emmental cheese and traditional Swiss Kambly biscuits.

During the tour your guide will take you to the most interesting places in Bern, and you will walk through the city centre, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The whole tour will take place in a minibus with all comforts, including wifi on board. You can also do this tour by taking the rack railway up to Bern.

Useful details

• Price: It costs approximately 240 euros per person.
• Duration: This tour lasts approximately 10 hours.
• Means of transport: The journey from Zurich to Bern is done in a minivan equipped with all comforts.

The summer season is the perfect time to do this tour, as the panoramic views from the top of Mount Pilatus are much more unobstructed. That's why this is one of the best things to do in Zurich in summer.

Among the attractions you can enjoy during this tour are a ride on the world's steepest cog railway. You can also take a cruise on Lake Lucerne.

To get to the top of Mount Pilatus you will have to take a funicular cable car, while to get down you will have to take the cog railway, one of the best scenic trains in Zurich. After arriving at the cable car station, you can continue walking to the top. This route is a must-see and gives you the most beautiful panoramic views of the whole trip.

Interesting details

• Price: Around 165 euros per person.
• Duration: Approximately 9 and a half hours to complete the entire route.
• Means of transport: You will travel by bus with all facilities, cable car, boat and rack railway.

If visiting two countries in one day is incredible, imagine a private tour where you travel alone with your group to see four countries in one day. This is what this experience offers you. You will have the company of an expert guide who will accompany you and tell you the most important facts about each of the countries you are going to visit.

It's a full-day tour that starts in Zurich on board a fully equipped bus, which will take you through green hilly landscapes to the Liechtenstein border, which you will cross to reach the city of Vaduz in Liechtenstein. After touring the area for some time, you will continue your journey to Austria.

In Austria you will visit the city of Bregenz, where you can admire impressive buildings before heading to Germany to visit first Lindau and then Meersburg. After finishing your visit in Meersburg, you will only have to cross a bridge to finally visit the town of Stein am Rhein in Switzerland.

Interesting details

• Price: From 1240 Euro per person.
• Duration: The tour lasts approximately 11 hours, making it a full day tour.
• Means of Transport: All transport will be on board a bus with all the necessary facilities.

From a monastery to a dairy farm, this pair of Alpine towns has a lot to show you. On this full-day excursion from Zurich you'll see interesting sights in these villages, such as the cheese factory in Engelberg and an open-air tour of the city of Lucerne.

After visiting different places of interest in both towns, you will walk through alpine landscapes and trails where nature will leave you with postcards to remember. Every place you stop on this walk is worthy of a few photographs.

Interesting details

• Price: From 74 euros per person.
• Duration: Approximately 9 to 10 hours.
• Means of Transport: The whole tour is done by bus with all facilities from Zurich to both villages and back.

During this full day trip from Zurich, you will have the opportunity to see the inside of the Swiss kitchens where the typical cheeses of this region are made. During this tour, you will also get to know the process of making the most famous chocolate in the world and taste the delicate flavour of this delicacy.

At the Maison Cailler you will taste the most delicious chocolate truffles in Switzerland, but you will also visit the medieval mansion Gruyères where you will not only taste cheeses, but also learn interesting facts about Swiss culture and history.

Interesting details

• Price: 790 euros per person.
• Duration: About 11 hours.
• Means of transport: Fully equipped vehicle depending on the size of the group.

On this trip you will have the opportunity to see two countries in one day, or at least two cities in two different countries. In Basel you will be able to visit a well-known museum, while on your trip to Colmar in France you will be able to see the attraction of this French town.

What you will enjoy most about this tour is that it is completely personalised and tailored to what you want to see and discover during your trip. You'll get to know a bit of history, French architecture and sail the waters of the Rhine River.

Interesting details

• Price: From 1,200 euros per group of up to 4 people.
• Duration: Approximately eight hours.
• Means of Transport: Fully equipped vehicle with all comforts according to the size of the group.

• Always wear warm clothing, according to the climate of the place you will be visiting on your excursions.
• If you are travelling with children, take a few distractions for long journeys.
• Ask about the conditions of transport before booking.
• Wear comfortable shoes for long walks in case any excursion requires walking.