Stay : The grand tour of Switzerland in two weeks
Here, you can visit the main tourist attractions by train or by car, while traversing magnificent landscapes between lakes and mountains. In the space of a few hours, you'll change atmosphere as you pass from one canton to another and hear German, French or Italian spoken. It's a base you can build on with points of interest between the main towns.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
14 days
€€€ - Luxury
Detail of the stay : The grand tour of Switzerland in two weeks - 14 days
Day 1: Geneva
Known as "the world's smallest metropolis" or "the city of peace", Geneva is an international city. Start your visit with a stroll along the lakefront - with its famous jet d'eau - and then through the narrow streets of the old town , stopping to admire St. Peter's Cathedral and the Reformers' Wall. Take in the city's international charm with a visit to theUN headquarters(Palais des Nations), and enjoy its Latin temperament with a taste of its renowned gastronomy and wines.
CATHÉDRALE SAINT-PIERRE / JET D'EAU / ONUG - PALAIS DES NATIONS / MUR DES RÉFORMATEURS
Day 2: Lausanne
Steps: Lausanne, Lavaux, Saint-Saphorin, Chexbres, Vevey
Take a train from Geneva to Lausanne (30 to 45 minutes). In the morning, visit the medieval city of Lausanne, with its cathedral and steep streets, especially on Saturdays when a lively market is held. After lunch in the city center, there are two options: art lovers can head up to the heights of Lausanne to visit the Fondation de l'Hermitage, which always has some very fine temporary exhibitions, while sports enthusiasts or those traveling with the family can head down to the quays of Ouchy and visit the Olympic Museum. In the evening, go out to one of the trendy spots on the Flon.
Alternatively, head down to the port of Ouchy and board a CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation) boat for a cruise on the lake to Chillon. Visit the castle, then take the boat (or VMCV 1 bus) back to Vevey. After lunch in Vevey, take the vineyard train to the pretty village of Chexbres. Stroll through the Lavaux vineyards, either to Saint-Saphorin (30 minutes) or Cully (2 hours). Then take a CFF train to Lausanne/Geneva from either village.
Day 3: Montreux
Steps: Montreux, Lausanne, Vevey, Fribourg
Visit Montreux, the "pearl of the Riviera", especially during the Jazz Festival in July (but book a hotel well in advance!). On foot or by bike (on loan to Lausanne and Vevey), follow the walk along the lake to the Château de Chillon. In the evening, take a train to Freiburg (the journey takes 1 hour 10 minutes) and spend the evening in a lively bar.
TAVERNE DU CHÂTEAU DE CHILLON
Day 4: Fribourg - Bern
Fribourg is one of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities, and one of Switzerland's liveliest, thanks to its many students. In the early afternoon, take a train (approx. 25 minutes) to Berne (Unesco World Heritage site) and its 6 km of arcades, which make it easy to visit even on rainy days!
Day 5: Interlaken
Steps: Interlaken, Brienz, Aletsch
Early in the morning, take a train to Interlaken (approx. 1 hour), located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The town has little of interest in itself, but is an excellent starting point for hikes or excursions, notably to the Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station (3,454 m), from where you can see the imposing silhouette of the greatAletsch glacier.
JUNGFRAUJOCH
Day 6: To Ascona
Steps: Interlaken, Ascona
Leave Interlaken for Ascona, a long journey of around 4 hours 10 minutes.
Day 7: Relaxing in Ascona
Steps: Ascona
Nicknamed the pearl of Lake Maggiore, Ascona is an invitation to return to Ticino and explore the other villages that border the lake. Enjoy refined Italian cuisine or simply sunbathe on a pedal boat..
Day 8: Lugano
Steps: Lugano, Monte San Salvatore
Lugano is the country's southernmost city in every sense of the word. Here, quality of life is paramount, and the sun shines for much of the year. If you like hiking, you'll be spoilt for choice, with an air of dolce vita to accompany your stay. If you want to feel even closer to Italy, take the funicular up to the top of Monte San Salvatore and catch a glimpse of Lombardy, with Milan in the distance.
Day 9: Heading for Graubünden
Another long train journey of 5 hours 30 minutes, but for an unmissable destination: Graubünden.
Day 10: Saint-Moritz
Steps: St Moritz
Relax in the upscale yet family-friendly resort of St. Moritz, with a choice of skiing in winter or hiking in summer, especially around Lake St. Moritz (1 hour).
Day 11: Appenzell
Steps: Zurich
Allow an average of 4 hours by train from St. Moritz. A small town south of Lake Constance, where customs are still very much alive. Admire the picturesque facades of the houses. In the evening, continue your journey to Zurich (1 hour 40 minutes).
Day 12: Zurich
Stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Town and along the shores of the lake, not forgetting a spot of shopping on the chic Bahnhofstrasse. Visit the Kunsthaus art museum. In the evening, take a train to Lucerne (4.30 hours).
MUSÉE DES BEAUX-ARTS (KUNSTHAUS ZÜRICH)
Day 13: Lucerne
In the morning, visit Lucerne's Old Town (and cruise on Lake Lucerne if you have time). Then on to Basel (1 hour 10 from Lucerne). Stroll through the picturesque alleyways of this city of culture and history, set on the banks of the Rhine. Admire thetown hall, and the cathedral famous for housing the tomb of Erasmus.
HÔTEL DE VILLE
Day 14: Basel
Steps: Bâle
Close to Germany and France, Basel is a cultural hub for the whole of Switzerland. Its architecture is both medieval and contemporary. The city is home to some forty museums and art galleries, and is also a gastronomic stopover that will delight gourmets.
A visit to the Tinguely Museum is a must. In June, Art Basel, the international contemporary art fair, takes place every year, a not-to-be-missed event for artists and collectors from all over the world.
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