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Destinations in Switzerland — where to go

Zurich, Lucerne, and Interlaken — the three bases nearly every trip is built around.

Switzerland is compact enough that three well-chosen bases cover most of what people come for: Zurich (banking capital with a genuinely pretty old town, 1–2 days), Lucerne (postcard lake-and-mountain scenery, 2 days), and Interlaken (the gateway to the high Alps — Jungfraujoch, Eiger, Schilthorn — 2–3 days). Trains connect all three in under two hours, so you rarely need a car.

Switzerland has a way of making every single town look suspiciously like a screensaver, which is either the best or most annoying thing about planning a trip here — you genuinely cannot go wrong on scenery, so the real decision is about pace and what kind of view you want out the train window. Here's every major base worth knowing, with an honest read on how many days it actually earns.

Zurich
Destinations

Zurich

1–2 nights, walkable Old Town, best lake views from the boat.

Lucerne
Destinations

Lucerne

2 days, the most photogenic town in the country, easy mountain day trips.

Interlaken
Destinations

Interlaken

2–3 days, the launchpad for the high Alps and adrenaline sports.

Questions people actually ask

What's the best first-time Switzerland itinerary?
Zurich (1–2 days) + Lucerne (2 days) + Interlaken (2–3 days) is the classic first-timer loop — roughly 7 days, connected entirely by train, with the Alps getting progressively bigger the whole way. See our full 'Switzerland in a week' plan for the day-by-day version.
Which Swiss city is cheapest to base yourself in?
None of them are cheap — that's just the honest answer — but Lucerne and Interlaken tend to have a wider range of mid-range guesthouses than Zurich or Geneva, where hotel prices skew hardest toward business travelers.
Do I need a car in Switzerland?
No, and most people are better off without one. The train network is dense, scenic, and almost comically punctual — a Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses, and lake boats between all three of these bases and most day trips from them.