The Perfect 5-Day Switzerland Guide: Itinerary from Zurich to the Alps

My husband and I took his parents to Zurich and around Switzerland for four nights/five days in the summer of 2025.

This post maps out our exact 5 day Switzerland itinerary—a trip full of beautiful sights, exploring the mountains, and memorable family moments in Europe. This guide is a recount of what we did on our summer family trip to this beautiful country, focusing on how you can recreate this exact trip.

Our Detailed 5-Day Switzerland Itinerary Map:

Day 1: Zurich (Arrival, Old Town, Lakeside)

Day 2: Zurich $\to$ Lucerne $\to$ Lauterbrunnen (Stops: Lake Lucerne, Brienz)

Day 3: Lauterbrunnen / Interlaken

Day 4: Lauterbrunnen $\to$ Saanen $\to$ Gstaad $\to$ Tasch

Day 5: Zermatt $\to$ Zurich (Departure)

Switzerland Transportation: Car Rental vs. Train Passes

Navigating transportation options in Switzerland can be a major headache! Despite extensive research, I struggled to find a crystal-clear answer. Most travelers debate between the flexibility of a rental car and the extensive Swiss train network, which offers a variety of passes (like the popular Swiss Travel Pass).

(For more in-depth details on the various train passes, I recommend checking out this helpful guide by Rick Steves.)

Our Decision: Why We Chose a Rental Car

Ultimately, the deciding factor for us was accessibility. While my husband and I likely would have preferred the trains for convenience and views, we were traveling with our parents who have limited mobility.

For this reason, a rental car was the best option for our specific travel needs, as it allowed for door-to-door transportation and easy access to luggage.

A Major Warning About Car Rental (Beware of Scams!)

If you choose the car rental route, please be extremely cautious!

We rented a car with Enterprise at the Zurich Airport, and I have to call it what it was: a complete scam.

Upon returning the vehicle, the agent noted no damages. Weeks later, we were randomly sent a bill for almost $300, claiming damages they had no clear pictures of. We have now been fighting with them for months to resolve this fraudulent charge.

Actionable Advice: If you rent a car, take dated, time-stamped, and detailed video/photo evidence of every panel of the car before you leave the lot and again when you return it. Do not rely on their inspection.

Was the Car Worth the Hassle?

Putting the nightmare rental experience aside, having our own car was, on the whole, a good decision for our trip. The flexibility to explore at our own pace and accommodate our parents’ mobility made the travel portion of our trip smooth (once we got past the airport).

Accommodation:

We did a combo of hotels and Airbnbs in Switzerland. First and foremost, one thing that everyone will tell you is that Switzerland is EXPENSIVE, and accommodation is no exception. Things will be costly, so you just have to plan accordingly.

Zurich: Guesthouse fürDich – This is a cute little guesthouse located above a cafe. Its central location was excellent, and it was very affordable for Zurich. The main reason we chose it was that it was one of the only places I could find with two queen size beds, allowing all four adults to stay in one room.

However, note that it does not have a private bathroom, which wasn’t clear when I booked. Fortunately, using the shared one ended up not being a problem, as it was shared between three rooms and we didn’t see any of the other guests.

Lauterbrunnen: “Alpine Retreat” VRBO – This place was a splurge, but it was so worth it. This apartment was so comfortable for the four of us, with a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, a back patio, and a view of the stunning Staubbach Falls. This place was not cheap, but it was worth it for the experience we had in Lauterbrunnen.

Täsch: Airbnb near Zermatt – This is the closest town you can drive to in order to visit Zermatt, so we stayed here. This was a great apartment for the 4 of us, with a beautiful deck with mountain views. It was on the 3rd floor with no elevator though – so this was a bit of a challenge for our elderly parents.

Lucerne & Lake Brienz Road Trip Stops

We made a pit stop in Lucerne for a couple of hours while driving the incredibly scenic route from Zurich down to Lauterbrunnen. It’s absolutely worth pulling over to see the city’s most famous sights, even if you’re short on time. We parked centrally at Parkhaus Altstadt and walked the famous waterfront. After Lucerne – our next stop was Lake Brienz for lunch and gorgeous lake views.

Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke): This is the photo spot — and for good reason! It’s the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, and walking across it felt like stepping into a postcard. We got some great shots of the old water tower and the river, too.

Walk the Riverfront: Seriously, the water here is stunning. We just wandered the promenade, enjoying the vibrant, almost impossibly bright blue-green color of the Reuss River. The views were breathtaking, with the colorful historical buildings lining the banks and mountains in the distance. It’s a very easy, flat walk that hits all the major points.

Jesuitenkirche Luzern: Right off the riverwalk, you can’t miss this beautiful, elaborate baroque church. We popped in for a very quick look—it’s one of those sights that adds so much to the already gorgeous river views.

Strandbad Brienz: We stopped at this little beach with an outdoor cafe for lunch. The views were absolutely stunning and we sat here for hours just taking in the postcard perfect lake.