More about: 7 Best Day Trips to Swiss Alps from Zurich
The villages of Bern and the top of Europe are some of the places in the Alps that you can enjoy in these experiences. Visiting the Alps is a must-do activity among the best things to see and do in Zurich.
One of the most spectacular experiences of this type of excursion is to ride a cogwheel train that will take you through the glaciers and snow-filled Alps to see the highest mountains in Europe and see the most incredible landscapes of Switzerland.
1. Jungfraujoch and Oberland Day Trip
In this full day experience you will get to see the highest peak in all of Europe which is also known as Jungfraujoch. You will visit the Jungfrau region, and the towns of Interlaken and Grindelwald, as well as the Bernese Oberland, a high alpine region noted for its colorful landscapes, lakes and green hills.
An expert tour guide will accompany you throughout the trip and will be commenting in English on each of the places where you stop. You will be able to take the cable car and one of the best panoramic trains from Zurich to appreciate the scenery, as well as have the opportunity to enter an ice palace and also go up to the Sphinx observatory to take breathtaking pictures of the entire landscape.
Details of interest
- Price: - from $357.
- Duration: 12 hours from the time you leave the hotel until you return.
- Means of transportation: you will have to arrive on your own at the meeting point in the city of Zurich, right at the bus terminal. From there you will board an air-conditioned and fully equipped vehicle that will take you to the station to board the rack railway. The next ride will be by train to the cable car station where you will board the funicular.
2. Day trip to Zermatt and Gornergrat mountain in small group
On this tour you will be able to go to the Gornergrat as well as see the snow-capped peaks of the Matterhorn. In this trip you will have the possibility to depart from Zurich to Bern and then to these imposing places of the Swiss geography. To go to Gornergrat you will board a rack railway that will take you to see beautiful landscapes on the way.
With this combined excursion to Zermatt and Gornergrat, you will get to know the historical and cultural center of the Zermatt area. The tour guide will help you learn more about the geography of this area, while telling you about the different cultural characteristics of Switzerland and its traditions.
Details of interest
- Price: - from $716.
- Duration: it has an approximate duration of 11-12 hours.
- Means of Transportation: bus ride to the train station. Train ride up to Zermatt and up to Gornergrat. Part of the tour is on foot.
3. Excursion to Grindelwald and Interlaken
Almost every experience in the Alps includes a train ride, which will leave you with beautiful postcards, especially if you decide to visit Zurich in winter.
On this 12-hour combined excursion to Grindelwald and Interlaken, you will start your journey from Zurich by air-conditioned vehicle to Interlaken where you will board the train. From there you will continue your journey to the next stop at the Grindelwald terminal. There you will be able to change transport again and board the cable car that will take you to the top of Europe.
Always accompanied by an expert guide who will liven up your experience, you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the mountains and take home a unique souvenir.
Details of interest
- Price: - from $224.
- Duration: it has an approximate duration of 12 hours.
- Means of transport: equipped vehicle to the train station. Then intercity train, cable car and if you want you can jump on a zip line or drive a mountain bike.
4. Excursion with helicopter flight over Jungfraujoch
If already visiting the Jungfraujoch area by cog railway and cable car, in addition to having the opportunity to walk in the snow, is a unique experience, imagine getting into a helicopter and flying over the Alps. One of the biggest advantages of this flight is that you can do it alone with your group.
This tour includes a limousine transfer to the heliport where you will board the helicopter with your group to climb to the top of Europe and see the incredible scenery up close.
It is important to know that the flight may be cancelled due to weather conditions, often because of wind or snow, regardless of the season. In this case, the experience can be exchanged for a train ride to the top of the Jungfraujoch.
Details of interest
- Price: it is priced at approximately €8,980 per adult, although it may vary according to the size of the group.
- Duration: it is a full day experience of between 8 and 10 hours.
- Transportation: private transportation from your hotel in Zurich.
5. Excursion to Mount Titlis and the city of Lucerne
This full-day excursion is one of the best excursions in Zurich because it takes you to some of the most beautiful places in Switzerland such as Mount Titlis and the city of Lucerne.
The tour starts with a short tour of the city of Lucerne, where you will have a guide who will give you an orientation of each place you will see on the tour.
After leaving Lucerne behind, you will continue your way to the town of Engelberg, which is located at the foot of Mount Titlis, which you will also have the opportunity to climb during the tour. Once at the top, I invite you to take lots of pictures of the spectacular views of the Alps that you will only have the opportunity to see from this special place. You will also take a chairlift, weather permitting.
Details of interest
- Price: from 179 euros per person.
- Duration: it lasts approximately 9 hours and a half from the time you leave the hotel where you are staying until you return.
- Means of transportation: by your own means you will have to get to the meeting point in Zurich, where you will get on the bus with all the comforts. You will also take the cable car.
6. Excursion with private guide on board the Glacier Express to the Alps
On this scenic ride you will have the opportunity to see spectacular scenery while aboard the Glacier Express. Included in this experience is a walking tour of the entire town of Chur, one of the most beautiful towns in the Swiss Alps. You will also be able to visit the Grand Canyon and the highest snow-capped peaks in the country.
On this trip, which I would include in my complete guide of things to do in Zurich in 3 days, you have the possibility to board a luxury bus in Zurich and then travel in comfort to the boarding point of the train. On the private tour you will have the opportunity to take multiple photos to remember the trip.
Interesting details
- Price: approximately 530 euros per person.
- Duration: it lasts approximately 10 hours, so it is a full day trip.
- Means of Transportation: this trip is by train, but to get to the station you will have to take a bus with all amenities in Zurich.
7. Excursion with self-guided tour to Zermatt and Gornergrat mountain
On this self-guided tour you are offered a complete step-by-step guide on how to have an amazing experience through Mount Gornergrat and the alpine village of Zermatt. This is one of the best experiences for independent travelers who want to have time to see each place on their own.
One of the most interesting attractions you will see in the village of Zermatt is that this is a completely car-free alpine area. In addition, you will always have the Matterhorn in front of you, which will give you postcard views to take all the pictures you want. Throughout the tour you are guaranteed emergency communication with the travel agency.
Interesting details
- Price: this experience has an approximate price of 378 euros per person.
- Duration: you can do this tour in approximately 8 hours from the time you leave the train station in Zurich until you return back.
- Means of transportation: you will board a rack railway, but to get to the train station, you will have to do it on your own by public transportation.
Tips for an excursion to the Swiss Alps
- Wear closed shoes suitable for winter, so that you can withstand the low temperatures and also the snow.
- Wear warm enough clothing, because these tours are regularly done in winter, so it is important to keep your body warm.
- Check the weather before venturing on such an experience, because in some cases experiences are cancelled due to bad weather.
- If you have any limitations in terms of food, you should tell your guide beforehand, in case the excursion includes cheese tastings or other products.
What are the villages I should not miss on a trip to the Alps?
Especially you cannot miss the Bernese villages and you should not miss places like Interlaken or Grindelwald, which are the most special in the whole Alpine area. During the tour through the Alps you will pass through, at least just passing through, some villages of the Swiss countryside, so I recommend you to take a lot of pictures at this point.
Of course you will visit the Jungfraujoch area, a cozy village that you will have the opportunity to photograph from the heights and among its streets. You will also be able to visit or perhaps see in passing some other villages, such as Coira and Lauterbrunnen.
What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting the Alps on my own?
- Taking a guided tour to the Alps
- You will know which are the most interesting places to visit
- You will have everything covered in terms of safety and taxes.
- Listen to expert commentary to tell you all about the Alps
- You'll have all the equipment you need to hike in the snow and climb the heights
- You will always have someone by your side telling you how to use everything you don't know.
- Go on your own in the Alps
- You will visit places but may miss many others due to lack of knowledge.
- You will have to pay all taxes and entrance fees, among other things, at each place.
- You will not have the opportunity to listen to comments or clarify any doubts you may have.
- You will have to rent or buy the necessary equipment to walk in the snow.
- You will have to ask at every moment what to do, where to go and what to do next.