Spring
March brings sunny spring skiing, and by May the lakeside towns are in bloom. April and early May are a quiet in-between time in the mountains, when some lifts and hotels close for maintenance.
Switzerland
Snowy peaks above glassy lakes, red trains on stone viaducts, and chocolate, cheese and wine in a country you can cross in an afternoon.
By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated
- Best time to go
- June to September; December to March for snow
- Trip length
- 8 to 12 days
- From Atlanta
- About 9 hours nonstop to Zurich
- Time difference
- 6 hours ahead of Atlanta
- Entry
- U.S. passport, no visa for stays up to 90 days
- Currency
- Swiss franc. You’ll need a plug adapter
Why Switzerland feels effortless
Few places pack this much scenery into so small a space, or make it this easy to see.
A favorite first trip lands in Zurich, rolls on to Lucerne and its lake, then climbs into the Bernese Oberland around Interlaken before finishing beneath the Matterhorn in Zermatt. Trains, boats and cogwheel railways link it all, so you rarely need a car.
From there, the scenic trains are the stars: the Glacier Express to St. Moritz, the Bernina Express over the Alps into Italy, or the GoldenPass Express down to Montreux and the vineyards of Lake Geneva. In winter, the same mountains become some of the world’s great ski resorts.
Train times
- Zurich to LucerneAbout 45 minutes
- Lucerne to InterlakenAbout 2 hours
- Interlaken to ZermattAbout 2.5 hours
- Zermatt to St. MoritzAbout 8 hours on the Glacier Express
- Interlaken to MontreuxAbout 3¼ hours on the GoldenPass Express
- Zurich to GenevaAbout 2¾ hours
- Zurich to LuganoAbout 2 hours
When to go
Summer is for meadows, lakes and hiking; winter is for snow, cozy chalets and Christmas lights. The months between are quieter, with a few mountain lifts and hotels taking a break.
- JanSki season, quiet cities
- FebSki holidays, Carnival
- MarSpring skiing, sunny slopes
- AprBetween seasons, Easter
- MayBlossoms by the lakes
- JunLong days, alpine meadows
- JulHiking, Montreux Jazz Festival
- AugNational Day, Lucerne Festival
- SepClear skies, grape harvest
- OctGolden larches, fewer crowds
- NovQuiet between seasons
- DecChristmas markets, first snow
Peak season Shoulder season Low season
Average temperatures and rainfall
Jan2.5″
Feb2.4″
Mar2.8″
Apr3.2″
May5.0″
Jun5.0″
Jul5.0″
Aug4.7″
Sep3.4″
Oct3.4″
Nov3.0″
Dec3.3″
Jan1.7″
Feb1.2″
Mar1.3″
Apr1.6″
May3.0″
Jun2.8″
Jul2.3″
Aug2.7″
Sep2.0″
Oct2.2″
Nov2.6″
Dec1.9″
Average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches. Zermatt sits at about 5,300 feet.
Summer
June through August is high season, with wildflower meadows, open hiking trails and swimming in the lakes. Expect festivals, from Montreux Jazz in July to National Day fireworks on August 1 and the Lucerne Festival.
Fall
September is a favorite: clear, settled weather and the grape harvest around Lake Geneva. In October the Engadine’s larches turn gold. The Glacier Express pauses from mid-October to early December.
Winter
Christmas markets light up Zurich, Basel and Montreux, and ski season runs from December into April in the high resorts. Holiday weeks and February book up early in Zermatt and St. Moritz.
Where to go
The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.
Zurich
A polished lakeside city with a cobbled old town, the shopping of Bahnhofstrasse and an excellent food scene. Nonstop flights from Atlanta make it the natural place to begin.
Best for Arrival days, dining, shopping
Lucerne
The covered Chapel Bridge, a lake ringed by mountains, and easy half-days up Mount Pilatus or Mount Rigi. Paddle steamers leave from the old town.
Best for First-timers, lake cruises, views
Interlaken & the Jungfrau
Base yourself in Grindelwald, Wengen or Mürren for waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen valley and the railway to the Jungfraujoch, at 11,332 feet.
Best for Alpine scenery, hiking, families
Zermatt & the Matterhorn
A car-free village beneath the Matterhorn, with the Gornergrat railway for the classic view and some of the Alps’ best skiing and mountain dining.
Best for Iconic views, skiing, couples
St. Moritz & the Engadine
Sunny high valley, glittering lakes and two Winter Olympics to its name. In October the larch forests turn gold.
Best for Winter glamour, spa hotels, scenic rail
Geneva
French-speaking and cosmopolitan, with the Jet d’Eau fountain, lakeside promenades and an easy hop to Lake Geneva’s wine country.
Best for City breaks, culture, watches
Montreux & Lavaux
Lakeside palms, the medieval Château de Chillon, and the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyard terraces stepping down to the water.
Best for Wine lovers, slow days, music
Lugano & Ticino
Switzerland with an Italian accent: palm-lined lakes, piazzas, risotto and funiculars up to sweeping viewpoints.
Best for Warm weather, food, relaxing
Scenic rail
Switzerland’s great train rides
The Glacier Express links Zermatt and St. Moritz in about eight hours, crossing 291 bridges, threading 91 tunnels and climbing over the Oberalp Pass. Panoramic windows wrap into the roof, lunch is served at your seat, and Excellence Class adds a reserved window seat and a multi-course menu.
The Bernina Express runs from Chur or St. Moritz over the Bernina Pass to Tirano, Italy, topping out at 7,392 feet on a UNESCO World Heritage line of 55 tunnels and 196 bridges, including the spiral viaduct at Brusio. The GoldenPass Express runs Montreux to Interlaken with no change of trains, and from spring to fall the Gotthard Panorama Express pairs a Lake Lucerne paddle steamer with a panoramic train to Lugano.
Seat reservations are required on the Glacier and Bernina Express and fill quickly in summer, so we book them the day they open and plan the overnight stops around the views.
Good to know
The small things that make a big difference once you arrive.
Let the trains do the work
Trains, lake boats and mountain railways connect almost everything, right on time. We can forward your luggage between stations so you ride with just a day bag.
Francs, not euros
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc. Cards and phone payments are accepted nearly everywhere; some places take euros, but your change comes back in francs.
Bring a plug adapter
Swiss outlets take the Type J plug. Slim two-pin European plugs fit too, but bulkier ones don’t, so a Swiss-specific adapter is the safe choice.
Dress in layers
It can be warm by the lake and freezing at the Jungfraujoch on the same day. Pack a light jacket, sunglasses and sunscreen even in summer.
Tipping is simple
Service is included in Swiss prices. Rounding up or leaving a few francs for great service is a kind gesture, never an obligation.
Quiet Sundays and car-free villages
Most shops close on Sundays, though stations stay busy. Zermatt, Wengen and Mürren are car-free, so hotels meet you with electric shuttles.
Questions we hear a lot
Do U.S. citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
No. Switzerland is part of Europe’s Schengen area, so U.S. citizens can visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. We recommend a passport valid at least six months beyond your trip. Europe’s Entry/Exit System now records non-EU travelers’ fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and the ETIAS travel authorization is expected to start in late 2026. Check current requirements before you travel, and we’ll keep you posted too.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
Often, but not always. The pass covers most trains, buses and lake boats, plus many museums and discounts on mountain railways. If your trip has only a few long rail journeys, individual tickets or a Half Fare Card can cost less. We price your actual route both ways and book whichever makes sense.
Do we need to book the Glacier Express ahead?
Yes. Seat reservations are required, and the panoramic cars fill up in summer and around the holidays. The train also takes an annual break in the fall; in 2026 it doesn’t run from October 11 to December 4. Reservations open months in advance, and we book as soon as they do.
When can we see the Alps at their best?
June through September brings green meadows, open hiking trails and the clearest odds of mountain views. The high-altitude railways, like the Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat, run year-round, so winter visits are lovely too. Weather on the peaks changes fast, so we leave some flexibility for the big viewpoints.
How long should we plan for a first trip?
Eight to twelve days is ideal. That’s enough for Zurich or Lucerne, the Jungfrau region and Zermatt, with time for a scenic train or Lake Geneva. Switzerland is compact, but the mountain stops deserve two or three nights each.
Is Switzerland a good fit for a winter trip if we don’t ski?
Absolutely. Think Christmas markets, sleigh rides, sledding runs, spa hotels, and the Glacier Express through snowy valleys. St. Moritz, Zermatt and Grindelwald all have plenty to do off the slopes.
Let’s plan your Switzerland trip
Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.