A seven day Switzerland itinerary for winter, hitting the highlights in the most popular destinations. Focused on sightseeing with a few winter sport options.
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Lucerne is one of the most charming Swiss cities and a delight to visit in winter.
For the morning, I suggest a walking tour of Lucerne's old town. Most guided tours start around 10:00, so that's why I put this activity in the morning. If you do a self-guided tour, you could swap for the afternoon and do the mountain visit in the morning.
If you flew into Zurich airport, it's about a 1h10 train ride to Lucerne, with frequent connections. Check schedule on SBB.ch.
The train station is underneath the airport. You can purchase train tickets at self-service machine or the ticket office in English.
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If you'd like a coffee before or after, Cafe de Ville would be a nice choice, very close to the Chapel Bridge.
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For the afternoon, I suggest visiting one of the mountain viewpoints near Lucerne city, either Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi, which are both close to the city.
I slightly prefer Mt Rigi because, in winter, you can still take a boat to the base of Mt Rigi before riding to the peak on a cogwheel train. Also the trains run later in the afternoon, so you don't have to hurry so much to get back before the last train.
If you prefer more drama and a cable car ride, Mt Pilatus is a good choice for you.
If you are traveling on a Swiss Travel Pass, the entire journey to Mt Rigi is included with your pass. For Mt Pilatus, you get a discount.
In any case, check the timetables carefully to make sure you don't miss the last train or cable car down the mountain.
If you choose to visit Mt Rigi, you might a late afternoon visit to the mineral baths which have a warm infinity pool that overlooking Lake Lucerne and the mountains.
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Choose the option that fits you the best
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