Easy Day Trips from Zurich for an Exciting Vacation

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Zurich is the most populated city in Switzerland (approx 400,000 people live there) and is the center of Swiss Banking. With a rich history, beautiful architecture, and some of the most expensive real estate in the world, it is a city you definitely don't want to miss. If this isn't the only part of Switzerland you want to see, you can take day trips from Zurich to see other amazing parts of Switzerland and beyond!

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Getting Around Switzerland

Zurich makes a great home base in Switzerland because you can take a train to just about everywhere. I highly recommend taking the train to all of these locations unless you plan on renting a car for the duration of your trip. The Swiss countryside is so scenic, and trains are definitely the best way to take it all in! It makes these easy day trips from Zurich that much easier. Book tickets online here!

Note about the Swiss Pass: we didn't buy a Swiss Pass because it worked out to be cheaper to buy tickets individually. Do your own research to find out what works best for you!

Day Trips from Zurich

In no particular order, here are the places I recommend taking on a day trip from Zurich:

Thun/Spiez
Lauterbrunnen/Interlaken
Liechtenstein
Jungfrau
Bern

I recommend choosing 2-3 of these for single-day trips (if you are going to Switzerland for 7 days) or picking one to spend a few nights in and another to go to for the day!

Thun Day Trip Itinerary

Thun Castle can be seen though lush green trees along the gray cobbled streets of Thun. Stop in Thun on your one week switzerland itinerary for a fairytale vibe — Thun Castle

Thun is straight out of a fairytale! When you book your tickets, make sure to book them all the way to Spiez (the next stop after Thun) to explore more of the region. The train from Zurich to Thun is about 90 minutes, and Thun to Spiez is about 10 minutes.

Here's what you must see in Thun:

Scloss Thun
Rathausplatz
Surfers on the Aare River
Thun Panaorama
Spiez Castle
Kunstmuseum Thun
Oberhofen Castle
Hünegg Castle

If you can't tell, I LOVE castles. Because we stopped here briefly on our way back from Lauterbrunnen, we didn't get to see them all. You could easily spend several days exploring this area of the Bernese Oberland too!

Lauterbrunnen Day Trip Itinerary

We actually spent a whole weekend exploring the Lauterbrunnen area, and while you can definitely do it in a day trip, I HIGHLY recommend spending at least one night here. The train from Zurich takes about 2.5-3 hours, so make sure you are up bright and early to make the most of your day!

Here's what you can't miss in Lauterbrunnen:

Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen
Trümmelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen
Cable car to Mannlichen to see the cows (in summer)
Hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (3 miles one way, about 90 minute hike - you can take the train down from Kleine Scheidegg)
Take train/cable car to Murren and Schilthorn for some epic views of Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau
Stop in Interlaken and explore Lake Brienz or Lake Thun

I recommend picking one or two short hikes and either going to Mannlican or Murren for your day trip. There are so many great things to do in the Lauterbrunnen area, so pick what you want to see most if you only go for one day!

Liechtenstein Day Trip from Zurich

I actually have a comprehensive guide to Liechtenstein that goes in-depth on everything you should do. Check it out here! It takes about 90 minutes by train/bus to get to Liechtenstein from Zurich. Switzerland manages Liechtenstein's border controls, so you'll have no issues if you're coming from Switzerland.

But here's what you must see in Liechtenstein:

Berg Gutenberg
Vaduz Castle (where the Prince of Liechtenstein lives)
St Florin Cathedral
Museums in Vaduz (I recommend the Liechtenstein National Museum, Postal Museum, Kunstmusuem Liechtenstein (art museum), or Schatzkammer Liechtenstein (Treasure Museum))
Get your passport stamped at a souvenir shop

Like Switzerland, there is also great hiking and skiing. Liechtenstein makes an easy day trip from Zurich and you can add on another country too!

Jungfrau Day Trip Itinerary

Jungfrau, also known as the Top of Europe, is another great day trip from Zurich. I recommend finding an organized tour from Zurich because they will take you straight there!

You can also go from Lauterbrunnen, however, I recommend staying a few days in the region if that is what you want to do. Unfortunately, the tickets were sold out (it was a last-minute trip!), so we didn't get to experience this cool place while we were in Switzerland. Book tickets in advance of your trip!

Bern Day Trip Itinerary

Bern is another town in Switzerland that looks like it jumped right off the pages of a fairytale. Bern's Old Town is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The train from Zurich to Bern takes about an hour.

Here's what you can't miss in Bern:

Wander the streets of the Old Town
Zytglogge (astrological clock tower)
Cathedral of Bern
Visit the Parliament Building (Bern is actually the capital of Switzerland!)
Bear Park (brown bears are the symbol of Bern)

You actually have to pass through Bern to get to Thun/Spiez and Lauterbrunnen. With its close proximity to Zurich, it makes for an easy day trip from Zurich!

Final Thoughts on Easy Day Trips from Zurich

If you're interested in a full Switzerland itinerary, I have a guide to creating a magical trip to Switzerland. Zurich makes a great home base for staying in Switzerland, and with the extensive train system, there are so many easy day trips from Zurich you can take!

And if you’re in need of a packing list, I’ve got you — Summer in Switzerland Packing Guide.