Switzerland's Best (Including Lugano) — Self-Launched Version
9 days · Switzerland (plus Liechtenstein & Lake Constance)
Europamundo charges £1,360
No-markup version: ~£1,290 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 9-day independent loop from Zurich covering the classic Europamundo highlights — Bern, Glacier 3000, Montreux, Geneva, Gruyères, Interlaken, Lugano, Bellinzona, Lucerne, Vaduz, St. Gallen, Constance and the Rhine Falls — using Swiss Travel Pass trains, postbuses and boats instead of a coach, hostel dorms and budget guesthouses instead of 4* hotels, and self-booked tickets for cable cars, castles and chocolate tastings. Switzerland is expensive even independently, so this is a lean-but-realistic budget version: expect £130-150/day in dorms with a Swiss Travel Pass, or £180+ if you want private rooms. Bring a refillable bottle, supermarket picnics and a half-fare mindset.
Day-by-day
Arrive Zurich — old town and lakefront
Zurich
Land at Zurich Airport and take the S-Bahn (S16/S24) into the Hauptbahnhof, ~CHF 3.50 with a Zurich 24h card. Check into a hostel in the Langstrasse or Zurich-West area. Spend the afternoon on foot: Bahnhofstrasse, Lindenhof viewpoint, the Niederdorf old town, Grossmünster tower climb (CHF 5), and a sunset walk along the lakefront at Bürkliplatz. Buy your Swiss Travel Pass today — it covers trains, boats, postbuses and city transport for the whole trip.
🚌Airport S-Bahn into the city ~CHF 7 (£6); activate 8-day Swiss Travel Pass (2nd class, ~£360-400 if bought in advance online)
🛏Hostel dorm in Zurich-West/Langstrasse (e.g. Oldtown Hostel, Zurich Youth Hostel) — £45-55
- →Old town & Lindenhof walk (free)
- →Grossmünster tower climb (~£4.50)
- →Lake Zurich promenade
Bern, Glacier 3000 and Montreux to Geneva
Geneva
An early IC train from Zurich to Bern (~1h, free with Travel Pass) — do a two-hour self-guided loop of the UNESCO old town, the Zytglogge clock tower and the Bear Park above the Aare. Then train to Montreux via Zweisimmen/Gstaad or Lausanne, dropping your bag at Montreux station lockers (CHF 6). Take the postbus up to Col du Pillon and the cable car to Glacier 3000, walk the Peak Walk suspension bridge (~CHF 69 with pass discount; book on GetYourGuide or directly with Glacier 3000). Come down, stop at Chillon Castle (entry ~CHF 13.50, buy at the gate) and finish with the golden-hour train along Lake Geneva into Geneva.
🚌Travel Pass covers all trains and the Col du Pillon postbus; Glacier 3000 cable car ~£62; Chillon Castle train stop free
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near Geneva Cornavin (e.g. Geneva Hostel) — £50-60
- →Bern old town self-guided walk
- →Glacier 3000 Peak Walk suspension bridge
- →Château de Chillon entry
Geneva sights, Lausanne and Gruyères chocolate
Fribourg / Gruyères
Morning self-guided Geneva circuit: Jet d'Eau, the English Garden flower clock, Reformation Wall, and the Palace of Nations exterior (UN guided tours need booking weeks ahead — the outside and the Broken Chair are free). Tram 1 or a boat across the lake is covered by your pass. Midday train to Lausanne (40 min) for the Olympic Museum area and the Ouchy lakefront, then on to Gruyères. Visit La Maison Cailler in Broc (self-guided tasting tour, ~CHF 17, book online) and walk up to the medieval Gruyères village and castle. Sleep in Fribourg or Bulle — far cheaper than Geneva or Lausanne.
🚌All trains covered by Travel Pass; local bus to Broc included
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Fribourg/Bulle (e.g. Fribourg Youth Hostel) — £40-50
- →Geneva self-guided landmark walk
- →Olympic Park / Ouchy lakefront
- →Maison Cailler chocolate tour & tasting (~£15)
Interlaken, Aare Gorge and across the Alps to Lugano
Lugano
Train to Interlaken Ost (1h45 from Fribourg) for a quick Höheweg stroll and the lake viewpoint. Take the train one stop to Meiringen and walk the Aare Gorge boardwalk (entry ~CHF 10) — one of the best value gorges in Switzerland. Then the long but spectacular ride south: Meiringen–Interlaken–Spiez–Brig–Domodossola–Lugano, or via the Gotthard Base Tunnel, roughly 4-5 hours, all covered by the pass. Evening in Lugano: lakeside promenade, Piazza della Riforma aperitivo, and a cheap dinner at a self-service grotto or Coop restaurant.
🚌All rail included in Travel Pass; Aare Gorge entry ~£9
🛏Hostel dorm in Lugano (e.g. Montarina Hostel, near the station) — £40-50
- →Interlaken Höheweg & lake viewpoint
- →Aare Gorge boardwalk
- →Lugano lakefront evening walk
Lake Lugano boat, Bellinzona castles and up to Lucerne
Lucerne
Morning boat on Lake Lugano to Gandria or Morcote — the Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano crossings are discounted with the Swiss Travel Pass (small supplement ~CHF 10-15). Then train 30 min to Bellinzona and walk between Castelgrande and Montebello castles; Castelgrande courtyard is free, museum ~CHF 10. Continue north via the Gotthard route to Lucerne (2h via Arth-Goldau). Evening in Lucerne: Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, the Musegg wall walk (free) and the old town.
🚌Boat supplement ~£12; trains covered by Travel Pass
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Lucerne/Kriens (e.g. Lucerne Backpackers) — £45-55
- →Lake Lugano boat crossing
- →Bellinzona castles walk
- →Lucerne old town & Chapel Bridge
Einsiedeln Abbey, Liechtenstein and Feldkirch
Feldkirch (Austria)
Train to Einsiedeln (1h15) for the baroque abbey and Black Madonna shrine — free to enter. On to Sargans and then the Liechtenstein bus 12 to Vaduz (included in the pass), where you can walk the Fürstensteig viewpoint, see Vaduz Castle from outside and get a passport stamp at the tourist office (~CHF 3). Cross into Austria: bus to Buchs then train to Feldkirch (20 min). Sleep in Feldkirch — Austrian prices are noticeably lower than Swiss ones (dorm ~£25, dinner ~£12).
🚌Trains and Liechtenstein buses covered by Travel Pass; buy a separate Austrian ticket only if you continue past Feldkirch
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Feldkirch, Austria — £25-35
- →Einsiedeln Abbey
- →Vaduz old town & passport stamp
- →Feldkirch medieval old town, Schattenburg
St. Gallen, Constance, Stein am Rhein and the Rhine Falls
Zurich
Train to St. Gallen (1h from Feldkirch via Buchs) for the Abbey Library — one of the most beautiful rooms in Europe, entry ~CHF 12. On to Konstanz on Lake Constance (German side, cheap lunch, Constance Cathedral and harbour), then a regional train to Stein am Rhein for the painted fresco houses along the Rhine. Finish at the Rhine Falls: walk down from Schloss Laufen (entry ~CHF 5, boat ride to the rock ~CHF 10-20 extra) and the last train back to Zurich. This is the longest transit day — pack a picnic.
🚌Swiss Travel Pass covers Stein am Rhein and the Rhine Falls line; St. Gallen to Konstanz may need a small German supplement — buy a Länder-Ticket if split-ticketing is cheaper
🛏Hostel dorm in Zurich (same as Day 1) — £45-55
- →St. Gallen Abbey Library (~£11)
- →Stein am Rhein old town
- →Rhine Falls at Schloss Laufen (~£4.50)
- →Optional Rhine Falls boat
Lake Zurich cruise and Rapperswil
Zurich
Slow day. Use the Travel Pass on the Lake Zurich boat (worth doing the full-length run to Rapperswil, ~1h40 in summer; winter services are shorter — check the ZSG timetable). Rapperswil has a castle, a wooden footbridge and the Lindenhof rose gardens for free, plus a lakeside swim spot in summer. Train back from Rapperswil to Zurich HB in 35 min. Evening: cheap dinner at a Markthalle food stall or Tibits/Coop, then drinks at a hostel bar.
🚌Boat and return train fully covered by Swiss Travel Pass
🛏Hostel dorm in Zurich — £45-55
- →Lake Zurich boat cruise
- →Rapperswil castle & wooden bridge
- →Zurich evening bar scene
Depart Zurich
Zurich
Last morning for anything missed: the Kunsthaus (free on Wednesdays), a walk up Uetliberg (train from HB, 20 min, covered by pass) for the city panorama, or a swim at the lake's Seebad. S-Bahn to the airport for your flight out.
🚌S-Bahn to airport ~CHF 7 (£6); Uetliberg train covered by Travel Pass
🛏—
- →Uetliberg viewpoint (optional)
- →Kunsthaus or lakeside swim
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,290 | £1,360 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £70 per person (5%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,290
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Switzerland's Best (Including Lugano) — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,290 per person for 9 days in Switzerland (plus Liechtenstein & Lake Constance). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,360 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,290 — a saving of roughly £70 (5%) per person.
How long is the Switzerland (plus Liechtenstein & Lake Constance) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Switzerland (plus Liechtenstein & Lake Constance).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Switzerland (plus Liechtenstein & Lake Constance), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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