Switzerland Self-Launched: Zurich, Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne & the Rhine Falls
8 days · Switzerland
Europamundo charges £1,560
No-markup version: ~£700 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Europamundo's 8-day coach tour of Switzerland, rebuilt for independent travellers using the Swiss Travel Pass, regional trains and postbuses instead of a private coach. You'll hit the same highlights — Zurich, Bern's Rose Garden, Glacier 3000, Chillon Castle, Geneva, Lausanne's Olympic Park, the Cailler chocolate factory, Gruyères, Interlaken, the Aare Gorge, Lugano, Bellinzona, Lucerne, Einsiedeln Abbey, Vaduz, St. Gallen's Abbey Library and the Rhine Falls — at a fraction of the guided-tour price. Nights are in hostels and budget guesthouses rather than 3-4* group hotels, and every activity is bookable yourself via SBB, GetYourGuide or direct with the attraction. Costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Zurich
Zurich
Land at Zurich Airport and take the S-Bahn (lines S2/S16, ~15 min, covered by the Swiss Travel Pass or a Zurich zone ticket ~£6) into the city. Check into a hostel in Kreis 4 or near the main station, then spend the afternoon on a self-launched walking loop: Bahnhofstrasse, the Old Town (Niederdorf), Lindenhof viewpoint and the Grossmünster towers. Grab dinner at a bakery/Coop or a cheap fondue spot. If you want to save on the transfer, night buses run late but Swiss trains are reliable. Book your Swiss Travel Pass (3/4/8-day) online in advance — it covers trains, boats, buses and many museum entries.
🚌Airport S-Bahn S2/S16 to Zurich HB ~15 min
🛏Hostel in Zurich (e.g. Zurich Youth Hostel or a Kreis 4 hostel), ~£35-45 dorm
- →Old Town walking loop
- →Lindenhof viewpoint
- →Grossmünster
- →Bahnhofstrasse
Zurich to Geneva via Bern, Glacier 3000 & Chillon Castle
Geneva (via Bern, Glacier 3000, Chillon)
This is a big travel day — the coach tour crams it into one day, and so will you by train. Take an early IC train Zurich–Bern (~1h, covered by Swiss Travel Pass). Walk from Bern station to the Rose Garden for the classic old-town view over the Aare. Then head to Les Diablerets and up to Glacier 3000 by cable car (book via GetYourGuide/Alpine Coaster ~£55-65 return) — walk the Peak Walk suspension bridge and, if the source's included lunch matters, eat at the summit restaurant instead of a restaurant stop. Continue by train via Montreux to Chillon Castle (entry ~£14, bookable direct or with a Swiss Travel Pass discount) for the lakeside fortress tour. Finish with a short train to Geneva and check into a hostel near Cornavin station.
🚌IC trains Zurich–Bern–Les Diablerets/Montreux–Geneva, all covered by Swiss Travel Pass; cable car extra
🛏Hostel in Geneva (e.g. Geneva Hostel or City Hostel Geneva), ~£40-50 dorm
- →Bern Rose Garden viewpoint
- →Glacier 3000 cable car & Peak Walk suspension bridge
- →Chillon Castle
- →Montreux lakeside
Geneva to Gruyères via Lausanne & Cailler Chocolate Factory
Geneva / Lausanne / Gruyères / Fribourg area
Morning self-launched walking tour of Geneva: Palace of Nations (UN), the English Garden and its flower clock, and the Jet d'Eau fountain — all free to see on foot, with a tram or free hotel-issued transport card for the day. Then train to Lausanne and walk up to the Olympic Park (free) and the lakefront at Ouchy. Continue to Broc-Fabrique for the Cailler Chocolate Factory tour with tasting (entry ~£12-15, book online or via GetYourGuide). Overnight in the Gruyères/Fribourg area — a hostel or budget guesthouse in Bulle or Fribourg keeps costs down versus the tour's 3* hotels.
🚌IC trains Geneva–Lausanne–Broc–Bulle/Fribourg (Swiss Travel Pass covers)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Bulle or Fribourg, ~£30-40
- →Palace of Nations (exterior)
- →English Garden flower clock
- →Jet d'Eau
- →Olympic Park Lausanne
- →Cailler chocolate factory tour & tasting
Fribourg to Lugano via Interlaken, Aare Gorge & Lake Lugano boat
Interlaken / Aare Gorge / Lugano
Train to Interlaken, then a short bus or train to the Aare Gorge at Innertkirchen (entry ~£10, includes the wooden walkway through the gorge — very doable solo). Take a photo stop at a Lake Thun/Brienz viewpoint (Interlaken's Höhematte or the Harder viewpoint if time allows), then continue south past the Susten Pass/Gotthard Tunnel route by train. In the afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Lugano (cheap and included with Swiss Travel Pass on the lake steamers) and stroll the lakeside and old town. Stay over in Lugano or just across the border in Chiasso, where budget hotels are a bit cheaper.
🚌Trains Interlaken–Brienz/Aare Gorge access–Lugano (Swiss Travel Pass) + Lake Lugano boat
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Lugano or Chiasso, ~£35-45
- →Aare Gorge walkway
- →Lake Thun/Brienz viewpoint
- →Lake Lugano boat trip
- →Lugano old town stroll
Lugano/Chiasso to Lucerne via Bellinzona, Gotthard Pass & Altdorf
Bellinzona / Altdorf / Lucerne
Start in Bellinzona — walk between the UNESCO castles (Montebello, Sasso Corbaro) in the town centre, free to view from outside, small entry if you go in. Then ride north over the Gotthard Pass (regional train or the historic Gotthard panorama route; photo stop at the pass viewpoint if you ride the postbus over the top in summer). Hop off at Altdorf to see the Schillerplatz and the William Tell statue. Arrive in Lucerne early evening for a self-launched stroll of the Kapellbrücke, Lion Monument, Lucerne Cathedral, Jesuit Church and the old town — all free to walk. Sleep in a Lucerne-area hostel or Smart Budget hotel.
🚌Regional/IC trains Bellinzona–Altdorf–Lucerne (Swiss Travel Pass)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Lucerne or Zug, ~£35-50
- →Bellinzona castles (walk between three)
- →Gotthard Pass viewpoint
- →Altdorf & William Tell statue
- →Lucerne Kapellbrücke, Lion Monument, old town
Lucerne to Feldkirch via Einsiedeln, Vaduz & the Heididorf
Einsiedeln / Vaduz / Feldkirch
Train to Einsiedeln and visit the Abbey (the basilica is free to enter; the abbey library may be small-fee). Continue toward Maienfeld for Heidi's House and the Heididorf landscape (Heidi's House admission is optional ~£10; the village and vineyard surroundings are free — check opening hours, closed in winter). Then cross into Liechtenstein: bus or train to Vaduz, stroll the pedestrian centre and the castle viewpoint above town (the castle itself is the royal residence, exterior only). Finish in Feldkirch (Austria) and explore the medieval quarter in the evening. Currency changes here: CHF in Switzerland/Liechtenstein, EUR in Austria — cards work nearly everywhere.
🚌Trains Einsiedeln–Sargans/Maienfeld–Buchs + bus to Vaduz–Feldkirch (Swiss Travel Pass outbound; buy onward Austrian ticket)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Feldkirch, ~£30-40
- →Einsiedeln Abbey
- →Heidi's House & Heididorf (optional entry)
- →Vaduz old town & castle viewpoint
- →Feldkirch medieval quarter
Feldkirch to Zurich via St. Gallen, Constance, Stein am Rhein & Rhine Falls
St. Gallen / Constance / Stein am Rhein / Rhine Falls / Zurich
Long but rewarding day. Train to St. Gallen and visit the Abbey Library (admission ~£10-12, one of the world's oldest libraries — worth booking a slot online). Continue to Constance/Konstanz for the old town, cathedral and market square (cross the border, Switzerland to Germany). Then Stein am Rhein for its painted-house old town and the Rhine riverfront. Finish at the Rhine Falls (Neuhausen) — the falls entry/boat ride is via the Rheinfall platforms (~£8-10) or an optional boat trip to the rock (~£11). Train back to Zurich for your final night.
🚌Trains Feldkirch/St. Gallen–Konstanz–Stein am Rhein–Neuhausen–Zurich (Swiss Travel Pass covers Swiss legs; German/ Austrian legs buy separately)
🛏Hostel in Zurich, ~£35-45 dorm
- →St. Gallen Abbey Library
- →Constance old town & cathedral
- →Stein am Rhein old town
- →Rhine Falls & optional boat ride
Departure from Zurich
Zurich
Breakfast, then airport transfer by S-Bahn (S2/S16) to Zurich Airport — check-in usually 2h before long-haul flights. If you have a late flight, use the morning for any Zurich sight you missed: the Swiss National Museum (~£9) or a swim at a lakeside badi. This is where the tour ends — no group drop-offs to wait for.
🚌S-Bahn Zurich HB to Zurich Airport ~15 min, ~£6
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Optional Swiss National Museum
- →Optional Zurich lakefront walk
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£700 | £1,560 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £860 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£700
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 Self-Launched: Zurich, Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne & the Rhine Falls cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £700 per person for 8 days in Switzerland. 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 £1,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £700 — a saving of roughly £860 (55%) per person.
How long is the Switzerland trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Switzerland.
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, hiking, backpacker trip through Switzerland, 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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