When we emigrated to Switzerland in 2022, we were excited to discover the country properly. The problem was time. We only had weekends to explore, since the rest of the week was taken up by work and settling in. So pretty early on, we started planning our weekends carefully to make the most of the time we had.
That’s how day trips became our thing. We do them almost every weekend, and over the years we’ve developed a pretty good sense of which ones are worth the early alarm and which aren’t.
This list isn’t everything you could reach while using Zurich as your base. It’s the day trips we keep going back to, starting with the easiest and building up from there.
If you’re still planning your first trip to Switzerland, our complete guide can help you decide how long to stay, which regions to combine, and whether Zurich is the right base for your route.
At A Glance
All train times are from Zurich HB. Check sbb.ch for current fares before you travel.
- Rapperswil: 35 min by train · Best for: easy half-days and visiting friends or family
- Lucerne: 45 min by train · Best for: first-timers, old town, mountain add-ons
- Rhine Falls + Stein am Rhein: 55 min by train · Best for: nature and history combined in one day
- Bern: 55 min by train · Best for: city breaks and architecture lovers
- Stoos Ridge Hike: 1 hr 30 min by train · Best for: hikers and mountain views without the full alpine effort
- Appenzell and Aescher: 2 hrs by train · Best for: hikers and photographers
- Flims: 1 hr 50 min by train · Best for: scenic lakes and an easy half-day hike
- Lugano: 1 hr 55 min by train · Best for: Mediterranean feel and sunshine when Zurich is grey
Our Top Hotel Picks in Zurich
- Luxury: Baur au Lac
- Mid-Range: Motel One Zürich
- Budget: Oldtown Hostel Otter
If you’re still choosing a base, our guide to where to stay in Zurich compares the best neighborhoods for the Old Town, nightlife, short stays, and easy access to Zurich HB.
Rapperswil
Rapperswil is our go-to suggestion whenever friends or family come to visit, and we want to show them something beautiful without a big travel day. It is close, easy, and just the right size for a relaxed half-day out.
The town itself is not huge, which is actually the point. You can walk from the train station up to the medieval castle, wander back down through the old town, and be sitting at the waterfront with a coffee within an hour. It never feels rushed, and it never feels like you are ticking off sights. It just feels like a nice morning out.
What we always do is take the train from Zurich to Rapperswil (about 35 minutes on the S-Bahn), explore the town at our own pace, and then instead of taking the train back, we board the ferry back to Bürkliplatz in Zurich. The ferry ride takes around 2.5 hours and covers the full length of Lake Zurich. The best part is that the ferry is part of the regular ZVV public transport network, so if you have a day pass or a GA card, there is nothing extra to pay.
If you’re combining this trip with sightseeing and local transport in Zurich, our breakdown of whether the Zurich Card is worth it can help you compare it with a regular ZVV day pass.
Tip: The ferry back to Zurich runs regularly throughout the day, but check the ZVV timetable before you go so you can plan your time in town around the departure. The last ferry is not that late, so do not linger too long over that coffee.
Lucerne
Lucerne is probably the day trip we have done more than any other from Zurich. We have lost count of how many times we have been, and we still enjoy it every single time.
The old town is lovely. The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) is the obvious starting point, and yes, it is busy with tourists, but it deserves attention. Built in 1333, it is one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe, and the views across Lake Lucerne from it are really nice. From there, the old town is small enough to explore on foot without a plan.
What we love most about Lucerne is how easy it is to combine the city with a nearby mountain. Our favourite combination is the Golden Round Trip, which takes you first on a boat ride, then up Mount Pilatus by cogwheel train and back down by cable car, or the other way around. You get the city, a boat ride on the lake, the cogwheel train, incredible views from the top, and the cable car all in one day. It sounds like a lot, but it flows really naturally and never feels like you are rushing.
We have driven to Lucerne and taken the train. Most of the time, we take the car, partly because we have one, and partly because if you are travelling as four people, it works out noticeably cheaper. We always park at Parkhaus Altstadt, which is the easiest option if you are heading straight into the old town.
Tip: If you are adding Mount Pilatus, book the Golden Round Trip tickets in advance, especially in summer. The cogwheel train fills up fast, and you do not want to arrive and find the next available slot is three hours later.
If you want to spend more than a day here, our Lucerne travel guide covers how long we’d stay, where to base yourself, and what else we’d add beyond the Old Town.
Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein
Neither the Rhine Falls nor Stein am Rhein would fill a full day on their own. Together they make a really satisfying combination, and it is one of the day trips we regularly suggest to people who want something a bit different from the usual lakes and mountains.
We always do this one by car, and we start at the Rhine Falls. We park at Rhine Falls Parking P1 on the Schaffhausen side, which gives you the better first view of the falls as you approach. The Rhine Falls are the largest waterfall in Europe by volume of water, and whatever you are expecting, the scale of it still surprises you. It is loud, it is powerful, and standing next to it, you understand immediately why people have been coming here since the 18th century.
From the Schaffhausen side, you can cross by boat to the viewing platform on the rock in the middle of the falls. We always use Schiffmändli Ernst Mändli AG, departing from Anlegestelle Schlössli Wörth. It takes just a few minutes, but the view from the rock with the water rushing around you on all sides is great.
After the falls, it is a short drive to Stein am Rhein, a small medieval town with one of the best-preserved old town centres in Switzerland. The main square is lined with buildings covered in painted frescoes, some of them dating back to the 16th century. It looks almost too perfect to be real, but it is all genuine.
Tip: Do the Rhine Falls first, then Stein am Rhein. The falls get busier as the day goes on, so arriving early means smaller crowds and better photos. Stein am Rhein is quieter and works well as a relaxed afternoon stop.
Bern
Bern is one of those cities that surprises people. Most visitors to Switzerland do not even realise it is the capital, and when they arrive expecting a quiet administrative city, they find one of the most beautifully preserved medieval old towns in the country.
We have spent a lot of time in Bern over the years. We have done it as a day trip and stayed overnight several times. What we found is that a day trip is enough to see the main highlights properly, and our guide to the best things to do in Bern can help you plan a realistic route through the city.
The train from Zurich takes less than an hour, which makes it one of the easiest calls on this list.
The heart of the old town is the Zytglogge, the medieval clock tower that has been marking time in the city centre since the 13th century. The old town itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and walking through it, you understand why.
The long covered arcades lining almost every street make it unusually walkable even in bad weather, which is a rare thing in Switzerland. From the Rose Garden above the city, we always stop for the view over the old town and the bend of the Aare River wrapping tightly around it.
If you want to plan the trip in more detail, our complete Bern travel guide covers the best time to visit, how long to stay, getting around, and everything else you need to know before you go.
Speaking of the Aare, in summer, the river is worth time on its own. The people of Bern swim in it regularly, carried along by the current, and it is one of those local habits that tells you something real about a city.
One honest note from experience: we always take the train. We have driven to Bern, and we have regretted it every time. The train takes under an hour from Zurich. The car can take twice that if we hit traffic on the A1, and parking in the city centre adds cost and frustration we never need.
Tip: The round trip by train from Zurich runs at around CHF 106 (~$132) full fare, making Bern the priciest train day trip on this list. With a Half Fare Card, it drops to CHF 53, which is much more reasonable.
If you want more time for the Aare, museums, or an evening in the Old Town, it can be worth staying overnight. Our guide to where to stay in Bern compares the most convenient areas and hotels for different budgets.
Stoos Ridge Hike
If someone asks us for a hike that is accessible to almost anyone but still feels like a proper mountain day, our guide to hiking the Stoos Ridge Trail is always the first recommendation we send them.
Getting there is already part of the experience. From the valley station in Morschach, you take the Stoos funicular, which holds the record as the steepest funicular railway in the world, with a gradient of up to 110%. The cabins rotate to stay level as they climb, and looking back down the track on the way up is one of those moments where you just laugh out loud.
At the top, the Stoos Ridge hike connects the Fronalpstock and Klingenstock peaks and takes around 2 to 3 hours at a relaxed pace. The terrain is not technical and does not require any special equipment, which is exactly why we keep recommending it to friends and family of all fitness levels. What it does require is a clear day, because the whole point is the view: on a good day, you can see across Lake Lucerne and out to the central Swiss Alps in every direction.
We have always driven to Morschach, and for this one, the car genuinely makes sense. The valley station is easy to reach, and parking is available right there. Coming by public transport is possible but involves a few connections that add time.
Tip: Before you go, check the weather forecast specifically for the ridge elevation, not just Zurich. We do this every time. Clear skies in the city can mean cloud cover at the top, and the hike without the views is a much less rewarding experience.
Appenzell and Aescher
The Appenzell region is one of those places that looks better in real life than it does in photos, which is saying something because the photos are already incredible.
We have done this area multiple times and in very different weather, and one visit in particular has stayed with us. At the valley station, it was completely overcast, the kind of grey morning where you question whether the trip is worth it. We took the Ebenalp cable car up anyway, and above the clouds, it was pure blue sky and sunshine. The mountains were sitting in the clouds like islands. It is one of the better decisions we have made on a day trip from Zurich.
This is why we always check the webcam at the mountain peaks before we leave. Cloud cover at the bottom does not mean cloud cover at the top, and in this area especially, the two can be completely different worlds.
The main draw beyond the scenery is the Aescher guesthouse, the cliff-face restaurant that has become one of the most photographed spots in Switzerland. It deserves attention. The hike to get there from the cable car station at Ebenalp takes around 15 minutes and is manageable for most people. The area around Seealpsee lake below is also worth the walk down if you have the time and energy.
One thing worth knowing: this region is noticeably cheaper than other parts of Switzerland. The cable car, the food, the drinks at the Aescher, all of it costs less than you would expect compared to more touristy mountain areas. We have always appreciated that.
We usually drive here, simply because we have a car, but public transport connections to Appenzell are good if you prefer the train.
Tip: Check the Ebenalp webcam before you leave Zurich. The link is easy to find with a quick search. It has saved us from a grey and foggy trip more than once.
Flims
Flims is the day trip we do less often than the others, not because it is not worth it, but because it is a bit further than most on this list. When we did go, it delivered.
The main attraction is the hike connecting Lake Cauma and Lake Cresta, two alpine lakes with water in a shade of turquoise that does not look entirely real. The hike between them is easy and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace, which makes it accessible even if a serious mountain hike is not what you are looking for that day.
We will be honest about one thing: Lake Cauma was a slight disappointment. There is a fence around much of it, which gives it a slightly managed, enclosed feel that the photos do not prepare you for. Lake Cresta was our favourite of the two. More open, more natural, and the colour of the water there is stunning.
We drove to Flims, and for this destination, the car is the more practical choice. Coming by public transport means a train to Chur followed by a bus, which is doable but adds time at both ends of the day.
Tip: There is an entry fee to access the lake area, so factor that into your plans. It is not expensive, but worth knowing before you arrive.
Lugano
Lugano is one of our absolute highlights, and we say that having been there more than 20 times. Some people question whether it is realistic as a day trip given the distance, but we have never once regretted making the journey for just one day.
The train from Zurich takes just under 2 hours, and the ride itself is already worth getting excited about. We always try to sit by the window, and we usually have a coffee and a Gipfli on the way down. The moment the train crosses into Ticino and the landscape shifts from alpine to Mediterranean, something noticeably changes. The light is different, the vegetation is different, and by the time you arrive in Lugano, you feel like you have travelled much further than two hours.
The city sits on Lake Lugano with palm-lined promenades, outdoor restaurants, and a warmth to it that feels completely unlike the rest of Switzerland. We often escape to Lugano, specifically when the weekend weather in Zurich is grey. Ticino has its own microclimate, and it is remarkable how often it is several degrees warmer and sunnier down there when Zurich is sitting under cloud. In early spring, especially, Lugano can already feel like summer while Zurich is still cold.
One lesson we learned the hard way: always take the train. We have driven to Lugano multiple times, and while the journey down is fine, the way back can be a completely different story. Once we sat in traffic for more than 4 hours on the return to Zurich. Since that day, we have not taken the car once. The train is faster, more relaxed, and you arrive back in Zurich without wanting to never drive again.
Our guide to the best things to do in Lugano covers the lake promenade, Old Town, Parco Ciani, nearby mountains, and how to plan one full day.
If You Only Have Time for Two or Three
If you are visiting Zurich for a few days and want to do one or two day trips without overthinking it, here is what we would actually suggest.
For a first-time visitor, Lucerne is the obvious starting point and for good reason. It is close, it is easy, and it gives you a genuinely complete Swiss day without needing a car or much planning. Add the Golden Round Trip up Mount Pilatus if the weather is good and you have a full day that is hard to beat.
If you want to combine that with something a little different, Rapperswil plus the ferry back makes a perfect second day. It is low effort, genuinely beautiful, and the ferry ride back along Lake Zurich is something most visitors do not expect to enjoy as much as they do.
For anyone who wants at least one proper mountain experience, we would swap Rapperswil for the Stoos Ridge hike. It is accessible enough for most people; the funicular alone is worth the trip, and the views on a clear day are as good as anything on this list.
Lugano is the one we would add if you have a third day and the weather in Zurich is looking questionable. Check the forecast for Ticino the night before. If it is sunny down there while Zurich is grey, do not hesitate.
If Zurich is only one stop on a longer trip, our realistic Switzerland itineraries show how to combine the city with Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland, and Ticino without spending every day in transit.
Getting Around: Train vs. Car
Switzerland’s public transport is excellent, and for most of the day trips on this list, the train is the easiest option. But we have a car in Zurich, and we use it regularly, so we have a pretty honest picture of when each one actually makes sense.
The train wins for Bern, Lugano, and Rapperswil without question. Bern and Lugano both have the kind of traffic and parking situations that make driving more stressful than it needs to be, and for Rapperswil, the whole point is the ferry back, which only works if you arrive by train. Lucerne by train is also very easy, though we often drive there when we are a group of four, simply because the cost works out lower per person than buying four full-fare tickets.
The car makes more sense for Stoos, Appenzell, and Flims. Not because the train is impossible, but because the connections involve multiple changes and add a noticeable amount of time at both ends of the day. For Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein, we also always drive, partly for the same reason and partly because having the car gives us flexibility to move between the two stops at our own pace.
If you plan to rent a car for these trips, our guide to driving in Switzerland explains the motorway vignette, parking rules, road signs, and the mistakes visitors most often make.
The honest summary is this: if you do not have a car, you can reach every destination on this list by public transport. The Swiss train and bus network covers all of them. It just takes a little more planning for the further ones.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass Worth It?
This is the question we get asked most often by friends and family planning a trip to Switzerland, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on what you are planning to do.
We live in Switzerland and hold a Half Fare Card, which gives us 50% off all public transport in the country. For residents, it is the obvious choice. For visitors, it is a different calculation, and the Swiss Travel Pass is what most tourists consider instead.
The Swiss Travel Pass gives unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats across Switzerland, plus free entry to over 500 museums and free or discounted travel on many mountain railways. According to SBB, a 3-day second-class pass starts at CHF 254 (~$ 316) and an 8-day pass runs CHF 439 (~$ 550).
To put that in context, a round trip from Zurich to Lugano alone costs around CHF 136 (~$ 169) full fare. Add a day in Bern at CHF 106 and a Golden Round Trip up Mount Pilatus at CHF 60, and you have already passed the cost of the 3-day pass before you factor in anything else.
Our advice to visitors who ask us: if you are planning three or more day trips that involve longer distances or mountain excursions, the Swiss Travel Pass will likely pay for itself. If you are only doing one or two shorter trips, the pass probably does not make financial sense, and individual tickets will cost you less.
Our complete guide to using public transport in Switzerland explains the SBB app, ticket types, discount cards, and the mistakes tourists often make.
Tip: If you are visiting Switzerland for longer than a few days but are not sure the full pass is worth it, look at the Swiss Half Fare Card, available to tourists for one month at CHF 190 (~$236). It gives you 50% off everything, which is the same discount we use ourselves.
Zurich Is One of the Best Bases in Europe
We have done hundreds of day trips from Zurich since moving here in 2022, and we still look forward to them every weekend. That probably says more than anything else we could write here.
What makes Zurich such a good base is the variety. One day you can be sitting on a ferry gliding back along Lake Zurich from Rapperswil. Next, you are standing on a ridge above the clouds at Stoos, watching the Alps appear. A day later, you are eating lunch next to a palm tree in Lugano while the city behind you is still cold. All of it within two hours of Zurich.
We will keep adding to this list as we go. There are still weekends to fill and places to find, and that is not a bad problem to have.
If you have questions about any of these day trips, or if you have done one of them and want to share what we missed, leave a comment below. We read everything.
