16 days in Switzerland Itinerary

Best known as home the Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt serves as a chic ski resort town of the Swiss Alps.

Attractions like The Matterhorn and Castor Mountain make great kid-friendly stops. Take a break from the city and head to Murmelweg Wanderung and Gorner Gorge. The adventure continues: take some stellar pictures from Gornergrat, hike along 5-Seenweg, and explore the activities along Riffelsee.

To find traveler tips, more things to do, maps, and tourist information, refer to the Zermatt trip itinerary builder app.

Tel Aviv, Israel to Zermatt is an approximately 11-hour combination of flight and train. You can also do a combination of flight, shuttle, and train. The time zone changes from Israel Standard Time (IST) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually a -1 hour difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Mon) to allow enough time to take a train to Bern.

The capital and political center of Switzerland, Bern sits on a peninsula formed by the U-shaped River Aare.

Visit Chateau de Chillon and Magdalena Hermitage for their historical value. Get outdoors at Harderkulm and Barenpark. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Bern: Chaplin's World (in Corsier-sur-Vevey), Galerie Wydi (in Wilderswil) and Adventure Park Seilpark Interlaken (in Interlaken). The adventure continues: shop like a local with UNESCO-Altstadt von Bern, learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Tierpark Dahlholzli, and get curious at Einstein House (Einsteinhaus).

To find photos, maps, and more tourist information, refer to the Bern online tour itinerary planner.

You can take a train from Zermatt to Bern in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In September, plan for daily highs up to 23°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 1st (Thu) so you can go by car to Grindelwald.

As one of the country's oldest ski resorts, Grindewald serves as a prime example of a cozy Swiss ski town.

Escape the urban bustle at Jungfraujoch and Maennlichen. There's much more to do: take in the dramatic natural features at Aletsch Glacier, tour the pleasant surroundings at Maennlichen Romantic Trail, take in the dramatic scenery at Trümmelbachfälle, and hit the slopes at Grindelwald-First.

For photos, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Grindelwald itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Bern to Grindelwald takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Zurich.

The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.

Visiting Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne will get you outdoors. Get some historical perspective at Old Town and Markuskirche. Change things up with these side-trips from Zurich: Rhine Falls (in Neuhausen am Rheinfall), Elsener Messerschmied AG (in Rapperswil) and Lucerne (Museggmauer, Hofkirche, &more). Next up on the itinerary: get a taste of the local shopping with Bahnhofstrasse, examine the collection at Alterthumer Magazin, and explore the world behind art at Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich).

To see maps, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Zurich online visit planner.

Getting from Grindelwald to Zurich by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a train. In October in Zurich, expect temperatures between 17°C during the day and 8°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 10th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.