Sitting right at the foot of the Swiss Alps, Zurich is a city that has plenty of charm, natural beauty, and activities to soak up. However, there are so many incredible places to see around it that you’d be remiss to not take a day trip to one (or many) of them.

From the serene beauty of Lake Lucerne to the dramatic peak of the legendary Matterhorn, these tours allow you to really immerse yourself in the country’s rich culture and scenery without the hassle of logistics.

I’ve gone ahead and carefully curated a guide to the 7 top Zurich day trips available, that are well worth the time and money. I know you’re excited to get started, so let’s not waste any time.

Best Zurich Day Tours

	Jungfraujoch Day Trip from Zurich: Swiss Alps & Bernese Oberland	From Zurich: Mount Titlis Day Tour	From Zurich: Guided Day Trip to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride
Location:	Sihlquai Bus Station, Limmatstrasse 2, 8005 Zürich	Sihlquai Coach Parking, Limmatstrasse 4, 8005 Zürich	Sihlquai Coach Parking, Limmatstrasse 4, 8005 Zürich
Start:	8:00 AM	9:30 AM	8:00 AM
Duration:	12 hours	9.5 hours	12 hours
Includes:	Transport in comfortable coach with AC, fully-guided tour by professional multilingual guide, seat reservation and preferred boarding, Alpine Sensation, Sphinx Observation Terrace, Plateau, Ice Palace	Guided tour, Professional multilingual guide, Transportation in a comfortable bus, Cable car to the top of Mt Titlis, Ice Flyer chairlift (weather permitting), Titlis Cliff Walk and Glacier Cave	Fully guided tour by a professional multilingual guide, Transportation in a bus, Cable car ride from Grindelwald to Eiger Glacier, Train from Eiger Glacier to Jungfraujoch, & Jungfraujoch to Lauterbrunnen
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Day Trips From Zurich For 2024

1. Jungfraujoch Day Trip from Zurich: Swiss Alps & Bernese Oberland
2. From Zurich: Mount Titlis Day Tour
3. From Zurich: Guided Day Trip to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride
4. Exclusive Zermatt and Matterhorn: Small Group Tour from Zürich
5. Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise
6. Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein Half-Day Tour from Zurich
7. Zurich: Day Trip to Grindelwald & Interlaken by Bus & Train

Zurich Day Trip Reviews

1. Jungfraujoch Day Trip from Zurich: Swiss Alps & Bernese Oberland

If you’re looking for a simply magical experience of Switzerland’s natural wonders, the Jungfraujoch Day Trip from Zurich: Swiss Alps & Bernese Oberland tour is perfect.

Taking you to the “top of Europe”, you can expect to experience some of the most amazing views of the Aletsch Glacier and surrounding Alps. With a fantastic balance of majestic mountain scenery, high-altitude thrills, and cultural insights, this full-day tour will never leave you bored!

Starting out at 8:00 am, you’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group at the Sihlquai Bus Station, where you’ll board a comfortable coach with complete climate control.

With our tickets we had preferred boarding and seat reservations included, so we didn’t have to worry about not sitting together. Our guide did a great job of sharing interesting background on different landmarks as we passed by, making a stop in Interlaken for some delicious coffee!

Upon arrival to Grindelwald, we got to get on a gondola and ride up to the Eiger Glacier station where we made a change to the cogwheel train. The mountainous landscapes here are so dramatic and breathtaking, withe the jagged peaks of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau clearly in view!

The views at this station are incredible, and we headed even further to the Sphinx Observatory for even more impressive vistas.

After learning about and seeing the most well-known glacier and mountains in the area, we entered the frozen tunnels of the Ice Palace where we got to see plenty of amazing ice artworks!

If you don’t mind the extra expense (it’s worth it), stop at a tasty restaurant at the summit to refuel before continuing your journey to Lauterbrunnen. This is a wonderful day filled with incomparable sightseeing in the pristine nature, with experts who know the area like the back of their hands.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. From Zurich: Mount Titlis Day Tour

Trust me when I say that if you’re in Zurich, you really need to explore outside of the city and head into Switzerland’s majestic Alpine beauty. The Mount Titlis Day Tour From Zurich is an experience that goes beyond the ordinary, cookie-cutter tours, and is one of the biggest bangs for your buck.

If you want to experience the natural allure of the Swiss Alps, with an expert local guide there to point out some of the most important sights along the way, you’re in for a real treat.

Starting out with a comfortable coach ride from Zurich, you’re taken leisurely through the charming Swiss villages and green meadows, with incomparable views everywhere you look.

Your guide is there to ensure everyone is safe and comfy, while sharing plenty of interesting educational commentary and personal anecdotes to really enrich the experience.

Cross over the Albis Pass and the lovely shores of Lake Lucerne, making photo stops at the Lion Monument or lakeside (depending on what traffic is like). Arriving in the city of Lucerne was simply lovely, with its well-preserved medieval charm, 14th-century wooden bridge, and beautiful scenery showing off, no matter the season.

While France and Germany are often known for their fairytale-like villages, I have to say that Lucerne is incredibly underrated and really does feel like stepping into a postcard. Take a ride up into the glaciers of Mount Titlis, with the Rotair revolving cable car (the world’s first) which will take you all the way to the summit with full 360 views.

Grab some delicious food with amazing views over the Swiss Alps from the renowned Panorama Restaurant, gaining energy to go visit either the Ice Grotto or take the Ice Flyer chairlift for even more breathtaking vistas.

If you enjoy a bit of adrenaline, I suggest taking up the opportunity to go tubing through the powdery snow here!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. From Zurich: Guided Day Trip to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride

Next up is one of the most well-organized tours I’ve been on: the From Zurich: Guided Day Trip to Jungfraujoch with Train Ride experience. This is also a full-day tour, so if you really want to make the most out of your time and see all the main sites of the Swiss Alps, I highly recommend this option.

This curated journey is one of the most enchanting, featuring pristine landscapes and action-packed adventure, so make sure to dress accordingly!

The tour kicks off with a relaxing scenic ride from Zurich through Lucerne and Interlaken, where the grandeur of the Swiss Alps is all around you. Complete with lush meadows, crystal-clear blue lakes, enchanting villages, and sky-high mountain peaks, there’s so much to see!

As you continue along your route, you’ll progressively get closer and closer to these picturesque, snow-capped mountains until you reach Jungfraujoch. Upon reaching Jungfraujoch, or “the Top of Europe”, you’ll be fully immersed in jaw-dropping glacier and mountain views stretching as far as the eye can see.

One of the highlights of the tour was the Jungfrau Railway, which ascends a whopping 11,332 feet, making it the highest railway station in all of Europe. Once at the top, you’re able to explore the Ice Palace carved directly into the glacier, walking through a labyrinth of cool, intricately sculpted ice tunnels, sculptures, chambers, and passageways with a soft light to guide you.

Then take in the 360 views at the observation deck or even walk across the Aletsch Glacier, though the cogwheel train was probably my favorite part, with our guide sharing the fascinating history of these railways over the past 100 years.

You’ll then descent through the car-free Wengen resort to Lauterbrunnen, for a fun-filled, educational day packed with incredible sights and raw Alpine landscapes.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Exclusive Zermatt and Matterhorn: Small Group Tour from Zürich

Every single time I have gone to Disneyland, I always thought their version of the Matterhorn was so cool – but it simply doesn’t compare to the real thing. If you’ve ever dreamed of gazing up at the actual Matterhorn, this next tour is the ultimate way to make that dream come to life!

The Exclusive Zermatt and Matterhorn: Small Group Tour from Zurich is an immersive full-day trip that offers an insider’s view of the region’s natural beauty and culture surrounding it.

With a small-group format, you get to take advantage of a more intimate experience where you can ask your guide any questions you may have and perhaps even make some friends in the process.

You’ll meet your guide at Zurich’s Hauptbahnhof – their main train station – where you’ll take a convenient transfer with the rest of your group to Zermatt village. Zermatt is a car-free town tucked into the base of the Matterhorn, complete with charming cobbled streets, delicious local eats, and breathtaking views everywhere you turn.

After we took some time to explore the village (that quickly became one of my favorite places!) we went up to the intimidating summit of Gornergat for a complete panoramic vista of the famous Matterhorn.

After that, we saw the Mountaineer’s Cemetery (which was quite sobering) with tangible evidence of how risky it is to attempt to climb the Matterhorn and all of the countless accidents that have happened here.

The Hotel Monte Rosa is where the first ascent ever known to Matterhorn began with Alpine Club member Edward Whymper, who successfully ascended the mountain though 4 members of his climbing party were unfortunately killed during descent.

We enjoyed a 30-minute cogwheel train ride all the way up to 10,000 feet, with simply jaw-dropping views of the Matterhorn and glaciers, where you’ll see snow all year round.

Our guide was incredible, sharing info in a concise yet engaging way that allowed us to really appreciate the sights surrounding us with an enriching background.

I know we simply wouldn’t have been able to do it without him, smoothly handling all transfers and different types of transport throughout our day!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise

As I previously mentioned, Lucerne is by far one of my new favorite places in the world, with its charming architecture and pathways, delicious food, and amazing views.

However, if you’re visiting, I highly recommend making a point to see Mount Pilatus as well, which has all kinds of legend and lore surrounding it, boasting incredible panoramic views!

If you want to see both, the Mt. Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich with Lake Cruise excursion should be at the top of your list!

Start out by meeting your guide and the rest of your group at the Sihlquai Bus Station, where you’ll head out in a comfortable coach and soak in the beautiful views as your guide regales you all with interesting educational commentary.

Upon arrival at Lucerne, you’ll get to go on a guided tour and taken to the most notable places in the city, including their Jesuit Church, Chapel Bridge, and Town Hall.

After the guided tour, take some free time to explore at your leisure and perhaps pick up a bite to eat or a tasty coffee to gather some energy before heading back to the coach!

Then make your way to Kriens for a panoramic gondola and aerial cable car ride to the summit of Mt. Pilatus, for snow-tipped spires and incomparable views!

There are many myths surrounding Mount Pilatus, but perhaps the most notable one is that people once believed that dragons who could heal people lived in the crevices of the mountain.

In fact, there’s even a “dragon path” that is typically accessible and completely passable in the warmer months (which you and your group will actually hike down and have the chance to take plenty of photos on!).

It sounds a bit scary, but it is quite green and beautiful in the summertime with breathtaking panoramic views all around you! After that, descend on a cogwheel train and get on a lovely boat for a serene cruise across the pristine Lake Lucerne.

While it is a longer tour, it’s a truly unique experience with a bit of exercise, lots of fresh air, and even more sightseeing of places most could only dream about.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

6. Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein Half-Day Tour from Zurich

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Zurich into perhaps a more idyllic location, the Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein Half-Day Tour from Zurich is calling your name.

Offering a perfect balance of nature’s raw power and the area’s medieval charm all within a few hours’ reach, this sightseeing excursion goes above and beyond. Withe the chance to experience 2 of the country’s most iconic destinations in a single, seamless adventure, you can’t pass this up!

As the shortest tour of the bunch, I’d say it’s ideal if you have plans in the morning or simply don’t want to commit to one of the full-day experiences. It’s also great if you have younger kids traveling with you and don’t think they’d do great on a more extended day trip.

I also have to recommend this tour if you aren’t comfortable physically with hiking, as some of the longer tours do involve a bit of hiking or walking up/down more steep landscapes.

Starting off by meeting your guide and the rest of your group a bit past 1:00 pm, you don’t have to wake up early and can be nice and ready for fun and learning. Hop on a climate-controlled coach with plenty of leg room, large windows for prime viewing, and comfortable seats.

As you cruise along, your guide will tell you all some interesting historical and cultural stories to give you a better idea of where you’re going.

The first stop is at Castle Laufen, which is a gorgeous, medieval fortress that looms over the equally beautiful Rhine Falls, that cascade down into the basin below – which you’ll get to know more intimately in just a moment (should you choose).

The optional boat ride in the summer takes you right up to the falls, to where you even feel a bit of the spray on your face! After that, you’ll head to Schaffhausen and its famous Munot Fortress to arrive in Stein am Rhein for a walking tour of this incredibly well-preserved old town with half-timbered homes and beautiful frescoes!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

7. Zurich: Day Trip to Grindelwald & Interlaken by Bus & Train

Last but certainly not least, is the Zurich: Day Trip to Grindelwald & Interlaken by Bus & Train. This is perhaps one of the most “quintessentially Swiss” adventures one could take, offering a taste of 2 of Switzerland’s most iconic destinations.

It really does make it feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard, complete with glacial peaks, deep green valleys, serene lakes, and alpine meadows without having to do the physical work to get there!

Just like most of the other tours I’ve covered in this guide, you’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group at the Sihlquai Bus Parking, where you’ll board your comfy coach for the day.

This is one of the longer tours, so I appreciated just how comfortable the coach was, with complete climate control, big windows for unobstructed views, and nicely padded seats.

As you drive along the beautiful roads, your guide will share engaging stories about the area, the culture and myths surrounding it, as well as some geological info that I found quite intriguing!

Head into the picturesque Bernese Oberland and into its heart, where the gorgeous resort town of Interlaken sits tucked between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, as well as mountain views all around.

As you can imagine, it boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Europe, with its quaint town streets that make it perfect for nature lovers and explorers of all backgrounds. You’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own, where you can shop, grab some food, coffee, or simply relax with the beautiful vistas all around you.

Then, continue onto Grindelwald or “Glacier Village”, so aptly named with stunning views of the mountainscapes that almost look too incredible to believe! Take a cable car to the terrace of Mt. First, where you can opt to rent some Trottibikes to cruise down all the way to the town (I didn’t try this, but it looked so fun!).

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience