Europe Trip for Indians is not complete without a trip to the beautiful country of Switzerland to witness the Alps, blue lagoons, beautiful Swiss villages and most importantly, take a picturesque train ride across the country. Thanks to Yash Chopra, the country has become a bucket list destination for many Indians who want to travel to Europe, mainly newly married couples.

You can either avail a group travel package compiled with other countries from leading travel companies or plan a DIY Switzerland Itinerary. Whatever you choose, here is a list of must-visit places in Switzerland you should not skip, or if your travel agent has not added them to the list, give them a call and re-plan.

I am listing the places by keeping Lucerne as a base location and will mention the distance and time by train to the destination from Lucerne's main station. Most travel companies include Zurich or Interlaken as base location, but Lucerne feels more Swiss, less crowded, affordable and easily accessible, so for me, Lucerne is the perfect city for a base location when travelling Switzerland as a tourist.

Tip: For convenience during train travel in Europe, buy a Eurail pass (multi-country) or a Swiss pass if travelling only to Switzerland.

Must-Visit Swiss Destinations for 1st Time Indian Travellers

1. Lucerne:

Time Taken by Train from Zurich Main Station: 45 Minutes to 1 Hour | From Paris Gare De Lyon: 06 Hours with 1 Stop at Basel | Station Name: Lucerne Lucerne is a centrally located, picturesque town on the shores of Lake Lucerne with beautiful sights of Mt.Pilatus & Mt.Rigi. The city is a major train hub for many well-known Swiss destinations and is conveniently connected to all major Swiss cities. The city is located just 01 Hour and 51 minutes (via train) away from the famous Swiss destination Interlaken and is an affordable alternative to it. You can find plenty of accommodation options within the city, and for a Swiss village type vibe, you can explore the outskirts, which are also well connected by regional trains. Places to See:
  • Lake Lucerne
  • Chapel Bridge
  • City Tour
  • Pilatus
  • Rigi

2. Interlaken:

Time taken by Train from Zurich Main Station: 02 Hours | From Lucerne: 01 Hour 51 Minutes | Station Name: Interlaken OST For Indians, a Switzerland trip is incomplete without visiting the city of Interlaken. The city is located between two lakes, Thun and Brienz and is the starting point for Jungfrau by Bernese Oberland Railway. If you are coming from Lucerne, you will be able to see Lake Brienz from your train. The onward journey for Jungfrau, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen, etc starts from Interlaken OST. You can explore the city on foot, by bicycle or take a day pass to explore it by Bus. Places to See:
  • Lake Thun
  • Lake Brienz
  • Yash Chopra Statue
  • Aerial View of Interlaken by Paragliding
  • Jungfrau – Top of Europe
  • Lauterbrunnen
  • Grindelwald
  • Wengen

3. Jungfrau – Lauterbrunnen – Grindelwald:

The journey to the top of Europe starts from Interlaken OST by the Bernese Oberland Railway. En route, you will be covering the picturesque Swiss towns of Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg (Mountain Pass). Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald are the most visited places on this route, and they are worth every penny. Especially Lauterbrunnen feels like a place straight from a fairy tale. Accommodation can be costly; however, if budget is not an issue, you can opt for 1 night's stay in Wengen.

Official Booking Site: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/ Places to See:
  • Mönchsjochhütte (Subjected to Weather Conditions)
  • Jungfraujoch Plateau
  • Eismeer (Sea of Ice)
  • Sphinx
  • Ice Palace
  • Lauterbrunnen
  • Grindelwald
  • Kleine Scheidegg
  • Wengen (Optional)

4. Engelberg – Mt. Titlis:

Time taken by Train from Zurich Main Station: 01 Hour and 43 Minutes via Lucerne | From Lucerne: 45 Minutes | Station Name: Engelberg (Ch)

Official Booking Site: https://www.titlis.ch/en

Another destination that Indians cannot afford to miss and should not miss is Mt.Titlis. I have been hearing about this place since the day I learned about Switzerland. For many Indians, a trip to Switzerland means exploring Mt.Titlis & Interlaken, then the rest of the places. The ride to the top of Mt.Titlis is done by 2 cable cars, 1st from Engelberg to Trübsee via an 8-seater gondola, then from Trübsee to Titlis in the world’s first revolving panoramic cable car, Titlis Rotair. Places to See:
  • Engelberg City Tour
  • Titlis Cliff Walk
  • Glacier Cave
  • Ice Flyer (Subjected to Weather Conditions)
  • Glacier Park
  • DDLJ Photo Point
  • Trübsee

5. Zurich:

Time taken by Train from Lucerne: 40 to 50 Minutes | Station Name: Zurich Main Station Zurich is not the capital of Switzerland, but is a major city and also a transport hub. The city has the main International airport and plenty of international hotel chains, therefore it is preferred by travel companies as a base location. In my opinion, you can skip Zurich or keep a day tour from Lucerne or max 1 night halt to explore the city. Places to see:
  • FIFA Museum
  • Lake Zurich
  • Lindt Home of Chocolate
  • Grossmünster
  • Bahnhofstrasse
  • Old Town (Altstadt)

6. Rhine Waterfall:

Time taken by Train from Zurich Main Station: 50 Minutes | From Lucerne: 01 Hour 45 Minutes to 2 Hours via Zurich/Winterthur | Station Name: Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall and Neuhausen Rheinfall Rhine Waterfalls is as majestic and beautiful in reality as it appears in movies. Located on the Swiss–German border, the falls are one of the powerful and largest in Europe. The destination is directly connected by trains from Zurich and from Lucerne, and multiple one-stop options are available. Boat rides with multiple options are available with on-spot booking. You can choose from just a normal ride on the river with a view from a distance, get closer to the falls or get to Rheinfallfelsen, a rock in the middle of the Rhine Falls. Places to see:
  • Rhine Falls
  • Rheinfallfelsen
  • Black Forest Day Tour (Optional)
  • Schaffhausen Town

7. Zermatt

Time taken by Train from Zurich Main Station: 3 Hours 15 Minutes via Visp | From Lucerne: 3 Hours & 15 Minutes via Bern & Visp | Station Name: Zermatt Last but not least, the most beautiful town in this list, Zermatt, will surely become your favourite and best memory of the trip if you add it to your Itinerary. The town is vehicle-free and can be explored on foot, horse carriages, electric carriages or by bicycle. Zermatt is the base point for the Matterhorn, yes, the mountain you see on the famous Swiss chocolate Toblerone. Located on the Swiss–Italy border, it is also the starting and ending point for one of the famous luxury Swiss trains, The Glacier Express, that travels from St. Moritz to Zermatt. The ideal way is to include a 1-2 night halt in Zermatt and explore the town at leisure, soaking in the calm and pollution-free environment. Places to See:
  • Matterhorn Alpine Crossing (Cable Car)
  • Gornergrat Railway
  • Sunnegga & Rothorn
  • 5 Lakes Trail (Hike)
  • Gorner Gorge (Hike)
  • Explore Zermatt Town
For a customised Swiss itinerary, write to us at info.essentialgyan@gmail.com. While there are many beautiful destinations to explore, the seven mentioned above are must-visit if you're travelling to Switzerland for the first time from India.