Swiss Capitals

We’ll set off for the capital of the country, Bern, one of the most beautiful historic cities in Switzerland. We’ll go to the Rose Garden viewpoint to admire the beautiful landscape of the city, and you’ll have free time in the center. We’ll continue along a scenic road winding through stunning high mountain landscapes, passing charming villages with traditional wooden architecture and traveling through the Gstaad region, renowned for its ski resorts. We’ll include the cable car ride and lunch at Glacier 3000. From its terraces, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views and have the chance to walk across the suspension bridge that connects two peaks. After descending, we’ll journey toward Lake Geneva, an area known for its mild climate and extensive vineyards. We’ll visit Chillon Castle (tickets included), a medieval fortress built on the waters of the lake. Our journey will then take us through the heart of Montreux, an elegant town famous for its jazz festival, following the lake’s shoreline until we reach Geneva. Arrival will be at the end of the day.

Note: Our hotel is usually located on the French outskirts of the city.

After breakfast, we’ll include a panoramic tour of Geneva, a city on the shores of Lake Geneva that hosts numerous international organizations. We’ll see the Palace of Nations, the beautiful English Garden with its famous flower clock, and admire the “Jet d’Eau,” the tallest fountain in Europe. Afterwards, you’ll have free time to explore and enjoy lunch.

We’ll continue along the shores of Lake Geneva, passing through landscapes of vineyards and snow-capped mountains, until we reach Lausanne, a city in western Switzerland that is home to the International Olympic Committee. We’ll stop at the Olympic Park, located by the lake, an iconic space dedicated to sports and Olympic culture. Then, we’ll head to the walled town of Gruyeres, world-famous for its cheese. Nearby, you’ll find some of Switzerland´s top chocolate makers (including Nestlé and others). We’ll visit the Cailler Chocolate Factory, with a tasting included! We’ll then continue to Fribourg, a bilingual French/German city with a charming old town.

Note: Occasionally, accommodation may be in a nearby city.

We’ll depart along a small, scenic road through the Bern canton, passing hills, forests, and green fields. We’ll make a photo stop along the way, either at Schwarzenburg Castle or, depending on accommodation, at the viewpoint overlooking Lake Thun or Lake Brienz. We’ll then continue to Interlaken, a tourist town nestled between two lakes. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Aare Gorge, where we’ll explore its impressive ravines (tickets included), followed by an included lunch. Next, we’ll journey toward one of Switzerland’s most spectacular mountain passes, the Susten Pass, with its eternal snow and glaciers. We’ll stop en route to take in the majestic glacier scenery. Surrounded by dramatic peaks, we’ll continue toward the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, passing through the famous Gotthard Tunnel and stopping in Gandria, a charming lakeside village on Lake Lugano, known for its traditional narrow and steep streets. From there, we’ll board a boat (tickets included) to Lugano, the main city in Italian-speaking Switzerland, famous for its mild climate and beautiful lakeside promenade. Finally, we’ll head to Chiasso, arriving in the late afternoon.

Note:

-From late May to early October, the Susten Pass may be closed due to snow; in this case, we’ll travel through the equally stunning Brünig Pass.

-Occasionally, accommodation will be in the Como metropolitan area.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Bellinzona, the capital of Italian-speaking Switzerland, renowned for its three medieval castles, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have time to stroll through the picturesque streets of the town center. After, we’ll return to the German-speaking region of Switzerland, crossing the Gotthard Pass, where we’ll stop for a photo at a breathtaking viewpoint. Next, we’ll arrive in Altdorf, the capital of the Uri canton, known as the birthplace of William Tell and one of the founding cantons of independent Switzerland. You’ll have free time for lunch before we head to Lucerne, where you can visit the famous Kapellbrücke, the Lion Monument, the impressive cathedral, the Jesuit Church, and the charming old town. Lucerne is considered the country’s tourism capital. By evening, we’ll arrive in Zurich.