9-Day Switzerland´s Best From Zurich with airport pickup Tour Code: 638-20096 europamundo 2503151

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 is home to 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 Nestle 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 a 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 lunch (included). 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 Brunig 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 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll have time to stroll through the picturesque streets of the city center. We'll then head back toward the German-speaking region of Switzerland, crossing the Gotthard Pass, where we'll stop for a photo at a stunning viewpoint. Our next stop will be 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 to enjoy lunch. Afterward, we'll head to Lucerne, where you can visit the famous Kapellbrucke, the Lion Monument, the cathedral, the Jesuit Church, and the beautiful old town. Lucerne is considered the tourist capital of Switzerland.

We'll depart, skirting the shores of the Lake of the Four Cantons as we head toward Einsiedeln, renowned for its immense baroque abbey, the most important pilgrimage center in Switzerland. Continuing east, we'll visit Heididorf, where we'll see Heidi's House (admission not included), a picturesque site with stunning landscapes accessible via a pedestrian path. Next, we'll enter the small independent country of Liechtenstein, and in its capital, Vaduz, nestled beneath its castle, you’ll have free time to stroll and enjoy lunch. Afterwards, we'll proceed to the neighboring city of Feldkirch in Austria, a charming walled city near the borders of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany, with a beautiful medieval quarter and castle. Free time.

We'll depart for St. Gallen, whose historic center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll include admission to the library of its magnificent abbey, featuring a baroque hall that houses 170,000 volumes and the Egyptian mummy of Schepenese. The library is also UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterward, we'll continue our journey along the shores of Lake Constance, situated between Germany and Switzerland, until we reach Constance, a German city with a beautiful medieval old town known for its cathedral and the Market Square. You'll have time to stroll and enjoy lunch. We'll then return to Switzerland to visit Stein am Rhein, a charming village on the banks of the Rhine, famous for its beautifully painted houses. We'll also visit the Rhine Falls (tickets included), the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. We recommend an optional boat ride that will make you feel like you can almost touch the cascading waters. Arrival in Zurich will be in the evening.

With our guide, we'll explore Zurich, the most populous city in Switzerland, and its financial and cultural heart. Known for its banks, Zurich has been twice recognized as the city with the best quality of life in the world. Afterwards, we'll embark on a scenic cruise of nearly two hours on Lake Zurich, with brief stops to enjoy the charming villages along the route. We'll disembark in Rapperswil, a picturesque village renowned for its medieval castle. We'll return to Zurich by train, providing an opportunity to experience the efficiency and punctuality of the Swiss railway system.

Note: Depending on the number of travelers, transfers to and from the city center may be via public transport.

After breakfast, the journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful, lasting memories.