This best of Switzerland and Italian Lakes tour travels through charming old villages full of culture and history with the natural beauty of the alps and lakes also stunning and stimulating. This escorted tour of Switzerland includes gorgeous natural beauty, plenty of photography points, while traveling among Zürich, St. Moritz, Lugano, Zermatt, Lake Geneva, and Lucerne.
The tour itinerary even includes a visit to the Principality Liechtenstein located high up in the alps.
The Italian Lakes portion of the itinerary includes a stop to see Lake Como and some free time on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Stresa.
Bring you camera! Beautiful scenery and charming cities are waiting for you on this tour of Switzerland. Click here for vacation itinerary.
Highlights
Switzerland and Italian Lakes Tour Highlights
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites Old City of Berne
- ZURICH – Welcome dinner; orientation walk of the Old Town
- ZERMATT – Visit the Chillon Castle
- LAKE MAGGIORE – Enjoy evening in Baveno. Visit the Borromean Islands with an optional tour.
- ST MORITZ – Ride the Bernina Express train
- INTERLAKEN – Take pictures of the Jungfrau massif
- LUCERNE – Walking tour including the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
- NOTE: On arrival at Zürich Airport, a complimentary transfer by hotel shuttle bus is available
Accommodations
Switzerland and Italian Lakes Tour Accommodations
- 1 Night Zurich – Hyatt Place Airport
- 1 Night Montreux – Eurotel Montreux
- 2 Night Zermatt – Alpen Resort
- 1 Night Baveno – Simplon
- 1 Night St Moritz – Reine Victoria
- 2 Nights Lucerne – Grand Europe
Optionals
Day 3 – Chaplin’s World and Lake Geneva Cruise
Enjoy the palm trees on the shores of Lake Geneva from a romantic sidewheel paddle steamer as we cruise along the eastern shore of Lake Geneva. We’ll visit the Charlie Chaplin museum, set on the banks of the lake on his former estate, Manoir de Ban. Chaplin spent the last 23 years of his life here and you’ll discover all the facets of this incredible man’s life. We’ll see sets and props from his greatest movies and then finish with a peaceful walk in the gardens.
Day 5 – Klein Matterhorn Excursion
A unique electric taxi service will drive us to the foot of Zermatt’s highest and most spectacular mountain ride. You’ll enjoy stunning views as we ascend to Furi and Trockener Steg, before boarding Europe’s highest cable car to 3779m (12,400ft) and the magnificent snowcapped top of the world.
Day 5 – Zermatt Dinner Experience
Discover the beautiful mountainous resort town of Zermatt. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a wonderful dinner in a typical chaletstyle restaurant with an opportunity to try the worldfamous raclette and chocolate fondue.
Day 6 – Discover The Borromean Islands
We’ve organised a private launch to take you to the beautiful islands of Lake Maggiore. Here, with your Local Specialist, you’ll see the Isola Madre, the Isola dei Pescatori, and on the Isola Bella we visit the magnificent palace of the Borromean Princes (this optional is only operated between mid March and the end of October).
Day 6 – Dinner on Isola dei Pescatori
This evening escape to the charming and tranquil island of Isola dei Pescatori. A short boat ride from the shores of Lake Maggiore, this fisherman’s Island is inhabited year round by only 50 permanent residents. Stroll through the small piazza, surrounded by tight and winding alleys, to enjoy dinner at one of the Island’s restaurants.
Day 7 – Rosegg Valley By Horse And Carriage
Arriving in Pontresina, you’ll experience a horsedrawn carriage ride through the wild beauty of the Alps and the picturesque Rosegg Valley, with its spectacular mountain views.
Day 8 – Mount Stanserhorn And Lake Cruise
Take a scenic cruise with us across Lake Lucerne to Stans, and one of Switzerland’s oldest mountain railways. Travelling by railway and Cabrio cable car, we’ll reach 1900m (6300ft), where you’ll have free time to admire the stunning Alpine scenery. On certain departures, this optional may be operated in reverse, ending with the cruise. It may also be operated without the cruise.
Day 8 – Swiss Dinner by the Lake
Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delicious Swiss meal that includes the famous Swiss cheese fondue in a typical local restaurant. Its Lakeside location and wellplaced terrace will ensure a relaxing evening enjoying the hearty Swiss menu. Two drinks are included.
Switzerland and Italian Lakes Tour Itinerary
Click tour itinerary map to review the trip.
Day 1 – Depart the United States for Switzerland
This evening board plane in the United States for overnight flight to Swtizerland. Flights from the United States to Switerland arrive the following morning, which is Day 2 of the tour itinerary.
DAY 2 – Arrive in Zurich, Switzerland
Time to rest or to discover Zurich’s attractive historic center and lakeside promenade. This evening meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of your Switzerland and Lake Como Italy tour.
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3 – Zurich – Bern – Montreux
We leave the bright lights of Zürich behind and stop in Bern with its Old Town, admiring its medieval streets, ornate fountains and arcaded walkways. Journeying on to Lake Geneva, we arrive in the resort town of Montreux, set against the pristine backdrop of snowcovered peaks and vineyards. After lunch, consider joining an optional experience to cruise Lake Geneva, including a visit to the Charlie Chaplin museum in his former estate, Manoir de Ban.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4 – Chillon Castle and Zermatt
This morning, we visit Chillon Castle, immortalised by Lord Byron’s ‘Prisoner of Chillon’. For nearly four centuries, this water fortress was the residence of the Counts of Savoy and an important stop for traders.
Our next stop is Bourg en Lavaux, a charming wine village above Lake Geneva, where we’ll Connect With Locals over lunch at a lunch with locals experience.
After lunch continue your journey to the resort town of Zermatt, set against the backdrop of the snowcapped Matterhorn.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 5 – Zermatt
Spend the day soaking up the crisp mountain air and panoramic alpine vistas. You have a full day on your own to explore the town, or simply relax in beautiful surrounds.
You may consider an optional experience to Klein Matterhorn for the most spectacular mountain views or explore the heritage of what was once a remote mountain village.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6 – Lake Maggiore, Baveno, Northern Italy
Departing Switzerland, we travel to the lakeside town of Baveno on Italy’s Lake Maggiore. Spend the rest of the day
indulging in the laidback lakeside atmosphere or consider joining an optional experience to Isola Bella, one of the lake’s Borromean islands, with its palazzo and exquisite gardens.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7 – Bernina Express train to St. Moritz
Today you travel through the scenic Italian countryside to the fortified town of Tirano. Here, we will board the famous Bernina Express train and wind our way through scenic landscapes en route to the stylish resort town of St. Moritz. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 8 – Lucerne
Journeying through lush green landscapes, past Lake Zürich, we arrive in lakeside Lucerne. Pay tribute to the brave Swiss Guards, who lost their lives defending King Louis XVI at the Lion Monument, and cross the iconic wooden Chapel Bridge before strolling past the city’s colourful façades.
Consider joining an optional experience to cruise on the tranquil lake waters and then ride the world’s first double deck ‘CabriO’ cable car to the top of Mount Stanserhorn.
DAY 9 – Admire Scenic Brienz and Interlaken
Today travel to Interlaken at the heart of Switzerland, which lies in the shadow of the Jungfrau Mountain. Stopping in the village of Brienz en route, you’ll gain insights into the centuriesold tradition of wood carving for which this
village is so famous. Afterward, spend some time on your own and enjoy superb views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland.
This evening, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travellers and Travel Director toasting the highlights of Switzerland we’ve enjoyed along the way.
Day 10 – Travel Home
Your journey through the Best of Switzerland comes to an end, we bid our newfound friends a fond farewell. Airport transfers are included at speciic times. Speak with ItalianTourism.us regarding the Switzerland and Italian Lakes tour with air so as to arrnage flghts that work with included transfers.
Click tour itinerary map to see the route through Swtizerland.
Click Northern Italy tours to view all Italy vacations to Northern Italy.
