3-Day Switzerland Itinerary… The Best Things to Do in Switzerland with the Swiss Travel Pass

Want to explore the best things to do in Switzerland by train? Wondering what the Swiss Travel Pass is, and if it’s worth it? This ultimate 3-day itinerary covers iconic rail journeys like Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, the Glacier Express, and the GoldenPass Line… all with the Swiss Travel Pass…

In just 3 days we stood at the Top of Europe in -17°C winds, partied at one of Switzerland’s biggest Carnivals, and rode one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. We explored alpine towns and wandered through some of the country’s most stunning landscapes.

So if you’re planning a trip and wondering about the best things to do in Switzerland, or asking if the Swiss Travel Pass is worth it, this blog is for you! Here’s how we made the most of 3 unforgettable days in one of the most breath-taking (and expensive!) countries in the world…

Swiss Travel Pass

The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket that gives you unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats across Switzerland, making it perfect for exploring the country’s iconic scenic routes without worrying about tickets. It also includes free public transport in over 90 towns and cities, free entry to more than 500 museums, and discounts on many mountain excursions. 

We had 3-day First Class passes (CHF 389 / £340 each), so we wanted to make the most of them… read on to see if we got our money’s worth!

More info and to buy online – Official Swiss Travel Pass website

Disclaimer: We received complimentary Swiss Travel Passes, but this blog is an honest and independent reflection of our experience. We only recommend experiences, hotels, products, and services we use, genuinely enjoy and would happily pay for ourselves.

Day 1... Basel to Jungfraujoch – The Top of Europe

Our Swiss adventure starts with an early train from Basel to Interlaken. It’s not one of the country’s famous panoramic trains, but the views are still pretty amazing!

Exploring Interlaken & An Unexpected Stop

We’re aiming for Interlaken Ost station to drop our bags before heading to Jungfraujoch… but as the train pulls into Interlaken West, Sneha decides we’re getting off here and going straight to the hotel! After a quick scramble and double check that we’ve got everything, we just make it off the train in time!

Since we’re here, we decide to walk through town and have a look around, stopping for souvenirs along the way. The town is lovely, and it’s a beautiful sunny (if slightly chilly) day.

Paragliders are landing in the park opposite our hotel, and we stop to see the Yash Chopra Statue… a tribute to the legendary Bollywood director who helped make Switzerland a popular tourist destination in India.

TrovenTrippers Tip… The souvenir shops next to Interlaken West station are better than at Interlaken Ost. And if you’re looking to save money on food, the Coop supermarket opposite Ost station has a good selection of hot and cold food.

Scenic Climb to the Top of Europe

There are two ways to get to Jungfraujoch… the quick way, via the Eiger Express cable car from Grindelwald Terminal, or the traditional route by train from Interlaken all the way to the top.

We decide to take the scenic train route up and the Eiger Express down (the tickets allow you to mix and match the route).

The first train from Interlaken Ost goes as far as Lauterbrunnen, and the journey is amazing… part of the track is so steep it feels more like a rollercoaster rather than a train, and the views are out of this world! Lauterburnnen is famous for its valley and waterfalls… and we get an awesome view of both from the train! 

We switch trains at Kleine Scheidegg and have a 20-minute wait, perfect for a photo stop to try and capture the stunning beauty of the winter wonderland all around us! And at our next change at Eiger Glacier, we stand at the top of the ski slopes and watch the ski-ers start their descents… it looks so cool... if we had time we’d definitely get a sled and have a go ourselves!

The final stretch is mostly through tunnels, but we get a quick stop at a viewpoint carved into the rock. Huge ice formations and frozen crevices fill the windows. It feels like we’ve landed on another planet!

TrovenTrippers Tip… sit on the right side of the trains in the direction of travel for the best views.

Standing at the Sphinx Terrace… A Bucket List Moment

The journey to the top is amazing… but the real adventure begins once we arrive.

We start at the visitor centre, walking through a 360° cinema showing scenes from around the mountain. It’s good, but with the real thing waiting outside, we don’t hang around.

The Sphinx Terrace is absolutely unreal… some of the best mountain views we’ve ever seen! The scale of the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps at 23km long, is mind-blowing. Paul stands there in disbelief, trying to wrap his head around the sheer scale of it all.

After a while taking in the epic views all around us, we head back inside to warm up a bit and find the Ice Palace, although this is super disappointing. Most of it is closed (which wasn’t mentioned anywhere), but sliding along the ice tunnel is still fun.

Frozen at the Glacier Plateau… and Loving It!

Thankfully, the last stop on the Glacier Plateau more than makes up for it… stepping outside again, we’re hit with blazing sunshine, bright blue skies, and a biting -17°C wind!

We walk up to the top and pose with the flags showing that we’ve made it to the Top of Europe! (ok so the trains helped a bit, but it’s still an amazing feeling to be standing up here!) 

We crack open a beer and cheers at the top of Europe… but within minutes our hands and ears are frozen, and even using our phones to take pictures is becoming impossible! We keep having to run back inside to warm up for a few minutes, before heading back out to enjoy the views.

TrovenTrippers Tip... don't miss getting your Jungfraujoch passport stamped back in the visitor centre before you leave!

Eiger Express… Stunning Descent with a View

After taking the trains up, we take the Eiger Express cable car back down to Grindelwald. 

The views are again incredible as we make the 15-minute trip down, although being on one of the last cars of the evening it seems we’re in the staff car as everybody else is glued to their phones rather than the stunning scenery all around… we guess the locals have seen it all before, but we don’t think we’d ever get bored of views like this.

TrovenTrippers Tip… the cable car is super stable so even if you’re not a fan of heights it’s not too bad… Paul was nowhere near as scared as he was on the cable in Gibraltar! 

How much are tickets for Jungfraujoch?

A return ticket from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch costs CHF 223.80 / £196, or CHF 147.80 / £130 with a Swiss Travel Pass. Tickets can be bought online or at Interlaken Ost train station.

Swiss Cheese Fondue… Yes Please!

Back at Interlaken, we head to Fondue Villa for a proper Swiss dinner… cheese fondue! Bread, potatoes, vegetables, olives, and even pineapple all get dipped into the melted cheese, and it’s every bit as tasty as it sounds.

Day 2... Lucerne Carnival & Exploring Chur

Today we’re heading out on one of Switzerland’s panoramic train journeys… the Lucerne-Interlaken Express, part of the scenic GoldenPass Line. The plan is to spend an hour or so looking around Lucerne and then head to the Lindt Home of Chocolate near Zurich… but our day doesn’t quite go as planned…

Riding the GoldenPass... Lucerne-Interlaken Express

The two-hour journey passes five spectacular mountain lakes and offers amazing views the entire way. We pass Meiringen, famous as the setting for Sherlock Holmes’ final showdown with Moriarty, and see Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi, two of Switzerland’s most iconic peaks, before arriving at beautiful Lake Lucerne.

Which side is best to sit on the Lucerne Interlaken Express?

Strangely, the right side is best regardless of which direction you’re travelling! The train reverses partway through the route, so sitting on the right gives you great views both ways. The huge panoramic windows help too… plus we had the whole carriage to ourselves, so we moved around as we pleased!

Lucerne Carnival… Switzerland's Wildest Surprise

As we near Lucerne, we start noticing loads of people in fancy dress. A quick Google search reveals it’s Lucerne Carnival today… one of the biggest Carnivals in Switzerland!

It takes place in the lead-up to Lent, and the entire city transforms into a giant party, with music, dancing, and food stalls lining the streets. Change of plans… Lindt can wait, we’re joining the festival!

Wandering around the festival is so cool with everyone in a party mood. We see marching bands with costume giant heads, some scary looking figures dancing in the streets, and there are food and drink stalls everywhere! 

Lucerne Sights.. Bridges, Lions & Lakeside Views

We still do some sight-seeing… the famous Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, St. Leodegar Church, and the Old Town and Lake. But today it’s all about the carnival, so we head back into town and try the street food and drinks… a meatball soup type thing, a Cervelat sausage (pork and beef mix), and some Glühgin and beers… awesome! 

TrovenTrippers Tip… Lucerne Carnival usually starts on the Thursday before Lent and ends on Ash Wednesday. Check the Lucerne website for more information and dates.

A Quick Look Around Chur… Switzerland’s Oldest City 

With Lindt postponed and time running short, we head to Zurich main station to drop off our bags, then make our way south ready for tomorrow’s adventure… we don’t want to be dragging our large suitcase around with us tomorrow!

We check our route south and see we have to change trains in Chur, which is the oldest city and is said to have one of the most beautiful Old Towns in Switzerland.

Sounds like the perfect place for us to stop next and have a look around, and with trains running every hour, gives us just enough time for a quick walk and see some of the top sights… the Town Hall, the Cathedral, and wander the small alleyways of the Old Town. It really is beautiful!

Overnight in Filisur… Gateway to Tomorrow’s Adventure

Our last stop for today is Filisur, a small village on the UNESCO World Heritage route of the Rhaetian Railway, making it a perfect place to stay the night before tomorrow’s adventure.

Day 3... The Glacier Express... Switzerland’s Most Scenic Train

It was completely dark when we arrived in Filisur last night so we couldn’t see anything, but as we walk through the village for our early morning train, we get to see the magical Alpine sunrise over the rooftops… it's absolutely beautiful!

We’re taking the train from Filisur to St. Moritz today to ride the Glacier Express, one of the most scenic train journeys in the world!

This morning’s route follows the same tracks as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express through the most famous section of the Albula Line, so we get to experience it twice!

TrovenTrippers Tip… there’s a panoramic carriage on the train where you can open the large windows to get some good photos without the window glare. Just watch out for signals and signs, and don’t lean out too far!

Frozen Over in St. Moritz

Arriving in St Moritz we have just over half an hour before the Glacier Express leaves. The station is right on the edge of Lake St. Moritz so we go to take a look… but can’t see the lake at all! It takes us a minute to realise that the huge snowy expanse in front of us is the lake! It’s -12°C and the lake has completely frozen over!

Luxury on Rails… Boarding the Glacier Express

We board the Glacier Express and get settled into our seats… it's by far the fanciest train we’ve ever been on!

TrovenTrippers Tip... there is a panoramic carriage where the large windows open, but they are locked closed in the winter. But the doors at the end of each carriage have small windows which do open... you can't lean out quite as far, but you can still get good photos without the glare of the windows from them!

Landwasser Viaduct & the Epic Rhine Gorge

The journey is nothing short of spectacular. We’re back on the Albula Line, passing through six viaducts, five tunnels, and the famous Landwasser Viaduct… one of Switzerland’s most iconic sights.

The scenery changes quickly, from the frozen winter of St. Moritz to green valleys and dramatic cliffs as we pass Chur and enter the Rhine Gorge, known as the Swiss Grand Canyon.

Dining in Style… Lunch on the Glacier Express

Just after Chur we’re served our lunch, and it’s more like lunch at a fancy restaurant rather than on a train. Sneha chooses the daily special 2-course menu, with soup and chicken in a white cream sauce and veg. And Paul goes for the pasta Bolognese. Both are good, and enjoyed with our Swiss wine and beer choices… the most scenic lunch we’ve ever had! 

TrovenTrippers Tip… lunch is full table service with an à la carte menu. There’s a good choice of dishes and drinks, and considering the setting (and Swiss prices), we didn’t think the prices were too bad.

Into the Arctic... Crossing the Oberalp Pass

We’re not making the full 8-hour journey to Zermatt which the Glacier Express takes, we’re getting off at Andermatt as we need to get to Zurich for our flight home tonight.

So the last section for us is the Oberalp Pass… the highest point of the Glacier Express route at 2,033m above sea level. For context, this is almost twice the height of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain… and we’re taking a train ride through it!

The scenery is more like the Arctic here… huge snow drifts cover the mountains, frozen lakes surround the tracks, and the only thing to remind us that we’re not in the Arctic are the ski-iers we can see on the slopes in the distance! It’s absolutely stunning and has to be seen to be believed… the perfect end to a magical train journey!

Which side of the Glacier Express is best to sit on?

It’s said the right side is best from Zermatt to St. Moritz, and the left side from St. Moritz to Zermatt. But when booking, you can’t actually choose!

We ended up on the right, supposedly the "wrong" side, but we thought it was better! So the moral is… both sides are epic!

Final Stop... Andermatt & Back to Zurich

We leave the Glacier Express in Andermatt and have an hour before our next train. We wander around the ski town, seeing St. Peter and Paul’s Church and the beautiful river running through the centre.

Two more trains take us back to Zurich main station to collect our luggage, then we jump on a tram to the airport to head home… the end of our Swiss adventure!

TrovenTrippers Tip… Zurich airport is huge!! We got there with ample time, but there was a large queue at the check-in desk, and then we had over 15 minutes’ walking and a train to get to passport control to get to our gate, which we made only just in time! So give yourself lots of time before your flight.

The Best Things to do in Switzerland

This trip had it all… stunning alpine scenery, incredible train journeys, towering mountain peaks, and even a surprise Carnival! From standing at the Top of Europe to riding the Glacier Express and partying in Lucerne, every moment of our Swiss adventure was unforgettable.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. But next time, we’ll finally make it to the Lindt Museum!

Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?

Definitely. During our 3 days we saved over £800 between us! The First Class passes cost CHF 389 / £342 each, but without them we’d have spent more than £1,700 in total.

But it’s not just about the savings… it’s the flexibility. One of the best parts of road trips is being able to change plans at the last minute. With the Swiss Travel Pass, we had that same freedom… like discovering Lucerne Carnival and spontaneously deciding to stay!

We’d 100% recommend the Swiss Travel Pass for anyone exploring Switzerland.