Hi Guys.
I love your brilliant website and already have spent many happy hours browsing your detailed descriptions of glorious Switzerland. In early to mid April 2026 we are planning to travel from Australia and use trains to tour your country. With just 11 days available how can we modify your itinerary “The Best of Switzerland in 2 weeks” to suit our needs?

http://www.myswissalps.com/itinerary/best-of-alps/

We are 3 gals in the same family, aged 70, 45 and 14 years who enjoy easy to moderate walks, boat rides and eating and staying in budget friendly accommodation with 3 beds. Prefer 2 to 3 nights in each location. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

“I very much appreciated the suggestions of where to go based on our priorities of spending time in nature and away from crowds. I also appreciated the train guidance.”

➤ That’s what Carolyn said about her trip planned with theMySwissAlps Plan + Package service. Tell us your wishes, and we’ll turn them into a personalized travel package!Learn more

Hello 3 Gen Gals

Welcome to MySwissAlps

Thank you for sharing your travel plans with us.  In particular thank you for indicating the ages of the members of your party.  That does help!

It will help you if I say I am a British guy aged 77 who has been visiting Switzerland regularly ever since 1971.  I always invest in a 15-day Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/), even though my holidays last ten to twelve days.  The STP gives me the complete freedom of the world’s best public transport system.  (Only high mountain lines are excluded from the free travel.)

Condense 14 days into 11?

Looking at the Best of Switzerland in Two Weeks tour, this can be easily condensed into eleven or even ten days.

To save the three days I would

Merge day two with day four.  (Both days are in the Lauterbrunnen area.)

Merge days eight and nine.  This takes a little bit of explaining.

The bus over the Grimsel Pass does not operate in April.  Here is an alternative route.  Leave Brig on the 08 45 IC6 train bound for Basel.  This train speeds you through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel.  You get off at Spiez at  09 21.  Catch the 09 35 to Interlaken Ost.  From there catch the 10 04 train to Lucerne via Meiringen, arrive Lucerne at 11 55. Sit on the right for the best views.  Do not change your seat when the train changes direction at Meiringen.  (Times are 2025 times.  They may be slightly different next year.

In the afternoon you do the Mount Rigi trip (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/)

Merge days ten and eleven.  Note that the cog-wheel railway up Pilatus does not run in April.   To go up Pilatus (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/pilatus/) you will have to use the cable cars in both directions.

Condense to Ten Days?

If you need to save another day merge days five and six.  You would have to leave Interlaken in the morning and do the Aletsch trip (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/aletsch-glacier/) in the afternoon.

Relaxed Itinerary

Even in this condensed form the itinerary is quite relaxed.  There would still be time for additional short excursions.  Eg from Lucerne up the Stanserhorn, or from Zurich on a lake boat, or up the Uetliberg.

Stein am Rhein.   This is an extremely well-preserved small medieval town, well worth a visit.

Note that the boats on the River Rhine do not start operating this year (2025) until April 17th, the Thursday before Easter.   I do not know the dates for next year.   However there are trains every 30 minutes to/from both Schaffhausen and Winterthur.

Lake Boats 

Boats on Lake Zurich run all the year around (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-zurich/).

Boats on the main route from Lucerne to Flϋelen via Vitznau run all year round. (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-lucerne/)

Boats on Lake Brienz commence in early April.

There is a limited boat service on Lake Thun throughout April.

Kind regards

Roger

Hi  3 Gen,

Thats great you have found our “The best of Switzerland in 2 weeks: sample route with handy booking list”  itinerary (https://www.myswissalps.com/itinerary/best-of-alps/)

In addition to Roger’s helpful reply, I think the last 3 days can also be an option to shave off a few days if need be.  Stay in Zurich and you could spend the morning at Rhine Falls and in the afternoon, you could either spend it by exploring the town and a boat ride or you could head up to Uetliberg if the weather is nice to enjoy the views at the top and even a short hike. Of course there are other activities to choose from.  Take a read of the Zurich guide for other ideas.  (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zurich/)

Budget accommodation can be researched here:  https://www.myswissalps.com/accommodation/hotels/budget/

Kind regards,
Yolanda

Hi Roger
We are very grateful for the incredibly detailed reply you provided. Having your insider knowledge is really helping us to plan our holiday in April next year. Hearing from you about seasonal closures and alternatives makes a huge difference and will save us disappointments. Okay now we have a better idea on the best ways to use our 11 days. Thank you once again for your valuable assistance Roger.
Cheers
3 Gen

Hi Yolanda
So great to hear your suggestions for shaving off a few days on the itinerary. We have already been reading some of those links about Zurich and budget accommodation that you provided and found them to be extremely useful. This website is a game changer. Thank you so much.
Cheers
3 Gen