Here is a simple itinerary of our trip to Switzerland. It was a dream come true to be there and explore all that was possible in just 5 days. I cannot wait to visit again one day and explore even more. Switzerland has so much to offer, and I wish we had had more time. We visited during their off-season in November, but it was worth it either way, and I enjoyed every second.
Day 1: Arrival in Interlaken
11:00 AM: Landed in Zurich
11:30 AM: Purchased SBB transportation at the airport. (SBB transportation allows you to get on any train and bus all over Switzerland, the trains that go up the mountains are not included, however, you do get a 20% discount. It is extremely worth it if you are staying in Switzerland for more than 4 days.)
12:30 PM: Took the train to Interlaken (Approximately 2-3 hours of train transport)
3:00 PM: Arrived in Interlaken
3:10 PM: Took Bus 101 from Interlaken West to Beatenberg. Get off at Firnelicht station.
3:45 PM: Arrived at our Airbnb, “Beatenberg magic place&pool”
3:45 PM – 5:30 PM: Relaxed at the Airbnb that includes: a hot tub, massage chair, beautiful views, indoor games, and more.
6:15 PM: Walked to the nearest restaurant from our Airbnb.
6:30 PM: Ate dinner and had a few drinks at the restaurant (truthfully, I cannot remember the name of the restaurant but it was right next to Gloria hotel in Grindelwald. It was the only restaurant open late at night.)
7:45 PM: Returned to our Airbnb.
8:00 PM: Got ready for bed and went to sleep, we were exhausted from lack of sleep in the past 24
Day 2: Exploring Interlaken and Kayaking Adventure
9:00 AM: Breakfast at the Airbnb.
10:45 AM: Take a bus (3-minute walking distance) to Interlaken.
11:20 AM – 12:45 PM: Walk around Interlaken town and have lunch at McDonald’s (a travel tradition of ours).
12:45 PM: Board the bus to head to our kayaking excursion.
1:20 PM: Check-in for the excursion.
1:20 PM – 4:30 PM: Enjoyed an incredible kayaking experience on the lake with a group. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
4:30 PM: Caught the bus back to Interlaken West.
4:50 PM: Walked to dinner at Puro 8. It was a random choice, and we didn’t know what to expect. Honestly, I love it when we do this. The food was so delicious. The sushi was handmade right then and there, and you could taste the freshness. We also ordered noodles and beef, and the taste was an explosion of flavor. This place was a 10/10. Puro 8 Website
5:50 PM: We paid and walked two minutes away to “Funky Chocolate” for the most delicious chocolate treats ever. We had a class at 6:00 PM, which was another great experience making the tastiest chocolate with my favorite chocolate lover. >Book your spot here<
8:00 PM: We took a bus back to our Airbnb, played chess, had a chair massage, and went to bed early to ensure we were well-rested for the following day.
DAY 3: November 18 Interlaken to Grindelwald + the paragliding excursion of a lifetime:
8:30 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Paragliding: Although this was one of the priciest excursions I do not regret it and I would recommend it to anyone visiting Switzerland. The views were amazing and the scare would go away once you ran off that mountain, yes run off!! It was one of my most memorable experiences.
11:00 AM: Check out and travel to the next hotel in Grindelwald.
Day 4: November 19 Grindelwald
9:30 AM: Breakfast at our hotel
10:45 AM: We took the train to the “Top of Europe” excursion payment station
11:15 AM: We got our tickets and got on a cable car
11:30 AM: We had the best time exploring the top of Europe.
2:30 PM: We returned to Grindelwald and had lunch at out hotel.
4:00 PM: We took advantage of the beautiful spa that was included with our stay. They even had an outdoor sauna. We decided to relax for the rest of the night and ordered room service for dinner.
Day 5: November 20
9:30 AM: Breakfast at our hotel in Grindelwald.
10:30 AM: We took the train to Berg, a city recommended for its beauty. Despite our excitement, we were in a rush, eager to explore as much as possible before heading to our hotel in Zurich. The city was a shopper’s paradise with stores like Zara and H&M, but I found the prices significantly higher compared to US dollars.
12:30 PM: After a brief shopping spree, we explored the city and snapped a few pictures. A note for travelers: in November, it gets dark early, shortening the day. In hindsight, I would recommend skipping Berg in favor of other destinations.
1:30 PM: We embarked on a 2-hour train journey to Zurich.
4:00 PM: Arriving at our hotel in Zurich, “The Five,” I realized it wasn’t the best choice. The service and food didn’t justify the exorbitant cost, or stay. I’d advise against staying here unless necessary, as it was the most expensive part of our trip.
Day 6:
8:00 AM: We checked out of “The Five” and took a train to the airport. My tip for travelers is to arrive at least 2 hours before your flight, allowing time to explore the airport and avoid missing your flight, especially since it was crowded even during their off-season.
Final Thoughts on Our Itinerary:
This brief yet memorable trip left me wishing for more time to explore. Despite visiting during the off-season and facing unexpected weather, Switzerland has quickly become one of our top three destinations. The food, excursions, and, most of all, the breathtaking views made it a dream experience. I’m already looking forward to our next visit to discover more of this beautiful country. Until next time, Lovelylivelyalexis.
