A day from Zurich
Day trips from Zurich
Switzerland has one of the best rail networks in the world and Zurich is well connected to everywhere: Lucerne and its wooden bridge, medieval Bern, Basel on the Rhine, the lakes of Interlaken, the Jungfraujoch high in the Alps and Italian-speaking Lugano.
Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides
An hour or less away
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SwitzerlandLucerne
The wooden Kapellbrücke, the lake and mountains such as Pilatus and Rigi, less than an hour away by train.
What to see in Lucerne -
SwitzerlandBern
A World Heritage old town with arcades and the clock tower, an hour away.
What to see in Bern -
SwitzerlandBasel
Art museums, an old town on the Rhine and the border with France and Germany, an hour away.
What to see in Basel
Alps and lakes
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SwitzerlandInterlaken
Between two turquoise lakes, the gateway to the Jungfrau region.
What to see in Interlaken -
SwitzerlandJungfraujoch
The highest railway station in Europe, among glaciers: a long day, but an unforgettable one.
What to see in Jungfraujoch -
SwitzerlandLugano
Italian-speaking Switzerland, with a lake among mountains, about two hours away through the Gotthard tunnel.
What to see in Lugano
Frequently asked questions
What day trips can you take from Zurich?
Lucerne, Bern and Basel, an hour or less away; Interlaken and the Jungfraujoch, in the Alps; and Lugano, in Italian-speaking Switzerland.
Can you visit the Jungfraujoch in a day from Zurich?
Yes, but it is a long day: more than three hours each way by train, with several changes after Interlaken.
Lucerne or Interlaken?
Lucerne has a town and a lake and is closer; Interlaken is the base for the high mountains. If you only have one day, choose Lucerne.
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Reviewed 20 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.
Cover photo: A.Savin (FAL), Wikimedia Commons.