Best Day Trips from Zurich

Zurich's central location in Switzerland — just 40 minutes from the Alps by train — makes it one of Europe's finest bases for day trips. The Swiss Federal Railways' extraordinary network connects Zurich with mountain villages, lakeside towns, and major Swiss cities with remarkable speed and reliability.

The Jungfrau Region with its iconic Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks is just over 2 hours away and offers one of the world's most spectacular mountain experiences. Lake Geneva and the wine country of the Lavaux — a UNESCO World Heritage vineyard terrace — is under 3 hours. The Swiss capital Bern, with its remarkable medieval arcaded old town, is just 55 minutes away. Lucerne's lake and mountains, the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen (Europe's largest waterfall), and the charming medieval town of Stein am Rhein are all reachable within an hour from Zurich.