Switzerland 2026

September 21 – October 5  ·  Zürich  ·  Geneva  ·  Zermatt  ·  St. Moritz  ·  Luzern

Tim & Catherine Sep 21 – Oct 5
Full group Sep 25 – Oct 3
Travel days
Trip Route Overview
Zürich
Bern
Geneva
Zermatt
St. Moritz
Luzern
Mon
21
Sep

Tim & Catherine Arrive

✈ Arrive Tim & Catherine
  • 11 pm
    Tim & Catherine land — Zürich Airport (ZRH)
    Flughafenstrasse, 8058 Zürich-Flughafen
Hotel Booked
Hotel St. Josef
Hirschengraben 64/68, 8001 Zürich
Check-in
1 pm (Mon)
Check-out
12 pm (Wed) — 2 nights
Phone
+41 44 250 57 57
Email
info@st-josef.ch
Confirmation
RES737418526R3000
Cancel by
Sep 20, 2026
Tue
22
Sep

Zürich Old Town Walk

Tim & Catherine
  • Lindenhof
    Lindenhof, 8001 Zürich
  • Rennweg
    Rennweg 43, 8001 Zürich
    Outdoor walk
  • St. Peter Church
    St. Peterhofstatt 1, 8001 Zürich
  • Fraumünster
    Münsterhof 2, 8001 Zürich
    Chagall stained glass
  • Zunfthaus zur Meisen
    Münsterhof 20, 8001 Zürich
    Ceramics museum
  • Zürich Town Hall (Rathaus)
    Limmatquai 55, 8001 Zürich
  • Grossmünster
    Zwingliplatz 7, 8001 Zürich
  • Niederdorf
    Niederdorfstrasse, 8001 Zürich
    Pedestrian area — lunch & shopping
  • Predigerkirche
    Zähringerplatz 6, 8001 Zürich
  • Zentralbibliothek Zürich
    Zähringerplatz 6, 8001 Zürich
  • Polybahn Funicular
    Central 1 (lower station), 8001 Zürich
Hotel Booked
Hotel St. Josef
Hirschengraben 64/68, 8001 Zürich
Check-in
1 pm (Mon)
Check-out
12 pm (Wed) — 2 nights
Phone
+41 44 250 57 57
Email
info@st-josef.ch
Confirmation
RES737418526R3000
Cancel by
Sep 20, 2026
Map — Zürich Old Town
Wed
23
Sep

Bern — Capital City

Old Town, Einstein, breweries
⇄ Travel Tim & Catherine
  • 8 am
    Train: Zürich HB → Bern
    Zürich Hauptbahnhof → Bern Hauptbahnhof
    IR35 / IC81 / IR16 / IR37 / IC1 / IC8 — many options, ~75 min each
  • Bundeshaus
    Bundesplatz 3, 3003 Bern
    Swiss Federal Parliament building
  • Bundesplatz
    Bundesplatz, 3011 Bern
    26 fountains — one for each Swiss canton
  • Zytglogge
    Bim Zytgloggle 1, 3011 Bern
    Medieval clock tower
  • Einstein House
    Kramgasse 49, 3011 Bern
    Apartment where Einstein wrote his 1905 papers
  • Berner Münster (Cathedral of Bern)
    Münsterplatz 1, 3011 Bern
    Architecture + tower climb (344 steps)
  • Einstein au Jardin
    Pavillon 5, Münsterplattform 5, 3011 Bern
    Cafe on the Münsterplattform terrace
  • Erlacherhof — Stadtkanzlei Bern
    Junkerngasse 47, 3011 Bern
    Mayor's house — Bern city chancellery
  • PROGR Turnhalle
    Turnweg 3, 3011 Bern
    Bar in a former school gymnasium
  • Altes Tramdepot Brauerei
    Grosser Muristalden 6, 3006 Bern
    Old tram depot — brewery & restaurant near the bear park
  • Matte Brennerei
    Mühlenplatz 5, 3011 Bern
    Distillery in the Matte district
  • Kornhauskeller
    Kornhausplatz 18, 3011 Bern
    Vaulted-ceiling beer cellar / restaurant
Hotel Booked
Hotel Bären
Schauplatzgasse 4, 3011 Bern
Check-in
3 pm (Wed)
Check-out
11 am (Thu)
Phone
+41 31 311 33 67
Email
reception@baerenbern.ch
Confirmation
2026051848544110
Price
$395.95 / night
Cancel by
Sep 18, 2026
Map — Bern Old Town
Thu
24
Sep

Bern — Museums

Helvetiaplatz cluster, then back to Zürich
⇄ Travel Tim & Catherine
Hotel Booked
AirBnB
Neugasse 81, 8005 Zürich
Check-in
3 pm (Thu)
Check-out
11 am (Sun) — 3 nights
Confirmation
HMMZ3H9N8Z
Price
$208.13 / night
Cancel by
Aug 25, 2026
Map — Bern Museum Quarter
Fri
25
Sep

Chris & Luke Arrive · Museums

Short arrival day
✈ Arrive All Four
  • 8 am
    Chris & Luke land — Zürich Airport (ZRH)
    Flughafenstrasse, 8058 Zürich-Flughafen
  • Drop bags, check in, etc.
  • Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum Zürich)
    Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich
  • focusTerra — ETH Zürich Earth Sciences Museum
    Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zürich
  • Lindt Home of Chocolate
    Seestrasse 204, 8802 Kilchberg
    Optional — book ahead online. ~20 min by train + walk from Zürich HB via S8/S24.
Hotel Booked
AirBnB
Neugasse 81, 8005 Zürich
Check-in
3 pm (Thu)
Check-out
11 am (Sun) — 3 nights
Confirmation
HMMZ3H9N8Z
Price
$208.13 / night
Cancel by
Aug 25, 2026
Map — Zürich museums & Kilchberg
Sat
26
Sep

Uetliberg & Plant Day

Solar-system hike, then gardens by the lake
All Four
  • Hotel UTO KULM
    Uetliberg 652, 8143 Uetliberg
    Car-free area with tower — take the Uetliberg train (S10) from Zürich HB, ~20 min
  • Planetenweg Uetliberg
    Uetliberg summit, 8143 Uetliberg → Felsenegg
    Solar system scale model walk along the ridge — ~2 h hike
  • Old Botanical Garden (Alter Botanischer Garten)
    Talstrasse 71, 8001 Zürich
  • Museum Rietberg
    Gablerstrasse 15, 8002 Zürich
  • Belvoirpark
    Seestrasse 125, 8002 Zürich
  • Arboretum Zürich
    Mythenquai 9, 8038 Zürich
  • Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich
    Mythenquai 88, 8002 Zürich
Hotel Booked
AirBnB
Neugasse 81, 8005 Zürich
Check-in
3 pm (Thu)
Check-out
11 am (Sun) — 3 nights
Confirmation
HMMZ3H9N8Z
Price
$208.13 / night
Cancel by
Aug 25, 2026
Map — Uetliberg & Zürich gardens
Sun
27
Sep

Travel to Geneva · CERN · Geneva Walk

Long travel day — overnight in Geneva
🚄 Train Day All Four

Train — Zürich → Geneva

Depart Zürich Hauptbahnhof · IC1 · Hourly service · ~3 hours
Arrive Genève-Cornavin

Geneva public transport map →

Map — Zürich to Geneva train route
  • 11 am
    CERN — European Organization for Nuclear Research
    1 Esplanade des Particules, 1217 Meyrin, Geneva
    Tram 18 from central Geneva to Meyrin (CERN stop) · Book visit ahead of time. Tours are not guaranteed — only ~10% of visitors receive one; registration happens on-site. Estimate 3–4 hours on site.
  • 4 pm
    Plaine de Plainpalais
    Plaine de Plainpalais, 1205 Genève
    Tram 18 back toward downtown; disembark at Plainpalais · Farmer's market on Sundays
  • Pont Hans-Wilsdorf
    Pont Hans-Wilsdorf, 1205 Genève (over the Arve)
    Bridge viewpoint (optional)
  • Parc des Bastions
    Promenade des Bastions, 1205 Genève
    City park with the Reformation Wall
  • Université de Genève campus
    Rue du Général-Dufour 24, 1211 Genève
    Optional walkthrough
  • Maison Tavel
    Rue du Puits-Saint-Pierre 6, 1204 Genève
    Oldest house in Geneva — museum of city history
  • Cathédrale Saint-Pierre
    Cour Saint-Pierre 6, 1204 Genève
  • Rue de Rive
    Rue de Rive, 1204 Genève
  • Jardin Anglais
    Quai du Général-Guisan, 1204 Genève
    Park on the Rhône with famous flower clock
  • Jet d'Eau de Genève
    Quai Gustave-Ador, 1207 Genève (on Lake Geneva)
    140 m fountain — Geneva's icon (optional)
Hotel Booked
ibis Genève Centre Nations
Rue du Grand-Pré 33-35, 1202 Geneva
Check-in
3 pm (Sun)
Check-out
12 pm (Mon)
Phone
+41 22 919 20 30
Email
h8069@accor.com
Confirmation
QLJPBXWL
Price
$154.00 / night
Cancel by
Sep 26, 2026
Notes
Early check-in (9 am) for one room
Map — Geneva walk
Mon
28
Sep

Geneva: Red Cross District · Travel to Zermatt

Morning sightseeing, afternoon train — overnight Zermatt
🚄 Train Day All Four
  • Broken Chair (La Chaise Cassée)
    Place des Nations, 1202 Genève
    Bus 5 — disembark at Appia
  • Musée Ariana
    Avenue de la Paix 10, 1202 Genève
    Swiss museum of ceramics and glass
  • United Nations — Palais des Nations
    Avenue de la Paix 8–14, 1211 Genève
  • International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
    Avenue de la Paix 17, 1202 Genève
Map — Place des Nations district

Train — Geneva → Zermatt

Depart Gare Cornavin (Geneva central station) · Approximately hourly
IR95 Genève → Visp (direction Brig) · Transfer at Visp · R41 Visp → Zermatt
Total journey: ~3–3.5 hours

Map — Geneva to Zermatt train route
Hotel Booked
Schweizerhof Zermatt
Bahnhofstrasse 5, 3920 Zermatt
Check-in
3 pm (Mon)
Check-out
12 pm (Wed) — 2 nights
Phone
+41 27 966 00 00
Email
info@schweizerhofzermatt.ch
Confirmation
ZO-AX1052-26812 (Amex travel portal)
Price
$419.38 / night
Cancel by
Sep 25, 2026
Notes
Price includes Tim's Amex rebate
Tue
29
Sep

Zermatt — Matterhorn & Rothorn

Alpine sightseeing, funicular, gondola & hike
All Four
  • ↑ up
    Funicular: Zermatt → Sunnegga (2,288 m)
    Sunnegga Express — underground funicular, departs from Zermatt village center
  • Gondola: Sunnegga → Blauherd (2,571 m)
    Sunnegga Paradise, 3920 Zermatt
  • Cable car: Blauherd → Rothorn (3,103 m)
    Rothorn, Zermatt — panoramic Matterhorn views
  • dinner
    Dinner on the mountain
    Restaurant at Rothorn or Blauherd level
  • ↓ down
    Return: Cable car → Gondola → Hike
    Rothorn → Blauherd → Sunnegga, then hike Sunnegga → Zermatt
Hotel Booked
Schweizerhof Zermatt
Bahnhofstrasse 5, 3920 Zermatt
Check-in
3 pm (Mon) — night 2 of 2
Check-out
12 pm (Wed)
Phone
+41 27 966 00 00
Email
info@schweizerhofzermatt.ch
Confirmation
ZO-AX1052-26812 (Amex travel portal)
Price
$419.38 / night
Cancel by
Sep 25, 2026
Notes
Price includes Tim's Amex rebate
Map — Zermatt & Matterhorn area
Wed
30
Sep

Glacier Train: Zermatt → St. Moritz

~8 hours through the Swiss Alps
🚄 Train Day All Four

Local Trains — Zermatt to St. Moritz (~8 hours)

R41/R42 Zermatt → Visp  ·  R43 Visp → Andermatt
R45 Andermatt → Disentis/Mustér  ·  RE7 Disentis/Mustér → Reichenau-Tamins
IR38 Reichenau-Tamins → St. Moritz
Departures start early morning — plan for an all-day journey.

Map — Glacier train route (Matterhorn Gotthard + Rhätische Bahn)
Hotel Booked
Hotel Chesa Languard
Via Veglia 14, 7500 St. Moritz
Check-in
3 pm (Wed)
Check-out
11 am (Thu)
Phone
+41 81 833 31 37
Email
welcome@hotel-languard.ch
Confirmation
RES438415626R3381   RES438515626R3381
Price
$228.00 / night
Cancel by
Sep 23, 2026
Thu
1
Oct

St. Moritz · Return to Zürich

Sightseeing morning, trains afternoon (~4 hours)
🚄 Train Day All Four
  • Sightseeing in St. Moritz
    St. Moritz, 7500 St. Moritz GR

Trains — St. Moritz → Zürich (~4 hours)

Via Samedan → Chur → Zürich Hauptbahnhof

Hotel Booked
Hotel Rössli
Rössligasse 7, 8001 Zurich
Stay
Thu – Sat (2 nights)
Phone
+41 44 256 70 50
Email
reception@hotelroessli.ch
Confirmation
2026052648769390
Price
$294.30 / night
Cancel by
Oct 1, 2026
Map — St. Moritz to Zürich train route
Fri
2
Oct

Zürich Museums & Parks

All Four
  • FIFA World Football Museum
    Seestrasse 27, 8002 Zürich
    Optional
  • Zürichhorn Park
    Bellerivestrasse, 8008 Zürich
  • Chinagarten Zürich
    Bellerivestrasse 138, 8008 Zürich
  • Kunsthaus Zürich
    Heimplatz 1, 8001 Zürich
  • Zürich Opera House (Opernhaus Zürich)
    Sechseläutenplatz 1, 8008 Zürich
Hotel Booked
Hotel Rössli
Rössligasse 7, 8001 Zurich
Stay
Night 2 of 2
Phone
+41 44 256 70 50
Email
reception@hotelroessli.ch
Confirmation
2026052648769390
Price
$294.30 / night
Map — Zürich museums & parks
Sat
3
Oct

Luzern City Walk

Old town, towers & bridges, brewery crawl
⇄ Travel ✈ C&L Depart Tim & Catherine
  • 7 am
    Train: Zürich HB → Luzern
    Zürich Hauptbahnhof → Luzern Hauptbahnhof
    IR70 or IR75 — every half hour, ~45 min. Backpack only; one overnight.
  • ~1 pm
    Chris & Luke depart — Zürich Airport (ZRH)
    Flughafenstrasse, 8058 Zürich-Flughafen
    Tim & Catherine are already in Luzern by this point.
  • Zytturm
    Museggmauer Weg, 6004 Luzern
    Oldest clock in the city — part of the Musegg Wall
  • Nölliturm
    Brüggligasse 17, 6004 Luzern
    Fortified gate at the west end of the city walls
  • Spreuerbrücke
    Spreuerbrücke, 6004 Luzern
    Covered wooden bridge — "Dance of Death" paintings
  • Mühlenplatz
    Mühlenplatz, 6004 Luzern
  • Weinmarkt
    Weinmarkt, 6004 Luzern
  • Hirschenplatz
    Hirschenplatz, 6004 Luzern
  • Fritschibrunnen
    Kapellplatz, 6004 Luzern
    Carnival-themed fountain on Kapellplatz
  • Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
    Kapellbrücke, 6002 Luzern
    Iconic 14th-century covered bridge with water tower
  • Government buildings
    Bahnhofstrasse 15, 6003 Luzern
    Canton of Lucerne government seat
  • Lion Monument
    Denkmalstrasse 4, 6002 Luzern
    Dying lion sculpture carved into the cliff face
  • Glacier Garden
    Denkmalstrasse 4a, 6002 Luzern
    Ice age potholes, mirror maze, & museum
  • Hofbeiz Kulturhof Hinter Musegg
    Diebold-Schilling-Strasse 13, 6004 Luzern
    Brewery — first stop on the crawl
  • Château Gütsch
    Kanonenstrasse, 6003 Luzern
    Optional — "fairytale castle" hotel for a glass of wine with city views
  • Rathaus Brauerei
    Unter der Egg 2, 6004 Luzern
    Brewpub in the old town hall on the Reuss riverside
  • Sunset Bar Lucerne
    Seeburgstrasse 61, 6006 Luzern
    Optional — lakeside bar east of the old town
Hotel Booked
Hotel zum Weissen Kreuz
Furrengasse 19, 6004 Luzern
Check-in
2 pm (Sat)
Check-out
11 am (Sun)
Phone
+41 41 418 82 20
Email
info@weisseskreuzluzern.ch
Confirmation
WKL-828F98-3284
Price
$349.92 / night
Cancel by
Oct 1, 2026
Map — Luzern Old Town
Sun
4
Oct

Luzern Museums & Return

Game museum, city museum, train back to Zürich
⇄ Travel Tim & Catherine
  • 10 am
    Gameorama Spielmuseum
    Hirschengraben 49, 6003 Luzern
    Game museum — open 10:00–18:00
  • 2 pm
    Museum Luzern
    Kasernenplatz 6, 6003 Luzern
    City history museum — open 10:00–17:00
  • 6 pm
    Train: Luzern HB → Zürich HB
    Luzern Hauptbahnhof → Zürich Hauptbahnhof
    IR70 or IR75 — every half hour, ~45 min
Hotel Booked
Hilton Zurich Airport
Hohenbuehlstrasse 10, 8152 Opfikon
Check-in
3 pm
Check-out
11 am (Mon)
Phone
+41 44 828 50 50
Confirmation
3463744053
Notes
Queen room
Map — Luzern Museums
Mon
5
Oct

Tim & Catherine Depart

✈ Depart Tim & Catherine
  • ~7 am
    Tim & Catherine depart — Zürich Airport (ZRH)
    Flughafenstrasse, 8058 Zürich-Flughafen