1 month Switzerland Itinerary for repeat travellers
Have you previously visited Switzerland and are now planning a return trip? Chances are you ticked off the major cities and most-popular tourist destinations on your first trip and would now like to travel a little slower and discover some new towns and villages.
Having already visited Switzerland on many occasions, that’s how I approach my Swiss trips these days.
Below you’ll find the itinerary I planned for my trip in June and July 2020. Sadly, it was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, however I hope to follow the same itinerary when I am able to travel again.
NOTE: As I’ve visited Switzerland many times, this itinerary does not necessarily include all the destinations that I would recommend for first time visitors to Switzerland. (To see my suggested 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 14 day itineraries for first time visitors, click here.)
Whilst I could easily have added more destinations to my itinerary by reducing the length of my stay at some places, I prefer to move less often, particularly towards the end of my trip.
And I adore Lauterbrunnen so even 9 nights there is not enough for me!
My husband and I usually rent a car to travel around Switzerland but I have also included the journey times by train should you prefer to travel using the excellent Swiss public transport system.
If train is your transport of choice, consider buying a Swiss Travel Pass as it can work out to be cheaper than buying tickets for each individual journey.
[This post may contain compensated links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.]
Click on the map above to make it larger.
1 month Switzerland itinerary overview
- Weggis (Lake Lucerne) – 3 nights
- Schaffhausen – 1 night
- Appenzell – 4 nights
- St. Moritz – 2 nights
- Ascona – 7 nights
- Lauterbrunnen – 9 nights
Day 1 – Arrive Zurich, travel to Weggis
By car: 1 hour / By train: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Remainder of day relaxing and exploring the area.
Overnight: Weggis (click here to browse accommodation)
Day 2 – Weggis (Lake Lucerne)
Possibility to visit Lucerne or other towns around the lake and/or take a lake cruise.
Overnight: Weggis
Day 3 – Mt. Rigi excursion
Take an excursion to Mt. Rigi and spend an hour or two at Rigi Kaltbad Thermal Spa on the return trip.
Overnight: Weggis
Day 4 – Weggis to Schaffhausen
By car: 1 hour and 20 minutes / By train: 2 hours and 12 minutes
Remainder of day exploring the town – must try Schaffhausen Zunge, a specialty cookie from Schaffhausen.
Overnight: Schaffhausen (click here to browse accommodation)
Day 5 – Rhine Falls and Appenzell
Visit Rhine Falls for a couple of hours.
By train or car: 10 minutes
Drive on to Appenzell.
By car: 1 hour and 20 minutes / By train: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Remainder of day relaxing.
Overnight: Appenzell (click here to browse accommodation)
Day 6 – Explore Appenzell and surrounding countryside
Spend the day exploring the town of Appenzell and the surrounding area.
Overnight: Appenzell
Day 7 – Visit Bad Ragaz
By car: 45 minutes / By train: 2 hours
Spend the day visiting the Spa town of Bad Ragaz.
Overnight: Appenzell
Day 8 – Maestrani Chocolarium and St. Gallen visit
Visit the Maestrani Chocolarium at Flawil.
By car: 30 minutes
Drive on to St Gallen (20 minutes) to explore the city.
Overnight: Appenzell
Day 9 – Appenzell to St. Moritz
By car: 2 hours and 30 minutes / By train: 3 hours and 50 minutes
Travel to St. Moritz and spend the rest of the day exploring the town and lake.
Overnight: St. Moritz (click here to browse accommodation)
Day 10 – Bernina Express to Poschiavo
Take the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Poschiavo (1h:40) and then return by regular train (or vice versa).
Overnight: St. Moritz
Day 11 – St. Moritz to Ascona
By car: 2 hours and 45 minutes / By train: 4 hours (to Locarno)
After travelling from St. Moritz, spend the remainder of the day by Lake Maggiore.
Overnight: Ascona (click here to browse accommodation)
Day 12 – Visit Locarno
By car: 10 minutes
Explore Old Town, lake promenade, botanical gardens and thermal baths.
Overnight: Ascona
Day 13 – Relaxing day around the lake
Enjoy a lake cruise or just relax by the pool.
Overnight: Ascona
Day 14 – Centovalli Railway trip
Take the Centovalli Railway from Locarno to Domodossola and then return by boat.
Overnight: Ascona
Day 15 – Visit Lake Lugano
Drive to Lugano (1 hour by either car or train). Explore the city and visit the lakeside towns of Morcote and Gandria, and Monte Brè.
Overnight: Ascona
Day 16 – Explore the valleys
Spend the day visiting either the Lavertezzo Valley or Valle Maggia to explore the black and white church (Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista) at Mogno.
Overnight: Ascona
Day 17 – Rest day
Time for a relaxing day by the pool or lake.
Overnight: Ascona
Day 18 – Drive to Lungern, then on to Lauterbrunnen
By car: 2 hours and 10 minutes / By train: 3 hours and 20 minutes (from Locarno)
Enjoy lunch by Lake Lungern and explore the village.
Drive on to Lauterbrunnen and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
By car: 45 minutes / By train: 1 hour and 36 minutes
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen (click here to browse accommodation)
Day 19 – Visit Meiringen area
Visit Aare Gorge, Reichenbach Falls, Meiringen (and possibly Giessbach Falls).
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 20 – Visit Wengen and Mannlichen
Excursion to Wengen and Mannlichen, and hike back down from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen.
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 21 – Visit Beatenberg and Niederhorn
Visit the village of Beatenberg and take a cable car to Niederhorn.
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 22 – Afternoon visit to Bern
Spend the morning in Lauterbrunnen.
Afternoon visit to Bern for shopping and to visit Aunt.
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 23 – Afternoon visit to Spiez
Spend the morning in Lauterbrunnen.
Afternoon visit to Spiez for castle and winery visit and wandering around the small harbour.
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 24 – Grindelwald half day visit
Visit Grindelwald – activities could include First or Pfingstegg mountains, Grindelwald Glacier or a short hike.
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 25 – Schilthorn excursion
Visit Gimmelwald, Murren, Allmendhubel and the Schilthorn.
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 26 – Rest day
Enjoy the alpine scenery and village ambience for the final time before packing up ready to depart for home tomorrow.
Overnight: Lauterbrunnen
Day 27 – Drive Lauterbrunnen to Zurich Airport
By car: 1 hour and 55 minutes / By train: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Departure from Zurich.
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Final Thoughts
As you can see from this itinerary, my plan was to enjoy lengthy stays at both Ascona and Lauterbrunnen. Having already visited both these destinations before, I have experienced a lot of the popular mountain excursions (such as the Jungfraujoch, Harder Kulm, etc.) previously so I hadn’t planned to include them in this itinerary.
You could, of course, swap out some of my planned activities and do these excursions instead.
Whilst this itinerary may not be perfect for you, it can definitely be modified to suit your preferences.
Wherever you decide to visit on your return trip to Switzerland, I hope you have a fantastic time!
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