4 Days in Central Switzerland (Bern and Lucerne Itinerary)
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Switzerland’s cities are magical. The Swiss Alps is stunningly unreal.
As someone who has been profoundly changed by the mountains and who is fascinated by anything with a touch of old world beauty, I can’t underscore enough how a 4-day trip to Switzerland can be incredibly amazing and still leave you craving for more.
Yes… I’ll give it to you straight: 4 days in Switzerland isn’t enough. However, 4 days are is already sufficient to get a taste of what Switzerland is all about. If you’ve always dreamed of visiting Switzerland, I’d say a 4-day trip is the bare minimum to experience this stunning country.
Now, with all the beautiful places in Switzerland, from charming cities to rustic alpine villages, from idyllic valleys to eternally frozen spectacular peaks, deciding where to go during your 4-day visit is surely difficult. ‘Where should I go on my 4-day trip to Switzerland?’ — I believe it’s the ultimate question.
After years of learning about Switzerland, exploring, and being obsessed with it, though, I am confident I can provide a solid answer or suggestion. It’s Central Switzerland — Bern, Bernese Oberland (Interlaken and Thun), and Lucerne.
Good to know
I’ve considered Zermatt, Montreux, Saint Moritz, Lugano, the Rhone Valley, and others in crafting this itinerary.
However, for practical reasons, it really has to be Central Switzerland. This is the part of Switzerland where beautiful cities are less than an hour away from some of the greatest attractions of the Swiss Alps.
Also, these cities are also very close to Zurich, which is often the entry and exit point for people visiting Switzerland.
Day 1 — Bern
Bern is the ideal starting point for your four-day itinerary in Switzerland.
Based from what I have discovered and as the capital, it offers a great introduction to this stunning country. There are museums that provide insights about the country, and you can find landmarks and attractions that narrate some history.
Day 1 Visual Summary
Above all, Bern is a must-see for its stunning architecture — it provides a beautiful first impression of the country.
Its historic center? It was a surprise to me. I didn’t expect it to be as wander-worthy as other historic centers in Europe.
Stepping into the Old City of Bern feels like going back to the 15th and 16th centuries when its picture-perfect arcades and charming fountains were built.
Learn more about the highlights of Bern.
Day 2 — Bernese Oberland
Once you arrive in Bern, you are literally minutes away from the Bernese Oberland.
This is the mountainous region of the canton of Bern, located approximately 30 kilometers from the Swiss Capital.
To me, Bernese Oberland is one of the most beautiful places in all of the Swiss Alps. No trip to Switzerland is complete without spending at least a day here.
Day 2 Visual Summary
Everywhere you look, there’s magical and natural splendor to see.
From the towering snowcapped mountains to the fairytale castles, picture-perfect lakes, and rustic villages, this region has everything that a wanderer is looking for in a destination. It’s an absolutely unreal place!
As a person from the Pacific, this place is a once-in-a-lifetime destination.
I can’t stress enough how unmissable this place is. So, for your second day in Switzerland, I’m recommending a day trip to the Bernese Oberland from Bern.
Okay… where in the Bernese Oberland? Well, I don’t know where to start! But here’s an amazing plan:
- Thun in the morning,
- Oberhofen Castle in the afternoon, and
- one or two ultimate destinations in the Jungfrau Region (Harder Kulm or Lauterbrunnen) in the late afternoon until evening.
The latter is a smaller part of the Bernese Oberland that surrounds the three famous peaks: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Notes:
- If you’ve already read my one-day Thun day trip itinerary, you’ll see that this plan is somewhat of a compressed version of it. It’s ‘compressed’ because I’ve added one or two attractions in the Jungfrau Region before the day ends.
- Another way you can spend a day in the Bernese Oberland is to have a day trip to Lake Thun, focusing on castles, towns, and mountain attractions around the lake. You can also try having a day trip to one or two unmissable attractions in the Jungfrau Region around Interlaken.
Guides to the different attractions in Switzerland (Day 2)
Day 3 — Lucerne
Based on what I’ve seen, Lucerne perfectly embodies the character of Switzerland as a travel destination: a place where the scenic alpine scenery and the charm of historical places blend seamlessly.
Day 3 Visual summary
Did you know that you can climb to the top of Lucerne’s medieval wall and be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of the city, lake, and the Swiss Alps?
That makes me think Lucerne is the perfect destination for wanderers in Switzerland. And oh, let’s not forget about the beautiful discoveries, unique experiences, and the free-to-visit eye-catching landmarks in Lucerne! Simply put, you’re bound to be as amazed as I was on the third day of your 4-day Switzerland trip. You must be excited!
So yeah, on the third day, you’ll leave Bern early in the morning after your breakfast and ride the train to Lucerne.
The travel time between these two cities by train is around 1 hour. Don’t forget to bring your luggage and other stuff to your new hotel in Lucerne! Hotels usually offer free luggage storage.
You can use it in advance before your check-in time, which is usually a couple of hours after lunch. This will allow you to do activities in the city without carrying your luggage around.
Now, what’s the amazing plan for day 3? After dropping your luggage at your hotel, and perhaps taking a quick break, here are my suggestions:
- If you’re ready to begin your adventure by 10:00 am, kick off the exploration of Old Town Lucerne! In the afternoon, visit the Swiss Museum of Transport. And at night, you can join the Night Watchman to hear some interesting tales about Lucerne.
- If you begin your day after lunch, you can skip the Swiss Museum of Transport and leisurely wander in the Old Town to see the eye-pleasing sights and historical landmarks. At night, I would still recommend joining the Night Watchman for an insightful visit to the city.
- If you can arrive in Lucerne very early in the morning, you can follow my one-day Lucerne itinerary that involves exploring Old Town Lucerne and visiting nearby idyllic attractions. Still, don’t forget to join the Night Watchman tour at night to make the most of your day!
Guides to the different attractions in Switzerland (Day 3)
Day 4 — Mount Pilatus
On the last day of your 4-day Switzerland trip, we’re aiming for adventure! Since you’re already in Lucerne… it is to Mount Pilatus we go!
It’s one of the most beautiful mountains in Switzerland, and I think you’ll love this mountain for the extraordinary fun experiences it offers.
Day 4 Visual Summary
From Mount Pilatus, you’ll have a stunning 360-degree view that includes the Swiss Alps, Lake Lucerne, and the Central Plateau. It’s so breathtaking, it’ll make your jaw drop!
Located just a few kilometers from Lucerne, this mountain is one of the easiest day trips you can make from the city.
Simply put, there’s no reason to say ‘no’ to the call of Mount Pilatus! Especially since this mountain is home to the world’s steepest railway and the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland, you’re sure to bring home more unforgettable memories after your trip.
Depending on the season, the way you can reach the top of Mount Pilatus may vary due to the operational seasons of different public transportation to and from the mountain.
However, most people usually visit Mount Pilatus on a Golden Round Trip or Silver Round Trip.
The difference between the two is that the Golden Round Trip involves a boat ride, while the Silver Round Trip involves a train ride to get to Mount Pilatus. It’s easy to choose between the two: If you haven’t tried a boat ride on Lake Lucerne, choose the Golden Round Trip.
A day trip to Mount Pilatus could last from a few hours (4 to 5) to a full day, depending on your preference for outdoor activities in Mount Pilatus like hiking, riding the toboggan run, etc. If you have a flight later on your 4th day in Switzerland, I highly recommend starting your day trip to Mount Pilatus very early in the morning to cover more experiences that Mount Pilatus offers.
Aim to be at the Kriens Cable Car station around 8:30 am, which is the first ascent departure to the summit. Be among the first to visit Mount Pilatus to enjoy the mountain’s tranquility and scenery without the crowd.
You might find this article helpful:
Mount Pilatus Day Trip from Lucerne (5 Reasons to Go + Tips)
Resources
Are you getting excited for your trip to Switzerland? I’m thrilled for you! I hope this 4-day itinerary, which focuses on Central Switzerland, has been helpful. For further planning, the websites listed below should provide all the information you need to ensure a flawless trip.
- Swiss Museum of Transport (official website)
- List of museums included in Swiss Travel Pass
- Restaurant Rosengarten (official website)
- Webcam and Live View In Jungfrau Region
- Lake Thun boat timetable
- Public transportation schedule (sbb.com)
Plan Your Trip Now
Here are my recommended services
If you can extend your Switzerland trip for a couple more days, check out my 6-Day Switzerland itinerary that is focused at Bernese Oberland. Also, if you’re on the hunt for more stunning destinations in the Alps, Salzburg and Innsbruck are my top recommendations. They offer experiences just as beautiful as those in Lucerne and Bern. To get started, take a look at my 2-day itinerary for Salzburg and my 1-day itinerary for Innsbruck.