Switzerland in 3 Days: A Malaysian's Guide with Swiss Travel Pass
Got 3 days in Switzerland? Jom kita tengok, this itinerary suggests some famous spots as well as lesser-known "hidden gems." If you only have 3 days, these are some of the places I'd recommend.
Exploring Lucerne and Its Surroundings
Lucerne, everyone knows! It's one of the most popular tourist cities in Switzerland. If you're only visiting one city, some might argue Zurich is even nicer. But apart from the unique and Instagrammable bridge, Lucerne has other advantages. This city is located next to one of the most beautiful big lakes in Switzerland and is the focal point of a stunning mountainous region. From Lucerne, you can easily get to famous mountains like Rigi, Pilatus, and Titlis. Around Lake Lucerne, you'll find countless charming little villages and mountain peaks with equally impressive scenery.
Bauen: A Hidden Gem
Bauen is a small village on Lake Lucerne, located in the southern part of the lake. The easiest way to get to Bauen is by boat on Lake Lucerne, from Brunnen or Fluelen. You can take a boat all the way from Lucerne via Brunnen to Bauen, but if you need to shorten the travel time, it's best to take a train from Lucerne to Brunnen or Fluelen and then a boat from there.
Bauen is quite special because it has a warmer climate than the surrounding areas. The village grows many types of Mediterranean plants and flowers, so when you stroll around, you'll feel like you're in a village on Lake Lugano or some other Italian lake. Behind the village, there's a path up the mountainside, which offers a beautiful view of the lake.
Bauen is also the birthplace of composer Alberik Zwyssig, who composed the Swiss national anthem. The house where Alberik was born is now a charming restaurant.
A 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Rigi and Lucerne City
In the morning, if you wake up early, you can go and see the Kapellbrucke bridge and take photos when it's still empty. Then you should start your journey up Mount Rigi as early as possible.
The best route is to take a boat from Lucerne to Vitznau and then switch to the cogwheel train up to Rigi Kulm. When going down, you can take the train one stop to Rigi Kaltbad (or walk), then take the cable car down to Weggis and then a boat from Weggis back to Lucerne. The lake view from the cable car is beautiful!
You'll need about 6 hours for the journey, including travel time. The remaining time of the day will be spent exploring the city.
Day 2: Fronalpstock and Bauen
In the morning, take the train to Schwyz, then the funicular up to Stoos and the cable car up to Fronalpstock. The view from Fronalpstock is really, really beautiful. When descending, you can take the path down to Morschach and then take a bus to Brunnen.
From Brunnen, take a boat to Bauen. If you have to wait for the boat, you can stroll or have lunch in Brunnen. Brunnen has a beautiful boardwalk along the lake and quite a few restaurants and cafes.
From Bauen, take a boat back to Brunnen and then continue to Lucerne. If you want to see the last section of the lake, take a boat to Fluelen, from which there's a train back to Lucerne. Remember to check the boat schedule in advance!
Day 3: Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald or Iseltwald, and Lungern
From Lucerne, it only takes 2 hours by train to Interlaken. The route from Lucerne to Interlaken is extremely beautiful. On the way, you'll pass Lungern. You can stop here if you want. If you don't have much time, you can admire this village from the train.
In Interlaken, you can choose to visit two of the following villages: Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Murren, or Iseltwald. If you choose to go to Iseltwald and want to take a boat on Lake Brienz, you should visit this village first, as the boat is a sightseeing boat and the schedule is quite sparse. The other four villages are all in the Jungfrau mountain area. In general, you should only visit a maximum of 3 places in one day. Three is already a lot if you still have to travel back to Lucerne.
That's the end of 3 days in Switzerland. You can change the order of the days or choose 2 out of the 3 days if you have less time.
Where to Stay
With this itinerary, you should stay in Lucerne or somewhere near Lucerne.
Getting Tickets
You can use the Swiss Travel Pass (STP) or Saver Day Pass (SDP) for the entire journey.
The STP and SDP are valid for trains, boats, and buses. You can upgrade to 1st class on the boat; just ask at the ticket office at the pier or on the boat. Trains, on the other hand, are fine in 2nd class.
If you can confirm the dates early, buying SDP for each day early will be cheaper. If you can only buy tickets closer to the date, buying an STP is usually cheaper than buying SDP for 3 days.
Around Lake Lucerne, there are many other mountain peaks and charming villages. On Day 2, you can replace Bauen with the village of Sisikon, which is also nearby, or visit Rütli – the birthplace of the Swiss Confederation.
With Lucerne as your base, the options for your Swiss journey are endless. Have a good trip!
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