The Swiss Alps at a glance
The Swiss Alps are less one destination than a set of regions, each with its own valleys, lakes and mountain stations. Many visitors search for the Switzerland Alps as if they were one place, but a good plan starts with the region: the Bernese Oberland around Interlaken, Valais with Zermatt and the Aletsch area, central Switzerland with Lucerne and Engelberg, and Graubünden with Chur, the Engadin and the Bernina area. Trains, buses and cable cars connect them, and most of the big sights are reached by public transport rather than by car.
This guide is written for people who want to understand the options before they book. It explains the scenic railway lines, the Swiss Travel Pass, the day trips from the big cities, paragliding above Interlaken, hiking, winter sports, how to arrive, where to base yourself and when the seasons change. All prices are in Swiss francs (CHF) and are shown as they were published for 2026.
Our picks: Swiss Alps trips
For a first look at the Jungfrau region from Zurich, the coach day to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald is the simple choice, and the Jungfraujoch day adds cable car and train. Rail fans can pick the Bernina day from Milan or the guided Glacier Express day, and the tandem flight suits you for an active morning above Interlaken.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Glacier Express day trip from Zurich with local guide
- Local guide
- Standard rail pass
- Glacier Express seat reservation
Check which route section the day programme covers, as this is not a ticket for the whole route. The Glacier Express is paused until 4 December 2026, so choose a later date.
Check availability →
Jungfraujoch day trip from Zurich with cable car and train
- Cable car to Eiger Glacier
- Train to Jungfraujoch, back to Lauterbrunnen
- Seat reservation and preferred boarding
A fully guided coach day with a multilingual guide. Attractions at the top depend on the weather.
Check availability →
Tandem paragliding flight from Interlaken
- Professional guide
- Transport from Interlaken to Beatenberg
- Use of paragliding equipment
You check in at the shop on Höheweg 125, and a safety briefing comes before the flight. Flights depend on the weather and are not guaranteed.
Check availability →
Coach day trip to Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald
- Multilingual professional guide
- Comfortable coach transport
- Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald visits
The day covers three stops in the Jungfrau region from Zurich. A Jungfraujoch ticket is not included.
Check availability →
Zurich day trip with a long stop in Grindelwald
- Round-trip transportation from Zurich
- Professional tour guide
- Four hours free in Grindelwald
Free time is one hour in Interlaken, four hours in Grindelwald and one hour in Lauterbrunnen. Entrance tickets are not included.
Check availability →
Bernina train day trip from Milan to St. Moritz
- Bernina train ticket
- Alp Grüm and Palü Glacier visit
- Round-trip transportation from Milan
A guided day through the Bernina range with a leisurely walk on well-marked trails. A panoramic carriage is not guaranteed.
Check availability →Swiss Alps tours and day trips
Day trips, scenic train journeys and activities in the Swiss Alps, with live prices and availability.
Regions of the Swiss Alps
Four areas that most trips are built around.
Bernese Oberland
Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are the gateways to the Jungfrau region. Lakes and high mountains are different kinds of outing here, so plan them as separate parts of a day. Our Bernese Oberland guide goes through the villages, the viewpoints and the waterfalls.
Valais
Zermatt and the Matterhorn belong to Valais, as does the Aletsch area. Valais is not the same region as the Bernese Oberland, even though trips often combine names from both.
Central Switzerland
Lucerne is the rail starting point, and Engelberg is the base for the cable car to Mount Titlis. The day trips page shows how far a single day from Lucerne can stretch.
Graubünden
Chur, the Engadin and the Bernina area form their own travel region in the east. This is where the red Bernina train runs to Tirano in Italy.
The highest summit in Switzerland is the Dufourspitze at 4,634 m, and the Matterhorn is not the highest mountain in the country. The World Heritage listing covers Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, not the Alps as a whole, and the retreat of the glaciers is part of the reason for the listing.
Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen
Three names that appear on almost every Jungfrau region plan.
The station at the Jungfraujoch lies at 3,454 m and is the highest railway station in Europe, with a view of the Aletsch Glacier. A separate guide to the Jungfraujoch describes the visit in detail. Grindelwald is the village for the Eiger Express and the First cable car, and Grindelwald has its own guide. The valley of Lauterbrunnen is known for its waterfalls and for the railway route via Wengen.
A seat reservation for the Jungfrau railway was compulsory from 1 May to 31 October 2026. For a trip from November onwards, check the current reservation rule with the operator. The quick ascent does not replace acclimatisation: if you get a headache, dizziness or nausea, go back down.
Zermatt and the Matterhorn
Private cars stop in Täsch, and the last stretch to the village is covered by shuttle or an approved transfer. For the village, its mountain railways and the view of the Matterhorn, read the guide to Zermatt and the Matterhorn. We only keep the overview here, so that you can decide whether Valais deserves a place in your route.
Scenic trains and the Swiss Travel Pass
Why many routes in the Alps are built around the railway.
The Glacier Express crosses the Alps from Zermatt via Brig, Andermatt, Disentis and Chur to St. Moritz. It is in its seasonal pause from 11 October to 4 December 2026, and the winter timetable starts on 5 December 2026. Our Glacier Express page covers the route and how reservations work. The Bernina Express page follows the line from Chur and St. Moritz to Tirano, and the Swiss Alps train page compares the other panoramic journeys, including the express between Lucerne and Interlaken.
The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the country, but seat reservations on the panoramic trains are booked separately. If you plan a classic Swiss round trip, the train page is the place to start, whether you call it a grand tour or a rail loop through several regions.
Interlaken and paragliding
The lake town between two lakes and a popular adrenaline activity.
Interlaken lies between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and is the starting point for the Jungfrau region. Our Interlaken guide covers the lakes, the Harder Kulm and the way up to the Jungfrau region. A tandem paragliding flight is the activity many people book here. The tandem flight offered in the cards above comes with a professional guide, transport from Interlaken to Beatenberg, a safety briefing and the paragliding equipment. How a flight works and what to know about the weather is explained on our paragliding page.
Explore the Swiss Alps by topic
Pick a page and read the details.
Swiss Alps tours
Day tours in the Jungfrau region, the Bernina train from Milan and adventure in Interlaken.
Things to do in the Swiss Alps
Viewpoints, glaciers, waterfalls and a tasting by e-bike.
Glacier Express
Route, seat reservations and the seasonal pause in 2026.
Bernina Express
From Chur and St. Moritz to Tirano, and day trips from Milan and Como.
Swiss Alps train journeys
Panoramic lines, rail passes and reservations in one overview.
Swiss Travel Pass
Prices for 2026, flex or fixed days and the Half Fare Card.
Interlaken
Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the Harder Kulm.
Paragliding in Interlaken
How a tandem flight works and what it includes.
Day trips from Zurich, Lucerne and Geneva
What fits into one day and what needs a night.
Bernese Oberland
Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the waterfalls.
Hiking in the Swiss Alps
Trail markings, safety and guided hikes.
Skiing in the Swiss Alps
Ski areas, lift passes and avalanche safety.
Getting to the Swiss Alps
Airports, trains, the motorway vignette and car transport.
Where to stay
Which base fits which route.
Best time to visit
Seasons, autumn closures and weather by altitude.
Good to know
Short notes that help you plan with fewer surprises.
Swiss francs
The currency is the Swiss franc, and every price on this site is given in CHF.
Tickets
The Swiss Travel Pass covers a lot of transport, but not every mountain railway.
Swiss Travel Pass →Reservations
Panoramic trains need a separate seat reservation even with a pass. For the Glacier Express the reservation opens up to 93 days ahead and the ticket up to 180 days ahead.
Glacier Express →Driving
The motorway vignette costs CHF 40 and the 2026 version is valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027. In the Swiss Alps a train is usually the simpler way to reach the mountains.
Getting there →Weather and operation
Cable cars and mountain railways can change or stop in storms. Check live weather and operating notices on the day of your trip.
Seasons and weather →Frequently asked questions
Is this the official website of Switzerland Tourism or the railways?
No. Swiss-Alps.org is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of Switzerland Tourism, Swiss Federal Railways, the Jungfrau Railways, the Rhaetian Railway or any cable car company, and it is not connected to a hotel, tour operator or ticket seller.
Which region should I start with?
Most first trips begin in the Bernese Oberland, because Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are easy to reach by train. Valais, central Switzerland and Graubünden each need their own days and should not be treated as the same area.
Do I need a car in the Swiss Alps?
No. Trains, buses, boats and cable cars reach most of the places in this guide. If you do drive, you need the CHF 40 motorway vignette, and in Zermatt private cars stop at Täsch.
Is every attraction included in the Swiss Travel Pass?
No. The pass covers trains, buses and boats, while many mountain railways give only a reduction. Check each ride before you buy.
Is the Glacier Express running now?
Not at the moment. The seasonal pause lasts from 11 October to 4 December 2026, and the winter timetable starts on 5 December 2026.