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Terracotta rooftops shimmering in the Tuscan sun, the Arno river flowing calmly beneath centuries-old bridges and the sound of footsteps on cobbled streets. The same cobblestones artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo once walked on, but now worn in time. The lovely smell of freshly baked pastries and the rich aroma of espresso fills the warm Mediterranean air. Welcome to what’s in store on this Florence Italy 3-Day itinerary!

Italy is one of those countries that boasts a lot of world-famous cities (so many, I feel bad for other countries). How about a world-famous city in a world-famous province? Florence, in Tuscany, ticks all the boxes! This city was once home to many of the great Renaissance artists of Italy and today, centuries later, you can still feel their presence and influence everywhere you go.

Luckily we have our good friend David who’s visited Florence, fallen in love, and written a fantastic Florence Italy 3-Day Itinerary!

Psst: Planning a trip to Italy & Europe? Here are some other helpful posts:

Florence Italy 3-day Itinerary FAQs

If you’ve never been to Florence – or Firenze as it’s called in Italian – you probably have some questions! Here is some basic info you’ll need for your Florence itinerary:

What is the best time to visit Florence? 

Spring and autumn are probably the best time for most people. Especially for first-time visitors Temperatures are very pleasant, between 60 and 70 Fahrenheit, while the city is not packed with other tourists. It will be busy, but nothing like the crowds you’ll experience in summer. 

If you can’t handle crowds, or you love your photos to have as little strangers in them as possible, then winter is perfect for you. Temperatures in winter range between 30s and 50s Fahrenheit.

But don’t cancel your plans for summer yet! I prefer to visit Florence in summer! Yes, it’s busy and there are queues to get in the attractions and sites, but it’s hot and sunny. It creates the quintessential hazy skies and slightly dimmed light I love so much about Italy, which is great if you’re into photography. The nights are warm too, ideal for a late-night, romantic stroll through the city.

How Do I get to Florence?

Florence is really well-connected. It has its own airport with flights to and from major destinations in Europe. Florence also has great railway connections with Pisa, Perugia, Bologna, Milan, Rome and Genoa. 

If you fly in from the US or Canada, you will most likely fly to Rome, Milan or Bologna, then take a train to Florence.

How do I get around Florence?

Getting around Florence is a piece of tiramisu. You can walk from one end of the city to the other in about 30 minutes. (In a straight line that is! There is so much to see, that this is a challenge). Either way, you really don’t need to use public transport, unless you can’t walk longer distances. In that case, there are bus and tram services, as well as taxis. 

Bus routes C1, C2, C3 and C4 take you around the city of Florence. Lines 12 and 13 go up the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo. There are three tram routes, but they don’t go through the city center. Take them if you want to get out of the city (but really, Florence is not a place you would want to leave). Buy your tram or bus tickets at newsagents and tobacco kiosks (it’s random, I know), or get a public transport pass from them if you’re going to use the buses and trams a lot. This pass is called Agile 10 and is good for ten 90-minute journeys.

Florence Italy 3-day Itinerary

Florence is not an enormous city, but there is plenty to see and do for a first-visit weekend getaway. This city will call you back for more though (I know it worked its magic on me!). But first things first: time to explore Florence with this essential three-day itinerary for first-time visitors!

• Note: We have assigned days of the week to this itinerary to be a weekend itinerary. This itinerary can of course work for weekdays as well, just make sure you check that businesses are open on the days you plan on visiting.

Florence Italy 3-day Itinerary: Friday Arrival

Once you’ve made your way from the airport to Florence Santa Maria Novella train station, make your way to the hotel, freshen up and get back out as soon as you can. Don’t do too much today, but definitely take in this new destination. A walk through the city is just perfect for some gentle sightseeing and getting your bearings. 

Dinner at Trattoria Mario

You must be hungry by now. It’s probably quite late for dinner, but Italians love to dine late and take their time. Join them! (When in Rome… oh, never mind.)

Trattoria Mario is a very typical Italian restaurant. Eating here is like being in someone’s house, where your Italian uncle (Mario) has prepared a delicious meal. How fresh is the food? Well the menu changes every day. But according to them “you will always find the Fiorentina Steak, our super Ragù and the Ribollita“! This spot is a great introduction to Florentine cuisine!

Saturday, Day 1: Artistic Delights

Today you’ll get to see art. A lot of art! In my case, it was probably more art in a day than I’ve ever seen in my life, but that’s a story for later. The entire city of Florence is like a museum. There’s history and art everywhere. It’s a bit like Rome, but much more concentrated.

Meet David at the Galleria dell’Accademia

Start early to see a celebrity here. The moment you step into the Galleria dell’Accademia there is a buzz. The atmosphere is electric. People are here to see David, not me David the author, but the slightly more famous David! I’m talking about Michelangelo’s statue “David” of course. 

Tourists flock around the statue for a quick photo, while art lovers gaze at every detail of this stunning statue. You can see people are excited, but play it cool because it’s still a museum. There’s no doubt about it, David is the star of this gallery. Time to leave then? Absolutely not! There is a lot more to see at Galleria dell’Academia.

You should explore the rest of the gallery. It’s full of Michelangelo’s lesser-known works and unfinished sculptures. It makes you wonder why he hadn’t managed to finish them. Or how long they have been standing in his workshop, exactly the way you can see them today. It’s like a treasure chest full of Renaissance art, including works by Sandro Botticelli and Andrea del Sarto!

Galleria dell’Academia gets busy, as it is so popular. Get skip-the-line tickets here (unless you’re someone who finds immense satisfaction in queueing for some reason).

Climb the Duomo di Firenze

I’m a bit weird with cathedrals. Once you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, right? I feel bad for having this thought because every cathedral is an awe-inspiring structure that took so much effort and time to build. Still, they are all a bit the same. Ssh, don’t tell anyone!

The Cathedral of Florence is different (woohoo!). It’s one of the few cathedrals that really stands out to me. It’s the one I easily remember as well. (Brain! Give me a picture of the cathedral of Florence! Ah yes, the one with the big dome of course!)  

The first thing you’ll notice is the enormous central dome. The next thing is the size of the entire structure. When Florence Cathedral was built in 1436, it was the largest church in the world. And even now we have modern building techniques, the dome still remains the biggest structure ever built from bricks. Impressive!

What makes the cathedral stand out from others – for me at least – is the facade. It’s not just one color. The beautiful white marble contrasts with the dark green windows and edges, which makes it look different to any cathedral I’ve ever seen.

Back to that enormous dome…you can climb it! You should climb it! I have to admit, the way to the top is not easy. The staircases are steep and very narrow at times. Give it a miss if you’re not fit or claustrophobic (or if you’re scared of heights, of course). Once you’re at the top, you’ll be able to see the whole city of Florence and its surroundings. An unforgettable view!

Buy skip-the-line tickets for Duomo di Firenze before you go, unless you love waiting in line (yeah, me neither).

Lunch at I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti

Apostrophes in weird places, I know, but the actual restaurant is great! You’re in Florence, so have a sandwich for lunch! A sandwich you say? Hell yes! Think sandwich, but made with freshly baked focaccia bread, fresh cold meats, the best tomatoes and vegetables. Amazing!

The people who work at I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti are super friendly and will find and make you your new favorite sandwich in no time! It’s a takeaway restaurant, although they put some chairs outside sometimes, so you can eat your sandwich. Expect queues, but also expect the best sandwiches you can get in Florence!

Experience Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria is not just a square you stroll across and call it a day. There is so much to see and do here, that you can easily spend a few hours here. Some of the things you have to see in the piazza are:

• Visit Palazzo Vecchio – You can’t miss this building. It’s huge! It was built in 1299 and modified throughout the centuries. Nowadays it’s the town hall and you can visit it to admire all the art that covers the walls and ceilings. I would recommend a guided tour, so you can learn more about its secrets. This old palace is full of secret passages, built by the influential Medici family to escape their enemies.
• Admire the statues – Basically, Piazza della Signoria is an open-air sculpture gallery. There’s a replica of Michelangelo’s David, “Perseus with the head of Medusa” by Cellini and “Hercules and Cacus” by Baccio Bandinelli (which was actually commissioned to Michelangelo, but the large block didn’t make it to Florence in time).
• Peep into Loggia dei Lanzi – On the corner of the square, you can see a big shelter. This was originally used to lodge the German pikemen of Grand Duke Cosimo I. Now it is a shelter for sculptures such as “The Marzocco Lion” and “Hercules and Nessus”.
• Fountain of Neptune – You won’t be surprised that even the fountain on Piazza della Signoria is adorned with beautiful sculptures of mythological gods and creatures. The fountain was designed by Baccio Bandinelli, but made by Bartolomeo Ammannati in 1574. It took 14 years to make.
• Get Hot Chocolate from a Cafe – People-watching is best done from a terrace of one of the cafes on the square. Enjoy a pastry and a cup of coffee, while you watch the world go by. My favorite is Caffè Rivoire, which is famous for its hot chocolate. Italian hot chocolate is rich and smooth and this one is perfection. Do you only drink hot chocolate in winter? Well, you shouldn’t!

Get your dose of Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi is one of the most famous galleries in the world and a must-see when you’re in Florence. At the beginning of this post I mentioned you will see more art than you’ll ever see in your life and I meant the Uffizi. Storytime!

The first time I visited the Uffizi was with a travel partner (ok, it was my mom). I flew her in for a weekend in Florence. I wanted to show her the Uffizi because I knew she loves paintings. We spent most of the day there though it was 90 Fahrenheit outside and probably not much cooler inside the Uffizi. At some point, all the paintings started to look the same to me, but that’s what you do for your mom right? 

Just when I couldn’t take it anymore we finally left. As we enjoyed a well-deserved coffee on Piazza della Signoria she said, “Sorry, I couldn’t take it any longer. I love a good painting, but that was way too much. I didn’t know you were THAT into art!” You. Didn’t. Know. Whaaat? We still laugh about that now.

So yes, please visit the Uffizi, but make sure you don’t spend all day there. Unless you’re really into art of course (like my mom!). Get your head around this: the Uffizi has more than 100 rooms with over 2,200 paintings. You need a plan! Here’s a plan!

Must-sees in the Uffizi:

• “Primavera” by Sandro Botticelli
• “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli
• “Madonna of the Goldfinch” by Raphael
• “Annunciation” by Leonardo da Vinci
• “Madonna with the Long Neck” by Parmigianino
• “Venus of Urbino” by Titian
• “Doni Tondo” by Michelangelo
• “Medusa” by Caravaggio
• “Laocoön and His Sons” by Baccio Bandinelli

If you want to see the best artworks, while learning more about the paintings, I recommend booking this guided tour of the Uffizi on GetYourGuide.

Walk across Ponte Vecchio at sunset

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is the only medieval bridge in Florence that wasn’t destroyed in World War II. When it was time for the Nazis to retreat from Florence, they blew up all the bridges across the river. All except Ponte Vecchio, because Hitler liked the look of this elegant bridge. This is also where he made the Pact of Steel with Mussolini, so he saved the bridge.

Of course, Ponte Vecchio has been through a lot more before that. After all, it was built in 1345, so it really is an Old Bridge! Back in its glory days, there were houses, shops and taverns alongside the bridge, bustling with vendors. Later on, it was mainly tanners and butchers that worked here. When the Medici family took over Florence in the 16th century, this changed.

They had to cross the bridge to get from town to their home – Palazzo Pitti – and couldn’t stand all the mess and smells of the butchered meat. The Grand Duke ordered that the tanners and butchers were moved from the bridge, to be replaced by jewelers and goldsmiths. Still today, the bridge is adorned with gold shops.

If you time it right, try to arrive at Ponte Vecchio at the end of the day, when the light gets softer. Photographers call this ‘golden hour’. This is when I think the bridge is at its most beautiful: on a sunny day, about an hour before the sun goes down. Then walk across it.

When you see the bridge from a distance, look for the small windows at the top level. This is where the Medici family built a secret passage, so they could escape and look out for their enemies. This enclosed passage is called the Vasari Corridor and it has recently re-opened for tours. It covers almost three-quarter miles, from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti.

• Pro-tip: If you want to have a great view of the entire bridge across the Arno River, head to Ponte Santa Trinita, which is the next bridge west of Ponte Vecchio. You can see Ponte Vecchio in all its glory from here. 

Dinner at La Buchetta

La Buchetta is an old-school Italian bistro with a matching menu. Expect to find classic pasta dishes, risotto, ravioli and steak dishes. I had gnocchi here that was so delicious, not to mention they edible flowers they garnish the dishes with! Try the Tiramisu for dessert. You won’t be disappointed! 

I’m setting the bar high here, because I had one of the best meals in Italy here. There I said it! Don’t miss out!

Have a night out

Florence is perhaps not the right city if you want to go clubbing until early in the morning, but an evening walk and the numerous bars make up for it. You’re in Italy – no, even better, you’re in Tuscany – so a glass of good wine is never far away! Or cocktails of course. You have to try a Negroni when you’re in the city it was invented in. 

Three of the best bars in Florence:

• Mad Souls and Spirits – I can recommend this bar for its quirky, crafted cocktails. No fancy, mainstream drinks here, but just really great cocktails. They have their own version of a Negroni called the Negroni Di Provincia (De)nuclearizzata.
• Diorama – Italy is not all about wine. It has a rich craft beer culture, and they all seem to be sold in this fantastic little bar.
• Enoteca Alessi – This bar looks like a wine cellar. The place is stacked floor to ceiling with wine bottles. Lovely place to sit down and have a glass!

Florence Italy 3-day Itinerary: Sunday, Day 2 – Cultural and Historic Wonders

Spend today exploring more of the iconic, historic buildings of Florence. Dive deeper into Florentine cuisine and discover one of Florence’s most authentic neighborhoods. 

Visit Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens

Start your morning visiting Pitti Palace, one of Florence’s iconic buildings. This palace started out as Luca Pitti’s residence. He was a merchant – who was remarkably good at it – who decided to have his house built here. He died before it was finished. The dynasties that lived here after, the Medici, the Hapsburg-Lorraine and the Savoy, finished and extended the building to the enormous palace it is now.

It now houses a few museums. On the ground floor is the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, also known as the Silver Museum. This is where the Medici’s silverware, jewelry and porcelain collection is displayed. The Palatine Gallery is on the first floor, which showcases a collection of paintings from the 16th and 17th Century. Go all the way to the top for the Gallery of Modern Art. Throughout the building, you’ll see original furnishings, so it’s easy to imagine what it would be like to live here.

Behind Palazzo Pitti are the Boboli Gardens. Go for a stroll (or a hike!) on these beautifully landscaped grounds. Imagine living here and having all this lavish space to yourself. The 111 acres are enough to spend hours exploring every corner of these royal gardens. Just a Pitti you don’t have more time (I’ll see myself out).

Make the most of your morning visiting Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens by booking a guided tour.

Lunch at Mangiafuoco Bracerie

It’s difficult to order any food in Italy and be disappointed. Italian cuisine is all about fairly simple meals with few, but high-quality fresh ingredients. Tuscan cuisine is a very authentic cuisine, where popular dishes that were originally cooked at home made their way into the restaurants. Mangiafuoco Bracerie is an authentic restaurant where you can try local specialties.

For lunch, you should try one of the following typical Florentine meals:

• Pappa al Pomodoro: a rustic tomato soup, made with Tuscan ribbed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and basil. The soup is thickened with stale bread. More of a tomato porridge than soup, this is a delicious and perfect option for lunch.
• Ribollita: another hearty soup (again, more like a stew), made with vegetables, beans and bread. It’s often made the day before it’s served, to give it a rich flavor. 
• Sandwiches: a sandwich you say? Hell yes! Think sandwich, but made with freshly baked focaccia bread, fresh cold meats, the best tomatoes and vegetables. Amazing!

Shop local at the San Lorenzo market

I love local markets. Seeing products and food for sale, gives you a very good idea of the city’s local culture. The San Lorenzo Market is so good that it must be on your list of sights to see. 

San Lorenzo consists of two different markets. There is an indoor market, called Mercato Centrale, and an outdoor market in the surrounding streets. Mercato Centrale is where you want to go for everything food, whether it’s ingredients or freshly prepared ready-to-eat goodness. Dessert anyone?

The outdoor market has pretty much everything for sale. It’s a must if you want to bring some souvenirs back home. Whether it’s a Florence fridge magnet, or a stylish Italian leather bag to rock on a night out back home, you’ll find it here. 

Anyway, start your San Lorenzo adventure outside. It’s so nice to be outside, strolling past the stalls. It’s a welcome change from all the museums and palaces of Florence. The museums are beautiful, but you can easily spend hours inside. And there are a lot of them in Florence. I get it!

You can easily spend the whole afternoon exploring the outdoor market, so enjoy the sun, the fresh air and the atmosphere at the market. The only challenge this afternoon is not spending all your money on the first few vendors you see. It pays to compare prices farther down the streets!

Slowly work your way to the Mercato Centrale, where you can see fruit and vegetable vendors at work, as well as butchers and ice cream makers. You won’t go hungry here!

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Enjoy an aperitivo at Mercato Centrale

Feeling hungry? Remember, Italians eat late, but they manage to do so because of the aperitivo, which are basically small, bite-sized portions of dishes. This is normally served between 5.30-8.30 The Mercato Centrale has a food court, which is perfect for creating your own aperitivo. 

Order a glass of wine and choose one of the small aperitivo items to go with it for €10, or order it all separately. Can’t choose? Don’t worry, you can always order more food. Or have the same wine and food again, of course.

One to try is bruschetta with lampredotto, a popular Florentine delicacy is the fourth stomach of a cow, slowly cooked in a vegetable broth. It’s then chopped-up and put on a bit of bread with salsa verde on top. If you can stomach it (pun intended), this is as typical Florentine as it gets. It’s absolutely delicious and tender! (But then I’m the kind of person who eats then thinks.)

Leave a bit of room for dinner, which is just about…now.

Go for a stroll through the city

Yes, it is about time for dinner, but it can wait. Italians eat late, remember? Maybe let your food down before you – well – are going to have more delicious food. This is the perfect time of day to go for a stroll, without really going somewhere. This is a favorite Italian activity, to just go for a walk after a meal.

The sun has just set. As Florence slowly gets darker, the city becomes even more atmospheric. The cobblestone streets light up under the yellow streetlights. Just walk and explore the streets, or walk across Ponte Vecchio to see how different it looks when it’s dark. Or see how beautifully the Cathedral is lit up at night. It’s almost impossible, but Florence looks even better in the evening!

Dinner at Angel

Angel Roofbar & Dining is located on the roof terrace of Hotel Calimala. The rooftop has three levels, with a restaurant, two bars (they make a mean Negroni!) and a patio with breath-taking 360º views. I mean it, this must be one of the best views of Florence. From here, you’re looking over the rooftops of the city, with that majestic dome of the cathedral sticking out as if it was right next to you. 

Even if you’ve eaten a bit too much at the Central Market aperitivo, try to order at least a light dinner. The food here is brilliant, with a small but delicious choice of cold and hot Southern Mediterranean dishes!

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Florence Italy 3-day Itinerary: Monday, Day 3 – Oltrarno and departure

Ok, you’re leaving today, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have time to visit Oltrarno. This is only the coolest neighborhood in Florence! Think similar old buildings, but with greenery, parks and art mixed in. 

It’s full of artisan boutique shops, trendy places to eat, art galleries and nature everywhere. It’s a short walk from the city center. Explore freely, as there is enough to discover. Oltrarno runs between the Santo Spirito Basilisk and San Frediano and it’s easy to walk the whole neighborhood.

One place you can’t miss is Piazzale Michelangelo. This square/viewpoint is the perfect place to just sit on the steps with a coffee, and enjoy a great view of the city, with the sun on your face.

If you have time for lunch, I can recommend All’Antico Vinaio, a legendary Florentine sandwich shop! Here you can have beef, salami, prosciutto, and so much more between foccacia that is fresh, crispy and soft. There may be a line – but it’s worth it.

Enjoy this great Florentine staple while you take in la dolce vita of your last afternoon in Firenze!

Where to Stay in Florence

On a trip to Florence, you should really stay in the city center. It gives you a much more authentic experience because you’re right in the middle of all the places of interest. Florence has a certain vibe. It’s a brilliant blend of art, history, culture and timeless beauty. You can experience this best by leaving your hotel and walking right into it.

The best places to stay in Florence:

• Oro Nero Florence – This property offers small but stylish suites with a bedroom, a kitchenette and a seating area. There was a bottle of wine waiting in the room for us (a very welcome welcome!)
• Palazzo Testa – Excellent bed & breakfast in a villa. The rooms are super modern and really comfortable. It’s right in the city center too!
• Hotel David – This is a no-nonsense yet stylish hotel that feels very homely. The staff are superstars and will happily help you with any questions about your trip.

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3-DAY FLORENCE ITINERARY SUMMARY

Friday Arrival:

• Dinner at Trattoria Mario | Address: Via Rosina 2r, angolo Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123, Firenze

Saturday, Day 1:

• Meet David at the Galleria dell’Accademia | Address: Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50129 Firenze
• Climb the Cathedral of Florence | Address: Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze
• Lunch at I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti | Address: Via dei Cimatori, 23, 50122 Firenze
• Get a dose of Renaissance Art at Uffizi Gallery | Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze
• Walk across Ponte Vecchio at sunset | Address: Ponte Vecchio, Firenze
• Dinner at La Buchetta | Address: Via dei Benci, 3, 50122 Firenze
• Have a night out | Choose your venue

Sunday, Day 2: 

Monday, Day 3 & Departure:

• Visit the cool neighborhood of Oltrarno | Address: Between Santo Spirito and San Frediano
• Lunch at All’Antico Vinaio | Address: Via de’ Neri 65R, 50122, Firenze

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Two Super Detailed Winter Europe Itineraries (for Two Weeks)

About Our Contributor: David Breeker loves visiting Italy. The mix of art, history, food and vibe makes Florence one of his favorite cities that he keeps coming back to. 

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Our Top Travel Tips & Resources

Here are our favorite travel tips & resources for saving money and planning travel logistics! For more tips, check out our travel tips resource page or our guide to planning a trip.

• Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
• Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they’ve got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we’re not fans of Airbnb’s unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
• Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it – visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
• Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
• Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor’s office or a walk-in pharmacy.
• Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local’s perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
• Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
• Luggage Storage: Whenever we’re checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we’re running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
• VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you’re connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
• What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!

Please double check what’s open before your trip and follow all local mask guidelines to keep yourself and others safe! Also, ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Christmas markets in cobblestone streets, historic sandstone buildings, magical lights, storytellers, a stunning medieval castle and probably the highest concentration of the best whisky in the world to warm you up. Welcome to Edinburgh in the winter!

Scotland’s capital city is a special one. Edinburgh has been the capital since the 15th century and when you walk through the cobblestone streets, you can just feel its history. The sandstone buildings, with their typical sandy color (genius observation right here!), turns to a dark brown when it’s raining (pretty much all the time!), which contributes to the old feel of the place. 

Popular with visitors, Edinburgh can feel really busy in summertime. Especially in some famous spots, like the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle and the museums. Add the festivals and events to that, and this small city can get very crowded. That’s why I like to visit in winter. The atmosphere is magical and mysterious at the same time, you feel like you have the city to yourself, and I’ve always had an amazing time!

Luckily we have our good friend David who knows all about the best things to do in Edinburgh in the winter, so take it away, David!

Psst: Planning a trip to Europe in winter? Here are some other helpful posts:

Oh hey, guess what? We’ve created a printable e-book version of our Two Super Detailed Winter Europe Itineraries (for Two Weeks) post available fo’ free! It’s a solid 30 pages of travel tips, printable packing lists, and all the itinerary details you need to plan your Europe in winter trip. Sign up below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox:

Edinburgh in the Winter FAQs

Convinced? Let’s get you sorted with some useful information to prepare for your trip, and then I’ll share some things you must experience in Edinburgh in the winter (hope you like whisky!).

Does it get cold in Edinburgh in the winter?

Yes, but not uncomfortably cold. The temperatures in Edinburgh in the winter typically range between 33 and 44 degrees F, which is very manageable with warm clothes and boots. It does freeze sometimes, but it’s not very common. A white Christmas is pretty rare, but you can expect snow in January and February.

Not too bad then, to visit in winter? Well, no, but then there’s the rain. It rains a lot in Edinburgh – at any time of year – and the weather changes more often than I change my underwear. So come prepared with at least a good waterproof, warm jacket. Just knowing what to expect really helps.

I f*cking hate rain. I get very grumpy the moment it starts to pour (my friends call me Rain Man). Still, I love Edinburgh, and that shows how incredible this city is!

How to get around in Edinburgh In the Winter

Edinburgh is a pretty small city. Public transport is good, but most places of interest are within walking distance. If you stay in the town center, you can get by with just using the occasional bus – when it’s raining a lot for example and you really need to go somewhere. Otherwise just find a pub and have a drink, like the locals.

The buses run 24 hours a day, which is great if you get stuck in said pub and walking back is not an option anymore. (“Here, try this whisky after the one you’re drinking now.”). There is a tramline with 15 stops that runs between Edinburgh Airport and the New Town. The airport is 8 miles from the city, so this is a very convenient way to get to and from the airport. It runs every 15 minutes, between 6:45 AM and 10:45 PM.

14 Enchanting Things to do in Edinburgh in the Winter

Now you know everything to prepare for your trip, all you need to do is pack, get on a plane, (re-)watch Braveheart and shout “Freedoooommm” from the top of your lungs when you get off in Edinburgh. Here are 14 magical things to do in Edinburgh in the winter.

Get into the spirit at the Christmas markets

The traditional Christmas market is right in the historic center, with 70 stalls and funfair rides spread across the city from East Princes Street Gardens to George Street. Christmas in Edinburgh is magical because you’re surrounded by medieval buildings, with yellow lights reflecting off the cobbled streets, and Edinburgh Castle proudly sitting in the background…it doesn’t get much better than this!

The Christmas market stalls are mostly run by independent, local companies. It is the perfect place to find some original presents to put under the tree. The food is as varied as it is delicious. From hot pies and pulled beef subs, to pad thai and Peruvian empanadas, you won’t be disappointed. 

Sweet treats include churros, waffles and chocolates. To keep warm, there’s mulled wine, local whisky and (non-dairy) hot chocolate. The handmade hot pies from Jarvis Pickle are to die for!

The Christmas market is open from mid-November until early Janaury, from 10:00 AM till 10:00 PM. 

Experience Hogmanay

If you are visiting Edinburgh around New Year’s Eve, you are in for a treat! The New Year’s celebration in Edinburgh is called Hogmanay. It is a festival like I’ve never experienced before, most of all because there’s so much going on. Remember I wrote that Edinburgh is quiet in winter? Well, forget that for Hogmanay, as this is a massive celebration!

Hogmanay starts on December 29th and lasts into the New Year. There are a lot of different ticketed and free events going on. The main events are the torch procession, the New Year’s Eve street party and the concert in the gardens, all with separate tickets. The good thing is that you can opt in or out of events, because Hogmanay can get a bit hectic. 

The torch procession (the medieval fire kind) is a must. Imagine being in a dark medieval city and seeing people dressed up as Shetland Vikings leading a procession of more than 8,500 torches, literally lighting up the city. It’s breathtaking! You can participate by buying a torch for $20 and walking along (some of the proceeds goes towards helping homeless folks), or just watch it from the side. Either way, it will be an experience you will never forget!

Going to one of the street parties to lead in the new year is another event you should attend. Buildings are lit up in colorful lights, there’s music, singing and dancing, while enormous, mysterious creatures tower above the crowds. This all culminates in the countdown, followed by a spectacular fireworks display over Edinburgh Castle.

You’ll find all the information about Hogmanay on the official website.

Loony Dook in the Firth of Forth

The amazing New Year’s event of Hogmanay is immediately followed by another event, which is – in my opinion – completely bonkers. Dook is Scottish for ‘dip’, the Firth of Forth is an estuary with freezing water. You see where this is going, right?

Started in 1986 by a few locals in a pub, who had the brilliant idea to dive in the Firth of Forth as a hangover cure (hard to avoid after Hogmanay!). “If you do it, I’ll do it”. You can imagine, it didn’t take long before everybody joined in, and on January 1st, 1987, the first Loony Dook took place with a small group of people.

Skip forward to now, and the Loony Dook is an enormous event with thousands of Dookers jumping in the Firth of Forth every year, in fancy dress (in costumes to the American readers!). There is a pre-Dook parade that goes to the water, where participants are welcomed by bagpipers and a warm bowl of porridge. 

Since 2023 the Loony Dook has been dropped from the official Hogmanay celebrations, but it’s still a very popular event, just now organized by the local community. At least it’s free now, so you’ll save $20 and can still freeze your ass off.

Rather stay in bed and enjoy your delicious hotel breakfast? Yeah, me too! Want to participate and find out if it really cures your hangover? (I reckon you’ll find out you’re a masochist!) Head here for more information about Loony Dook.

Warm up in a pub

Scottish pubs are lovely places, where you can enjoy some food and a drink, in a homely setting. Pub is short for public house after all (and synonym to drinking loads in Edinburgh). In winter they are even better! With the log fire on, they are warm and cozy refuges where you can meet up with friends and “coorie doon”, Scottish for “snuggle up”. No friends? No problem! The locals are always up for a drink and a laugh (in that order!).

The best pubs in Edinburgh:

• The Jolly Judge – This pub is in a basement and it’s tiny. It’s a no-frills pub, with a brown wooden interior, but there’s something about it. Just a lovely place to bunker down and have a drink by the log fire.
• Sandy Bell’s – This pub has been there for more than 100 years and is popular amongst Scottish folk musicians. What I love is that you can just sit down with a beer or a malt whisky, while musicians get together and play spontaneously. 
• Moonwake Beer Co. – If you like local beers, don’t skip Moonwake. This microbrewery has some excellent beers on offer, as well as sustainable wines, all served in their colorful, industrial taproom. The milk stout is excellent!

Visit Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh’s best-known attraction is Edinburgh Castle. The castle is pretty much always visible from the city, as it’s built on the top of Castle Rock, an inactive volcano (you can’t really build a castle on an active one anyway). It was built in 1103. Imagine all the things that happened and the people who lived here in the last 920 years! This place has a lot of stories to tell.

You can visit the castle by yourself. It’s a short and fairly steep walk up the castle, but it’s worth it! The castle itself is very impressive, as you follow the route through Portcullis Gate, Argyle Battery, Lang Stairs, Argyle Tower and various exhibitions. Once you’re on the castle walls, you’re treated to beautiful, wintery panoramas of Edinburgh and its surroundings.

If you have time, I would recommend booking the 2-hour Highlights Tour on Get Your Guide. It gives a lot more depth to your visit, as the guide will tell you lively stories about the castle. The price included a skip-the-line ticket, which is great value and a fantastic experience! 

Climb up Calton Hill

It’s very easy to get amazing winter views of the city from Edinburgh Castle. The only problem is that one significant landmark is missing from the views…the castle! From the top of Calton Hill you’ll get great views of Edinburgh with the castle in the background. The National Monument is also on this hill, which looks a bit like a Greek temple.

Calton Hill, sounds like hard work? It isn’t! There is a staircase from Regent Road that takes you up the south side in five minutes! You can also walk up the north side via Royal Terrace. I like walking up stairs, so I climb up that way, then walk back down the Northside. The best time is around sunset, if you get a dry, not too cloudy day.

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Visit Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace, also known as Holyroodhouse, is right at the bottom of Royal Mile, the main shopping street (I wonder how long that street is?). The Royal Mile is the street that connects Edinburgh Castle at the top, with Holyrood Palace at the bottom, about a mile apart (what?).

Holyrood Palace is the official residence of the King when he’s in Scotland. You can visit it all year round. An entry ticket costs around $23 and gives you access to some of the beautiful rooms (sorry if you’re a fan, not King Charles’ bedroom), collection of art and the lovely gardens.

I love to visit this palace in winter. The whole place is decorated with Christmas trees, lights, wreaths and garlands. It makes it very Christmassy, especially when the grounds are covered in snow.

Hike to Arthur’s Seat

This is the last activity where you have to climb, I promise! Arthur’s Seat is the biggest hill on the eastern edge of Edinburgh, and the views from there are spectacular, especially in winter. You start the walk from Holyroodhouse. It’s a bit of a hike, with a steep, tricky climb at the end. It makes it even harder when it’s raining or freezing (scrap that, just assume the path is always slippery). How hard is it though? Well, I only said “f*ck this, I’m going back” twice, which probably means it’s moderate level for most people.

The problem is that the official path gets icy in winter. To prevent slipping and saying “f*ck this, I’m going back”, it’s better to carry on walking on the grass. Closer to the top, there are some chain-railings to hold on to.

The 360-degree view is absolutely worth it though. You can see the entire city from here, with the castle placed majestically in the middle. The waters of the Firth of Forth behind the city, with the remarkable Forth Bridge. Turn around and you’ll see the beautiful surrounding hills. Climbing Arthur’s seat really feels like you’ve been on a real adventure. And there’s always a whisky to warm up after!

Scotch Whisky Experience

You may have figured out by now that Scotland is famous for its high-quality malt whisky (this is not a typo: whisky produced in Scotland must legally be spelled without the ‘e’). That’s why you can’t miss out on the  Scotch Whisky Experience while you’re in Edinburgh! This museum shows you all about how whisky is made, in an interactive way, with an entertaining guide.

This is a great experience in winter, especially cuddling up in the immersive 180° presentation of Scotland’s dramatic countryside (without the rain!). The museum is warm, but the whisky is what keeps you really warm. It’s very common in Edinburgh to enjoy a dram of whisky on a cold day. It warms you up like nothing else!

You will see a lot of whisky! And I mean thousands of different bottles. Luckily you get to try some too. You’ll notice that there are sweet, smoky and fruity aromas. Perhaps you’ll find your new favorite. Good thing there’s a shop too, where you can buy a bottle to take home. How convenient!

Feast on a full Scottish breakfast

So you’ve found your new favorite drink at the Scotch Whisky Experience, went to a pub after to drink more of the stuff, and now you woke up feeling a bit hungover? (Hey, I don’t blame you at all. These things happen!) You need a full Scottish breakfast. The best hangover cure in the world! Hope you’re hungry.

A full Scottish breakfast is a good old fry up, that tastes even better in winter, as it’s so comforting and filling. This fatty meal is what people needed in the cold, wet winters of Scotland. This is what you get on your plate: a square Lorne sausage, pork sausages, baked beans, fried eggs, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, black pudding (blood sausage), a slice of haggis, tattie (potato) scones and buttered toast. (Yes, that’s a sh*tload of food!)

This is where you can get the best Scottish breakfasts in Edinburgh:

• Butternut Squash – This lovely little café has an all-day breakfast too, with massive portions (you know, just in case a normal full Scottish isn’t enough). Quite a few veggie and vegan options for breakfast too!
• The Urban Fox – Friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere and a full breakfast with all the bells and whistles. What else do you need? The portions are huge and the food is delicious. They do a full veggie breakfast too.
• Edinburgh Larder – Winning awards such as “the best cafe in Edinburgh”, this is a wonderful place to pop in for a warm, hearty Full Scottish Breakfast! Located in Old Town, come try their farm fresh food and they even take reservations, so you know you can get in easily!

Celebrate Burns Night & Try Haggis

If you happen to be in Edinburgh on January 25th, you are in luck! This is when the Scottish people celebrate Burns Nights, to celebrate the life of Robert Burns, the author of many famous Scottish poems. His life is still celebrated every year, more than 200 years after his death, when a few friends came together to commemorate him. They had a meal of Haggis and performed his work.

Nowadays, Burns Night hasn’t changed much. It normally starts with a reading of Burns’ “Address to a Haggis”, the haggis is then served on a silver platter, for everyone to enjoy. Officially, a bagpiper plays it in. After the meal, more poems will be read, and there is live music and dance.

Haggis is a Scottish national dish. Even if it’s not on Burns Night, you will have many opportunities to try it. Whether you want to, is a different thing. The first time I tried it was on Burns Night. It was a delicious, meaty meal and I absolutely loved it. I didn’t know what it was made of…

You might want to sit down for this one: Haggis is a mixture of sheep’s liver, lungs and heart, suet, onion, oatmeal, stock and spices. This is all packaged in a sheep’s stomach and cooked. It’s served with neeps and tatties (mashed turnip and potatoes). If you’re not keen on Haggis (which might be the case now), there are other Scottish meals you can try on Burns Night, or perhaps a vegetarian version of Haggis.

Want to celebrate Burns Night? Best way is to book a table at one of the venues, for a three-course Burns supper, poetry and live music. Great venues are Ghillie Dhu, Prestonfield House or Whiski Rooms.

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Wintery walk in Dean Village

Dean Village is an area only a 10-minute walk away from Princes Street. It’s a small, secret oasis along the Water of Leith, used for water milling in the past. You can still see old millstones everywhere. I think this is Edinburgh’s most beautiful neighborhood, especially on a clear winter’s day, when the banks of the Water of Leith are covered in snow. The houses are made of sandstone too, but the roofs are pointy. The way the buildings are clustered together gives it a cozy feel, like you only get in small villages. It really feels like a magical place.

To get to Dean Village, start at the west end of Princes Street. From there, follow Queensferry Road until you see a small, steep road called Bell’s Brae on your left, just before you reach Dean Bridge. Walk down it to get to Well Court, which is the center of Dean Village. Follow the water back in the direction you came from to admire the picturesque Dean Bridge. You can’t miss it, it’s big!

Visit Victoria Street

One street you must see in Edinburgh in the winter is Victoria Street. This winding, cobblestone lane is one of Edinburgh’s most famous streets. It’s also UNESCO World Heritage. You can see why, the moment you get there. The street was designed by Thomas Hamilton, inspired by ancient Greek architecture, and named after Queen Victoria.

The facades are colorful, which contrasts beautifully with the dark skies and wet sandstone buildings of Edinburgh in the winter. The street is well-known for its abundance of independent boutique shops. If you are looking for unique Christmas presents to take home, this is where you’ll find them.

• The Whisky Shop – Need I say more? If you’re looking for a great local whisky – even limited editions, or any other local drinks, this is the shop to go to!
• The Enchanted Galaxy – Are you a Harry Potter fan? (who isn’t!) This shop is full of merchandise and other items that have to do with the wizard. Why have a Harry Potter shop here? Victoria Street was J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley!
• Armchair Books – I love old book shops, even though I hardly ever buy books. They are just beautiful and smell nice. Armchair Books is one of the smallest book shops I’ve ever seen, and it’s absolutely filled from floor to ceiling.

Get spooked in the underground vaults

A city as old as Edinburgh comes with a fascinating history and incredible stories. To make its history come to live, you need a brilliant storyteller. The guides on the Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard tour are amazing!

This sounds like a standard ghost tour, which you can find in pretty much every capital, but it’s not. The tour is more of a history tour, with some spooky stories (hope you don’t mind ghost dogs).  It will take you past some historic and haunted streets, to Greyfriars Graveyard (ok, that is spooky!), and you will go underground to visit the vaults, which are surprisingly warm in winter.

The underground vaults are situated under Old Town, supposedly haunted, and have loads of history. Back in the day, this is where homeless people took refuge. There were illegal gambling taverns, an illegal whisky distillery and apparently bodysnatchers used this underground city to store dead bodies (yeah, nice place!).

We didn’t see or hear any ghosts on this tour, but it’s one of those experiences that I won’t forget. It was so interesting to walk around secret places of the city, to hear the spooky stories. The guide made it so much fun and I’ve learned a lot!

You can book the Haunted Underground Vaults and Graveyard Tour on Get Your Guide.

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Where to stay in Edinburgh in the winter

Because Edinburgh is such a compact city, it makes sense to stay in the city center to have the best experience. Hotel prices are very reasonable in winter. You can get a double room in a great hotel for less than $100 a night, which is not bad at all for staying in a capital city.

The only choice you have to make is whether to stay in the Old Town or New Town. They are both right in the center of all the sights and activities. “What’s the difference?”, I hear you wonder. Well one is old, and the other is…(ok, I’ll get outta here). 

The Old Town is full of medieval history, with Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile. It has lots of secret alleyways and courtyards to explore. New Town feels more European, with wider streets and squares. This is where you’ll find striking Georgian architecture. It’s also better for restaurants and nightlife, in my humble opinion.

Here are three amazing hotels to stay in Edinburgh in the winter:

• Adagio Aparthotel Royal Mile – If you want the best of both worlds, and stay in a prime location, look no further. The apartments have a bedroom, small lounge and kitchenette. The hotel offers a self-service laundry room (great with all that rain) and serves a delicious breakfast. Double rooms around $100 a night.
• CoDE Pod The Court – Is budget your main driver? This quirky hostel in Old Town has modern dorms with pods. If you just need a good night’s sleep and breakfast –and you’re not claustrophobic!– this is a cheap option. Pods in dorms with shared bathrooms from around $25 a night.
• Roomzzz – This hotel offers spacious studios with a balcony, a little seating area and kitchen. It’s in a great location in New Town, with views of Edinburgh castle. The lobby has a coffee bar and grab & go style shop. Perfect for getting some snacks and drinks on your way out to explore the city. Studios from around $120 a night.

What to Pack for Edinburgh in the Winter

Ever heard that saying, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing?”  In addition to keeping you warm as you explore, weatherproof clothing is especially important if you’re going to do outdoor activities. So, be sure to bundle up in your favorite cozy sweaters, a warm coat, and waterproof winter boots! We’ve got all the details you need.

We recommend wearing a base layer underneath your clothing on cold days during your winter trip – that means that the layer closest to your skin should all be made from merino wool. Merino wool is super warm, incredibly soft (nope, it’s not itchy) and much more lightweight than synthetic fabrics, as well as being naturally antibacterial, which means you can re-wear it without the re-wear funk. If wool isn’t your thing, wear an equally insulating textile like hemp or silk. Avoid non-insulating fabrics like cotton, and remember that natural fibers are pretty much always better than manmade textiles like polyester.

After your base layer, you’ll need to add on at least 1 additional layer before your outerwear, like a pair of pants and a sweater. On REALLY cold days, where the temperatures are below 10 degrees, we recommend adding on another base layer before your clothing layer & outerwear. And if you’re doing winter activities, add a waterproof layer as well, like lined snow pants. For more winter travel packing tips, head over to our Cold Weather Packing Guide.

Here are our tried and true travel essentials for winter travel.

• Merino Wool Base Layer Leggings: These super comfy 100% wool leggings function just like long underwear. They’re made of soft, super-luxurious wool and make your legs feel like they’re being hugged by an extremely soft sheep. Jeremy has this pair. You’ll want to wear these underneath your pants on cold days during your trip.
• Merino Wool Base Layer Undershirt: Laying is crucial when it’s this cold, and you’ll need to start with a layer of insulation on top and bottom. If it’s not terribly cold that day, I can sometimes get away with a short sleeved or even sleeveless wool base layer. I also defintey just wear my long sleeved base layer as a shirt somtimes! This is mine and this is Jeremy’s.
• Wool Socks: Make sure you don’t just have run-of-the-mill acrylic socks for your trip – they won’t keep your feet warm while you’re out in the snow! Instead, bring socks that are primarily made of soft, heat-regulating wool, like these or these.
• Warm Walking Boots: We recommend boots that can withstand ice or snow, are weatherproof and waterproof, and are comfortable enough to walk in for HOURS. Sounds darn near impossible, right? Well, it’s not. We’ve found the best boots for winter, and we’re OBSESSED with them (and yes, we both have the same ones. Because we’re kinda gross like that). They’re cute, they’re insanely comfortable, they’re waterproof leather with warm thermal insoles, and they’re extremely lightweight and foldable so you can stuff them in your bag when you travel. We can’t recommend these boots enough, and they’re the only shoes we bring on cold weather trips. They’re made to last and they’re worth every cent. Here are my boots and Jeremy’s boots. You can read more about them in our round-up of our favorite travel shoes for women or for men.
• Travel Jeans:  My favorite travel jeans have 6 POCKETS. 6!! And 2 of them are zipped and hidden inside other pockets, for extra pickpocket protection. They’re super stretchy and buttery soft, dry quickly even after walking through the snow, and roomy enough to layer over an insulating base layer (or two). They’re cozy enough to wear on a plane, stretchy enough to accommodate that 5 extra pounds of holiday weight I always seem to bring back home with me, and they’re super cute! We’re both obsessed. You can get a pair of men’s or women’s jeans on the Aviator USA website.
• Warm Flannel Shirt: I’m in LOVE with the MerinoLux flannel button-down from Royal Robbins. It’s stretchy, it’s cozy, it’s blended with merino wool (yassss) and most importantly, it’s warm AF and super breathable. It’s also wrinkle-resistant, odor-resistant, and moisture-wicking, and has a hidden zip pocket – so basically everything you could ever ask for in a flannel shirt. I’ve been searching for the perfect flannel for YEARS (you know, like one that didn’t give me that annoying button-down boob gap and allowed me to actually cross my arms) and this is The One. I love it! Here’s mine and Jeremy’s.

• Lined Leggings: On very cold days, I add an extra layer of insulating warmth by throwing a pair of lined leggings on over my base layer and under my jeans (I’ve also worn them without extra pants on top of my base layer because leggings are real pants, fight me). I have two pairs of warm lined winter leggings, one lined with merino wool and one lined with fleece.
• Warm Hat: A warm hat is an absolute necessity. It also doubles as a super cute accessory! Did I just rhyme? You want a hat that will stay on your head when it’s windy wind and keep your ears nice and warm – bonus points if it’s lined. Personally I’m a fan of the ones with poofs on top, like this or this. Jeremy is more of a purist, and likes to wear beanies like this one, which is made from earth-friendly recycled wool and nylon.
• Warm Coat: Your jacket is arguably the most important thing you’ll bring on a winter trip other than your shoes. It has a big job – namely, keeping you warm but not sweaty, allowing you to actually move your arms, and letting you explore for hours without feeling heavy or restrictive. Plus, it’s gonna be in almost all of your photos.  I bring this this cozy fleece-lined coat with me, and Jeremy wears a wool-blend coat similar to this one and this one.
• Packable Down Jacket: Jeremy and I each bring two jackets each on our winter trips: our heavy/bulky coats, and a lightweight, travel-friendly packable down jacket. It’s perfect for those days when I want the freedom of not wearing a big heavy coat, and it’s also a fantastic added layer of warmth on super cold days. For this trip, I brought this down jacket and Jeremy brought this down jacket.
• Gloves: Don’t go outside in the winter without gloves on! Jeremy and I both have these wool gloves that work with touchscreens, because let’s face it, I have a hard enough time using my phone without wearing gloves. Over those gloves we layer on a thicker pair that allows us to do things like throw snowballs at each other.
• Scarves:  I LOVE a chunky scarf. They’re my favorite accessory! I love this super soft scarf from Royal Robbins, which is blended with wool and turns into a cute shawl or infinity scarf with a few well-placed buttons. I’m also a big fan of scarves that are big enough to double as blankets, like this one or this one.
• Winter Sports Gear: If you’re planning to go skiing or snowboarding on your trip, bringing a few things can easily be packed in your suitcase will save you cash on rentals. We recommend these goggles and these gloves for snowboarding, and these travel-friendly crampons for snowshoeing.  

Whew! That should keep you warm and toasty. Oh hey, want a printable version? Just sign up below and we’ll send a checklist straight to your inbox.

Printable Winter Packing List

This FREE 3-page printable packing list will help make sure you don’t forget anything for your next winter trip. We’ll also send you our favorite travel tips!

Awesome! Check your email for the PDF. Make sure to add contact@practicalwanderlust.com to your address book so we don’t end up in spam!

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About The Author: David loves visiting Edinburgh in the winter. His favorite things in Edinburgh are the Christmas market, the unforgettable Hogmanay celebrations and whisky, of course!

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What are you looking forward to doing in Edinburgh in the winter first? Comment below!

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Our Top Travel Tips & Resources

Here are our favorite travel tips & resources for saving money and planning travel logistics! For more tips, check out our travel tips resource page or our guide to planning a trip.

• Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
• Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they’ve got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we’re not fans of Airbnb’s unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
• Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it – visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
• Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
• Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor’s office or a walk-in pharmacy.
• Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local’s perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
• Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
• Luggage Storage: Whenever we’re checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we’re running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
• VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you’re connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
• What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!

Please double check what’s open before your trip and follow all local vax & mask guidelines to keep yourself and others safe! Also, ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Snow-covered Alps. Pristine, glimmering lakes. Lots of cheese and chocolate. Switzerland is at once modern and historic, where you can cross a wooden bridge adorned with 15th-century paintings, as well as take a train up a mountain to see the Matterhorn up close and personal. Nature here is imminent, beauty is everywhere, and Switzerland is truly as stunning as they say (“they” being me!). And you can all this and more on an incredible 5-day Switzerland itinerary!

This itinerary takes you through the best of Switzerland in a short 5 days. From the old town of Zurich with stunning churches and cobblestone streets, to Lucerne with its enormous glittering lake and historic fortress you can climb to see the city from a bird’s eye view.

You’ll be traveling up the side of mountains in Lauterbrunnen by cable car to stay in the world’s most beautiful hostel in the alps, where flowers bloom all summer and the sound of cowbells fill the air. And you’ll come face to face with the famed Matterhorn, the face of a country (and a candy bar).

Not to mention dining on cheese and chocolate. There’s lots of that.

Switzerland has so many surprises that are just waiting to be explored (like glacial waterfalls in a mountain!?) and this 5-day Switzerland itinerary will tell you how to do them all. Let’s get to it!

Psst: Planning a visit to Europe or the Switzerland area? Check out some of our other posts to help you plan your trip!

I was lucky enough to explore Switzerland this past September before going to Austria to attend the Propel Blogging Conference in Vorarlberg (feel free to check out my Vorarlberg photo guide too!). Since Lia was pregnant, I, Richie Goff, the Editor-in-Chief of Practical Wanderlust, got to travel to Switzerland instead (tough life, I know).

Before leaving for Switzerland I only had about two weeks to plan an itinerary for a country I’ve never been to, and lucky for you, I have done the hard work and can give you tips and tricks to not only get the most out of your trip, but getting around!

By following Lia’s Ultimate Practical Travel Planning Guide I was able to make wise planning decisions, and also get around on a budget (this is a budget blog after all)!

Things to Know about Visiting Switzerland

I had lots of questions before heading to Switzerland. Like, how do I get around by train? (Easily, luckily!) How much German do I need? (Not a whole lot it turns out.) Can I survive on cheese and chocolate alone? (Apparently yes, though I did start to crave a vegetable now and again.)

Are five days enough to explore Switzerland?

Since 200 years is not a viable option, this 5-day Switzerland itinerary definitely gets the job done (this itinerary does not include travel days). In five days you are able to see four cities/towns with varying landscapes and get a taste of what Switzerland has to offer (like cheese and chocolate).

Where does this 5-day Switzerland itinerary start and end?

You will be flying in and out of Zurich Airport, Switzerland for this itinerary, since it’s the biggest airport in Switzerland and therefore the cheapest and easiest to access!

How do I get around Switzerland?

Switzerland has an incredible train system that is not only extremely reliable and on time, but will get you between each of the destinations on the itinerary within one and 3.5 hours, since the entire country is about the size of the state of Kentucky. The trains are also very clean and super relaxing; you will literally be sitting and oohing and ahhing over the landscapes as you travel to your next destination!

Exploring each of the cities and towns on the itinerary is just as easy – there are buses, cable cars, and most of the places you will be exploring will be done on foot!

I highly recommend getting a 6-day 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass (remember, you’ll have to get back to the airport), which not only covers trains but most of the excursion transportation on this 5-day Switzerland itinerary (I’ll denote the one excursion it doesn’t work for). This pass pays for itself and takes the guesswork out of buying each ticket and excursion tickets. It’s really a lifesaver and a deal!

What’s the best time of the year to visit Switzerland?

Since this 5-day Switzerland itinerary is for warm-weather activities, the best time to visit Switzerland is July-October.

I visited at the end of September and the weather was nearly perfect – days in the mid-70s while some nights in the alps got into the 40s. That being said, you will be taking an excursion to see the Matterhorn up close so you’ll want a winter jacket and boots for the snow! September is also a great time if you want to see the parade of cows in Lauterbrunnen.

Since it is so temperate during this time, you can expect to see lots of beautiful wildflowers and gardens, especially up in the Alps, where it’s like perpetual spring.

Do I need to learn German?

Lia swore I didn’t need any German… but I think a little German goes a long way!

I am a person who loves learning languages, and if I didn’t spend two weeks frantically planning this itinerary I would have studied German on Duolingo. While nothing bad happened by not knowing any German, I did have some lost in translation moments that would have been helpful with a little conversational ability.

And though I keep saying “German”, you should know that German is only one of FOUR national languages of Switzerland. That’s right. Four. German, Italian, French, and Romansh.

While this itinerary takes you mostly through German-speaking Switzerland, expect to hear all these languages and more! Basically learn greetings in all these languages if possible – it’s like every person you talk to will greet you differently.

The most fun (and common) way to say goodbye is “Tschüss“, so at least learn that!

What apps should I download for Switzerland?

One thing I discovered about Switzerland is that since it is such a small country with only 8.5 million residents, they actually have their own apps which makes getting around and planning easier!

Here are the Swiss apps I used and a few others that will help with general traveling:

• MeteoSwiss: This is a Switzerland-specific weather app that is far more useful than the normal weather app on your phone. You can search weather by area, and it will give information as to when precipitation is expected. I know that sounds like every other weather app but trust me, it’s more accurate and very useful for trying to see the elusive Matterhorn!
• SBB Mobile: This is the app for the train and bus service in Switzerland, and will have timetables and platform numbers. This is a good app to have on your phone, though I pretty much just used Google Maps the entire time and it gave me the same, accurate information.
• Google Maps: You will need this. Not only is it helpful for train times and platforms, but it will also help you find places mentioned in the itinerary and give you specific walking directions. It’s also good to have if you need to type in “food” at any point. Walking all day makes you hungry!
• Google Translate: Unless you are fluent in German, you will want to have this downloaded to translate words you don’t know. Though a lot of signage and menus are in English, that’s not always the case. You can even use the camera function to translate in real-time.

The Perfect 5-Day Switzerland Itinerary

Day 1: Zurich and Lucerne, Switzerland

• Today you’ll be exploring Old Town Zurich before hopping on a train to explore Old Town Lucerne (old towns are a thing in Europe)!
• Travel Time: However long it takes you to fly into Zurich, plus a 40-minute train ride to Lucerne!

Day one in Switzerland! The hills are alive with the sound of music. Well, not yet, you’re not in the hills yet!

Walk around Zurich Old Town

Today you arrive in Zurich, the capital of Switzerland, where commerce and big city living mix with a wonderful Old Town with cobblestone streets and gorgeous churches. This is where you will be exploring on foot!

This 5-day Switzerland itinerary starts bright and early, which is exactly what it was when I stepped off my red-eye flight at 8am. Before you leave the airport, find a bathroom to brush your teeth and use before heading into town. Once you’re done with that, hop on the train to Zurich HB (Head B*tch?), the main train terminal in Zurich.

Once you arrive at Zurich HB, you’re going to take the stairs up to the level before the main terminal where you can rent large lockers to store your luggage, which you will keep there until you leave for Lucerne. The cost is about 15 Swiss Francs.

Now that you are unencumbered by luggage, you can head up to the main terminal where you can go to the currency exchange if needed, or head right outside in the c̶r̶u̶e̶l̶ ̶u̶n̶r̶e̶l̶e̶n̶t̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶s̶u̶n̶ beauty of another gorgeous morning.

The idea here is to head south from the terminal, and stretch your legs as you walk along the Limmat River, where you’ll see cute shops and a little bridge called the Mühlsteg where people hang love locks. You’ll ultimately be meandering towards your first stop: Lindenhof.

Lindenhof is a gorgeous little park, which after a set of stairs, gives you an overview of Old Town and the river. The park is quiet, where you will see people walking their dogs and you’ll be able to see all the spires and architecture dating back as old as 1231 AD. Sit on a bench and contemplate that you’ve made it to Switzerland – and it’s just the beginning!

Once you’ve taken in enough views, head out on the opposite side of the park (still going south), and start walking down the cobblestone streets towards that BIG clocktower in the distance. This is the Church of St. Peter, which actually has the largest clock face in Europe. Talk about a big head!

While you can certainly visit this church, honestly nothing all that exciting is inside, so I recommend you keep walking until you reach the Fraumünster, a dramatic and regal Gothic church that is famous for stained glass windows made by Marc Chagall.

It’s 5 CHF to enter the church, but well worth it to see these five stunning windows which depict different biblical scenes in red, blue, yellow, and green by a true master artist in hisindelible modernist style. Also inside, you can explore the remnants underneath the church from when the site used to be an “abbey for aristocratic women”, whatever that means.

Next, head out of the church and cross the Münster Bridge towards the other side of the river, where Old Town continues. At this point, you’re probably getting hungry, okay, starving, so head over to Café & Conditorei 1842.

While this cozy and iconic cafe decked out in Baroque style is known for its beautiful patisseries, you can order traditional Birchermüesli (Swiss oatmeal) or a delectable Egg Benedict on a bagel. Honestly, if you skip the savory stuff and jump for one of their artful patisseries, like their famous lemon tart or their chocolate cake with gold leaf, I won’t blame you.

Once you have some food in your belly, wander around the east side of the river in Old Town, heading north. This side of the river is not as high elevation, and you’ll expect to see more shops than giant old churches, but it is still gorgeous. Your goal is to meander north (or catch the nearest tram) and end up back at Zurich HB to pick up your luggage and catch your train to Lucerne.

Journey to Lucerne, Switzerland

Be sure to check Google Maps to see when the next train to Lucerne is, and pick a direct train so you don’t have to transfer several times which can be confusing (though Google Maps is good about telling you which platforms you need to go to).

Your2nd class Swiss Travel Pass will work for this journey (and as I mentioned before, all train journeys except one excursion), so no need to go to a ticket booth – they will check your ticket on the train during your journey. Just make sure you get in the train car that has a “2” on the side of it, which is most of the train cars. The ones with a “1” on them are first class, and you may be fined if found in the wrong carriage.

Guess what? Now you get to sit back and watch the stunning Swiss countryside roll by. You’ll see lots of hills, farmland, adorable Lego-like houses, and plenty of cows. Ahhh, c’est la vie!

Explore Lucerne, Switzerland

Once you arrive in Lucerne, you will be heading to the Hotel Alpha, located at Zähringerstrasse 24, 6003 Luzern, Switzerland, about a 10-minute walk from the train station.

Hotel Alpha is a modern, clean, and affordable traveler’s hotel with a pretty fabulous breakfast. While the (quite spacious) room I booked did not have its own bathroom, it did have a sink and the bathroom was across the hall – where I never saw anyone.

Once you get washed up and relax a bit (hey, you’ve been traveling, take it easy on yourself), head down toward the river to explore, you guessed it, Old Town Lucerne.

Lucerne (or as the Swiss spell it, Luzern) became an official city in 1178 and is situated by a huge lake with medieval towers jutting towards the sky. The city also contains some pretty iconic spots, like a wooden bridge from the 14th century depicting scenes of death and a world-famous lion carved into the side of a hill. Let’s just say this entire city is a vibe.

The best place to see all these sites and more is to explore them on foot. You can play it fast and loose and wander around the old town, or you can follow this excellent self-guided walking tour to hit all the sites in one fell swoop. Either way, let me highlight some of the fascinating sites for you!

The Spreuer Bridge is a handsome timber bridge that runs across the River Reuss, where you can listen to the sound of the water rushing and take in the colorful Swiss buildings from a different vantage point. The most striking thing about it though is the paintings by a man named Caspar Meglinge from the 17th century painted above you as you walk.

Each scene depicts the Danse Macabre (Dance of Death) – death, depicted as a pallid corpse or skeleton, lurking by his next victim ready to take their life. As you cross the bridge, you’ll come across 45 of these paintings. Gruesome? Sure. But that’s medieval art for you, where even the cats look ridiculous.

After crossing the bridge, you’ll head to the Musegg Wall, a medieval defensive wall that is about 2600 feet long with nine towers dotting it like crown jewels. The best part about it? You can climb the first tower and walk along the wall, checking out several of the towers and getting the most stunning views of the city.

Beware that not only is it a hike up a hill to get to the first tower, but the towers involve a LOT of steps. Like – how do they keep going? They are steep, wooden, and will leave you (probably) winded as they did me, but they are worth it to reach the top and pretend you are a guard on duty, overlooking the city.

I stayed on top of the first tower, which is open for you to overlook the city for a long time. Was it because I was about to go into cardiac arrest? Maybe. But it was mostly because I simply could not get over the view of the city. TheSpreuer Bridge, the turquoise river running through the heart of town, Lake Luzern and the mountains in the distance. This is a place to rest and contemplate – you’re in Switzerland!

After your spiritual enlightenment brought on by sheer overexertion, meander down the rest of the wall and check out the other towers, all of which have long German names and some of which include clocks. Take your time, it’s a gorgeous stroll.

By this time, you’re probably exhausted. It’s been a day, hasn’t it? Hell, I bet you’re worn out just reading this. So if you have some time, wander around the streets a bit more before dinner. Head back over the river by way of the Chapel Bridge, another wooden bridge with paintings, which are less about death and more about Swiss history and Christendom.

You can also stop by the Jesuit Church, Switzerland’s first Baroque sacred building completed in 1677. It’s an iconic building, with its onion domes and baroque and rococo stucco. It’s gilded and ornate inside, and worth taking a peek inside and saying hi to Jesus.

Eat Cheese Fondue for Dinner

Dinner tonight is at Fondue House Du Pont. Make a reservation in advance (I made mine for 7pm), and request that you sit by the windows overlooking the river. You’ll have a stunning view of the water and the Jesuit church, and when the weather is nice, they open the windows!

As you guess by the name, tonight you will be eating fondue. I had never had fondue in Switzerland before, and the staff was super friendly in helping me to order my first b̶̶̶u̶̶̶c̶̶̶k̶̶̶e̶̶̶t̶̶̶ ̶̶̶o̶̶̶f̶̶̶ ̶̶̶c̶̶̶h̶̶̶e̶̶̶e̶̶̶s̶̶̶e̶̶̶ pot of fondue.

I ordered an Aperol Spritz to start, which was my first one ever, and if you haven’t had this delightful orange Prosecco drink you must try it here. For my food, I ordered the Herbal Cheese Fondue, which was salty and garlic-y and came with bread and potatoes. It was incredible, and I couldn’t finish it on my own, definitely something to share (as it’s intended to be)!

As I stuffed myself to the brim with salty cheese as the kind staff cheered me on (seriously, they kept telling me I could do it), I watched the sunset over Lucerne. Once you’re done with dinner, wander around the town at night and enjoy its charm with twinkling lights and the sound of classical music coming from various buildings as you stroll back to your hotel (I know it sounds strange, and it was).

You’ve done a lot today, go get some rest. See you in the morning!

Day 2: Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

• Today you’ll be getting out on Lake Lucerne and journeying up Mount Rigi before hopping on a train to Lauterbrunnen.
• Travel Time: 2.5 hours by train to Lauterbrunnen.

Today is another busy day, so pack your day bag and get ready to hit the town, er, lake!

Hotel Alpha has a nice breakfast spread, with cheeses, meat, cereal, and hard-boiled eggs which are painted whimsical colors. I asked the woman working there what kind of special eggs they were. And she just said, oh, they’re just hard-boiled.

Painted eggs for breakfast??? That’s some Dr. Seuss sh*t. Put one or two of these magical Swiss eggs in your bag for later to achieve ultimate power. Don’t forget to have the nice person behind the desk hold your suitcase until you come back!

Take a Boat Cruise on Lake Lucerne to Mount Rigi

Lake Lucerne is the glittering gem of Lucerne. Nestled between lush green and snow-capped mountains, it’s about 44 square miles large – 24 miles long and about 2 wide. Charming towns dot the perimeter of the lake, and you’re going to check some of them out!

While you can check the timetable in advance for your trip to Mount Rigi, if you’re like me they don’t make any sense no matter how many times you look at them. I suggest you walk to Pier 1 Luzern (the main boat pier) and there will be a nice person in a uniform answering questions of tourists who don’t know where the f**k they’re going or what the f**k they’re doing (AKA me).

Tell them you’d like to take a boat to Mount Rigi, and they will tell you what time and what dock. Boats run frequently so you shouldn’t have to wait long, and a good rule of thumb is to get there about 10 minutes before the hour. Tourist Information Luzern, which is close to the docks, can also tell you when the boat times are.

The good news is, once again yourSwiss Travel Pass comes through! This boat ride is included so no need to buy a special ticket.

Once on your boat, sit back and relax as you sail away from adorable Lucerne into the fjord-like wonder of the lake. If the sun is shining, the sky with be bright and blue and you’ll be able to see for miles. Onboard the boat, they also have a little cafe with coffee and sandwiches and snacks. Attempt to order in German, I dare you! I ordered black coffee in German and they understood me, then asked me a question I didn’t understand. What fun!

Your boat journey will take you to the little lake town of Vitznau, where you will depart and take a short walk to the Rigi Klum cogwheel station, which you can’t miss as everyone from your boat will be walking there.

Once again,yourSwiss Travel Pass will cover the cogwheel train up the mountain (see how useful it is – I think at this point it’s literally paid for itself already).

You may have to wait a little bit at the station for the next cogwheel train to depart and make sure you get on a public one and not one that is reserved. There was one reserved for an Italian tour group, which I didn’t realize, and when I tried to board they were literally like YOU’RE NOT WITH US. And I was like, um, okay, wow. So if you don’t want to feel super rejected, go inside the ticket station and ask when the next public train is so you’re not publically ostracized.

Once you get on the right cogwheel train, enjoy the rather steep ride through the scenic mountains on Europe’s oldest mountain railway, which opened in 1871. You’ll pass lush pastures, wildflowers, and get incredible views as you ascend over 4000 feet up the mountain. You’ll stop at several stations where you’ll see mostly hikers, before reaching the highest station: Rigi Kulm.

Take in the Views from Mount Rigi

While there are literally a ton of things you can do atop of Mount Rigi, from hiking to visiting a cheese farm, I suggest just wandering around at the highest station, Rigi Kulm, and taking in the most stunning views of the lake and Lucerne in the distance.

I have only figured out while writing this I did not get off at the highest station, rather at one several stops down. Don’t do this! Ride all the way to the top to Rigi Kulm, where you will be able to take a short hike from the station to the tall telecommunication tower which you can climb up for an even higher look.

From here you can see most of Switzerland, with the stunning snow-covered Alps in the distance. On clear days, you can actually see the French Alps and the Black Forest in Germany! Talk about getting high.

Once you’ve hiked around, taken in the sights and fields of wildflowers, take the cogwheel train back down to the Rigi Kaltbad-First station, the one I stupidly got off of myself on the way up! Here there is a little store to buy some snacks or a fresh pretzel (as I did), and a huge modern plaza where you can sit and take in more gorgeous views.

Rest a while if you like, and when you’re ready to head down, take the super scenic cable car down! That’s right, on the right-hand side of the plaza you will see a sign for the “cable car to Weggis”, which is one of the adorable little cities you passed by on the boat on your way to Vitznau. And yes, yourSwiss Travel Pass works for this!

You’ll get spectacular views of the lake and Weggis below as you soar from thousands of feet above. If this sounds scary, you better get used to it, because the rest of this 5-day Switzerland itinerary involves a lot of unavoidable cable cars. If you want to get up in the alps, you gotta take a cable car!

When you reach Weggis below you have about a 15-minute walk down to the boat dock (there are plenty of signs pointing you towards it), through the most picturesque lakeside town. Dahlias and gorgeous gardens are everywhere, with plenty of palms and Mediterranean foliage, especially near the water.

At the dock, check the timetable or ask a boat employee for the next boat, and take a calming cruise back to Lucerne.

Grab Lunch and Explore Lucerne

Once you disembark from your boat, you are going to head to Vesper, a modern and chic “Self service” restaurant, which means you order and pay at the counter and you take your food and go find a seat (these places are generally much cheaper).

This is not hyperbole when I say I had the best sandwich of my life there: it was a curry chicken sandwich on a baguette that was both crispy and soft, with strawberries and other fruit, lettuce and bean sprouts, some kind of mayo, and tender curry chicken. I DREAM about this sandwich.

Grab your incredible sandwich or similar item and sit outside at the cafe tables, watching the business people on lunch stroll around the plaza.

After making love to your sandwich by eating it all, head to the Lion Monument or “Lion of Lucerne”, which is about a 6-minute walk away. This 20′ tall by 33′ wide monument is carved into sandstone among a grotto of trees above a large pond, depicting a dying lion with a spear in its side. The statue was designed to honor the Swiss soldiers who died while serving the French king Louis XVI during the French Revolution.

The statue is free to visit, and it’s just in an open public park. 1.4 million people visit it yearly, but people tend to flow in and out of the area so you should have some quiet time to visit the lion. It’s way more impactful in person and much larger than you can imagine, so really take it in!

Meander back towards your hotel, over the “death” bridge one more time if you’re feeling morbid and take in the old city. Collect your luggage from the hotel – it’s time to head to the train station to head to Lauterbrunnen! Use Google Maps to determine what time the next train departs for the 2.5-hour ride to Lauterbrunnen.

Arrive in Lauterbrunnen

Once you disembark your train, you will follow these instructions that will take you on a bus through the valley town of Lauterbrunnen where glistening 1000′ waterfalls plummet from above, and then on a cable car up 1000′ to the little town of Gimmelwald.

As you exit the cable car station, you will see your home for the next two nights, Mountain Hostel, the most gorgeous hostel overlooking the Swiss Alps, which was originally a farmhouse built in 1563. Get settled in, have a beer or some pizza from the hostel bar, and listen to the sound of rushing water from the alps in the distance.

Day 3: Explore Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

• Today you’ll be hiking up to a waterfall you can walk behind, exploring the town of Mürren, and eating dinner in Lauterbrunnen.
• Travel Time: None – you’ll be puttering around the alps!

Ahhh, the hills are truly alive with the sound of music in the Swiss Alps.

Seriously, up in the crisp air of the alps in the town of Gimmewald, you’ll only hear birds, the sound of falling water, and the ringing bells around the neck of cows grazing in the pastures. There are no cars in Gimmewald, no new buildings, only the sound of nature and wildflowers everywhere which seem to be in perennial bloom. Even Rick Steves is a huge fan, saying, “If Heaven isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, send me back to Gimmelwald.” 

Grab some complimentary breakfast, which is typical of Switzerland – cheese, meat, milk, fruit, cereal, coffee, and more spread out on the bar. Make sure to eat your fill (and maybe grab a banana or two for the road), because we’re going hiking!

Hike Up to Sprutz Waterfall

Hiking up to Sprutz waterfall, is well, a hike. Though it’s about 700′ up and a mile to reach it, it’s worth the effort – you will get the most stunning view of the alps I had on my entire trip on the way there and back. It should only take about 40 minutes up, but plan closer to an hour (about two for the total trip) since it seems everyone in Switzerland is a faster hiker than I am. Bring lots of water and start early!

To get there, you will follow the sign to Mürren outside the hostel which will take you up a path past meadows and up the hill overlooking Gimmewald. Along the way, you’ll go through various gates to keep those pesky cows from trying to escape. Once at the top of the hill, you’ll encounter a forest of pines and a sign for “Sprutz Waterfall” which you will follow up!

Once you’ve climbed deep into the forest, you’ll see another sign for “Sprutz” pointing left, and will follow the sound of water as you hike down to a glorious waterfall that spills over a cliff edge creating a cascade you can actually walk behind.

On a sunny day, the spritz from the falling water is refreshing, and from the waterfall you can look beyond the pine trees, admiring the snow-covered alps while paragliders gently float by in the distance. A lot of people actually come to this area to paraglide, and you totally can… But I sure didn’t!

Head back in the same direction you came, and don’t be tempted to continue forward or else you’ll do a large loop, which will take you back on the main path, will add quite a bit of time to your journey.

On the way back take big deep breaths of the towering pine trees, and once you leave the forest, you’ll get to enjoy the most stunning view of Gimmelwald below and the alps like titans in the distance. Take a seat at the first bench you find and enjoy the views and have a snack!

Once you get back into Lauterbrunnen, make sure you stop in the Honesty Shop located next to Mountain Hostel. Inside, they have snacks, souvenirs, and you guessed it, no one working there! No cameras, no supervision, just good old-fashioned honesty. If you decide to buy something, there is a place to deposit your money. What a beautiful concept!

Grab Lunch and Explore Trümmelbach Falls

After your glorious, life-changing hike in the Alps, you’ll be hopping on the cable car by your hostel back down to Lauterbrunnen Valley, and hopping on the bus back towards Lauterbrunnen. You’ll hop off on one of the first few stops atTrümmelbach Falls.

Before you reach the falls though, stop in Restaurant Trümmelbach, which is the building right next to the road. This little self-serve cafe has your basics – delicious little sandwiches, fries, and fresh meringue. I got a cucumber and cheese sandwich, a delectable raspberry meringue, and a cup of espresso and sat outside, enjoying the ever-regal presence of the Alps.

After you have your fill, head on the winding path towards the falls.

Trümmelbach Falls are subterranean glacial waterfalls inside a cliff face, where over 5000 gallons of cold glacial runoff per second surges down through the boulders to pools below. The effect is cool, misty, and magical – you can feel the raw force of nature just inches from your fingertips.

It takes at least 30 minutes to experience the falls, from taking the lift up through the mountain to winding your way back down through tunnels, paths, and platforms taking in the rushing water, but you could easily spend much longer here. With each stairway you climb, and tunnel you pass through, you’ll find a new stream of relentless glacial water rushing downwards, stunningly turquoise and as pure and clean as water can get.

The experience is thunderingly loud, since you are literally in caves where water is pummeling down, and pretty wet on the ground, so wear good shoes and a jacket. There is also a small fee to get in, but absolutely worth the unique and fantastic experience.

Hop on the bus heading back into the town of Lauterbrunnen, and get off at the train station.

Walk around Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is the main town that sits in Lauterbrunnen Valley, where 72 waterfalls spill from the thousand-foot cliffs on either side of the valley (including Trümmelbach Falls). “Lauterbrunnen” itself means “many springs”, which isn’t surprising as you wander around the valley listening to the sound of water all around you.

The town was first mentioned in writing in 1304, and maintains its medieval charm today, with its chalet-style buildings with window boxes over-following with flowers and the tall church steeple in the middle of town.

A funny thing about being in a valley surrounded by cliffs, is how dramatically the light changed from one hour to another – the entire town can be covered in shade by mid-afternoon. Life here is dictated by nature, and less by human force. That being said, Lauterbrunnen is a bit “touristy”, so expect to see plenty of souvenir shops, and of course, tourists.

I recommend getting off the bus by the train station and walking back the direction you came through town. Some of the things you’ll see along the way, more or less in order, are:

• Coop Supermarkt Lauterbrunnen – Okay, it may seem a bit silly to include a supermarket as a place to stop, but this Swiss chain is the place to stock up on Swiss chocolate to take home as a souvenir (or eat in your hostel), and beer (to also drink in your hostel). You’ll basically be getting Swiss chocolate prices without paying for “tourist” Swiss chocolate. Coop (pronounced “co-op”) has lots of great Swiss snacks as well, not to mention cheese!
• Boutique Im Bade – Besides bringing home chocolate, you may want to bring home some other souvenirs. A popular thing to get are wooden, painted Swiss cows, which are actually made in Switzerland and have little bells around their necks like real Swiss cows! Besides that, there are the classic Swiss army knives and the woman who owns the store is super sweet and helpful (she helped me find the nearest “Apotheke” or pharmacy to get ibuprofen).
• Kirche Lauterbrunnen – The Lauterbrunnen Church is the iconic center of town, with its tall spire reaching far above the tops of the other buildings. The people of Lauterbrunnen dedicated this small Gothic church to St. Andrew in 1488, and it’s a great place to wander around, listening to the sound of the church bells. You can explore the nearby graveyard as well, where the graves are decked with flowers and are in neat little rows, adding to the quaintness.
• Staubbach Falls – Staubbach Falls cannot be missed, like literally, it’s a huge waterfall cascading from the cliffs 1000′ above down into the valley below. In the fall (September onward) the waterfall is at its fullest from glacial runoff – it’s majestic, surreal, and totally worth getting a closer look at. Hike towards the falls and you’ll find a stairway up to a platform where you can take a closer look, and feel the mist (or “dust” which “Staub” means) on your face and body. Consider this your baptism into Switzerland!

Dinner atRestaurant Weidstübli

When you get hungry after wandering around Lauterbrunnen, it’s time to head to Restaurant Weidstübli, a traditional Swiss restaurant that is a part of the hostel Camping Jungfrau, located at the foot of the famous 1000′ tall Staubbach Waterfall.

On a beautiful day, there is plenty of outdoor seating beneath the white and red striped awnings, with red geraniums blooming all around you.

Order their leaf/vegetable salad that comes with carrots, sprouts, red cabbage, and plenty of vegetables to offset all the cheese and chocolate you have consumed (and will continue to consume!). For your entree, you have to try the “Äpler” Macaroni, which is a take on the classic Swiss Käsespätzle.

Basically, this dish is Rigatoni noodles with cubes of potatoes in a creamy cheese sauce with crispy fried onions on top and a side of apple sauce, which as weird as it sounds, is the perfect sweet foil to this savory, decadent dish.

It may not be the most traditional version ofKäsespätzle I had on my trip, but it was certainly my favorite. This is the perfect place to sit and enjoy the Alps, and maybe if you’re lucky, meet some feeling English-speaking tourists. I was lucky enough to meet a couple from Texas who love Lauterbrunnen, and spend weeks there every year. How fabulous!

Day 4: Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt, Switzerland

• Today you’ll be exploring the charming town of Mürren before heading to Zermatt, home of the famed Matterhorn.
• Travel Time: A 3.5-hour train ride from Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt.

On your penultimate day in Switzerland, you’ll be taking in a bit more of the Alps before going south, to explore even more of the Alps! If you didn’t spend several days in the Alps, you didn’t do Switzerland, right?

Walk around Mürren

Time is fleeting, and on your last morning of exploring Lauterbrunnen, you’ll be visiting Mürren and hiking the easy (and luckily, downhill) flower trail.

Mürren is one cable car stop going up, so you’ll hop on the cable car by your hostel and will be in Mürren in minutes.

Mürren, like Gimmelwald, has no cars and is your idyllic alpine village, but with more stores and visitors than the tiny Gimmelwald. You’ll see plenty of tourists hiking through the village, and drinking from wooden water fountains where you can fill up your water. The water is potable, in fact, all of Switzerland’s water is drinkable unless otherwise noted. Some pure, glacial refreshment!

While Mürren is a popular ski destination in winter, in the summer and fall hikers come through to visit the local shops and enjoy the slow pace of life. Mürren isn’t so much about “doing”, but “experiencing”, being in the moment and taking in the pure atmosphere of the Alps.

Stop in the local shops and find something you can only get in the Alps – I found a “bloom tea” made with the flowers of the meadow wildflowers to take home to a friend, talk to the local cows, their bells ringing across the fields, and stop to look at the dahlias and edelweiss growing in the local gardens. Just be in the Alps.

Hike the Flower Trail

After exploring Mürren for a bit, head toward the Allmendhubel-Bahn, the funicular on the side of the mountain in the middle of town. After a brief 4-minute ride up, you’ll find yourself with an even higher overlook of the Alps.

While there is a restaurant and a big playground here, the main draw is the Flower Trail, which is all downhill back to the town of Mürren. It’s about 1.3 miles, and should only take about an hour, but you will get to see all kinds of wildflowers (up to 150 varieties), and the trail even weaves through the forest a bit.

You’ll see flowers in pinks and blues and yellows, and of course the stunning, white Edelweiss if it is still in season. Fields of flowers surround you, with the bright blue sky and mountains in the distance. This is your cue to sing!

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Flower Trail.

Grab Lunch and Head to Zermatt

Once you reach Mürren, you may be hungry, so pop into one of the local cafes like the ultra-cozy Café LIV. Here you can grab a sandwich, some coffee, and maybe a piece of cake before heading back to Mountain Hostel to grab your stuff and make your way back to Lauterbrunnen, and catch the train to Zermatt.

Bonus: See the Cow Parade on Your Way to the Train Station

“Did you hear? There’s a cow parade!” “Are you going to the cow parade?” The town was abuzz and one phrase was in everyone’s mouth – cow parade. What was this cow parade? Why was this cow parade? Could this cow parade be as cute as I had hoped? Yes, yes it was.

The cow parade happens in Lauterbrunnen from September through early October, the exact dates changing slightly each year. But if you are in the area you will know. People will be lining the streets of Lauterbrunnen and waiting.

The cow parade is quite simple – the farmers move their cows down to the valley for the fall because the mountains are about to get real cold. But the Swiss love their cows, so they send them down in style.

Adorned with flower crowns, and enormous sonorous bells, the cows moo their way through town in a jaunty fashion, with tourists (like myself) oohing and ahhing over these precious mountain dwellers in their finery.

I was lucky enough to just happen to be there while it was happening, so I was able to see this as I took myself and my luggage down to the train station. For more information about the parades and to check the dates, keep the eye on the Newly Swissed Blog.

Arrive in Zermatt, Switzerland

After your gorgeous, 3.5-hour train ride from Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt (which will require a couple transfers) past gorgeous Alps and glistening lakes, you’ll arrive at the Zermatt train station, probably a tad hungry and in need of a pretzel (let’s be real).

Luckily as you exit the train station, you’ll pass Brezelkönig (“pretzel king”) and wonder why we have silly old Burger King when we could have a Pretzel King! Anyway, stop and get yourself a pretzel, ideally covered in melted cheese like I did. You need a snack!

Once you get your fix, you’ll be heading to Hotel Alpenroyal for the next two nights, whose patio has a stunning overview of the Matterhorn! They also have an indoor pool and hot tub, so plan accordingly.

Call the hotel from the train station and they will have someone pick you up in a little battery-powered cart with your luggage (no cars are allowed in Zermatt), taking you up the small hill to the resort. I, unfortunately, did not know this, and I arrived at the front desk huffing and puffing and they were like, “why didn’t you call us?”. Well.

Explore Zermatt & the Matterhorn Museum

After freshening up, it’s time to get out and explore Zermatt a bit.

Zermatt is one of the highest ski resorts in the world, the town nestled snugly at 5,276′. Zermatt is at the very southern edge of Switzerland, and skiers are able to ski freely between Switzerland and Italy at Mountain Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe at 12,739′. This high up, there is snow 365 days as a year, so when I went in September there was no shortage of life and skiers in this booming little town.

With two-million visitors a year, Zermatt is the kind of place that has more hotel beds than people actually living there, and it makes Lauterbrunnen look like a sleepy hamlet. While Zermatt is small enough to traverse by foot, there are plenty of shops (some reallllllyyyy expensive), restaurants, and even a Matterhorn Museum to keep you occupied as you explore the home of the Matterhorn (more on that in a bit).

In the middle of town, you will find the Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis, housed in a blue glass geometric mountain (A+ for theming). This is the place to hear the legend of the people who lived (and died) trying to climb the Matterhorn (“meadow peak”), including the severed rope during the first ascent in 1865 where seven people died. Eek.

The museum is really immersive, with turn-of-the-century buildings you can explore with artifacts inside (actually most the museum is underground!), to make you really feel like you’re getting ready for your own climb! The museum is only open until 6pm, so make it a priority to stop here first.

Also, be sure to stop by Fuchs Bakery on the main boulevard as you’re wandering around. Here you’ll find fancy chocolate, including chocolates in the shape of the Matterhorn which are creamy and delicious and make great souvenirs!

• Travel Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of a good grocery store in a foreign country. Migros Supermarkt is the place to stock up on (more) chocolate, cheese, and wine if you need it (I did). I even ended up buying a pair of shoes here!

Dinner at Vegistube

Vegistube, as the name sounds, is a vegetarian restaurant along the main street of Zermatt. This was the moment during my trip where I decided I needed to put down the chocolate and cheese pretzels and eat something that had nutritional value.

I had the Sweet potato curry with pomegranate, spinach and rice, which was delightful and delicate, a nice foil to all the c̶r̶a̶p̶ heavy food I had eaten. They also have pizza, and Raclette, a Swiss, melted cheese dish, if you haven’t hit your cheese capacity quite yet.

Sit outside if you can, and watch the tourists stroll by while having a Zermatt Bier. It’s a great place to wind down in the heart of the action.

Check out CERVO Mountain Resort

While Zermatt has lots of bars and nightlife, next-door to Alpenroyal a bit up the hill is CERVO Mountain Resort, an ultra-hip, ultra-expensive 5-star resort. It’s the kind of place that wouldn’t call itself a hotel but a “way of life” or a “concept”. You know the place.

Well as I sat in my room, talking to Lia on the phone (after I had gone swimming in the hotel pool, you should definitely do that too), I heard the thumping of what I would call alluring Swiss techno music. I kept staring out my window at this hotel on a hill strung with twinkling lights, where it seemed like something exciting was happening. So I went to check it out.

I entered by way of the bar deck and the place was packed with people, speaking all kinds of languages and dressed like they owned a million-dollar macrame or kombucha company. I ventured inside, where there were winding hallways, a bar through a bank vault door, and man in a trench coat and pilot hat spinning those funky Swiss beats, dancing with abandon to the sound of his own music.

What rabbit hole had I fallen down?

I soon realized by posters on the wall I had inadvertently crashed a party that was part of a weekend-long art festival. The signs on the wall touted past events like an “Interactive Group Macrame Piece” and an “Exstatice (sic) Dance Ceremony”. God, how I wished I could see those things!

While people danced, I saw bored children watch their rich parents dance while eating the most delicious-smelling fries, which I found out were their signature Cervo Fries, which have 12-month aged parmesan and truffle oil. They smelled so good! Alas, when I went to order them, the kitchen had closed.

So please go to their bar Bazaar (fitting name) and get some fries for me. And yes, I told you this entire story just to tell you to get fancy fries as a late-night snack. You’re welcome.

Day 5: Gornergrat, Switzerland

• Today you’ll take a gorgeous train ride to see the Matterhorn up close and personal, eat traditional Swiss food in the mountains, and take a short hike to an iconic lake.
• Travel Time: None, just gorgeous train rides through the mountains!
• A quick side note about this part of the itinerary: This part of the 5-day Switzerland itinerary partially hinges on you being able to see the Matterhorn. When I arrived the first day, it was rainy and I couldn’t see the peak until later in the day when it cleared up. Feel free to re-arrange this section as needed – taking the Gonergrat train isn’t as fun if you can’t see the Matterhorn!

Today is the day to get closer to the Matterhorn, that 14,692′ peak of myth and one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Today, about 3000 hikers attempt to climb the Matterhorn each year, with an average of 5 people dying each year trying. To this day, over 500 people have died on the Matterhorn. And today, you’ll be climbing it yourself…

By train!

So grab breakfast at Alpenroyal (which is included and decadent), and get down to the train station early.

Hike to Riffelsee Lake

Lucky for you, the Matterhorn has its very own cogwheel train system called the Gornergrat Bahn! While the train is not covered under the Swiss Pass, it will give you 50% off on a day pass, making it under $50.

The Gornergrat Bahn station is by the main station where you arrived, and ideally you want to get here early, definitely before the packed 10am train. Your first stop is the place of photographic legend, so the fewer people the better!

The Gonergrat Train is like riding through a living painting. You first wind a bit through Zermatt, then up the sides of pine-tree-covered mountains, until the tree line ends and you see the vast mountain plains as the Matterhorn gets closer and closer. You’ll pass through wooden tunnels, past glittering lakes, and if you’re lucky, see some super cute mountain sheep.

Your first stop is not the highest station Gornergrat, but the second-highest station Rotenboden, which takes about 30 minutes to reach. Once you depart the train, you’ll follow the sign for “Riffelseeweg” which is about a 10-minute hike down (you’ll very quickly be able to see the lake you’re going to).

So why is this lake so special?

Walking up to this lake, you get a beautifully framed image of the Matterhorn, which is reflected perfectly in the small lake below you. On a sunny day, the Matterhorn will be perfectly lit and you’ll get the most stunning view of the mountain possible. You’ve probably seen this image a hundred times and now you know where it is!

Take in the glory of this view (and adapt to the 9,236 feet a bit) before hiking back up to the train station and heading up to the highest station!

Ascend to Gornergrat Station

Gornergrat is the highest station on the railway and the second highest in Europe at 10,135 feet. This is high, and nearly double the altitude of Zermatt. Altitude sickness is real, so listen to your body, drink lots of water, and sit if you need to, especially if you become short of breath. After about 20-minutes of being up there it hit me hard, so listen to your body. It’s also cold, so bring a warm jacket!

Gornergrat Station gives you the most intimate views of the Matterhorn – it’s right there! From the outdoor viewing platform, you can see 29 mountains looming in panoramic glory, as well as the Gorner Glacier below, which is the third-largest glacier in the Alps at over 8-miles long.

Inside the summit station, there is a restaurant, astronomical observatory, a gift shop, and Europe’s highest-altitude hotel. There are also restrooms, water fountains, and places to sit if you need them. But the real star is the outdoors, staring into the face of the Matterhorn and walking along some of the adjoining trails.

The air doesn’t get much cleaner (or thin) than this, so bask in the glory of nature in the wild until you’re ready to head down (or start to feel woozy). Lunch is next!

Eat Lunch at Alphitta

Hope back on the train down three stations to the Riffelalp Station, which is about 3000 feet lower than you just were (hopefully should help any altitude sickness). Once you exit the station, you’ll follow a path through a pine forest to the little resort town of Riffelalp, where restaurant Alphitta has starring views of, you guessed it, the Matterhorn.

On a sunny day (and hopefully, it’s sunny if you are visiting), you can order the Swiss dish Rösti, which is like a potato pancake with cheese and a sunny side egg on top (how could that be bad?). It is slightly crispy, cheesy, and a nice filling meal when you are traversing the high mountainous altitude.

Eating this little slice of Switzerland while viewing the most iconic image of Switzerland may literally turn you part Swiss, which is totally welcome in my book. After all the trekking you’ve done, this is the perfect place to just fill up and rest, and not worry about rushing. Look at that mountain! It has nowhere to be.

Check out the Gorner Gorge

Once you’re back down in Zermatt, head to the Gorner Gorge, which is about 1.2 miles from the train along the Matter Vispa, the blue river through the outskirts of Zermatt.

Since the ice age, the waters of Gorner Gorge carved a chasm in the greenish serpentinite rock, which can be explored by wooden bridges attached to the sides of the rock. Winding through the sometimes narrow sections of these wooden bridges, you’ll be able to see aquamarine waters below flowing from a small, gurgling waterfall.

I walked through it around 5pm (they close around 5:45pm), and I was pretty much alone, and got to take in the serene water below and the various moss and ferns on the rock around me. The entire excursion only takes about 20 minutes, and once you reach the top of a large set of stairs you’ve reached the end, and you’ll have to turn around and walk back through.

Keep in mind there is a small fee to enter (5CF) and it is cash only, and there is a little bit of a hike to get to the initial entrance.

Explore Hinterdorf

Zermatt, with all its hotels, high-end shops, and fancy dining options does have an older, more quaint side.

Hinterdorf (“rear village”) is the old part of Zermatt, with more than 30 barns, stores, stables and old houses built between the 16th and 18th centuries along the stretch of Hinterdorfstrasse off the main thoroughfare Bahnhofstrasse.

These raised houses are dark in color, due to the resinous larch timber used to support the snow and that is resistant to pests. One of the most prominent features are the circular stone slabs under the supports of the storehouses to keep mice out.

Walking down this street is like stepping back in time; it’s very quaint, with plenty of flowers spilling out of window boxes. Eating a pretzel as you stroll will make you feel extra in character (maybe) and it’s a great place to feel the old-world Swiss ambiance.

Dinner at Grampi’s

It’s your last night in Switzerland! You’ve eaten Swiss delicacies like käsespätzle and fondue, but what about pizza and pasta? What? Those aren’t Swiss? Well, hear me out…

Zermatt is in the very south of Switzerland and borders, you guessed it, Italy, so Zermatt is the perfect place to take a break from all the rich Swiss food and try some, er, rich Italian food instead!

Grampi’s has the typical Tuscan Italian feel, decked out in cozy oranges and yellows with the ceiling covered in different photographs and random memorabilia. You can easily spend the entire time waiting for your food craning your neck looking at all the photographs firmly attached to the ceiling.

The food here is the quintessential Italian fare, but authentic and done to perfection. If you’re basic (no judgment!) the Margherita pizza with fresh basil, mozzarella, and zesty tomato sauce is a complete star, but you can definitely dive into dishes like Spaghetti “GramPi’s” with prawns, cherry tomatoes, and garlic.

Honestly, whatever you choose here is going to be a deliciously rich way to end your day in the Swiss Alps, and the service is super friendly and helpful! Buon appetito!

Grab a Drink at Hexen Bar

It’s been a day. Really, it’s been one heck of a trip, hasn’t it? Well, if you’re up for one more stop before you catch some shuteye, check out Hexen Bar.

Hexen in German means “witches”, and this bar delivers on this ambiance. In this wooden paneled bar with green accents hang witches riding broomsticks from the ceiling, with colorful lanterns and a mystical vibe. The menu here is called the “book of spells” and contains witchy spins on classic drinks.

Their signature is the Hexen Sour, with Amaretto, vodka, lemon juice and a “secret shot”, if I am not totally making up that German translation! They also have plenty of other Hexen twists on drinks like martinis and Piña Colada, and plenty of non-witchy drinks for muggles as well.

The bar is small but super cozy, and you will find a good mix of locals and tourists, just make sure you are not disparaging to any witches or you may find out that it’s not all Hocus Pocus!

Say Goodbye to the Matterhorn and Fly Home

Whether you’re hopping on your 3.5-hour train ride back to Zurich to fly home this evening or tomorrow morning, make sure you say goodbye to the Matterhorn before you go. She is especially stunning in the morning, the rays of light hitting her face while the rest of Zermatt remains in shadow.

There really is no place like Switzerland, no mountain like the Matterhorn, and no cheese like Swiss cheese.

What to Pack for Switzerland

Here’s the best clothing to pack for your trip (for men and women, and everyone in between)!

• Quick Drying Shorts (His & Hers): We’re obsessed with the Zion line from prAna, which is what our favorite hiking pants are made from. These shorts are made from the same stretchy, high-tech, quick-drying fabric! Jeremy’s shorts double as both the shorts he wears every day and a swimsuit. They’re a 2-for-1 (which means less space in your carry-on) and they look great, too! They dry quickly, making them perfect for hopping in and out of waterfalls, rivers, and the ocean and then resuming your normal travel activities.
• Hiking & Adventure Travel Pants (His & Hers): You’re going to need a pair of pants that serve multiple purposes and are up for adventure anywhere: beach, jungle, river, mountains, and city. Luckily, these awesome prAna hiking pants were designed with travel and hiking in mind and were up to every challenge we threw at them. They’re also quick-dry, so I even wore them while white-water rafting and waterfall rappelling in San Gil.
• Breezy, comfy everyday pants: Allow me to introduce you to the perfect hot weather travel pants! I discovered these amazing pants at Old Navy while shopping for my trip, and it was love at first try-on. They’re SUPER lightweight and take up very little suitcase space when rolled up. They’re comfortable and stretchy, quick-drying, and just the right length. And they’re cute as hell! I bought a bunch of differet colors because sometimes stuff goes out of stock and never comes back, and I need these pants. (I also love these pants, made from the same fabric but with vertical zippers, which is also super travel friendly. And they come in a wider range of sizes up to 4X.)
• Wool Clothing: Yes, seriously. Merino wool is a miracle travel fabric. It keeps you cool when it’s hot AND keeps you warm when it’s cold. When it gets wet, you’ll stay comfortable while your clothing dries. It naturally resists the growth of fungus and bacteria, so it never stinks – a must-have for travel! It’s even flame retardant. What more could you ask for? Today’s performance wool isn’t like the itchy wool of the past – it’s thin, stretchy, and super soft to the touch, like cotton. We highly recommend wool clothing for travel. Here’s what we brought: Wool Travel Clothing for Her: T-shirt | Sports Bra | Travel Bra | Half Zip Womans | Underwear
• Wool Travel Clothing for Him: Crew-neck shirt | V-neck Shirt | Underwear | Socks
• Hemp Clothing: Much like merino wool, hemp is a fantastic travel textile. It’s also temperature regulating, meaning it’s cool to the touch and keeps you cool when it’s hot (but also insulates you when it’s cold out). It’s also naturally anti-bacterial, so you won’t get that stinky “I’ve been sweating in this for a week straight” smell. And as a huge bonus, hemp is more sustainable than most other textiles, requiring little water and almost no pesticides to thrive and grow. Hemp is even able to clean up polluted soil, making it a tool for actually fighting against climate change. Hell yeah! Because it’s not a super popular textile (yet), it’s a little hard to find. One of our favorite eco-friendly clothing brands, prAna, makes a fantastic hemp line – browse women’s and men’s. (Lia loves this comfy t-shirt!)

Note: We didn’t list out everything here, so make sure you pack plenty of basics! In general, for hot weather I really love cotton/cotton blends and linen, in addition to hemp and merino.

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Are you packing your bags and singing “The Sound of Music” at the top of your lungs yet? Which destination on this Switzerland 5-day itinerary are you DYING to do? Drop your comments and questions about visiting Switzerland in the comments below!

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