16 days in Switzerland Itinerary

The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.

To see maps, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Zurich trip planner.

Hong Kong, China to Zurich is an approximately 16-hour flight. You can also fly. The time zone difference moving from Hong Kong Standard Time (HKT) to Central European Standard Time (CET) is minus 7 hours. Traveling from Hong Kong in July, expect nights in Zurich to be colder, around 17°C, while days are a bit cooler, around 30°C. You'll set off for Basel on the 26th (Thu).

Situated where the Swiss, German, and French borders meet, Basel is considered the hub of Dreilandereck, this "three countries corner." Its location makes Basel a center of culture and history, brimming with important theaters and museums.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Thu): pause for some serene contemplation at Basel Minster, then admire nature's wide array of creatures at Zoo Basel, and then admire the landmark architecture of Basel SBB Station. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: contemplate the long history of Wehrkirche St. Arbogast, admire the masterpieces at Fondation Beyeler, then don't miss a visit to Town Hall, then test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms, and finally wander the streets of Basel's Old Town.

For more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Basel road trip site.

Take a train from Zurich to Basel in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In July, daily temperatures in Basel can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Sat) early enough to drive to Montreux.

Mostly known for its world-renowned jazz festival, Montreux serves as a picturesque lakeside resort town on the Swiss Riviera.

Start off your visit on the 28th (Sat): appreciate the history behind Freddie Mercury Statue.

To see photos, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Montreux trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by train from Basel to Montreux takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of bus and train. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Mon) so you can drive to Vevey.

Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District. Start off your visit on the 30th (Mon): see the interesting displays at Nest, admire the landmark architecture of Nestle Headquarters (Palais Nestle), have fun and explore at Chaplin's World, then take in panoramic vistas at Ascenseur panoramique Plein Ciel, and finally pause for some photo ops at Charlie Chaplin Statue.

For ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, you can read our Vevey holiday planning website.

Vevey is just a short distance from Montreux. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Mon) so you can go by car to Montreux.

For where to stay, ratings, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Montreux trip planner.

Montreux is just a short distance from Vevey. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 31st (Tue) to allow time for the car ride to Bern.

The capital and political center of Switzerland, Bern sits on a peninsula formed by the U-shaped River Aare.

On the 31st (Tue), make a trip to Clock Tower - Zytglogge and then fly like a bird with a parasailing or paragliding tour. Keep things going the next day: get your game on at OUTDOOR - Interlaken Ropes Park and then pick up some new knowledge with Funky Chocolate Club Switzerland.

To see photos, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, you can read our Bern travel itinerary planner.

Traveling by train from Montreux to Bern takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In July, plan for daily highs up to 30°C, and evening lows to 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Locarno.

Locarno's Mediterranean climate, palm trees, and 2,300 hours of sunlight per year make this city the warmest in Switzerland.

To see maps, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Locarno trip planner.

Traveling by train from Bern to Locarno takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of train and tram. Traveling from Bern in August, plan for somewhat warmer nights in Locarno, with lows around 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sat) so you can drive to Ascona.

Ascona is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.It is located on the shore of Lake Maggiore.The town is a popular tourist destination, and holds a yearly jazz festival, the Ascona Jazz Festival.HistoryPrehistoric AsconaThe oldest archaeological finds in Ascona go back to the beginnings of Late Bronze Age. On the 4th (Sat), putt your heart out at Minigolf Ascona Sagl, make a trip to Lungolago Di Ascona, then take in the architecture and atmosphere at Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo, and finally make a trip to Piazza G. Motta.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Ascona trip app.

Ascona is just a short distance from Locarno. In August, daily temperatures in Ascona can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Locarno.

To find ratings, photos, more things to do, and more tourist information, go to the Locarno visit planner.

Locarno is just a stone's throw from Ascona. On the 5th (Sun), you'll travel to Bellinzona.

Bellinzona is the capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. Start off your visit on the 5th (Sun): take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Monte Tamaro, pause for some serene contemplation at Chiesa Collegiata dei SS Pietro e Stefano, then step into the grandiose world of Castelgrande, and finally step into the grandiose world of Castelli di Bellinzona.

To see ratings, maps, and other tourist information, read Bellinzona day trip site.

Bellinzona is just a short distance from Locarno. In August, daytime highs in Bellinzona are 32°C, while nighttime lows are 20°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sun) so you can go by car to Locarno.

For reviews, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Locarno online itinerary planner.

Locarno is very close to Bellinzona. On the 6th (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive to Lucerne.

In north-central Switzerland, Lucerne represents a small city boasting a well-preserved old town.

Start off your visit on the 6th (Mon): contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Lucerne.

To see photos, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Lucerne itinerary planning tool.

Traveling by car from Locarno to Lucerne takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Locarno in August, with highs in Lucerne at 28°C and lows at 16°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Wed) so you can go by car to Zurich.

On the 8th (Wed), pause for some serene contemplation at Grossmunster, visit Old Town, and then contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Zurich.

To find more things to do, where to stay, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Zurich trip planner.

You can take a train from Lucerne to Zurich in an hour. Other options are to drive; or take a train; or take a bus. On the 9th (Thu), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly back home.