How I Planned My Switzerland Trip (And Why I Chose These Destinations)

Switzerland has no shortage of incredible places to visit, which can make planning a trip feel overwhelming. Here's how I chose my route, balanced my budget, and planned a trip to Switzerland that matched my travel style.

EUROPE TRAVEL & ITINERARIES

6/1/20265 min read

Switzerland Had Been on My List for a While

Switzerland had been on my travel list for a long time. When I moved to France, I knew I wanted to take advantage of being in Europe and hopefully visit while I was here. So when the family I au pair for planned a long weekend away, I immediately started thinking about where I wanted to go.

Switzerland felt like the perfect choice. It's relatively close to France, easy to reach by train, and honestly, a long weekend felt like the most realistic way for me to visit while keeping my budget in mind.

The challenge, though, is that Switzerland has no shortage of beautiful places to see. Everyone seems to recommend different destinations, and with only a few days available, I quickly realized I needed to balance seeing the beauty Switzerland is known for with being realistic about how much I could actually fit into one trip.

First, I Figured Out What Kind of Trip I Wanted

Before choosing destinations, I thought about the type of trip I wanted to have.

For a long weekend, I knew I only wanted one accommodation. Constantly moving hotels or hostels can be fun on longer trips, but for a short getaway it felt unnecessary.

I also knew I wanted a mix of experiences. I wanted some of the mountain and lake scenery Switzerland is famous for, but I also wanted a city to explore and at least one charming town.

This wasn't meant to be an "see everything Switzerland has to offer" trip. It was about getting a taste of the country in a way that felt manageable and enjoyable.

How I Chose My Destinations

Once I knew what kind of trip I wanted, choosing destinations became much easier.

I decided to make Geneva my home base. Accommodation prices were reasonable, it was easy to reach from France, and it provided great transportation connections for day trips.

For my first day trip, I chose Montreux. The train ride is short, the scenery is beautiful, and it gave me the chance to experience more of the lakeside and mountain views that make Switzerland so special.

Originally, I thought I'd spend two full days in Geneva. But after doing some research, I kept seeing people say that Geneva is very doable in a day.

That's when I started looking at other nearby destinations and came across Annecy.

Technically, Annecy is in France, but it's right across the border and incredibly easy to visit from Geneva. Adding it to my itinerary ended up being one of the best decisions of the trip.

Budget Played a Bigger Role Than I Expected

Switzerland definitely has a reputation for being expensive, and honestly, that reputation exists for a reason.

Food was easily my biggest expense. Meals add up quickly, especially if you're eating out regularly.

Where I really saved money was accommodation.

As usual, I stayed in a hostel and booked through Hostelworld. Not only was it reasonably priced, but it also included free breakfast every morning, which helped keep food costs down.

The hostel also provided a free Geneva transportation card, which gave me access to public transportation throughout the city. I even used it to take a boat across Lake Geneva, which was a nice bonus.

While Switzerland wasn't the cheapest destination I've visited, I found that being intentional about where I spent my money made a huge difference. If I splurged on anything during this trip, it was definitely food.

How I Built My Route

I built my entire route around staying in Geneva.

I booked round-trip train tickets from Laval to Geneva through SNCF Connect, with one connection each way. The total journey took about six hours, which felt very manageable.

Geneva simply made the most sense logistically. It was the easiest Swiss city for me to reach, and it gave me access to multiple day-trip options without needing to change accommodations.

For this particular trip, convenience won.

What I Booked First

The first thing I booked was transportation.

Personally, I think every trip starts with figuring out how you're getting there. Transportation prices can increase quickly, so I always try to lock that in first.

After that, I booked accommodation, then purchased any additional train tickets I needed for day trips.

Honestly, that was about all the advance planning this trip required.

👉 Travel planning tools I regularly use:

What I'd Do Differently Next Time

Truthfully, I wouldn't change much.

If I return to Switzerland, I'd probably focus on seeing a different region—especially some of the more mountainous areas that Switzerland is famous for.

I also think the timing of my day trips worked perfectly. I spent roughly six hours in both Montreux and Annecy, which felt like enough time to explore without feeling rushed.

One thing I learned is that Geneva is absolutely doable in a day. It's beautiful, especially along the lake, but I don't think you need multiple days there unless you have specific activities planned.

The only thing I couldn't control was the weather. I visited in spring and it rained for two of the three days. It didn't stop me from enjoying the trip, but Switzerland is definitely the kind of place that shines when the weather cooperates.

Biggest Planning Lessons I Learned

If there's one thing I learned, it's that you don't need to see everything.

Start with your priorities and build from there.

It's also important to factor travel time into your plans. Personally, if I've just spent several hours traveling, I don't want to immediately jump into another full day of transportation the next morning.

And perhaps most importantly, leave room for spontaneity.

Not every minute of a trip needs to be planned. Some of the best travel experiences come from wandering around, stumbling into a great café, or finding an unexpected viewpoint.

Switzerland especially felt like a slow-travel destination. It wasn't about checking off attractions—it was about wandering, taking in the scenery, and simply enjoying where I was.

Final Thoughts

Switzerland reminded me that planning a great trip isn't about seeing as many places as possible—it's about choosing destinations that fit the experience you want to have.

This trip looked very different from some of my other travels, but that's part of what makes travel so rewarding. Every destination offers something different, and Switzerland taught me that sometimes slowing down and simply taking it all in is more than enough.