A Dreamy 3-Day Switzerland Itinerary
A dog convinced me to go to Switzerland.
Yeah, for real.
On my internet travels, I saw a POV of an ethereal white shepherd taking a walk in an otherworldly landscape. I followed Rasta the White Shephard. I booked the trip. And I met him IRL!
But we’ll get back to that.
My husband and I cashed in way too many miles for a business class trip to Zurich (no regrets) and spent three days with our mouths hanging wide the f*ck open!
Grandhotel Giessbach as a photo appetizer!
The Broad Strokes
✈️ Flights: United Polaris Business Class, LAX – ZRH and CDG – LAX, about 300k miles per person (this was before I knew about saver fares!)
🛌 Hotels: 2 nights in Spiez, 1 night in Lauterbrunnen
🚙 Getting Around: Rented a car out of the Zurich airport
📅 Time of Year: May
Where We Stayed: From Lakeside to Mountainside
Strandhotel Belvedere, Spiez – Modern boutique hotel right on Lake Thun. Chic, comfy, and not budget-shattering. Loved waking up to those peaceful lake views. Booked via Hotels.com and earned a free night credit, which we used in France later on. (Side note to Hotels.com: Bring back the buy 10 nights, get one free!)
Hotel Oberland, Lauterbrunnen - Rustic, charming, super Swiss chalet vibes. No elevators so prepare yourselves! But the experience of feeling part of the scenery is worth every bit. Also booked this one through Hotels.com.
Lucerne: Bridges, History, and Storybook Charm
Right out of Zurich, we hit the road to Lucerne for lunch. Who needs a red carpet when you got a 700-year old bridge rolled out?
Kapellbrücke, aka Chapel Bridge, is a wonder. While much of the bridge and its paintings inside were rebuilt and restored after a fire in the 90s, you’re still walking the same path that Europeans have walked since the 1300s.
I know. It totally reminds me of the bridge in Harry Potter too!
If you’re gonna grab a bite along the water, I kinda like to make sure it’s at the prettiest place we can find. So when the iconic Zunfthaus Pfistern popped into my view, it was decided.
One more story-booky Lucerne sight for ya. This darling dragon pharmacy sign deserves a little bit of your attention. 🐉
The Interlaken Region: Lakes, Villages, & Waterfalls
We spent most of our time in and around Interlaken—a cluster of adorable towns, jaw-dropping lakes, and “wait, is this real life?” moments. Having our own rental car really helped us explore at our own pace.
The colors you see in the photos are legit. It’s like the saturation was turned up to high on the whole country.
Brienz: Sweet Chalet Town
Crystal-blue lake. Picture-perfect chalets dotting green hills. Cowbells chiming in the breeze. It felt like a postcard come to life.
The cheeky Fisher Boy Fountain
Grandhotel Giessbach: Coffee with a Waterfall View
We stopped here for a jetlag-busting coffee on the hotel’s terrific terrace, overlooking the lake. Walked behind the hotel to find a roaring waterfall you can hike up right alongside.
Rosenlaui: The Gorgeous Gorge
If you want a Switzerland moment that’s tourist-free, that makes you ask “Is this real life?” you gotta add this destination. Because I super extra want you to have this moment for yourself:
And then I really need you to see this in person:
You might be cursing and white knuckling the drive up with its single lane road, but if you’re lucky, you’ll be blessed with the sights and sounds of lambs wearing bells and you’ll wondered if you did actually DID DIE on said road and this is just actual heaven.
Iseltwald: Lakeside Lunch
Iseltwald iselt-beautiful. I recommend the Hotel Seeburg for a spot of lunch as you take in the charm.
Lauterbrunnen: Switzerland’s Fairytale Village
The no-question must-see spot in this region is…Lauterbrunen. Lauter-mother-f-ing-brunen. It’s a little touristy, but here’s the thing: You’re a tourist. Embrace it and get thee to this utterly adorable tiny town!
The sight and sound of Staubbach Falls are…uh…I got no words…
Stroll among charming chalets…
If you’ve got that adrenaline seeking gene in you, (I do not relate to you, but I grudgingly respect you), Lauterbrunnen offers activities like hang-gliding and skydiving.
As if the view from the ground wasn’t enough, your next stop is going to be the little train up to…
Up, Up, and A-Wengen
(Exhales in disbelief that I was even at this spot and took this picture.)
Take the little train up to Wengen for sweeping views back down into Lauterbrunnen Valley. From here, wander shops, have lunch, and soak in the mountain magic..
Meeting Switzerland’s Goodest Boy, Rasta
And yes—the dog that started it all? I got to meet him! Rasta, Switzerland’s perfect ambassador pupper, in his natural habitat. His mom graciously let me say hi and snap a pic!
In fact, his mom Sylvia, a mindblowing photographer as well as top tier dog mom, helped me plan this trip through her Patreon. I can’t recommend her or her talents enough!!
There’s Never Enough Time For It All…
I agonized about where to spend the entirely too short American vacation time in this country to maximize our trip. Like…I missed out on the Matterhorn! (Yes I have the Matterhorn at home, but…come on.)
But here’s the truth: You simply can’t go wrong just being here. I fell bonkers in love with Interlacken, obviously, and don’t regret a moment—but there’s still so much more to go back and see!
Merci et danke schön Switzerland… 🇨🇭
