Switzerland & Annecy Travel Itinerary

Day Selector

Day 1-2

Annecy, France

Day 3

Annecy > Interlaken & Wengen

Day 4

Wengen Exploration

Day 5

Chill / Lauterbrunnen & Waterfalls

Day 6

Grindelwald First

Day 7

Jungfraujoch via Eigergletscher / Kleine Scheidegg

Day 8

Interlaken Activities

Day 9

Mürren, Gimmelwald & Flower Park Playground

Day 10

Grindelwald First or Mannlichen panorama trail hike

Day 11

Männlichen Cow Trail Hike to Treetop Playground

Day 12

Lake Thun, Spiez and Castle Visits Day Trip (or Lucerne / Pilatus Day Trip)

Day 13

Schilthorn

Day 14

Relax / Repeat

Day 15

Return

Activities

  • Walk around the old town and canals
  • Enjoy a stroll & boat ride from Jardins de l'Europe
  • Enjoy playground near Jardins de l'Europe
  • Visit Lake Annecy and enjoy a boat ride
  • Explore the markets and charming cafes

How to Get There

Fly to Geneva Airport (Or any nearby airports, doesn't matter)

CLT-GVA or Nearby
12h - 13h, 1 change
$450 RT

Rental car

We booked Hertz as they provided one way drop off at Interlaken
45-50 min direct
25CHF / day

Train

Train from GVA to Annecy
1h 15m, 1 change
12 - 30 CHF

Bus / Rideshare

Bus / Rideshare from GVA to Annecy
45 min direct
12 - 30 CHF

Activities

  • Walk around the old town and canals
  • Enjoy a stroll & boat ride from Jardins de l'Europe
  • Enjoy playground near Jardins de l'Europe
  • Visit Lake Annecy and enjoy a boat ride
  • Explore the markets and charming cafes

How to Get There

Fly to Geneva Airport (Or any nearby airports, doesn't matter)

CLT-GVA or Nearby
12h - 13h, 1 change
$450 RT

Rental car

We booked Hertz as they provided one way drop off at Interlaken
45-50 min direct
25CHF / day

Train

Train from GVA to Annecy
1h 15m, 1 change
12 - 30 CHF

Bus / Rideshare

Bus / Rideshare from GVA to Annecy
45 min direct
12 - 30 CHF

Where to Stay:

Airbnb Wengen Base - Cozy alpine retreat near center, perfect for families.

Evening plans

  • Indian restaurants in Interlaken.
  • Walk around Wengen.
  • Children's playground with bunnies.
  • Play Kugelbahn (marble run).

How to Get There

Step 0

PRE-BUY TRAIN PASSES. We bought a combination of Swiss Half Fare Pass + Jungfrau Travel Pass. Segment costs depend on travel pass selected.
~250 CHF

Step 1: Rental car / train / bus to Interlaken

Drive from Annecy to Interlaken, then return rental car. Or take Goldenpass Express from Geneva to Interlaken
3 - 4h with changes
0 - 50 CHF*

Step 2: Train Transfer

Train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen
15m direct
Travel Pass

Step 3: Train Transfer

Train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen
15 min direct
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Männlichen playground for kids (One of the best playgrounds).
  • Royal walk in scenic surroundings.
  • Simple walks and hikes around Wengen.
  • Really good restaurants in Wengen.
  • Play Kugelbahn (marble run).

How to Get There

Cable Car

Wengen to Männlichen
15 min direct
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Visit Staubbach and Trümmelbach waterfalls.
  • Relax and enjoy alpine village surroundings.

How to Get There

Train

Wengen to Lauterbrunnen
15 min direct
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Visit Grindelwald First stopping at the Bort Playground.
  • Eat Gnocchi at the playground restaurant
  • Cliff Walk.
  • Bachalpsee Hike.

How to Get There

Train + Bus + Cable Car (scenic route)

  • Go via Männlichen cable car > GrindelWald Terminal cable car > local bus to Firstbahn > First cable car
  • Return via local bus to GrindelWald Terminal > Eiger Express / Kleine Scheidegg.
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Take the train to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe.
  • Tour Ice Palace.
  • Glacier views / snow play.
  • Eigergletscher walk on Glacier.
  • Kleine Scheidegg scenic walks (optional, can do on other days as a light hike from/to Wengen).

How to Get There

Train + Cable Car (scenic route)

  • Kleine Scheidegg > Eigergletscher > Jungfraujoch train
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass + Extra 60 CHF

Activities

  • Boat ride on Lake Brienz.
  • Brienzer Rothorn train ride.
  • Sunset viewpoint from Harder Kulm (check last train timings and plan accordingly).

How to Get There

Train

  • Wengen > Lauterbrunnen > Interlaken train
20 min each way
Travel Pass

Boat

  • Interlaken boat terminal (right across train station)
1.5-6h depending on choice of route chosen
Travel Pass

Funnicular

  • Harder Kulm bahn (easy walk in Interlaken)
15 min each way
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Visit Mürren and Gimmelwald alpine villages.
  • Really good restaurants in Mürren.
  • Enjoy Allmendhubel flower park playground (excellent for kids).

How to Get There

Trains + Cable Car

  • Wengen > Lauterbrunnen train
  • Lauterbrunnen > Murren cable car + train combo
  • Murren > Gimmelwald hike (scenic 30 min) or cable car
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass

Train + Bus + Cable Car (or hike)

  • Wengen > Lauterbrunnen train
  • Lauterbrunnen > Stechelberg Bus
  • Stechelberg > Gimmelwald cable car. Hike entire sequence in reverse (scenic 30 min) or take same or different route back.
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass

Funnicular

  • Murren > Short village walk > Allmendhubel flower park playground funnicular
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Try Pfingstegg area for additional activities.

How to Get There

Train + Bus + Cable Car (scenic route)

  • Go via Männlichen cable car > GrindelWald Terminal cable car > local bus to Firstbahn > First cable car
  • Return via local bus to GrindelWald Terminal > Eiger Express / Kleine Scheidegg.
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Hike from Männlichen cow trail to treetop playground.
  • Continue on to Grindelwald to explore further or return via gondola/cable car to Mannlichen.

How to Get There

Cable Car

Wengen to Männlichen
15 min direct
Travel Pass

Hike one way, then Cable Car to return

Männlichen to Holenstein
1.5hr hike, 15 min return
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Day trip to Lake Thun, Spiez, and castles.
  • Alternative: Day trip to Lucerne and Pilatus mountain.

How to Get There

Train

  • Wengen > Lauterbrunnen > Interlaken train
20 min each way
Travel Pass

Boat

  • Interlaken boat terminal (right across train station)
1.5-6h depending on choice of route chosen
Travel Pass

Activities

  • Visit the Schilthorn summit via cable car (similar experience to Jungfraujoch) OR
  • Revisit Murren / Allmendhubhel flower park for more relaxing day. (recommended)

How to Get There

Trains + Cable Car

  • Wengen > Lauterbrunnen train
  • Lauterbrunnen > Murren cable car + train combo
  • Murren > Schilthorn cable car
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass + extra for Schilthorn

Train + Bus + Cable Car

  • Wengen > Lauterbrunnen train
  • Lauterbrunnen > Stechelberg Bus / Bike / Walk
  • Stechelberg > Schilthorn cable car.
30 - 60 min each way
Travel Pass + extra for Schilthorn

Activities

  • Rest day or revisit any favorite spots from the trip.

Activities

  • Travel back to Geneva via scenic GoldenPass Express.
  • Return flight to CLT

How to Get There

Train to Geneva (Or any nearby airports, doesn't matter)

Goldenpass Express to Montreux > Train/Uber to GVA airport / hotel
3h - 4h
Train Pass (or ~35 CHF)

Fly back to CLT

CLT-GVA or Nearby
12h - 13h, 1 change
$450 RT

Vanya's 3rd Birthday - Alpine Playgrounds