Zurich
+98%€119median tour
€82middle half of tours€299
- 13% under €50
- #48 cheapest of 50
Europe · 7 cities
Things to Do in Switzerland
Seven Swiss destinations in one place: which mountain excursions are worth their price, when the travel pass actually pays, and what a day out costs in one of the most expensive countries in our price index.
3,064 tours listed by Viator 7 cities we cover Median tour €119–€119 Free cancellation
Where to go
Cities of Switzerland
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under Switzerland.
What it costs
What tours cost in Switzerland
From our own price index — 2,400 tours across 50 cities, collected August 2026. Medians, not averages: a couple of multi-day packages drag an average into fiction.
Vertical line is the global median, €60. Full table for all 50 cities in the Tour Price Index.
Practical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
This is one of the most expensive countries in our index
Zurich’s median tour is €119 against a global median of €60 — third-highest of the fifty cities we measured. Mountain railways are the reason: a single return to Jungfraujoch costs more than a full-day guided tour does in most of Europe. Budget for the mountain, not the guide.
Here the travel pass usually does pay
Unlike Japan, the Swiss Travel Pass tends to win: it covers trains, buses, lake boats, many museums and gives large discounts on the mountain railways it does not cover outright. Two mountain excursions plus intercity travel and it is normally ahead.
A mountain in cloud is an expensive white-out
Jungfraujoch, Titlis and Pilatus are extraordinary in clear air and pointless in fog, and they cost the same either way. Check the summit webcams on the morning — every one of these mountains publishes them — and move the trip a day if it is socked in.
Cable cars shut for maintenance between seasons
Late April to late May and late October to early December are the changeover windows, and individual lifts close for weeks at a time. Check the specific mountain rather than assuming the country is open.
Everything is close together
Zurich to Lucerne is under an hour, to Interlaken about two, Geneva to Chamonix around ninety minutes. One base genuinely covers a lot here, and the day-trip catalogue is built on that.
Four languages, and the tour language matters
German in Zurich and Lucerne, French in Geneva and Lausanne, Italian in Ticino. English guiding is widespread in the tourist centres and thinner in the valleys — worth confirming for anything away from the main resorts.
When to visit
Switzerland through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Spring
Apr–May
- Best for
- Valleys green and empty, lakes warming, the lowest prices of the year.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Many cable cars are shut for maintenance — check the specific lift before you travel.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Hiking, every railway and lift running, lake swimming, the long light.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The one season everything is guaranteed open — and the one with the highest prices.
Autumn
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- The clearest air of the year, larch colour, hiking without the crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- September is the best month for mountain views; by late October lifts start closing.
Winter
Dec–Mar
- Best for
- Skiing, Christmas markets, snow trains and the mountains at their most dramatic.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Valley fog is common and summits are often above it — cloud below you is a good sign.
Frequently asked
Switzerland: common questions
How many days do you need in Switzerland?
Five to seven days, and fewer places than you think. Lucerne and the Bernese Oberland are the classic first trip; add Zermatt for the Matterhorn if you have the days. The country is small enough that moving hotel every night is a choice rather than a necessity.
What does a tour in Switzerland cost?
Zurich’s median tour is €119 in our index of 50 cities — third-highest in the study, behind Amman and Reykjavik, and roughly double the global median of €60. Almost all of that is the mountain railways, which are priced as attractions rather than transport.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
More often than not, which is unusual for a national pass. It covers trains, buses, lake boats and most museums outright and discounts the big mountain railways heavily. If your week includes two summits and a couple of intercity legs, it almost certainly wins.
Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn?
Jungfraujoch is higher, more famous and considerably more expensive, and the railway spends much of the ascent inside a tunnel. Schilthorn is cheaper, the ride is above ground the whole way and the view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau is arguably better because you are looking at them rather than standing on them.
When is the best time to visit?
Late June to September for the mountains, with September the pick for clear air. December to March for snow. April, May and November are the two shoulder windows when lifts close for maintenance and the country is at its least interesting.