Duration: 8 Days
Your escape to Switzerland begins in the dynamic city of Zürich, where you’ll meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner served at your hotel. Your stay in Zürich includes an orientation of the Old Town. Take a scenic drive to lakeside Neuchâtel with its impressive castle and medieval cathedral, time to stroll along its lake promenade. Lake Geneva, situated at the foot of the Alps, is your spectacular base for two nights.
Your Swiss Escape includes a visit to the stately capital of Berne. Enjoy a guided tour of the city to see Bear Park, a panoramic view from the Rose Garden, the Old Town’s Clock Tower with its painted figures, and the flowered-adorned fountains. In lovely Lucerne, be captivated by the Lion Monument, dedicated to the fallen Swiss Guards of the French Revolution, as well as the ornate patrician houses of the Old Town. Cross the famous covered Chapel Bridge to Lucerne’s Jesuit church. Drive through the magnificent Swiss Alps via the famous St. Gotthard tunnel to the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland, home to the lakeside town of Lugano. Enjoy a full day to relax or explore this beautiful setting, before a farewell dinner on your last night in Switzerland. The wonderful memories of your Swiss Escape are made all the sweeter by the absence of high-season crowds on your stunning Switzerland escorted holiday.
Welcome to Zurich! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Swiss History
ZURICH Orientation walk of the old town includes sights of the Fraumunsterkirche.
NEUCHATEL Free time en route to Geneva. (B) 174 mi / 280 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS Fall in love with Zurich with a walk through the Altstadt - its Old Town, in the historic heart of the city. See the guild houses and historic squares that span both sides of the Limmat River. Gracing the shore is the famous Fraumunsterkirche, with its signature green steeple marking the skyline above stained-glass windows designed by masters Chagall and Giacometti.
Grandeur in Geneva
LAKE GENEVA Guided visit to Chillon Castle. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
HISTORIC SPOT
EXPLORE MORE Located on a strategic position on the banks of Lake Geneva, Chillon Castle has been a toll station for ships sailing on the lake. Learn about these fascinating stories while strolling through these serene location and take in breath-taking views of the surrounding area.
Alpine Attraction
BERNE Globus Local Favourite Guided walking tour includes the Old Town, a stop at Bear Park, and a panoramic view of the city from Rose Garden. Free time for lunch. Free time late afternoon and evening. (B) 155 mi / 250 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE
CITY SIGHTS BarenPark (Bear Park) is home to Pyrenean brown bears (after which the town is named). This hillside habitat in Berne differs greatly from the bear pit of 1191 when Duke Berthold V vowed to name the town after the first animal his hunt found in the nearby woods. The first records of bears being kept in the city date back to 1513 when soldiers brought live bears home as spoils of war. Fast forward to the modern day as the inhumane bear pit of the 16th century has evolved into a 6,000 square-meter natural habitat alongside the Aar River.
Bridging History
LUCERNE Walking tour includes the Lion Monument, the Old Town, and Chapel Bridge. Dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS See the symbol of Lucerne at the famous Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge), the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. Originally built in 1365, the bridge includes the Wasserturm (water tower) that once served as a prison. Today, this the world-famous timber bridge is Lucerne's most photographed landmark.
Sights & Delights of Switzerland
LUCERNE Scenic drive through the Swiss Alps on the way to Lugano.
LUGANO Free time. (B) 112mi/180 km
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Lugano to see its mix of Italian and Swiss style and culture reflected in its architecture and cuisine. Standing on the Lake's northern shore, the city is surrounded by mountain peaks. Lugano's Piazza della Riforma and pastel palazzos share the ambience of this lovely Swiss city with impressive architecture and bold and innovative street art.
Swiss Celebration
LUGANO Free time this morning and afternoon. Farewell dinner this evening at your hotel. (B,D)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Lugano with an optional excursion to Bellinzona Castle. Ride the elevator to the Courtyard of Castelgrande, high on the hills above Bellinzona. Part of the fortification dates back to the Middle Ages and it is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views and try out local specialties and the delicious Merlot wine for which the area is famous.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (The nearest airport is Milan, Italy.) (B)
