How to Spend 7 Days in Switzerland in the Winter (Beyond the Slopes, An adventurous mostly non-skiers guide)

Ever wondered if a real winter wonderland exists? A place so magical that it feels like stepping onto the set of the Polar Express? If your answer is yes, then this 7-day itinerary is your guide to experiencing the enchantment of Switzerland in the winter time that goes beyond the traditional ski-centric itinerary. Showcasing the breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, and cultural gems that make 7 days in Switzerland an unforgettable journey for every traveler. Join me on a journey that explores how to spend 7 days in Switzerland, where every day promises a new chapter of wintertime magic.

From the adrenaline-pumping slopes of the Swiss Alps to the cozy corners of charming towns, this 7 day guide is crafted for those seeking the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and awe-inspiring beauty. If you are anything like me and are not the best skier, this guide is perfect for you. Over the next seven days, I’ll guide you through an itinerary that encapsulates the magic of Switzerland in the winter.

TLDR;

I know how precious your time is, here is the TLDR (Too Long Didn’t Read) version:

Arrive in Geneva or Zurich (We arrived in Geneva)
Take the train from your starting point (Geneva or Zurich) to Zermatt – Spend 3 nights in Zermatt
Leave on Day 4 to St Moritz via the Glacier Express – Spend 3 nights in St Moritz
Day 7 head back to Geneva (Or Zurich) and spend your last night in the city near the airport

Day 1-3 (Zermatt)

Day 1

Your journey will likely begin by flying into Geneva or Zurich. We flew into Geneva (to be honest we flew into Geneva because it was cheaper) but either works for this guide. From Geneva start your journey to Zermatt which is about a 4 hour train ride away. Take this day to settle into your hotel (we stayed at the Beausite Hotel, I will link my hotel review here) and explore the town. Other hotels we considered staying at were Riffelap, Omnia, and Mont Cervin Palace. I take a deeper dive into the top 9 Hotels in Zermatt in my other blog post 🙂

Aerial View of City Buildings Near Snow Covered Mountain

Day 2 & Day 3

Day 2 & Day 3 is the perfect time for those ski lovers to hit the slopes at one of the 3 ski resorts in/near Zermatt. For my non skiing friends, Days 2 & 3 is a great time to be foodie focused, take in some sight seeing or spa time. Here are some of my recommendations for Day 2 & 3:

Food & Drinks: Chez Vrony, has views of the Matterhorn, definitely book in advance. Iglu Dorf also has views of the Mattherhorn, casual drinking spot in unique igloo hotel. Adler Hitta also another great choice for views and great food. Restaurant Chez Max Julen and Spycher are both great spot for dinner with traditional Swiss cuisine.
Activities: Gornergrat Train ride to see panoramic view of the Matterhorn. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car/station in Europe! Sledding in Zermatt is also super fun, highly recommend this.
More in depth planning and recommendations on my 3 Days in Zermatt blog post

Moving Train With Mountain and Trees in Background

Day 4-6 (St Moritz)

Day 4

Day 4 might arguable be my favorite day. Wake up in Zermatt, check out of your hotel and head to the most luxurious train ride of your life the Glacier Express. This train ride runs from Zermatt to St Moritz (or vice versa) and is a once in a life time experience to ride the Glacier Express.

I will be 100% transparent, it is EXPENSIVE. Like holy crap did I just spend $700 on a one way first class train ticket expensive. I will reiterate that this an experience unlike any other that including a 5 course meal so spending that money was worth it for me (it was also my boyfriends birthday so insert special occasion excuse here). I go into more detail about the Glacier Express and how to book in my blog post. This is an 8 hour train ride so it will take up most of your ‘Day 4’ but again completely worth it in my humble opinion.

Once you arrive in St Moritz, check into your hotel (we stayed at Kulum Hotel) and relax the rest of the night. More adventure awaits.

Day 5

You have many options on Day 5 of your 7 days in Switzerland. Another day for skiing for my winter sport fanatics (St Moritz has a plethora of skiing areas). On this day we decided to go as the Swiss call, sledging or tobogganing (sledding). We went to Preda to go sledding and WOW, what a blast we had! Here are some of my recommendations for Day 5:

Food & Drinks: Paradiso for views, Chesa al Parc (best meal we had in our trip), Chesa Viaglia, Sunny Bar (Closed on Wednesdays & Thursdays)
Activities: Olympic bob sledding (totally wish we did this, BOOK AHEAD), Sledding in Preda, go to a day club, Spa Day but of course

Paradiso in St Moritz Switzerland — Our seats at Paradiso

Day 6

Since we paid a hefty amount of money to stay at one of St Moritz’s 5 star hotels, we used day 6 as a spa day at the Kulum Hotel to enjoy the views and take it all in one last time (some other hotels I recommend in St Moritz are listed here). There truly is nothing like spending time in a hot tub when its snowing outside! Kulum Hotel also has an ice skating rink right outside the hotel so we decided to get our activity in for the day. You do not have to be a guest at the hotel in order to ice skate here (price was $12 CHF for adults).

Day 7 (Geneva)

Day 7 of 7 will start our journey back to Geneva. We choose to go by train but you can also rent a car from St Moritz and drive. Our last night in Switzerland we stayed at the Ruby Claire Hotel. Take your last day soaking in your final hours of your Swiss adenture. We spent our time in Geneva walking around the town and eating good food. Less than 24 hours isn’t much time to fit a ton in, but enjoy your last day doing things you find leisure in. Important: depending what time of year you go,

Conclusion

There are so many different ways to spend 7 days in Switzerland in the winter. Some find pleasure and leisure in skiing, trying different foods or spending all day at the hotel spa. Some may want to spend less time in a certain city and venture out to explore more (we will definitely be back to explore Grindwald, Bern and so many other places in Switzerland). Whatever leisure looks like to you, I hope you found this post helpful with information to guide you on your 7 Days Switzerland adventure because let’s face it, no matter how long or how far traveling is a luxury.

Q: How much did it cost to travel to Switzerland?

A: Ahh – The burning question everyone wants to know but few disclose 🙂 I paid for my Switzerland trip completely on my own (I did travel with my boyfriend splitting the cost of hotels). This price breakdown is per person: Flights were probably the cheapest expense at $530 round trip from Chicago to Geneva (with a layover in Zurich). Hotels for 7 nights were about $2,500. I know this is a lot of money for most people but there is definitely cheaper alternatives for you to have an amazing 7 Days in Switzerland. In terms of meals we spent about $1500 per person for 7 days. Trains we spent about another $500 for trains. Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, keep this in mind when planning but I promise you will not regret a moment of your trip:)

Q: Is Switzerland expensive?

A: Short answer is YES. Granted we did not choose the budget friendly route by any means, however I do think Switzerland was more expensive than its neighboring countries. The trains to get around alone will run you about $100 USD round trip. There are budget friendly options like a Swiss Travel Pass if you plan on taking the train more than once a day (aka if you plan on skiing). After doing the math it did not make sense for us to get a travel pass since we didn’t ski, I recommend running through the cost if its worth it for you.

Q: How far in advance do you have to book a trip to Switerzland in the winter?

A: We booked our trip about 4 months in advance. I have been eyeing hotel prices for Switzerland in the winter and the prices will skyrocket the closer you get to your travel dates (there’s a lot of winter sports and festivities in January/February and is a popular time to go). My suggestion is to book at least 3-6 months out, if you see a price you like.. BOOK. I also highly recommend booking popular restaurants and day clubs in advance (ex. Paradiso in St Moritz, Chez Vrony, Iglu Bar, etc)

How to Spend 7 Days in Switzerland in the Winter (Beyond the Slopes, An adventurous mostly non-skiers guide)

TLDR;