12 days in Switzerland & Black Forest Itinerary

A vibrant university city, Heidelberg is nestled in the picturesque Neckar river valley.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Mon): take a stroll through Altstadt (Old Town), then step into the grandiose world of Schloss Heidelberg, and then snap pictures at Old Bridge (Karl Theodor Bridge).

To see traveler tips, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Heidelberg day trip website.

Tel Aviv, Israel to Heidelberg is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. The time zone changes from Israel Standard Time to Central European Standard Time, which is usually a -1 hour difference. Traveling from Tel Aviv in July, expect Heidelberg to be little chillier, temps between 31°C and 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Mon) early enough to drive to Rust.

Originally a poor fishing village, Rust now features a world-class amusement park complex.

Start off your visit on the 11th (Tue): appreciate the history behind Schwabentor and then find something for the whole family at Europa-Park.

For where to stay, maps, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Rust day trip website.

Getting from Heidelberg to Rust by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train; or take a bus. July in Rust sees daily highs of 32°C and lows of 18°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 11th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Zurich.

The financial hub of Switzerland, Zurich is most often associated with money and banks.

On the 12th (Wed), take a stroll through Old Town, then contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Zurich, and then see the interesting displays at Uhrenmuseum Beyer Zürich.

To find where to stay, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Zurich day trip planner.

Traveling by car from Rust to Zurich takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or do a combination of bus and train. In July, daytime highs in Zurich are 30°C, while nighttime lows are 17°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Wed) so you can drive to Lucerne.

In north-central Switzerland, Lucerne represents a small city boasting a well-preserved old town.

On the 13th (Thu), don't miss a visit to The Nine Towers, then identify plant and animal life at Mt Pilatus, and then explore the activities along Lake Lucerne. Keep things going the next day: take in the awesome beauty at Titlis, then admire the striking features of Lucerne Station, then snap pictures at Chapel Bridge, and finally appreciate the history behind Lion Monument.

To see ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, go to the Lucerne trip tool.

You can drive from Zurich to Lucerne in an hour. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train; or take a bus. In July, daytime highs in Lucerne are 29°C, while nighttime lows are 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Fri) early enough to drive to Interlaken.

Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the heart of the Jungfrau region, Interlaken became popular for its proximity to the mountains and lakes of the Bernese Oberland region.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Parasailing & Paragliding and Aare River. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Interlaken: Grindelwald (First Cliff Walk by Tissot & Grindelwald-First). There's still lots to do: take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at The Eiger, take in the dramatic scenery at Lauterbrunnen Village, contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Brienz, and look for all kinds of wild species at Maennlichen.

To see reviews, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Interlaken trip itinerary builder.

Drive from Lucerne to Interlaken in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In July, daily temperatures in Interlaken can reach 28°C, while at night they dip to 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Mon) to allow time to drive to Fribourg.

The canton of Fribourg is located in western Switzerland. Start off your visit on the 18th (Tue): see the interesting displays at Musee suisse de la machine a coudre et des objets insolites (Musee Wassmer), delve into the distant past at Theatre romain, then take an in-depth tour of Musée d'histoire naturelle, and finally examine the collection at Across the Screen.

Before you visit Fribourg, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Traveling by car from Interlaken to Fribourg takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In July, daily temperatures in Fribourg can reach 30°C, while at night they dip to 16°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Zermatt.

Best known as home the Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt serves as a chic ski resort town of the Swiss Alps.

On the 19th (Wed), explore the striking landscape at Aletsch Glacier and then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at The Matterhorn. Keep things going the next day: tour the pleasant surroundings at Marmot Trail, take in panoramic vistas at Sunnegga, and then enjoy breathtaking views from Gornergrat.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, read Zermatt road trip planner.

You can drive from Fribourg to Zermatt in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 21st (Fri) to allow enough time to travel back home.