# Swiss lakes and Alsatian cities · Short middle stop and a slower finish

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/open-jaw/swiss-lakes-and-alsatian-cities-z0684/>)

Short middle stop and a slower finish

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Open jaw
- Nights: 11
- Interests: History, Nature, Politics, Business, Design, Food & Drink

## Route and nights

- Geneva · 4 night(s)
- Zürich · 2 night(s)
- Strasbourg · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: Two nights in the middle means one main visit. Keep a substantial final base for the last stretch.

Compare: Rail

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Geneva

- 15:00 to 15:45 · Check in or drop off your bags · Hotel Cornavin
- 16:00 to 17:30 · Get oriented near your hotel and locate the next transit stop · Geneva. Keep this stop optional if you arrive late.
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Geneva
Overnight: [Hotel Cornavin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409636/hotel-cornavin-geneva-switzerland/>) · Geneva

### Day 2 · Geneva

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Geneva
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Walk the Old Town and see the cathedral precinct · St Pierre Cathedral, Geneva. Check hours and separate admission for any interior. [Official information](<https://www.geneve.com/en/>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch around the Old Town · St Pierre Cathedral, Geneva
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Explore Reformation history around Parc des Bastions or an open museum · St Pierre Cathedral, Geneva
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Geneva
Overnight: [Hotel Cornavin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409636/hotel-cornavin-geneva-switzerland/>) · Geneva

### Day 3 · Geneva

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Geneva
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Walk the lakefront and Jardin Anglais · Jardin Anglais, Geneva
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near the lake or back in the city center · Jardin Anglais, Geneva
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Follow a shorter public section of the quays or take a cafe break · Jardin Anglais, Geneva
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Geneva
Overnight: [Hotel Cornavin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409636/hotel-cornavin-geneva-switzerland/>) · Geneva

### Day 4 · Geneva

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Geneva
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Explore the international district or take a confirmed institutional visit · Palais des Nations, Geneva. Check admission, ID, and current visitor access before committing to a tour. [Official information](<https://www.ungeneva.org/en/visit>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch around the district or return toward Cornavin · Palais des Nations, Geneva
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Walk the public spaces around Place des Nations and nearby parks · Palais des Nations, Geneva
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Geneva
Overnight: [Hotel Cornavin](<https://www.hotels.com/ho409636/hotel-cornavin-geneva-switzerland/>) · Geneva

### Day 5 · Zürich

- 07:40 to 08:10 · Check out and collect your bags · Hotel Cornavin
- 09:00 to 14:15 · Travel from Geneva to Zürich · Zürich. Choose a confirmed train and allow time for station transfers. [Official information](<https://www.sbb.ch/en>)
- 14:15 to 15:00 · Late lunch near your arrival station or hotel · Zürich
- 15:00 to 15:50 · Check in or drop off your bags · Hotel St. Josef. Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.
- 16:10 to 17:25 · Take a short orientation walk near your new hotel · Zürich. Skip the walk if your actual arrival is later.
- 18:35 to 20:00 · Dinner near your new hotel · Zürich
Overnight: [Hotel St. Josef](<https://www.hotels.com/ho611353056/hotel-st-josef-zurich-switzerland/>) · Zürich

### Day 6 · Zürich

- 08:15 to 09:10 · Breakfast near your hotel · Zürich
- 09:30 to 12:15 · Walk the Viadukt and public streets to see industrial reuse · Viadukt, Zürich West. Check individual business hours before planning an interior stop. [Official information](<https://www.zuerich.com/en>)
- 12:30 to 13:40 · Lunch near Viadukt or Schiffbau · Viadukt, Zürich West
- 14:00 to 16:50 · Explore the public surroundings of former industrial sites or check an open exhibition · Viadukt, Zürich West
- 18:30 to 20:00 · Dinner near your hotel · Zürich
Overnight: [Hotel St. Josef](<https://www.hotels.com/ho611353056/hotel-st-josef-zurich-switzerland/>) · Zürich

### Day 7 · Strasbourg

- 07:40 to 08:10 · Check out and collect your bags · Hotel St. Josef
- 09:00 to 14:20 · Travel from Zürich to Strasbourg · Strasbourg. Check the actual Basel connection and plan enough time for the transfer. [Official information](<https://www.sbb.ch/en>)
- 14:20 to 15:00 · Late lunch near your arrival station or hotel · Strasbourg
- 15:00 to 15:50 · Check in or drop off your bags · Hôtel Gutenberg. Tell the hotel if you expect a late arrival.
- 16:10 to 17:25 · Take a short orientation walk near your new hotel · Strasbourg. Skip the walk if your actual arrival is later.
- 18:35 to 20:00 · Dinner near your new hotel · Strasbourg
Overnight: [Hôtel Gutenberg](<https://www.hotels.com/ho286430/hotel-gutenberg-strasbourg-france/>) · Strasbourg

### Day 8 · Strasbourg

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Strasbourg
- 09:25 to 10:50 · Visit Strasbourg Cathedral and its square · Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg. Check visitor access around services. Choose the exterior and square if the interior is unavailable. [Official information](<https://www.cathedrale-strasbourg.fr/>)
- 11:05 to 12:10 · Walk the timber-framed lanes near Maison Kammerzell · Maison Kammerzell, Strasbourg
- 12:25 to 13:40 · Lunch around the cathedral precinct · Grande Île, Strasbourg
- 14:00 to 16:45 · Walk the lanes between Place du Marché-aux-Poissons and Petite France · Grande Île, Strasbourg
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Strasbourg
Overnight: [Hôtel Gutenberg](<https://www.hotels.com/ho286430/hotel-gutenberg-strasbourg-france/>) · Strasbourg

### Day 9 · Colmar

- 08:15 to 10:00 · Travel from Strasbourg to Colmar · Colmar railway station. Use a published train and allow time for the walk into town. [Official information](<https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est>)
- 10:10 to 12:05 · Walk the canals and historic lanes around Little Venice · Petite Venise, Colmar. Use the quieter side streets if paths near the canals are crowded.
- 12:20 to 13:30 · Lunch around the historic center · Colmar, France
- 13:45 to 15:40 · Explore the old town around Place de la Cathédrale · Place de la Cathédrale, Colmar. Choose one indoor museum only if its hours fit.
- 15:55 to 17:40 · Return to Strasbourg · Strasbourg railway station. Adjust this travel window to a real departure.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Strasbourg
Overnight: [Hôtel Gutenberg](<https://www.hotels.com/ho286430/hotel-gutenberg-strasbourg-france/>) · Strasbourg

### Day 10 · Strasbourg

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Strasbourg
- 09:30 to 10:40 · Try an Alsatian bakery around the historic center · Grande Île, Strasbourg. Check the bakery hours and save room for lunch.
- 10:55 to 12:05 · Walk around Place Kléber and nearby market streets · Place Kléber, Strasbourg
- 12:20 to 13:40 · Have an Alsatian lunch in the center · Grande Île, Strasbourg. Check service times and whether you need a reservation.
- 13:55 to 16:40 · Follow a short riverside loop and stop at a cafe · Quai des Bateliers, Strasbourg
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Strasbourg
Overnight: [Hôtel Gutenberg](<https://www.hotels.com/ho286430/hotel-gutenberg-strasbourg-france/>) · Strasbourg

### Day 11 · Strasbourg

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Strasbourg
- 09:30 to 11:10 · Walk the canals and timber-framed streets of Petite France · Petite France, Strasbourg
- 11:25 to 12:25 · Cross toward Ponts Couverts and see Barrage Vauban · Barrage Vauban, Strasbourg. Check upper walkway access if you want the view from above.
- 12:40 to 13:50 · Lunch near the canals · Petite France, Strasbourg
- 14:10 to 16:45 · Follow the Ill back into the historic center · Quai de la Petite France, Strasbourg. Take an indoor break if rain or crowds make the full loop a poor fit.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Strasbourg
Overnight: [Hôtel Gutenberg](<https://www.hotels.com/ho286430/hotel-gutenberg-strasbourg-france/>) · Strasbourg

### Day 12 · Strasbourg

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Strasbourg
- 09:15 to 09:45 · Check out and collect your bags · Hôtel Gutenberg
- 10:00 to 10:45 · Optional short walk near your hotel · Strasbourg. Skip this stop if you need the time for departure.