A Magical One Week Switzerland Winter Itinerary!

Are you planning a winter trip to Switzerland and looking for a perfect one week itinerary?

Switzerland around Christmastime has always been at the top of my bucket list, and after traveling to Europe many times in the summer, I was craving a winter adventure.

As a December baby, I always dreamt of spending my birthday staying in a snow-covered village and exploring the incredible European Christmas markets!

So for my 30th birthday, that’s exactly what we did! We spent 7 days in the magical towns of Zermatt and Basel (with a day trip into France for more Christmas markets!), playing in the snow, ice skating in front of the Matterhorn, eating fondue, and drinking mulled wine.

The entire trip felt like stepping into a snow globe, and now I am sharing our full itinerary with you!

In this guide, you’ll find a day-by-day breakdown of exactly what we did, where we stayed, and all the things I wish I knew before our trip!

Switzerland in the winter is straight out of a postcard, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Day 1: Arrive in Switzerland and Travel to Zermatt

Morning: Arrival in Zurich

To kick off your winter adventure in Switzerland, you have a few options in terms of flights!

Switzerland has several major airports to choose from, whether you’re flying in from the USA or from Europe. We personally chose to fly into Zurich International Airport (ZRH), both due to flight availability and train availability to Zermatt.

We were able to start our journey to Zermatt directly from the Zurich airport train station (called Zurich Flughafen), without having to travel to the main Zurich train station (called Zurich HB) first, which was a nice perk!

However, you can also reach Zermatt by flying into other popular Swiss towns like Geneva or Basel, and the train journey time is very similar (around 3.5 hours with at least 1 change).

This itinerary ends in Basel, so it might be cheaper to fly round-trip out of Basel!

If you are traveling from Zurich (airport or train station), you can expect at least 1, but possibly 2 or 3 transfers on your way to Zermatt.

All trains to Zermatt typically transfer in Visp. We were lucky to have a train straight from Zurich airport to Visp, but you may have to change over at the Zurich main station or Bern! Luckily, the transfers don’t add too much time. The journey from Zurich to Visp is around 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Once you arrive in Visp, it’s just over 1 hour to your final destination of Zermatt!

Note: If your transfer times seem tight (for example: less than 10 minutes), know this is completely normal! As mentioned, the Swiss train system is very efficient. The walk between platforms at most stations is very small, and we had no trouble catching our trains. Just make sure you know which platform you’re going to before getting off the train!

🏔️ A Swiss winter adventure has a lot of moving parts — international flights, mountain accommodation, activity bookings, travel insurance, money. My Passport to Confidence guide is a $7 step-by-step planning roadmap covering every decision from 6 months out to departure day. Download it instantly!

A Note on Trains in Switzerland

As you may be aware, the train system in Switzerland is extensive and extremely efficient! For this reason, you definitely don’t need a car when traveling to Switzerland in winter. In fact, Zermatt is a car-free town!

With the many train lines comes many different ticket options! I could write a whole blog post on this topic, but for the purpose of this itinerary, I will try to keep it simple!

When traveling by train in Switzerland, you can purchase the Swiss Pass Card, the Swiss Half Fare Card, or just purchase individual train tickets for each leg.

The Swiss Pass Card gives you access to unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus or boat. It’s available for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days. However, it is very pricey, starting at $300+ for the 3 day pass.

The Swiss Half Fare Card, on the other hand, is valid for one month and entitles you to a 50% discount on all journeys in Switzerland by train, bus and boat, plus 50% off most mountain railways and cable cars. So, you will pay ~$150 for the card itself, and then get 50% off all tickets you buy.

This blog post from Finding Alexx is super helpful for determining if the Swiss Half Fare card is worth the money!

The third option, which is not often mentioned, is skipping the travel cards altogether and booking Saver Day Pass tickets instead. When purchased far enough in advance, you can score Saver Day Pass tickets for as little as CHF 52 (~$65) for each journey.

Saver Day Pass tickets are good for 1 full day (+ until 5am the following day) and allow you to travel on all trains, boats, buses, and trams in the GA area, which includes Zurich, Zermatt, Basel, Geneva, etc. – check out this map for the full GA area.

Another benefit of booking Saver Day pass tickets is that you are not tied to a specific train time. For example, if you book the 9:00am train but miss it, you can simply get on the next one! This is very nice flexibility to have, especially on your first day in case your flight is delayed.

To make the most out of Saver Day pass tickets, make sure to book as far in advance as possible! I recommend looking at least 3 months out from your trip for the best prices.

⭐ Takeaway: If you follow this itinerary to a tee, it is not worth the money to purchase either the Swiss Travel Pass or the Half Fare Card, as long as you are able to book the Saver Day Pass for your train journeys ⭐

Optional Add On: Zurich Christmas Markets

Our group landed in Zurich first thing in the morning, but one person’s flight got delayed, so we decided to use the time to explore Zurich. If you arrive to Zurich early in the morning, consider spending a few hours exploring before making your way to Zermatt!

Luckily, because we had booked the Saver Day Passes, we were able to take a later train from Zurich to Zermatt. Plus, our tickets also covered all other transportation for that day, so we were able to take the train from the Zurich Airport to the main Zurich station for free!

We stored our bags in lockers at the Zurich Airport train station and then made our way to the first Christmas market of the trip, which was conveniently located right outside the Zurich main train station!

This Christmas market is called the Zürcher Weihnachtsallee and was the perfect first one to visit. It was small and cozy but had a great selection of food and drinks, including our first mulled wine (called Glühwein in German or Vin Chaud in French).

From there, you can also visit the Christkindlimarkt, located on the east side of the train station. This market has over 120 stalls and is one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe!

Depending on how much time you want to give yourself in Zurich, you can also take their city tram (included with your Saver Day Pass) to see the other Christmas markets like the Weihnachtsmarkt and the Singing Christmas Tree!

Evening: Arrival in Zermatt

Depending on what time you depart Zurich, you may arrive in Zermatt in the early afternoon or later in the evening. I do recommend trying to arrive before sun down as the journey is very pretty along the way, but if you miss it, no worries! You’ll have another chance to see it when you leave Zermatt.

You’ll arrive at the Zermatt train station, which is conveniently located on the edge of town. Depending where your hotel is, you may be able to walk! If not, you can take Zermatt’s version of a taxi, which are tiny electric vehicles – so cute!

Pssst: Need help choosing a place to stay in Zermatt? Read my full guide on Where to Stay in Zermatt in Winter for more hotel recommendations, plus a detailed map of the town!

We personally stayed at Hotel Jägerhof, which we LOVED! Our room rate included free pickup from the train station, a lovely perk since we had huge luggage and it was snowing when we arrived!

After checking in and freshening up, it’s time for your first dinner in Switzerland, which of course means fondue!

I highly recommend visiting Swiss Chalet Restaurant! I’m honestly still dreamng about our meal here. You have to try the cheese fondue with herbs – it was life changing!!

After a few pounds of cheese and wine, feel free to give into the jet lag and go to bed early!

Day 2: Exploring, Ice Skating & Spa Day

Morning: Exploring Zermatt + Ice Skating

Welcome to Zermatt! If you booked a Matterhorn-view room at Hotel Jägerhof like we did, hopefully you will wake up to a clear view of the mountain and the adorable snow-covered village of Zermatt.

Grab breakfast at your hotel (included at Hotel Jagerhof!) and then head out to explore the village.

One of my favorite things about Zermatt is that it’s completely walkable. Since cars aren’t allowed, you’ll only see small electric taxis, hotel shuttles, and delivery carts zipping around.

The town is extremely small, and you can walk from one end to the other in less than 30 minutes. I recommend walking from your hotel towards the ice skating rink in the center of town.

Along the way, you can wander around and stop at any places that catch your eye! Definitely make sure to see the Catholic Church in the center of town: Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius, as well as the Mountaineer’s Cemetery nearby.

And of course, don’t miss the iconic view of the village, the river, and the Matterhorn looming in the background from the Kirchbrücke Bridge.

Once you arrive at the Zermatt Ice Skating Rink, it’s time to lace up your boots and go skating! Don’t worry if you don’t have your own, you can rent them for a few Francs right across the street at Julen Sport.

Spend an hour or two enjoying the fresh mountain air and soaking in the views of the Matterhorn behind you. Even if you’re not good at ice skating (I certainly am not), it’s still so fun!

Afternoon: Lunch and Spa Day at BEAUSiTE Zermatt

Once you’ve finished ice skating, walk two minutes up the road to the Brown Cow Pub for lunch and some Swiss beers or mulled wine.

We loved the cozy vibes in here and ended up staying awhile enjoying the warmth!

After lunch, it’s time to head to Hotel BEAUSiTE Zermatt for an incredible spa day! Beausite is without a doubt one of the best hotels in Zermatt, located right in the center of town.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a hotel guest in order to use their incredible spa! While you can book classic massages and treatments here, we opted to skip them and just book their Day Spa pass for ~$80 per person.

The pass includes access to their Spa & Recharge Zone, which has indoor pools and whirlpools, as well as several different types of saunas and steam rooms, plus access to the gym.

The highlight, however, is the outdoor area, which boasts a heated infinity pool and Finnish sauna with incredible views of the Matterhorn.

Oh, and they give you bath robes and slippers when you arrive! This is the perfect way to spend your first afternoon recovering from jet lag!! We even went down to the hotel bar and brought aperol spritzes back to the outdoor pool to really enjoy ourselves.

Even though it was 30 degrees outside, it was such an amazing experience!

Evening: Drinks and Dinner at Cervo Mountain Resort

After you’ve wrapped up at the spa, head back to your hotel to shower and get ready for dinner at CERVO Mountain Resort!

CERVO is one of the nicest resorts in Zermatt, and it’s located at the edge of town up towards the mountain, so I recommend taking a taxi here.

Depending on how long you stay at the spa, you may be able to check out their Apres Ski party on the terrace, which offers incredible views of the Matterhorn and typically includes live DJ sets!

Unfortunately, we arrived after dark around 6pm, and the party was over, so we headed straight to our dinner reservation at their incredible Mediterranean restaurant: Bazaar! This spot was soo delicious and definitely worth the higher price tag!

Day 3: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise & Lamb Dinner

Morning and Afternoon: Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Gondolas

Now that you’ve explored most of Zermatt’s tiny town, it’s time to go higher – literally.

One of the highlights of visiting Zermatt in winter is a trip to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe! The top station sits at 3,883m (over 12,000 feet) and takes around 40 minutes to reach by a series of gondolas.

And the best part is this is not just for skiers — non-skiers can ride the gondolas all the way to the top for sweeping views, ice tunnels, and a perspective of the Alps you can’t get anywhere else!

Tickets cost around $140 USD depending on the season and how far ahead they’re booked. Some ski passes include access, but if you’re not skiing today (we didn’t), you’ll need to purchase the standalone cable car ticket here!

The gondola ride itself is an experience, with multiple changes on the way up. Some stops are mainly for skiers, but others, like Schwarzsee, are worth stepping out for iconic views of the Matterhorn! Even if you don’t venture outside the stations, the views from the gondolas are absolutely breathtaking.

At the summit, the air is noticeably thinner – even walking a few steps felt like a workout! The complex at the summit includes the Glacier Palace, where tunnels carved into the ice lead to sculptures, slides, and even an ice bar (though it wasn’t open during our visit).

There’s also a cinema showing short films about the Matterhorn and a small café with a gift shop. A Toblerone and hot chocolate here felt mandatory!!

The best views, however, are from the outdoor observation platform, reached by a small elevator and a metal staircase. Walking up these stairs definitely made breathing difficult due to the altitude!

Once you get to the top though, it’s 1000% worth it. We had a beautiful clear day and were standing above the clouds with gorgeous views of the Matterhorn below and the Alps sprawling around us!

❄️ Note: Book your Glacier Matterhorn Paradise tickets a few months in advance for the best rates! ❄️

Evening: Matterhorn Viewpoint Hike + Dinner at Schäferstube

Back in Zermatt, an optional evening activity before dinner is the short hike to the famous Matterhorn viewpoint at Mürini Hill on the opposite side of town! To get here, you can hop on the free Zermatt bus and ride it from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise station to the Wiesti-Brücke station.

From there, Mürini Hill is a short but steep 15-minute climb! Once you reach the top, this classic photo spot frames the village rooftops with the Matterhorn looming in the background and truly looks like a postcard!

In fact, if you’ve ever seen photos of Zermatt, it was probably from this spot. We skipped this on our trip to Zermatt, and I really regret it! But you can check out all the details on how to reach it in this post from Third Eye Traveller.

After your hike, head to dinner at Restaurant Schäferstube! The restaurant is known for its lamb, served in a rustic, chalet-style setting.

Even as someone who usually skips lamb, I was blown away by how tender and flavorful it was here! We also shared raclette, the quintessential Swiss dish of melted cheese scraped over potatoes and pickles – so yummy!

Day 4: Ski Day or Sledding with Views of the Matterhorn

On your last day in Zermatt, I wanted to cover two different options for skiers and non-skiers! While we decided to take a ski lesson in Zermatt, you can absolutely have a fun day without skiing, especially if you are visiting later in December!

Option 1: Ski Lessons at Sunnegga or Skiing at Gornergrat

On our winter trip to Switzerland, we had 2 snowboarders and 4 beginner skiiers. Although we had never really skied before, we knew we wanted to take advantage of all Zermatt had to offer, so we decided to book a ski lesson!

Now, the skiing area of Zermatt is divided into three main areas: Rothorn – Sunnegga, Gornergrat, and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (which you visited yesterday).

We originally wanted to visit the Gornegrat on our ski day, so we could ride the Gornergrat Bahn (more on that in a second). However, because we were all beginners and taking a lesson, the ski school highly recommended the Sunnegga area.

So, this is where we ended up taking our ski lesson and spending most of the day! Luckily, this area still had incredible views of the Matterhorn. We had a clear blue sky all day and near perfect conditions, too!

We also had an incredible lunch at Chez Vrony on the mountain, which I highly recommend! They have outdoor seating with incredible views of the Matterhorn, and one of the best international cheeseburgers I’ve ever had!

If you’re not taking lessons, feel free to choose whatever ski area looks best to you, or try them all out! A lift ticket in Zermatt gets you access to all three areas, and the extensive connection of gondolas, funiculars, and chair lifts makes it super easy to connect between them.

We took advantage of this at the end of the day and rode the Gornergrat Bahn to the top station. However, it got dark on the way up, so we unfortunately couldn’t see anything 🙁

You can read more about the different ski areas in my full Zermatt Skiing Guide!

Option 2: Sledding, Snowshoeing, or Winter Hiking

Even if you’re not a skier or snowboarder, there are still plenty of fun winter activities to take advantage of up on the mountain!

Since you visited the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise area yesterday, I highly recommend doing the Gornergrat area today!

Instead of gondolas, you’ll ride an adorable red train up the mountain. Along the way, there are several stops before you reach the top station of Gornergrat, where you’ll find a viewing platform, an interactive exhibit, restaurants, and more!

If you’re visiting after mid-December, there are some very fun winter activities to do along the Gornergrat Railway.

First, you can go sledding down the mountain with views of the Matterhorn in the background! The sledding run goes from Rotenboden down 2,815 metres to Riffelberg, and your ticket gets you unlimited runs.

This looked so fun, but unfortunately the trails weren’t open in the beginning of December when we visited.

Another fun thing to do that wasn’t open when we visited was visiting the Snow bar at Igludorf, an igloo hotel and restaurant! Here, you can enjoy fondue outside on the terrace while overlooking the snowy mountains. Make a reservation for fondue here!

Or regardless of the time of year, you can also tackle some winter hiking! There are several trails along the Gornergrat, but the most popular are the Rotenboden-Riffelberg route or the Riffelalp-Winkelmatten route.

P.S. Make sure to pack your snow clothes for today! Check out my full guide on What to Wear in Zermatt for my recommendations + a downloadable packing list! 🎿🧣

Evening: Dinner at Le Gitan Grill

Whichever option you choose above, I recommend a late dinner reservation tonight to give yourself plenty of time to get off the mountain and back to your hotel to change.

If you are looking for those après-ski vibes before heading back to your hotel, I highly recommend checking out Harry’s Ski Bar, Snowboat, or the outdoor bar at Hotel Zermama. We loved grabbing drinks here with their outdoor heaters!! Such a vibe.

For dinner tonight, check out Le Gitan Grill, a cozy, upscale restaurant with a huge brick oven inside that warmed us right up!

Afterwards, have one last walk around town and enjoy your last evening in Zermatt!

Day 5: Travel to Basel, Winter Cruise, & Christmas Markets

Morning: One Last Walk through Zermatt

Today it’s time to say goodbye to Zermatt and start the second leg of your trip in Basel!

It’s totally up to you how early you want to depart today. We chose to book a 12pm train to give ourselves plenty of time to pack up and check out of our hotel. However, feel free to leave earlier if you want to!

If you have the time, consider spending your morning wandering around the village of Zermatt one last time. Make sure to get a photo on the Viewpoint bridge if you haven’t already! And grab some souvenirs and a sandwich for your train to Basel.

For train tickets to Basel, I highly recommend booking the Saver Day Pass again if you are able to. Similar to your journey from Zurich, you can expect at least one connection in Visp, and maybe a second in Thun or Bern.

Overall, it should take around 3.5 hours to reach Basel from Zermatt!

Afternoon & Early Evening: Arrival in Basel + Winter River Cruise

Once you arrive to the main train station in Basel, you can make your way to your hotel using the city tram system! The tickets for the tram is covered by your Saver Day Pass today, but you should also get a free Basel card when checking into your hotel, which will cover the tram rides for the rest of the trip!

We personally stayed at Hotel Volkshaus Basel, which was reasonably priced, beautifully decorated, and located right in the center of town.

It was also conveniently located right next to Claraplatz station on Tram Line 8, which allowed us to get around the city in just a few minutes! And, there was a mini Christmas market right across the street from the hotel!

After checking in, it’s time to head out on a Winter River Cruise along the Rhine! There are several river cruises that run throughout the day, but starting in December, the evening cruises transform into winter-themed cruises!

We booked a table on the 5pm boat and enjoy warm mulled wine and fondue on board. After eating, you can head outside on the top deck or back of the boat and enjoy the incredible views of Basel and the Rhine river.

The cruise leaves every hour and does a loop around the city, and you can stay on as long as you like!

Fun Fact: Did you know Basel is home to the Tripoint – aka the border between Switzerland, France, and Germany? You’ll get to pass by this point while on the cruise! 🇨🇭🇫🇷🇩🇪

Late Evening: Basel Münsterplatz Christmas Market

After the cruise is over, make your way along the river and down towards the Marktplatz. Here, you’ll find the Basel City Hall, and inside, a fun Christmas surprise!

Within the courtyard of this beautiful red building lies a giant Christmas tree and a fun Christmas light show. But that’s not even the best part!

You’ll also find the Basel Wish Book, an oversized book with markers where you can write your Christmas wish to Santa!

After signing the book, continue down the street until you reach the Münsterplatz! Here, you’ll find one of Basel’s main Christmas markets, and my personal favorite one!

The Münsterplatz felt like several Christmas markets in one. They had a Christmas fairy-tale forest area (called the Märchenwald), where children could decorate gingerbread, ride a train, and more.

There was also a giant Christmas tree in the main square, and surrounding food and drink stands full of your favorite Christmas market delights like glühwein, crêpes, roasted meat, pretzels, and more!

The Christmas markets in Basel typically close around 8:30pm, so I recommend arriving around 7:00pm to enjoy everything before it closes! The children’s area closed even earlier at 7:00pm, so consider arriving earlier if you have kids!

And if you’re looking for more fun after the markets close, I recommend grabbing a drink at one of the Basel Magical Courtyards, which change location every year but are always decorated for winter magic!

Day 6: Day Trip to Colmar and Strasbourg Christmas Markets

I know I said this was a Switzerland itinerary, but I am actually sneaking in a day trip to France to see the two most famous Christmas markets in Colmar and Strasbourg!

As I mentioned, I’ve always been Christmas obsessed, so after seeing these two Christmas markets on Instagram, I knew I had to add them to our itinerary.

Luckily, Colmar and Strasbourg are super close to Basel, so it’s easy to do these as a day trip!

➡️ Read Next: How to Take a Day Trip to Colmar and Strasbourg From Basel 🎄

Early Morning: Travel from Basel to Colmar

Now, this is a full day, so I recommend getting an early start! You’ll be headed to Colmar first, where the Christmas markets open at 10:00am Friday-Sunday and 11:00am Monday-Thursday.

I recommend arriving in Colmar right when the markets open, if not a little bit before. We planned to arrive right at 11am, but our train was cancelled, so we didn’t arrive until 12:30pm.

So, the earlier the better, especially if you want to beat the crowds!

For train tickets, we booked the TER train from Basel SBB (main station) to Strasbourg and then got off and on at the Colmar station. However, after our trip, I found out you’re not actually supposed to do this! So you may want to buy separate tickets from Basel to Colmar and Colmar to Strasbourg to make sure you’re following the rules.

Late Morning: Colmar Christmas Markets

Once you arrive at the Colmar train station, it’s a quick, 15-minute walk to the first Christmas market at La Petite Venise (aka Little Venice).

If you’ve seen photos of Colmar online, you’ve seen photos of the iconic Little Venice area. When you arrive, you can see why the town of Colmar inspired Belle’s village in Beauty and the Beast.

This area is extremely picturesque, with colorful wooden houses dotting the riverfront. They seriously look like gingerbread houses! A photo on the bridge of Rue Turenne is a must here. We also loved the Christmas market in this area, even though it was definitely for children!

While wandering around, we grabbed a few glühwein (now called vin chaud since you are in France!) and our new favorite drink: spiced apple cider (jus de pomme chaude) in the adorable Colmar cups we had been dreaming about.

P.S. Wondering what to wear to the Christmas markets? Check out my detailed Christmas Markets Packing Guide for outfit recommendations and more!

From here, you can continue along the riverfront towards the other Christmas markets in town. Luckily, all the Colmar Christmas markets are very close together, so they’re hard to miss!

Make sure not to miss the market at Pl. de l’Ancienne Douane, which has the famous Colmar Christmas tree you’ve probably seen on Instagram, as well as the Schwendi Fountain, another Beauty and the Beast inspiration!

Other popular markets in Colmar include Pl. Jeanne d’Arc, Pl. de la Cathédrale and Pl. des Dominicains, which are right next to each other.

Our favorite market in Colmar, however, was the one at Place Rapp and the Parc du Champ de Mars.

Here, you’ll find a rotating carousel bar, which served glühwein out of red boot mugs, the highlight of our day! We spent over an hour here, as this market was widespread and not crowded at all.

Afternoon and Early Evening: Strasbourg Christmas Markets

In the early afternoon, it’s time to make the 30-minute train ride from Colmar to Strasbourg!

Strasbourg is known as the “Capital of Christmas”, and once you arrive, you will see why.

Similar to Colmar, all of the Christmas markets in Strasbourg are within walking distance from the train station and from each other. We basically did a giant loop around Strasbourg and tried to hit as many as possible!

To start, cross the river and head first to the markets in the Petite France area, which includes Pl. Saint-Thomas and Pl. Benjamin Zix. This area looked a lot like Colmar!

From there, continue on towards the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, our favorite part of Strasbourg!

This stunning cathedral looms high in the sky – in fact, it was actually the world’s tallest building from 1647 to 1874! It’s free to enter the cathedral, which I highly recommend doing!

Afterwards, spend some time wandering around the markets around the cathedral, including Pl. du Château and PL. de la Cathédrale. This is where we found more red ceramic mugs and delicious spiced ciders!

After you’ve finished in this area, the last market in Strasbourg you have to visit is of course Place Kléber, where the famous Strasbourg Christmas Tree is located!

Note: The markets of Strasbourg are extremely busy, especially when visiting at night!

Once you’re sufficiently exhausted and sick of crowds, catch the TER train back to Basel! I recommend not taking the last train that runs, as it will be extremely busy! We headed back around 7:30pm.

Day 7: Basel Zoo, Chocolate Tasting & Basel Christmas Markets

Morning: Penguin Walk at the Basel Zoo

Today is the last day of this Switzerland winter itinerary, and it is action-packed!

You’ll kick off today with a trip to the Basel Zoo, which is a quick 15-minute ride on the Number 17 tram from Claraplatz. With your Basel Card, you get 50% off the normal ticket price, which you can purchase at the front of the zoo.

The zoo opens at 8:00am, but you don’t need to get there that early! Just make sure to arrive by 10:45am, as the main event is around 11:00am.

What is the main event, you ask?? A PENGUIN WALK 🐧

That’s right! Every day from November to February (as long as it’s cold enough outside), the penguins get walked through the zoo outside their enclosure. It was the most adorable, wholesome activity and a must-see when in Basel!

Of course, this zoo has plenty more to see, including elephants, rhinos, sea lions, and more!

Afternoon: Lunch and a Chocolate Tasting

After your morning at the zoo, head over to Markthalle Basel for lunch, less than 10 minutes away! This indoor food market had some of the best food of the trip, especially if you’re craving some international food like we were.

Inside you’ll find everything from Thai to Ethiopian to Mexican to Japanese, and more!

Then, it’s time to head over to your Chocolate Tasting!

Because.. did you really go to Switzerland if you don’t try some Swiss chocolate?

We booked this very low-key chocolate tasting which was perfect for our busy schedule! In just over 30 minutes, we got to taste 6 different types of chocolate while learning about the production and history of chocolate in Switzerland!

The tour was only $19 and was located right near the zoo and Markthalle, so it was the perfect addition to our day!

However, if you’re looking for something more hands-on (but pricey), consider booking this chocolate-marking workshop or this cheese, chocolate, and pastry food tour! 🍫🍫

Final Thoughts

To end our trip, we flew out of the Basel airport the following morning (which is actually located in France?? lol).

But it’s very easy to get to from the Basel city center! Just make your way to the Basel train station and then board the Basel airport shuttle bus (free with your Basel card!)

And that wraps up this magical, Christmas-themed winter getaway to Switzerland! We had the most amazing time celebrating my 30th birthday in Zermatt and Basel, and I hope I’ve inspired you to plan a similar trip!

Now that you know our general itinerary, make sure to check out my full guide to Visiting Zermatt in the Winter to help you plan the first half of your trip or my guide on Visiting Basel in December for the second half!

Check out all of my Switzerland blog posts below! 🇨🇭❄️🫕
A Magical One Week Switzerland Winter Itinerary!
Visiting Zermatt in the Winter: Everything to Know Before You Go
3 Perfect Days In Zermatt, Switzerland In The Winter!
Where to Stay in Zermatt, Switzerland in Winter (with Map!)
15 Bucket List Things to Do in Zermatt in the Winter!
A Complete Guide to Skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland
What To Wear In Zermatt In Winter: Detailed Packing Guide!
Visiting Basel In December: Christmas Markets & Beyond
Basel Christmas Itinerary: 2 Days In Basel In December
Christmas Market Trip To Colmar & Strasbourg From Basel!
What To Wear To European Christmas Markets (Packing Guide)