Switzerland in a Nutshell: Cities and Peaks by Train

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on October 2, 2026

Meet the group at Hotel City Zürich in Zurich

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 4:00 p.m. Orientation.

Getting to the site: Directions from the airport to Hotel City Zurich: Take a taxi from the airport to the hotel. It takes about 20 minutes and cost approximately 50-60 CHF. Alternatively, you can take the train from the airport to Zurich HB, then walk to the hotel or transfer to tram 14 or 3 to Löwenplatz for one stop. This option will take about 20 minutes and will cost approximately 10 CHF.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Train from Basel is available.

Your trip ends on: Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Basel at Hotel Odelya

End of Trip: 5:00 a.m. for earliest transfers to airport. Transfers continuing through the day depending on flight times. 11:00 a.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Take a taxi from the hotel to the train station in Basel (5 minutes, 20-26 CHF). From here, take a train to the airport (1 hour, 30 minutes). Your Rail Pass will cover the train cost on departure day. It is no longer valid after the program end day.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.