- Travel between 15 September and 10 October for open passes and thin crowds.
- Base yourself in two places, not four: Lucerne and Zermatt.
- Apply for your Schengen visa 8 weeks ahead from Mumbai.
- Book the Glacier Express panorama seats 60 days out.
Why September
By the third week of September the school holidays in Europe are over. The cable cars still run, the lakes are still warm enough to swim, and the hotels that were full in July have their best rooms back.
For families from Gujarat it lines up neatly with the gap before Navratri, and the light is softer for photographs.
Lucerne and the lake
Lucerne is the easiest first stop after the flight to Zurich: an hour by car, a compact old town, and a lake you can cross by paddle steamer to Vitznau for the cogwheel railway up Mount Rigi.
Zermatt
Take the Glacier Express and arrive in a car-free village under the Matterhorn. Go up the Gornergrat at sunrise; the first train leaves around seven.
Where to stay
On the lake, the Bürgenstock for its spa and views; in Zermatt, The Omnia for its quiet and its Matterhorn rooms. Ask us for connecting rooms if you travel with children.
Visa and flights
Swiss and Air India fly direct from Mumbai to Zurich. Return from Milan if you add Lake Como. Apply for the Schengen visa through the Swiss VFS centre about 8 weeks before travel.
Questions
Is September too cold in Switzerland?
Days are usually 15 to 22°C in Lucerne and cooler in Zermatt. Pack layers.
Is the Glacier Express worth it?
For a first visit, yes. Book panorama seats about 60 days ahead.