×îÐÂÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Welcome to Switzerland! Upon your arrival at Zürich Airport, you will transfer to your centrally located hotel in the heart of the city. Take time to settle in, freshen up, and shake off the journey before stepping out to begin discovering your surroundings. 

The arrival day is yours to enjoy at leisure. You might stroll the medieval lanes and riverside promenades of Zurich's Old Town, pause at a lakeside cafe, or simply rest and prepare for the adventures ahead. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Begin your Swiss adventure in Zürich, where a charming medieval Old Town, a graceful lakefront promenade, and a proud tradition of chocolate-making come together in a single relaxed day. In the company of your private guide, you will wander cobblestone lanes and riverside squares, glide across the water on a leisurely lake cruise, and pause at the celebrated Sprüngli cafe for world-famous Swiss chocolate and pastries. 

This is an easy, flexible introduction to the city, shaped entirely around your party and paced to let you linger wherever the moment invites. 

Highlights

• Explore Zürich's charming Old Town and lakeside promenade with a local guide who brings its history and stories to life.
• Pause at the iconic Sprüngli cafe to enjoy world-famous Swiss chocolate and delicate pastries.
• Relax on a scenic cruise across Lake Zürich, taking in the city skyline and distant Alps from the water.
• Visit Zürich's landmark church, the Grossmünster, at the heart of the Swiss Reformation.
• Travel privately with your party, with flexible timing throughout the day.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 
Duration: Variable, arranged to suit your party  
Pace: Moderate, up to about 5,000 steps  
Style: Walking tour 

Journey north from Zürich to stand before the largest waterfall in Europe and to explore a thousand years of history at Schloss Laufen, the castle perched dramatically above the thundering water. This private day trip weaves together natural spectacle, medieval architecture, and the charm of the riverfront towns along the Rhine.

You will feel the power of the Rhine Falls up close from a boat on the river, wander the ancient halls and viewpoints of Schloss Laufen, and stroll the frescoed streets of Schaffhausen, all at an unhurried pace with your private guide at your side. 

Highlights

• Marvel at the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe, seen up close on a boat tour at the base of the cascade.
• Explore Schloss Laufen, the castle that overlooks the falls, and its riverside viewpoints.
• Walk the observation platforms built out over the water for close-up views of the rushing Rhine.
• Tour Schaffhausen, celebrated for its medieval architecture and the painted frescoes of its Old Town.
• Travel privately with your party and your guide, returning to Zürich the same day.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 
Duration: Approximately 7 hours  
Pace: Moderate, up to about 5,000 steps  
Style: Rail and walking tour 

Embark on one of Switzerland's most legendary rail journeys, traveling the celebrated Glacier Express route the way the Swiss do. Rather than the crowded tourist train, you will ride comfortable historic regional carriages with large panoramic windows, following the most scenic stretches of the iconic line while pausing to explore charming Alpine villages along the way. 

Over the course of a full day, you will cross dramatic gorges, high mountain passes, and remote alpine valleys, with time for a relaxed, authentic lunch in the mountain village of Disentis and a visit to medieval Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland. It’s a day of breathtaking scenery and culture that will take you through six of Switzerland’s 26 regions. 

Highlights

• Travel the legendary Glacier Express route aboard comfortable historic regional trains, free of the tourist crowds, with large windows framing the passing Alps.
• Marvel at the Rhine Gorge, the Swiss Grand Canyon, carved over millennia by the Rhine River.
• Ascend to the Oberalp Pass at 6,560 feet, the source of the Rhine, amid rugged peaks and alpine lakes.
• Enjoy a relaxed, authentic lunch and time to shop for souvenirs in the mountain village of Disentis.
• Explore Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland, and return to Zürich the same evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 
Duration: Approximately 10 hours  
Pace: Relaxed, with light uphill walking in Disentis  
Style: Rail tour 

Experience one of Switzerland's most classic mountain excursions, combining a historic cogwheel railway, a dazzling lake cruise, and sweeping alpine panoramas from the summit of Mount Rigi, long known as the Queen of the Mountains. The day begins in the beautiful lakeside city of Lucerne and unfolds at a gentle, scenic pace shaped around your party. 

You will cruise across the shimmering waters of Lake Lucerne, ride Europe's first mountain railway to the summit of Rigi Kulm, and take in views that reach across the Alps and the surrounding lakes, before ending the day with a guided stroll. 

Highlights

• Cruise across Lake Lucerne toward Mount Rigi, with breathtaking scenery on every side.
• Ride the historic cogwheel railway, the first mountain railway in Europe, to the summit of Rigi Kulm.
• Enjoy panoramic views of the Alps and the surrounding lakes from the Queen of the Mountains.
• Take a guided walk through Lucerne to see the Lion Monument, the Chapel Bridge, and the Church of St. Leodegar.

Meals Included: Breakfast 
Duration: Approximately 7 hours  
Pace: Moderate, with some uphill walking at the summit  
Style: Rail, cruise, and mountain excursion

Experience Switzerland's most stunning panoramic train ride, a journey that crosses language regions, cultures, and landscapes and leaves unforgettable impressions. Traveling over mountains, glaciers, and soaring viaducts along a route recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will make your way from Zürich across the Alps and down into Italy, ending in Milan. 

This is a day of effortless, spectacular travel, climbing the highest tracks in Europe and gliding across the celebrated Landwasser Viaduct, with a relaxed lunch in the charming border town of Tirano before the final stretch south. 

Highlights

• Ride the Bernina Express, one of the world's most beautiful rail journeys and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Cross more than 196 bridges, among them the iconic curving Landwasser Viaduct.
  See glaciers and dramatic alpine landscapes from the comfort of your panoramic seat.
• Climb the highest railway tracks in Europe and navigate some of the steepest gradients of any rail line.
• Travel from Zürich across the Alps by way of Chur and Tirano, ending in Milan.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 
Duration: Approximately 10 hours  
Pace: Relaxed  
Style: Rail tour 

Enjoy a free day to explore Milan, the Italian city of fashion, history, and impressive architecture. Take in the highlights of the city, then spend the rest of the day shopping and wandering between the ancient and modern at your own pace. Your guide is on-hand for recommendations and logistics, while the day itself is yours to shape however you wish. 

Things to Do

• Visit the world-famous Milan Cathedral and climb to the terraces for a spectacular view over the city.
• Savor Italian cuisine, which, in Laura's words, is some of the best food you will ever have.
• Shop in one of the great fashion capitals of Europe.
• Visit the Leonardo3 Museum and step into the world of Leonardo da Vinci.
• Relax at a traditional cafe over coffee and pastries.

Meals Included: Breakfast 
Duration: A full, open day  
Pace: At your own pace  
Style: Independent 

After breakfast, your Swiss and Italian journey comes to a close. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a final espresso, a last look at the Duomo, or a little more shopping before you depart for the airport and your flight home. 

Meals Included: Breakfast 
Duration: Departure at your own schedule  
Pace: At your own pace  
Style: Independent 

Yes! Non-USF alumni can be invited as guests on all Beyond the Postcard trips.

Travel is more meaningful when you share it with a community. We want to give alumni the opportunity to explore new places alongside fellow Honors Bulls while staying connected to that curiosity and sense of community that shaped their college experience. Rather than navigating an international trip on your own, you can enjoy a thoughtfully planned experience with transportation, activities, and many daily logistics already coordinated.