How should a first-time traveller plan Switzerland without overdoing it?
Switzerland is easy to move around, which is exactly why people over-plan it. Pick one strong mountain region, one city-lake base and one stretch goal; the trip improves when every train ride is not trying to prove the itinerary was ambitious.
Answer
Start by deciding what kind of Switzerland you want: lake-and-city ease, big alpine scenery, scenic trains, hiking or a polished short break. The rail system makes movement feel simple, but every transfer still costs attention, money and weather flexibility. A first trip usually works best with Lucerne or Zurich as a soft landing, then the Bernese Oberland or Zermatt as the mountain anchor, rather than a rushed chain of both plus Geneva, Ticino and every named train. Switzerland is not hard to travel. It is hard to edit, because so many beautiful places are close enough to tempt you and far enough to dilute the trip.