If there are three phrases to sum Switzerland up, it’d be “a real-life postcard”.
Known for its impeccable prepare system that passes by charming cities, beautiful mountainous landscapes, and clear, blue lakes — I used to be ready to be impressed on my first journey to Switzerland.
From the world’s largest chocolate museum in Zurich to Grindelwald’s snowy mountaintops — this information will present you among the greatest issues to do when planning your subsequent Switzerland itinerary.
Lucerne
Known for its wealthy historical past and head-turning landscapes, you get one of the best of every part at Lucerne — the mountains, valleys, and even tradition!
1) Mount Rigi
Affectionately recognized by the Swiss because the Queen of the Mountains, a day journey to Mount Rigi instructions your consideration.
While the view from the highest is expectedly beautiful, the journey there’s simply as spectacular. Starting at Vitznau, hop on a 55-minute boat experience, adopted by a 30-minute cogwheel prepare experience to Rigi’s highest station.
From Rigi’s highest station, there’s nonetheless a 15-minute steep hike to the highest, nevertheless it’s properly well worth the 360-degree panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and the encircling lakes!
*Pro-tip: As the eating places could be fairly expensive, pack some meals from comfort shops at Lucerne and have a picnic on the high — discover a spot on the greens or one of many benches.
Cost: CHF72 (~S$105). Free for Swiss Travel Pass holders
Opening hours: Varies
Starting level: Vitznau Station
2) Mount Pilatus
Folks within the Middle Ages believed that dragons with therapeutic powers lived inside Mount Pilatus. I didn’t meet any mystical beasts that day, however I have to say taking the Golden Round Trip as much as Pilatus was fairly magical ✨
Starting from Lucerne, we took a scenic ferry experience to Pilatus Bahn. But the true magic started as we rode the world’s steepest cogwheel railway up! The steep and regular climb was so satisfying, we didn’t even really feel the 21.3° incline.
Once on the high, there are hikes starting from half-hour to three hours. The Tomslihorn peak is an efficient in-between with nice views — head proper previous the Pilatus Kulm Restaurant and comply with the path!
Another magical second for me right here was the panoramic views of the countless Alpine peaks (there are greater than 70 peaks in case you depend!).
End your journey with an epic descent by way of Switzerland’s longest Summer Toboggan Run (CHF9) — it’s 1,350m lengthy with unforgettable mountainous views! To get there, take the aerial cableway and get off at Fräkmüntegg Station.
Cost: CHF72 (~S$104.22), single journey for Alpnachstad to Kriens route. 50% off for Swiss Travel Pass holders
Opening hours: Varies
*Pro-tip: Skip the a number of bookings and go for an all-inclusive tour as a substitute. Transport to and from the mountain, together with decide up and drop off in Zurich and Lucerne, is supplied!
3) Hammetschwand Lift
Take a experience up the Hammetschwand Lift for a fast approach to take pleasure in Lucerne’s breathtaking landscapes. Europe’s highest outside raise brings you 40 storeys excessive to a lookout level overseeing Lake Lucerne’s turquoise waters and countless mountaintops.
Cost: CHF18 (~S$26, two-way), CHF15 (~S$22, one-way)
Opening hours: 9:30AM – 6PM, closed from Nov to Apr
How to get there: Take a ferry to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock from Lucerne, hike 25 minutes.
4) Gotthard Tunnel Experience
Photo credit score: My Switzerland
The alps aren’t the one superb factor about Switzerland — it’s additionally residence to the world’s longest railway tunnel, working 57km proper by the mountains!
Photo credit score: My Switzerland
In the previous, getting from north to south meant traversing a day across the mountains by horse. In the identify of effectivity, the Swiss did the seemingly not possible and constructed the Gotthard Base Tunnel. This tunnel passes by a number of massifs, turning a day’s journey right into a 20-minute prepare experience.
Go on a Gotthard Tunnel Experience and stroll by a part of the tunnel itself! In this two-hour guided tour, be taught concerning the historical past and years of dedication that went into engineering this megastructure. At the tip, really feel the frenzy as you watch trains zip by from the tunnel window!
Cost: From CHF26 (~S$37)
Tour timings: 9AM – 5PM
Meeting level: Erstfeld Railway Station
5) Lucern Old Town
Juxtaposed to the trendy metropolis, be transported to a medieval world as you stroll by Old Town.
Cross the enduring 14th-century Chapel Bridge, and admire the work depicting historical Switzerland and Christianity on all of the overhead panels.
The historical past lesson doesn’t finish there — discover church buildings inside the space like Jesuit Church, Switzerland’s first baroque-style place of worship. Or, roam the streets and discover the Lion of Lucerne, a monument made to recollect the Swiss guards that died to guard King Louis XVI in the course of the French revolution.
Cost: Free
How to get there: Walk 5 minutes from Luzern Station
Interlaken
6) Paraglide over Lauterbrunnen
Interlaken is the house floor for adventurous actions — like how Queensland is for New Zealand! And a must-do is paragliding between the valleys of Lauterbrunnen.
There’s no higher approach to expertise Switzerland’s panorama up shut than flying close to rock faces, previous waterfalls, and over the scenic Lauterbrunnen village, with the backdrop of the Swiss Alps.
Depending in your consolation stage, you may ask your pilot for one thing enjoyable — ours did a pair sharp drops and swerves earlier than touchdown safely on the bottom.
Cost: From CHF180 (~S$261)
Meeting Point: Murren or Stechelberg’s Schilthornbahn Cablecar Station
7) Cross the Sigriswil Panorama Bridge (Panoramabrücke Sigriswil)
Photo credit score: Interlaken
Hanging 182m above the Gummischlucht gorge, the Sigriswil Panorama Bridge offers one of the best views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau summits surrounding the pristine Lake Thun.
The 340m-long bridge is the longest suspension bridge inside the Lake Thun Panoramic Circular Trail connecting the charming villages of Sigriswil and Aeschlen.
Cost: CHF8 (~S$12)
Opening hours: 24 hours
How to get there: Take bus 21 from Interlaken OST to Guten Dorf, then take bus 25 to Sigriswil Dorf, and stroll 3 minutes.
8) Iseltwald
Take the journey down a notch and go to the small fishing village of Iseltwald. This calm lakeside city is the iconic spot in Crash Landing On You the place Ri Jeong-hyeok performs the piano by the lake in Switzerland ????
Enjoy the gradual tempo of life as you stroll by the streets. Or go for a leisure kayak on Lake Brienz’s calm waters and go to Iseltwald Castle up shut!
How to get there: Take bus 103 from Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald Dorfplatz.
9) Harder Kulm
During our journey, we witnessed probably the most stunning sundown ever atop Harder Kulm, Interlaken’s highest level at 1,322m above sea stage.
Take a brief funicular experience up and be handled to expansive views of each Lake Brienz and Thun, in addition to the encircling mountains. And when the solar hits these snowy mountain tops, you’d want that sundown lasted perpetually.
As the sky dims, head into Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant — it was arguably certainly one of our favorite dinner locations, not simply due to the meals but additionally the views.
Enjoy cheese fondue and Eglifilets (swiss fish and chips) whereas overlooking Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau lining the horizon.
Cost: CHF34 (~S$49), 50% off for Swiss Travel Pass holders
Opening hours: Varies
How to get there: Walk 6 minutes from Interlaken Ost, and take the funicular 10 minutes up.
Grindelwald
Just half an hour from Interlaken Ost, is the brand new Grindewald Terminal, constructed to carry us nearer to our favorite sights within the space! It opened again in December 2019, however few know of it no due to Miss Rona.
This spanking new valley station feels virtually like a transit airport, and it operates equally as properly. After your direct prepare experience from Interlaken Ost (and even the airport), transit simply to standard sights like Grindelwald First and Jungfraujoch at virtually half the unique travelling time by way of bus or cableway!
10) Grindelwald First (mountain with actions)
Unleash your adventurous aspect and spend a day making an attempt all of the actions Grindewald First has to supply!
Photo credit score: Jungfrau Top of Europe
From Grindelwald Firstbahn, take the gondola as much as Mount First Top Station. There are 5 thrilling actions so that you can select from — First Cliff Walk by Tissot, First Flyer (zipline), First Glider (Eagle glider experience), and Mountain Kart (go-kart/sled car) or Trotti Bike (scooter) again to the bottom of Grindelwald.
There’s no time restrict, so you’ll be able to cease to take photos of the view at any level alongside the best way ????
Cost: CHF64 (~S$93), 50% off for Swiss Travel Pass holders
Opening hours: Varies
How to get there: Take bus 121 from Grindelwald Terminal to Grindelwald Firstbahn (15mins)
11) Jungfraujoch
In the previous, it might take virtually 2 hours simply to achieve the highest of Jungfraujoch by prepare. However, with the brand new Grindelwald Terminal and Eiger Express gondola, the ascend now solely takes 45 minutes!
As Europe’s highest railway station, Jungfraujoch experiences snow 24/7, 12 months a yr.
However, it’s not simply all snow and snowboarding! Wander by the mountain’s many sights, from the Ice Palace’s spectacular ice sculptures, and the enormous snow globe at Alpine Sensation, to the epic views of the snowy mountaintops from Sphinx Observatory.
Cost: CHF194 (~S$281) from Grindelwald, CHF144 (~S$208) for Swiss Travel Pass holders
Opening Hours: 8AM – 4:20PM
How to get there: Take the 15-min Eiger Express gondola to the Eiger Glacier, then take one other 25-min prepare experience to the highest
Zermatt
12) The Matterhorn
There are heaps to do in Zermatt, they usually all revolve across the Matterhorn, A.Ok.A Toblerone Mountain.
Start your go to right here with an unbelievable dawn on the icon herself. This hike is the epitome of “minimum effort, maximum rewards” — all you could do is take the primary prepare on the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt village to Riffelboden Station. Then, hike 5 minutes to Riffelsee!
After that, get again on the prepare and head as much as Gornergrat Peak for a special view of the peaks in full gentle.
Another nice approach to benefit from the mountains is by hitting the slopes. Enjoy year-round Skiing at Matterhorn Ski Paradise and tackle Switzerland’s highest vertical drop — a whopping 2,133m!
Zurich
13) Old Town
There’s nothing I like greater than spending a day in Zurich’s Old Town. Here, you get a little bit of every part — tradition, historical past, procuring, and sightseeing!
Stroll by the cobbled streets and recognize the cityscape on Lindenhof Hill (Grossmünster seems particularly beautiful throughout sundown).
And in case you’re on the lookout for a change of tempo, head towards Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich’s Orchard Road. It’s principally high-end manufacturers, however you are able to do memento procuring at Victorinox and the chocolate outlets — we stocked up on swiss chocolate on the Läderach outlet right here!
14) Museum-hopping
Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum Zürich)
Photo credit score: Landesmuseum
Located by Zurich Main Station, you may discover a medieval fort proper by an ultra-modern constructing — this distinctive pairing is definitely the Swiss National Museum!
Photo credit score: Landesmuseum
The museum is famed for carrying the biggest assortment of Switzerland’s cultural historical past. Learn all concerning the Swiss’ wealthy tradition by the myriad of sculptures, work, handicrafts, and even on a regular basis objects relationship again to prehistoric occasions.
Audio guides are additionally out there in numerous languages by way of the Landesmuseum app.
Cost: CHF10 (~S$15), free for Swiss Travel Pass holders
Opening hours: 10AM – 5PM, closes 7PM on Thu, closed on Mon
Address: Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Lindt Home of Chocolate
Lindt Home of Chocolate is the modern-day’s reply to Willa Wonka’s Factory. You’d imagine me when you see the floor-to-ceiling chocolate fountain proper on the entrance!
Understand the evolution of the swiss chocolate trade and the way it grew to supply among the world’s most scrumptious treats by every interactive exhibition.
And you already know what they are saying, seeing is believing. Or on this case, tasting! Sample the several types of chocolate within the Chocolate Factory room whereas studying the total chocolate-making course of — you could be positive I wasn’t shy for seconds ????
On your approach out, pop by the world’s largest chocolate store and purchase some candy treats again residence!
Cost: CHF15 (~S$22), pre-booking essential
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM
Address: Schokoladenplatz 1, Seestrasse 204, 8802 Kilchberg, Switzerland
FIFA museum
As an enormous fan of the FIFA World Cup, I used to be tremendous excited to go to the world’s one and solely FIFA Museum.
Created in honour of the world’s hottest group sport, the colorful museum showcases every part concerning the evolution of worldwide soccer and the famed world championship.
Through the exhibitions, you acquire a brand new appreciation for the game, studying its historical past and the way it has related folks all around the world for over a century — not simply each 4 years! That stated, my favorite exhibit can be the bleacher made up of seats from each FIFA host stadium as a result of I felt like I used to be at each stadium all on the similar time ????
Cost: CHF24 (~S$35), free for Swiss Travel Pass holders
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM, closed on Mon
Address: Seestrasse 27, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland
Getting Around Switzerland
We acquired the Swiss Travel Pass to totally take pleasure in all that Switzerland has to supply. The go entitles us to limitless prepare, boat, and bus rides for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days.
This all-inclusive journey go beats getting single-ticket tickets — a 3-day Swiss Travel Pass (CHF232) VS a single round-trip from Zurich to Jungfraujoch (CHF162).
On high of that, you get free admission to over 500 museums, together with 50% reductions on mountain excursions and numerous actions ????
What’s fascinating is there aren’t any gantries in any respect, however you’ll have transport operators do random checks fairly typically. So, it’s greatest to have a digital copy of your ticket for straightforward entry!
As I journeyed by Switzerland, I realised the views weren’t the one factor to be impressed about. The Swiss Transport System is, I dare say, out of this world.
Not solely is it loopy environment friendly but additionally extraordinarily intentional in the best way it’s constructed — they by no means miss a chance to point out off their distinctive surroundings.
Whether I used to be on a prepare, bus, or boat, I might simply stare out the window in awe. I’m not even kidding, the one occasions I’d be on my cellphone was to take photos ????
Read additionally: Everything You Need to Know About Travelling With the Swiss Travel Pass
What are your favorite issues to do in Switzerland? Share with us within the feedback!