Switzerland truly feels like heaven on earth. Every place in this stunning country is so beautiful and serene that it’s impossible to choose a favourite. From bustling cities like Geneva and Zurich to charming villages like Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, Switzerland offers breathtaking landscapes and a sense of tranquillity. The transportation system is exceptional, with seamless connectivity across the country. The train, bus, and boat journeys are incredibly comfortable, making even long trips feel short and enjoyable. Here’s a detailed account of our unforgettable trip to Switzerland.
Geneva to Montreux: A Royal Start
Arrival in Geneva
We began our journey in Switzerland by landing in Geneva. After arriving at the airport, we rented a self-driven car and drove to Montreux. Driving on the scenic roads with breathtaking views was a unique experience. Although I lost my driving license and couldn’t drive, my husband thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Navigating the parking system was challenging due to the lack of English instructions, but we managed with the help of a local guy and Google Translator.
Staying at Eden Palace au Lac
Our stay in Montreux was at the Royal Palace named Eden Palace au Lac. Built in the Royal European style and right in front of Lake Geneva, we had a wonderful time strolling along the lake promenade in the evening. The extended daylight until 10 p.m. during summer added to the romantic ambience.
Exploring Vevey and Chillon Castle
Charlie Chaplin World
The next day, after a royal breakfast at the palace, we drove to Vevey. Our first stop was the Charlie Chaplin World. We spent the first half of the day learning about his difficult childhood through shows and museums, and the second half exploring his royal home and garden. Walking around his undisturbed home, which remained as it was when he lived there, was a different experience. It was inspiring to see how dedication and hard work can lead to great success.
Vevey Promenade and Chillon Castle
We visited a beautiful church in Vevey and walked along the famous Vevey promenade, which features a giant fork stuck in the lake. We then headed to Chillon Castle. Although it was a bit of a letdown compared to Muiden Castle and we were in a hurry to return our rented car, it was still a noteworthy visit.
A Cozy Stay in Faulensee
Strandhotel Seeblick
After returning the car, we stayed at the Strandhotel Seeblick in Faulensee, a small village close to Interlaken. Our room had a movable jacuzzi that we could move to the balcony, offering stunning lake views. Relaxing in the jacuzzi after a tiring day, surrounded by the beautiful lake and mountain scenery, became our daily routine.
Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen Trekking
Top of Europe: Jungfraujoch
The next day, we started early and headed to the top of Europe, Jungfraujoch. The train journey via Grindelwald, Kleine Scheidegg, and Jungfraujoch was the most wonderful journey ever. Despite the bad weather, we experienced our first snowfall, which was thrilling. The Ice Palace had impressive sculptures, and we saw posters of famous sports personalities, including Roger Federer.
Trekking from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen
The highlight of our trip was trekking from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen, known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. We saw around six to seven waterfalls, including the famous Staubbach Falls. The trek offered stunning views of snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, and grazing cattle. I still feel as if I’m in that valley, breathing the fresh air and admiring the views. I completed around 20,830 steps that day.
An Unplanned Day Turned Perfect
Exploring Spiez and Thun
Our planned activities were cancelled, so we had an unplanned day that turned out to be one of the best. We explored Spiez and then Thun, wandering through the picturesque streets of Thun’s Old Town. We admired the historic buildings, quaint shops, and cafes along the Aare River. We climbed to the top of Thun Castle and enjoyed a delicious meal at a riverside pizzeria. We still had an hour to catch our boat ride. So, we just strolled around in Schadau Park, sat beside the river with our legs dipped in the Freezy water and took a nap on the fresh grass in the garden. It was so serene.
Scenic Boat Ride on Lake Thun
We then took a scenic 2 hours boat ride from Thun to Interlaken, enjoying views of castles, charming lakeside villages, and the Swiss Alps. We made new friends on the boat who gave us many compliments.
Interlaken Evening
After arriving in Interlaken, we did some shopping, watched paragliders landing in front of the Victoria Hotel, and enjoyed a delicious cheese fondue.
Mount Titlis and Lucerne Adventure
Mount Titlis
The next day, we headed to Mount Titlis, opting for a gondola ride from Engelberg. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed various activities like the flier ride, first cliff walk, tube sliding, snowball fights, and relaxing on snow beds. We also took a short walk in Engelberg through the countryside fields.
Lucerne
Next, we visited Lucerne, walked on the Chapel Bridge, and strolled through the streets of Lucerne, enjoying the charming atmosphere.
Final Day: Rhine Falls and Lindt Home of Chocolates
Rhine Falls
Our last day in Switzerland was packed with activities. After checking out early and dropping our luggage in the airport luggage lockers, we headed to Rhine Falls. We enjoyed boating, climbing the castle for upper views, and getting wet near the falls with special tickets that allowed us to go very close and enter secret caves.
Lindt Home of Chocolates
Next, we visited the Lindt Home of Chocolates. The huge chocolate fountain and free chocolate tasting were delightful. The Lindt chocolates were incredibly tasty, especially the regular red milch Lindt chocolate ball.
Concluding the Journey
We ended our trip with some duty-free shopping at Zurich Airport before flying back to India. Switzerland left such a strong impression on us that we didn’t want to leave.
Tips for Traveling in Switzerland
- Car Rental: Understand the parking instructions beforehand and opt for full insurance for a worry-free experience. We preferred an electric car.
- Transportation: Use Google Maps for planning routes and checking transportation options. It’s more convenient than the SBB app.
- Montreux Riviera Card: If staying at a good hotel in Montreux, this card offers transportation and museum discounts.
- Swiss Pass: A must-have for free train, bus, and boat rides, and discounts on excursions. Buy it online or keep the scan code handy on your mobile.
- Jungfraujoch: The train ride from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg and Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen is not included in the Swiss Pass. Additional tickets are required for Jungfraujoch.
- Snow Mountain Essentials: Carry sunglasses and apply sunscreen to protect against sunburn from snow reflections.
- Trekking: For accurate trekking paths, ask for directions at the station help desk instead of Google Maps, it can sometimes mislead you.
- GuideGeek: This is was the best online help that I have ever got. I installed its Wats app version and it helped me from planning my itineraries to book my hotels, flights and excursions. After going there also, I asked it anything related to travel, about restaurants, famous cuisines of some place or boat rides, anything and it would answer me perfectly. I just loved this app.
- Budget eateries: For budget eateries prefer Coop and Migros in Switzerland.
- Shopping: Purchase souvenirs and chocolates at airport duty-free shops. This saves money and valuable time, allowing you to focus more on exploring Switzerland.
- Stay in one hotel: Opt for a single, centrally-located hotel, near Interlaken. With the Swiss Travel Pass, you can easily and affordably travel to various attractions, avoiding the hassle of frequent check-ins and check-outs, packing and unpacking.
We travelled without our kids this time, thanks to our sister, who took great care of them. This allowed us to explore Switzerland as a couple, realizing it’s not ideally suited for children.
After 15 years of marriage, we got to experience each other in a new light, feeling like we were on a second honeymoon. In the romantic setting of Switzerland, we received numerous compliments from fellow tourists. Many couldn’t believe we’d been married for 15 years and had two children, ages 12 and 7.
A memorable moment was when a man from Hong Kong complimented my husband during a Gondola ride saying, “Your wife is so pretty”, making me feel fresh and rejuvenated. These compliments were a reminder that investing time and money in such trips contributes to a healthy and happy life.
I look forward to more such tours, cherishing these experiences with my beloved husband.
