When you’re next in Switzerland we highly recommend a trip to Gruyere. You can use your Swiss Rail Pass to get there, and we guarantee that whatever direction you’re coming from, you’ll experience yet another great Swiss scenic train ride and an abundance of interesting things to see and do around Gruyere.

At The Gruyere Station

The train stops right outside the Gruyere Cheese Factory. (La Maison du Gruyere} There’s not much else there. It’s a smallish station with a cafe attached and a couple of local buses parked outside that go up the hill to the medieval village of Gruyere, back down to the station, and then to Moleson-sur-Gruyere, a small resort area with access to the Moleson cable car for great views and sledding. There’s also a bus to Bulles.

Use your Swiss Rail Pass for free entry to the Cheese Factory and you’ll also be given a small free sample package of the famous Gruyere cheese with three pieces of cheese at different stages of aging. Collect your headset (13 languages available) and follow the tour at your own pace. Allow about an hour. We arrived early and managed a really good look around. Apparently, about 36 local farms deliver milk daily to the factory. You’ll learn about the history of cheese making in the area and see how and where it is made.

The Cheese Factory

The highlight of the day! Time for coffee

When the tour finished we wandered around the tourist cheese shop and then stopped at the cafe in the foyer. We thought we ‘d just have a quick coffee and a snack.

We’d read about the famous La Gruyeres Double Cream and thought we really should try it. We ordered the dessert which consisted of a small bowl of very fresh, tasty raspberries, a biscuit shaped oval of crunchy sweet meringue, and a dish of the famous double cream. It appeared to be nothing special but how wrong we were!

It was so, so, so, delicious! Every mouthful! In fact, it was so good, that we actually had to make a second trip a week later to Gruyere, solely to have this dish again with its delicious La Gruyere double cream!

The Gruyeres Medieval Village

From the factory, we could see the Gruyere Castle on top of the hill and set off following a pathway past the chapel up the hill to the castle. We eventually huffed and puffed our way to the wall enclosed medieval old town that is Gruyeres Ville.

Because we were early, and in the offseason, there were very few people, locals or tourists, around and most of the shops and cafes were just preparing to open.  We wandered through the cobblestone streets admiring the medieval buildings and sense of history, and on to the end of the town where the castle was situated.

The Gruyeres Castle

The entrance area was very modern and once again we were able to use our Swiss Rail Pass for free entry to the castle. In the 13th century, the Count of Gruyere built his castle at the top of the hill. In 1938 the State Of Fribourg bought the castle and opened it as a museum.

We really loved wandering through the castle with its eight centuries worth of towers, history, spiral staircases, culture, and architecture. Every room was different with clear explanations of what we were looking at. The views from the top were stunning and the maze garden was fascinating. We were reluctant to leave.

There are two other museums in Gruyere Ville which we didn’t get time to see. We were most surprised to see that one is, in fact, a small Tibet Museum. The other is the HR Giger Museum showcasing science fiction art. HR Giger had won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects for the film “Aliens.”

Off to the Chocolate Factory Next

We needed to get the train from Gruyere to Bulle and change trains there to connect to the Broc Fabrique station for the chocolate factory. At Bulle, two trains arrived at the same time. One was hidden on the track behind the train right at the station. We just assumed the train right at the station was the one to Broc. Oops! We soon discovered that we were heading back in the wrong direction. We had plenty of time so we were eventually able to connect with the right train and made it to Broc La Fabrique

On the short walk to the Cailler Chocolate Factory, the oldest chocolate manufacturer in Switzerland, we passed the Nestle Outlet shop and had to stop there to check out what was on offer. Once again at the Cailler Factory we were able to use our Swiss Rail pass for free entry.

By this time it was late afternoon and there were quite a lot of tourists around. We followed the tour learning about the history of chocolate and how it is made and finished up in the tasting area, where we could help ourselves to small samples of all the different types of chocolate. Yum! And a real bonus as far as the chocolate addict bag carrier was concerned.

What a great day. And soon we were on another stunning rail trip back to Montreux where we were staying.

Tips for travelers:

From May to October there is a Golden Pass Chocolate Train trip which covers all of the above

i.e. trip to the Cheese Factory, the medieval town & castle, and the Chocolate Factory (approx 99 CHF). Bookings are essential. However, it is easy enough to do the trip on your own, especially if you have the Swiss Train Pass.

The Thrill Walk is a 200-meter steel, glass and wire path structure that is pinned to vertical rock that crawls around the side of the mountain. It is definitely not for those people who are afraid of heights.

The first section is a one-way gate to remind you that once you start, there is no turning back, and then out onto a series of open steel mesh steps that wind down and around the mountainside. To see where you are stepping it is necessary to look down, and through the steel mesh, you can see the ground far, far, below you.

A little anxiety-producing!

Built with Swiss precision engineering it is very safe, with a coward’s narrow path alongside the challenging sections for those scaredy-cats like me!

BUT the views! 

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What about the views?

We traveled in February when there was an abundance of snow and the views were absolutely picture postcard stunning.

A 360-degree view of over 200 mountain peaks in the area. They just went on and on forever. 

We had coffee in Murren village before going on the Thrill Walk and the locals told us about the legend of the three major peaks we would see. 

In the middle is the Monch (monk) 4099 meters, who is there to look after the Jungfrau (young maiden) 4158 meters on one side, and protect her from the gigantic Eiger (ogre) 3970 meters on the other side. A stunning view which ever way you looked.

The next section involves a tight rope walk where you balance and walk along a single wire cable. There is wire mesh under you and to the sides, but it is still very scary!

After that comes the glass pathway emphasizing just how far up the mountain you are, and how little there is below you.

Photo off a poster at Birg

Finally there is a wire mesh tunnel to crawl through with the ground a very long way below you!

The adult daughter loved it! She thought it was great fun. There are walkways between these sections where it is possible to just stop and enjoy the remarkable views with the little village of Murren like a toy town 1000 meters below.

Fortunately for the less daring like me, there is a narrow alternative path beside each of these nail-biting sections if those who can’t cope with the challenging and adrenaline pumping ones. There is no way I could attempt the crawl through the tunnel and I wasn’t keen on attempting the tight rope section either. 

However, the biggest challenge for me was the climb up the snowbank from the end of the walk, back up to to the Bistro and viewing platform. This is a climb of about 100 meters through the snow on the side of the mountain.

It is about 3 meters wide, at about a 45-degree angle and with a steep drop to one side and with nothing to hold onto. It was a slow climb and definitely the scariest part of the Thrill Walk for me.

Make sure you have shoes or boots that are good for gripping the snow for this section!

SCHILTHORN- The final journey to the top.

Birg, where the Thrill Walk is situated is the midpoint of the gondola trip that goes further up to the mountain to Schilthorn. Murren is at 1650 meters, Birg is at 2677 meters and Schilthorn at 2970 meters. 

On this trip, we didn’t do the final gondola ride from Birg to the Schilthorn, as none of us are great James Bond fans and we were very content with the views, the food and the Thrill Walk from Birg.

Check out our other post about The Thrill Walk for more information about the Schilthorn

Schilthorn, like Birg,  also has a stunning 360-degree view of the Bernese Oberland and mountain peaks. On a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Blanc in France from Schilthorn peak.

At Schilthorn there is the revolving panoramic restaurant Piz Gloria that was featured in the 1969 James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” If you’re a James Bond fan you must visit the Bond World, a James Bond Museum with interactive games.

More about MURREN

At the end of the day, we caught the cable car back to Murren and enjoyed ambling through this very picturesque car-free Swiss Village. Murren is located on the edge of an 600 meter high cliff above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. We stopped for apple strudel and coffee and decided that next time we visited we would stay in Murren and have time to take some hikes from here and really explore the area. 

Where is the Thrill Walk?

It’s in the middle of the Bernese Alps in Switzerland near Murren. It’s about 4 hours by train and cable cars from Zurich, and about 5 hours from Geneva. Head to Interlaken and take the train to Lauterbrunnen  (very scenic train trips too, of course!) There are two options from there involving several cable car rides to get you to the Schilthorn peak.

Our favorite route involves a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschlap, then the quaint narrow-gauge train that winds around the mountain to the very picturesque, alpine, car-free village of Murren.

Stroll through the pretty village, maybe stopping for coffee and apple strudel along the way, to the cable car that goes to the summit of Schilthorn and get off at the midway station at Birg where the Thrill Walk starts. There is a big deck area and a couple of casual eating areas.

What’s the connection with James Bond?

Take the cable car up from Birg to the Schilthorn peak and you will find the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant. It was built especially for the James Bond film, ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,’ as the enemy’s Blofield’s lair. The film was made in 1969 starring George Lazenby as 007.

There is also Bond World 007 interactive museum for everything James Bond and is great fun whether you’re a James Bond fan or not. You can watch a couple of short films watching the scenes that were filmed on Schilthorn. There’s a replica helicopter to pilot over the local mountains, and a bobsled to film your version of the getaway scene. 

GETTING THERE:

We had spent the night previously at Interlaken and set off on one of those perfect winter days with a vivid blue sky, the sun shining and the snow glistening. We stored our luggage at the station lockers and caught the train from Interlaken Ost station for the 20-minute train ride to Lauterbrunnen. 

At the Lauterbrunnen station, we crossed the road to get the large cable car for the 5-minute steep trip up the mountainside to Grütschalp. At Grutschalp we changed to the quaint, old fashioned, very scenic railway that does a 15-minute amble around the mountain to Murren village. Sit on the left side of the train, in the direction of travel for the best views.

We ambled through the very picture postcard, car-free village of Murren to the other side of

We ambled through the very picture postcard, car-free village of Murren to the other side of the village to connect with the cable car that goes up to Birg. This cable car goes to Schilthorn and Birg is the mid-station. 

WE ARRIVE AT BIRG!

This journey had taken us a couple of hours and the adult daughter, although really enjoying the trip and great variety of modes of transport, was starting to wonder if it was going to be worth it. We stepped out of the gondola at the Birg cable station onto the large deck and the view was beyond stunning and magnificent. Not only that, but at the Bistro Birg, the bratwurst sausages were sizzling and the range of cakes was mouth-watering and the coffee smelt just great. 

The view of over 200 stunning mountain tops was simply breathtaking! We found a spot on the Skyline Walk terrace overlooking the three main mountain peaks, the Eiger, the  Monch, and the Jungfrau, to have a leisurely lunch and simply soak up the views!

TRAVEL TIPS

1. AVOID THE WEEKEND IF POSSIBLE

We made one mistake scheduling this trip and that was to do it on a Saturday. The trains and cable cars were crowded with locals going skiing. If you can possibly manage it, schedule this trip for a weekday when it will be less crowded. 

2. USING YOUR SWISS TRAVEL PAS
 Travel included in the Swiss Rail Pass:-  
-Train: Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen
-Cable car: Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp
-Mountain train: – Grutschalp to Murren

Sadly , since January 2020 the Swiss Rail Pass no longer covers the final gondola from Murren to Birg and then on to the Schilthorn peak. It does offer a 50% discount on this section. 

Murren to Birg -CHF16 for the return trip including 50% discount
Murren to Schilthorn with a stop at Birg- CHF42.80 Return trip including 50% discount

Thanks to Swiss Travel System for their assistance and Hannah Goodburn for some great photography!

What else can we do for thrills?     

For the true adrenaline junkies, there’s base jumping and mountain biking, and in winter a huge range of ski slopes and the famous amateur Inferno Ski Race that’s been raced since 1928.

In summer they hold the Inferno Triathlon, which races in the reverse direction of the ski race back up the mountain

​

We have selected some of the travel apps that we think will be most useful for your trip to Switzerland and have taken an extra step to explain to you how the mobile apps will make your life easier and your wallet lighter while exploring stunning Switzerland. 

Swiss Travel App Video Demonstration

Check out the video below if you would like to see a brief run-through of some of the best apps for traveling in Switzerland, as recommended in this article.

We will explore some of the main features so you can pick and choose those that suit your style of travel.

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What do you need to consider when traveling to Switzerland? 

Entering Switzerland remains complicated during the pandemic.

Holders of a Swiss passport or a valid residence permit for Switzerland may enter Switzerland from any country. For all other individuals, entry restrictions may apply. You will find information on the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)

Normal entry requirements apply to people entering the country from Schengen states, EU member states, certain small European states and certain states outside Europe. SEM maintains a list of such countries

If entry is permitted, you must undergo a quarantine if you arrived from one of the countries and regions with a high-risk of infection that features on a list regularly updated by the Federal Office of Public Health. The ten-day quarantine can be shortened if people test negative for Covid-19 after seven days. Switzerland now requires negative coronavirus PCR test results (within 72 hours) for people (over age of 12) entering the country from high-risk areas or by plane. In addition, most incoming travellers have to complete an online form before arriving.

Must Have Swiss Travel Apps

#0 Download the SwissCovid app

Please download and install the SwissCovid app from the normal app stores:

• Google Play Store for Android
• Apple Store for iOS

#1- SWISS TRAVEL GUIDE

Where to go? What to do? 

This is such a comprehensive travel app for traveling around Switzerland and will help you tremendously with both planning your trip and getting around when you’re there.

It has all the maps you’ll require, accompanied by 500 highlights of things to see and do. It has direct access to the SBB (rail) timetables, discount coupons on trips tours and restaurants. and offline access to emergency information. It’s a must-have if you’re going to Switzerland! 

#2- Rome2Rio

How to get from Point A to Point B

We use this app a lot wherever we travel. Another app that we have found is very useful in the planning stages of our trips, as well as when we are actually on the trip.

Rome2Rio is the travel app that will help you navigate from Point A to Point B. The application scans through various forms of transport and gives you options, whether it is within a city or for long-distance trips (even between countries.)  It gives you both route information and price options for the different types of transport. 

It will also give you suggestions for nearby attractions and accommodation wherever you are in Switzerland.

Weather apps

#3- MeteoSwiss

What will the weather be at your location?

Knowing what the weather conditions will be for the trip you have scheduled is very important, so that you can plan how many layers of clothes to wear and any extras you may need to take like umbrellas or sunblock. If you’re driving it will be good to know what weather conditions you will be facing.

This weather app comes from Switzerland’s official weather office. You can personalize and customize it on the app’s home page to give you the exact information you need for the locations you are visiting. 

Users can zoom in to a specific map location and get up to date weather forecasts for altitude, as well as locations to receive current conditions, including rain radar and hazard warnings. This is especially helpful when you’re looking at doing one of the mountain summit trips like Mount Rigi in Lucerne or the Schithorn in Murren.

SPECIAL EVENTS

#4- swiss events

Need to know!

There is nothing worse when you’re traveling than finding out that you missed an amazing concert, sports event, carnival, etc simply because you didn’t know it was on. 

The Swiss Events app lists more than 15,000 events that take place each year in Switzerland and is updated daily by Switzerland Tourism. You can use this travel app to see what is going to be on in the places you plan to visit when you are in Switzerland.

Transport and getting around apps

#5- swiss railways -SBB MOBILE

A Must for TRAIN TRAVEL

You must have this app if you are going to use the wonderful Swiss trains on your trip. The official app from Swiss Federal Railways is simple and easy to use, which allows you to check live train times and itineraries.

With just a couple of clicks, you can purchase e-tickets and day passes for any train line in the country, whether regional or long distance.

SBB Mobile keeps you updated throughout your journey with real-time information about delays and transfer times. It also provides exclusive ticket offers, such as the Saver Day Pass and Supersaver tickets. One of the very useful functions is the “take me home” function which shows the best way to your accommodation using public transport.

#6- PostBus Switzerland

Not only the famous yellow post buses but all public transport &car sharing

The much-loved bright yellow post buses, with their ‘triple-redundant brake systems and distinctive three-tone horns,’ are seen all over Switzerland and this travel app will give you all the information you need for using them, but it is also for all Swiss public transport options, including journeys by car sharing, car, and bike.  

The Postbus app is a one-stop-shop for your route planning while in Switzerland. All you need to do is to enter your starting point and destination, and the Postbus app will handle the rest. You can filter the results by the fastest mode of transport, or the cheapest route.

#7- SEPP parking

Cars- paying for parking

If you’re driving, SEPP is a great travel app that allows you to pay for parking in your select region without having to wander about trying to find a ticket machine or parking meter. All you have to do is download the free app and set up an account and add a  payment method.

If you see a yellow SEPP sticker where you go to park your car,  open the app and swipe to start the time. 

When you get back to your car, you will swipe again, and the exact amount of parking fee will be deducted from your preferred mode of payment.   Internet connection is required.

#8- Maps.me

Great for buses, trains and finding that out-of-the-way Airbnb

If you’re trying to find your way around in a new city or town and want to save on data or don’t have access to the internet, this travel app lets you download maps for use offline.  You can download the maps you will require before you travel and then you will have access to them offline. 

We found ‘Maps.Me’ especially useful when traveling by public buses or metro as we could follow on the map and know when we needed to disembark. Takes a lot of the stress out of those “how do we know when to get off” moments. Also, it was great for finding those out of the way AirBnbs. This was one of our most used travel apps when traveling in Switzerland.

#9- Google maps app 

You’ve got to have maps!

Most travelers probably already have this app on their phones. Google Maps is the most well known and comprehensive mapping system and is available right across the world. It is free to use, and it offers real-time GPS navigation and will even give an estimation of your arrival time at a specified location.

Download the maps for the locations you will be visiting before you leave home and get some offline maps for your main areas. The app will also give you information on public transport routes, pins, traffic information, hotels, and attractions.

#10- ViaMichelin

Driving app

If you’re planning to drive around the country a lot, then ViaMichelin is an essential app to have on your phone. It features a variety of routes that Google Maps doesn’t show, as well as giving users’ experience and feedback of specific places. 

ViaMichelin’s application is free to download. It is a mapping app that uses mapping and the technological level of the Michelin brand. The app offers online traffic information, real-time traffic updates, live incident alerts, GPS navigation with voice guidance, and much more.

Accommodation Apps

#11 Expedia app

Somewhere to sleep

We have found the Expedia app handy to use while we are traveling. We had a booking in Hawaii through Expedia that was a problem- we had booked the wrong Marriot Hotel and the Expedia people changed our booking and sorted it out over the phone without any hassles. We were very impressed with their customer service. 

#12 Airbnb

Somewhere interesting to sleep

If you’re not into staying at impersonal hotels and motels but are looking for some accommodation that is a little different or more personal, check out the Airbnb listings for the places you will be traveling too.

Our biggest problem with Airbnb bookings has been getting access to the buildings, as Airbnb accommodation is often not a main road or in the main center and often there is no person to meet and greet you. Our advice is to ensure you have very clear instructions of how to get to the places, how to get the key  and, if at all possible, someone to personally meet you! We now have plan B when we book an Airbnb property and research a couple of nearby hotels so that we have somewhere to go if there are any problems. 

Accommodation is often cheaper than local hotels or motels and we appreciated being able to have laundry and cooking facilities when traveling. 

Dining apps

#13- TOO GOOD TO GO 

Budget eats with the “stop food waste movement.”

On a tight budget? Download the “Too Good To Go” app and you ‘ll have access to restaurants and bakeries selling their leftovers before closing time at a much-reduced price. It’s part of the worldwide “stop food waste movement.”

You will need to make your payment through the app and be at the restaurant or bakery at the allocated time to pick up your food. 

#14- EAT,ch ( Just Eat) 

Choose from 2,500 restaurants

Just Eat is known as EAT.ch in Switzerland.  It is an online food ordering and delivery app that you can use in Switzerland. It offers you a myriad of options, and you can choose the food that best suits your needs, wherever you are.

The app lists over 2500 restaurants in their menu, and you can choose a restaurant based on distance, star rating, and other features. 

The meals will be delivered to your location. You pay for the food via the app, so you will require internet connectivity. 

#15- The Fork

Choose a restaurant.

If you are looking for somewhere to go for dinner the money saving TheFork serves as a restaurant booking app, and it provides users with a range of special offers. If you reserve through TheFork at certain times – and we’re talking normal dinner times, not 4:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. –  you’ll get 20% to as much as 50% off your bill.  

TheFork app makes it easy to see which restaurants are offering the best discounts for a booking. They also give users an easy glimpse at the overall reviews at each restaurant, and a rough estimate on pricing.

You can then choose the restaurants by location or by rating.

Communication Apps

#16- WhatsApp

Keep in contact with family and friends.

WhatsApp offers the most common form of messaging, voice, and video calling services. The application provides secure encrypted communication, and you can use it to communicate with people around the world for free. It’s an awesome way to stay in touch with your friends and family while exploring stunning Switzerland.

#17- Google Translate

Sometimes you need help with a foreign language!

This modern travel app can translate over 100 languages by typing, and the translation is almost instantaneous. You do not have to worry about the language barrier because you can communicate with people around you with ease. The application can translate up to 60 languages when you are offline. 

Also, Translate’s voice translation feature is extremely convenient in everyday situations. If you can’t understand the person next to you, just give them your phone to talk in to. Your phone will do all the hard work for you. 

#18- Wi-Fi Finder

Access to Wi Fi Hot Spots!

When you are traveling and don’t have data on your phone, it is vital to be able to find WiFi hotspots and this app, the Wi-fi Finder will do that for you. In today’s world, it is very difficult get all the information you require while traveling  without internet connectivity.

The app will let you know where WIFI hot spots are located, pinpoint speeds and strength of the signal of those internet connections. 

Finance apps

#19-MyCurrency

Currency conversion

Because  Switzerland isn’t part of the European Union you’ll be paying with Swiss Francs (CHF) not with Euros while you’re traveling in Switzerland. Use this app as a good way to keep up to date with the current exchange rates. Unfortunately, Switzerland is an expensive country to visit, and maybe you’d prefer not to know how much that Big Mac is actually costing in your home currency!

#20- Your bank’s app

Keep a check on your money!

Having the app of your home bank installed is one of the most critical aspects when it comes to traveling. You always want to be able to check your balance and get updates from your bank. The last thing you want is to figure out someone has emptied your bank balance!.

You should download the app from your bank before leaving for Switzerland. It is a perfect way to keep track of your spending as well as keeping a check on your financial situation during the trip.  

When you have your bank’s app, you can study recent purchases, make transfers, pay bills, and control your finances efficiently. 

Planning tips for your trip!

Welcome to THE SWISS RIVIERA!   

Montreux is also known as the Swiss Riviera. It is a traditional, French-speaking resort town of about 25,000 people on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva. It is surrounded by the magnificent Swiss Alps and acres of vineyards.

Don’t be confused by its location on Lake Geneva. Montreux is not actually in Geneva but about 100 km from Geneva. And it’s one of our favorite places in Switzerland!

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EVERYONE LOVEs THE LAKESIDE PROMENADE!

Try to find accommodation that gives you easy access to the lakeside promenade.

This 13 km boardwalk starts in neighboring Vevey, goes right through Montreux to the Chillon Castle, and onto the neighboring town of Villeneuve.

It is a magic place to stroll at any time of the day or night.

You can wander along it for as far as you wish, and then, simply hop on the bus to take you back to where you started.

It is also known as the Chemin Fleuri (‘the flower path’) and the Mediterranean style gardens and trees, including palm trees (in Switzerland?), are beautiful even in winter when we visited.

There is so much to see from magnificent classical Monte Carlo type hotels to statues of famous musicians, and of course the beautiful lake itself with the mountains close by and plenty of places to stop off for a coffee or bite to eat. 

MONTREUX-  Famous for its music!

Montreux is famous for the international ‘Montreux Jazz Festival,’ one of the biggest jazz festivals in the world, which takes place across multiple venues for a couple of weeks in July each year and has now been running for over fifty years. 

Another important music festival is the ‘Septembre Musical’ which has been running for over seventy years and features a mixture of orchestras and soloists playing classical music in interesting venues such as the Chillon Castle!

Music is such an important part of this town and you will find sculptures of famous musicians all over town. In the garden of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace Hotel there are several statues of legendary musicians who have played and spent time in Montreux over the years, such as Quincy Jones and Aretha Franklin. This is accessible free of charge except when the Jazz Festival is on.

FREDDIE MERCURY LOVED MONTREUX!

One of the most popular attractions in Switzerland is the imposing famous Freddie Mercury statue on the lakefront Place de Marche. Queen and Freddie Mercury fans still place flowers around the base of the statue. 

Queen bought the Montreux Mountain Studios located inside Montreux Casino and wrote and recorded many of their songs here and Freddie lived out his final days in Montreux. There is free access and tours to the studios

THE MONTREUX TRAINS

You will possibly arrive In Montreux by train. If you’re coming from Lucerne or Interlaken you’ll probably travel on the ‘Golden Pass Line’, one of Switzerland’s premium panoramic train routes.

The ‘Golden Pass Line’ is actually made up of three segments, which cover six cantons, (states) eight lakes, and travels through three mountain passes on its way from Lucerne to Montreux. 

The first section is from Lucerne to Interlaken and the second section from Interlaken to Zweisimmen.

The final section is from Zwesimmen to Montreux and was the world’s first panoramic train route. Today you have the option of riding on the Golden Pass Belle Epoque train which is in the style of the Orient Express with the 1930s classic furnishings or riding on the very modern Panoramic train with the chance to upgrade and ride in the VIP seats at the very front of the train with the same view as the driver. Both are great options for an amazing experience.

Certainly, some of the most stunning and breathtaking views of the whole trip, are on the final section of the trip for the last 20 or 30 minutes, as the train descends from up high and then twists and turns and corkscrews its way down into Montreux overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps.  

ROCHERS DE NAYE- mountain railway

Rochers de Naye is part of a mountain range in the Swiss Alps above Montreux. It is about 2000meters above sea level. Take the cog railway which leaves the Montreux station and ambles alongside Lake Geneva. Then it winds slowly up steep gradients through fields, charming villages and forests.

The views on the way up and from the top are stunning. At the summit, top on a clear day you can see the Eiger, Mont Blanc and across Lake Geneva. There are a couple of restaurants at the top, and in December Santa has his busy grotto there. There is a large garden with over 100 alpine plants and Marmots Paradise, an animal park.

We disembarked at Haut de Caux because we had seen an interesting building we wanted to check out. We discovered that it was an historic hotel training school and, to our surprise, was still operating. From there we walked down to the next station enjoying the views and countryside.  

If you have a Swiss Rail Pass you can get halfway up (30 minutes ride) to the summit to the station of Haut de Caux. You will get a 50% discount to complete the trip the other 30 minutes to the top.

CHILLON CASTLE 

Chillon Castle is a medieval island fortress on the lakeside and the most visited historic site in Switzerland. It can be seen from all over Montreux.

Its history goes back to the 12th century and Lord Byron’s epic poem “The Prisoner of Chillon” (1816) helped increase its fame. The castle from Disney’s film  “the Little Mermaid” was also inspired by the Chillon Castle. 

Two large circular walls surround over 25 buildings, subterranean vaults and prison cells, three courtyards, and towers. The wooden sentries walkways and the views are key attractions. (CHF 13.50 It is easy to get to Chillon Castle from Montreux.

It is about a 45-minute walk along the lakeside promenade from the Tourist Office, or you can catch the 201 bus. The boat cruises also stop here.

who doesn’t love A LAKE CRUISE?

In the winter the lake cruises operate only on Sundays and if you’re in Montreux on a Sunday this is a must-do. We wandered down to the tourist bureau who directed us to the jetty and we hopped on the first boat that came along. It was about a two-hour tour and stopped at nine interesting villages. You could hop on and off if you wished, but you would need to keep your eyes on the timetables as there were only about three sailings in total. 

We stopped first at the Chillon castle then sailed over to the other side of the lake to the very quaint French/ Swiss villages of Le Bouveret and St Gingolph. We wished that we had had more time to explore these interesting villages. In the inside cabin on our boat, a large group of locals were enjoying a three-course lunch with lots of wine and thoroughly enjoying themselves. It looked like a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

VEVEY- Home of Nestle

We hopped off the lake cruise at Vevey. This is Montreux’s neighboring town on the lakeside, about 15 minutes bus or train ride away. Nestle has a site in Vevey where Henri Nestlé invented ‘farine lactée’ (infant cereal) in 1867 and it still has a huge presence in the town.

We strolled from the wharf along the lakeside boulevard back towards Montreux and came across the bizarre 8-meter tall stainless steel ‘fork in the lake’ sculpture. There is also a statue of Charlie Chaplin who lived in Vevey for several years and there isa museum named Chaplins World about a fifteen-minute bus ride away on bus 212 to Corsier-sur-Vevey, Chaplin’ stop.

LAVAUX VINEYARDS

Neighboring Vevey are the 830 acres of UNESCO-listed Lavaux terraced vineyards that stretch for 30 kilometers between Montreux and Lausanne. There are 400 km of stone walls and over 10,000 terraces that were first constructed nearly 900 years ago and date back to the 11th or 12th century. We were there in winter, so the terraces were bare, but in summer they are very popular for hiking, picnicking and wine tasting. 

OUR OTHER FAVORITE & SPECIAL PLACES IN SWITZERLAND

Murren, for The Thrill Walk!

If you’re looking for an adrenaline fix and great views to go with it!

Chur to Arosa- Best mini train trip and our favorite mountain train

Gorgeous Gruyere. Much more than great cheese

SWITZERLAND TRIP: PLANNING TIPS:

1. If you are flying into Zurich to start your Switzerland trip, then Montreux is the ideal place to finish your trip before you fly out of Switzerland from Geneva or vice versa.

2. We recommend that you use Montreux as a base and stay from two to four or five days to have time to enjoy everything the Montreux and the surrounding area has to offer, and it has lots to offer!

3. We traveled on a Swiss Rail Pass. The passes are just so easy and convenient to use. There’s no having to queue up to buy tickets and having to shuffle through the foreign currency in your wallet trying to find the correct amount. All local travel on buses and boats and most mountain trains in the places we visited were covered and where they weren’t covered there was usually a 50% discount.

4. On this trip, we stayed at Hotel Bon Port, a 3-star hotel. The location was good. It was a couple of blocks above the lakeside promenade and close to the main street with cafes and restaurants quite close. We had booked a triple room as our adult daughter was traveling with us and the third bed was an old uncomfortable rollaway and the room was not really big enough for three adults. It was just a double room with a third bed added.  We were disappointed!

Unfortunately, we hadn’t been able to  get a booking in the hotel that we had stayed at on our last trip- “Hotel Parc et Lac.” This 3-star centrally located hotel we really loved.

5. Please email us or comment below if you require any further information.

Thanks  to Swiss Travel System for their assistance

and Hannah Goodburn for some great photography!

Here are all the details you need to plan your own independent mountain day trips to Mount Rigi, Mount Pilatus and Mount Titlis. 

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1. Day trip to MOUNT RIGI

Our trip to Mount Rigi was a last-minute dash, but we’re so glad we managed to do it!

We had arrived in Lucerne from Zurich mid-afternoon and were planning to go to Mount Rigi the following day but the weather forecast for the next day was for a large storm, so we dropped our bags at our hotel and dashed down to the wharf.

We just managed to get on the last boat of the day that would give us access to Mount Rigi. We are so glad we did!

The boats leave from the dock north of the Lucerne Railway station. The trip is truly delightful. We had been dashing about and really enjoyed just sitting back on the boat and enjoying the lake and mountain views.

We got off the boat at Vitznau and went straight across the road where the red cogwheel train was waiting. This stretch of railway is the oldest mountain railway in Europe and has been in operation since 1871.

A cogwheel train uses a rack and pinion system to enable trains to go up very steep slopes in a short distance, but we weren’t prepared for how steep it actually got.  And the views (sit on the left-hand side of the train going up) were simply phenomenal.

Mount Rigi is also known as Queen of the Mountains and is surrounded by three lakes and we caught views of some of them on the way up the mountain.

It took about 30 minutes to get to the summit at Rigi Kulm (1798 meters) and we just had time for a quick look at more stunning mountain scenery before we had to catch the blue cogwheel train which goes across the other side of the mountain to Goldau.

As it was the end of the day we saw many hikers on trails and also joining us on the train on the way home. We wished that we had had time to do some of the hikes! Maybe next time!

At Goldau we quickly found the railway station and jumped on board the train we thought was going to Lucerne! Oops!

The adult daughter discovered we were on the train going in the wrong direction and we very quickly had to race over to another platform to get the correct team. Phew! It was a relaxing trip back to Lucerne in time to get to Migros at the station and pick up some deli goodies for dinner!

HOW TO GET TO RIGI KULM.

There are several different routes you can take. Most people go up one way and come down the other, to be able to see as much as possible.

The two most popular routes are-

1. Boat- Lucerne to Vitznau (60 mins) Then Red cogwheel train- Vitznau to Rigi Kulm (summit) (30 mins)

OR

  2. Boat – Lucerne to Weggis (45 mins) then 10-15 minute uphill walk to the gondola station.

Gondola- Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad (10 mins) and red cogwheel train- Rigi Kaltbad to Rigi Kulm (12 mins)

Return options from Rigi Kulm summit

1. Blue train to Goldau (45 mins) & regular train to Lucerne (35 mins)

2. Or Red train to Vitnau (30 mins) and boat back to Lucerne (60 mins)

3. Or Train back to Rigi Kaltbad and gondola to Weggis (10 mins) and boat back to Lucerne (60 mins)

2. day trip to Mount PILATUS

Travel blogger, Tracy, from tracystravelsintime.com recommends a day trip to Mount Pilatus from Lucerne.

One of my favourite day trips from the Swiss city of Lucerne is to the top of Mt Pilatus. The summit of Pilatus is at an awe inspiring 2132 metres and once you have climbed to those dizzying heights the views of Lake Lucerne, the Bernese Alps, Jungfrau, Titlis and even the French Alps are simply stunning.

HOW TO GET THERE FROM LUCERNE

There are many options to get to Pilatus from Lucerne and all involve multiple methods of transport! 

If you choose the Golden Round Trip option, (while the most expensive,) you will have the opportunity to travel by boat, cog railway, cable car, gondola, and bus. The Silver Round Trip Option is slightly cheaper but you miss out on the wonderful boat trip across the lake and travel from Lucerne to the cog railway by train instead.

If you take the boat option (recommended) catch it from Pier 2 to Alpnachstad. This part of the trip takes about an hour. Don’t miss the beautiful Swiss chalets perched by the side of the lake. Famous Hollywood icons such as Audrey Hepburn made this their home and it is easy to see why!

Once at Alpnachstad you alight the boat and walk to the cog railway station directly opposite. 

Traveling up the mountain on the cog railway is a jaw dropping experience. The railway is actually the steepest in the world with gradients of up to 48%. It was completed in 1889 and designed by engineer Eduard Locher. The railway is a marvel of engineering even today.  When you are climbing the mountain it really does make you appreciate just how incredible the engineers and workmen were over 130 years ago to construct this railway.

There is one stop at Amsigen which is the train passing point. Have your camera at the ready to catch a shot of the train as it passes and descends into the valley below.

Once you arrive at the top of Mt Pilatus you will find lots of viewing areas as well as restaurants, a gift shop and 2 hotels. Why not treat yourself to a night at one of the hotels – you will have a fantastic view to enjoy when you open the bedroom shutters in the morning!

There are also a number of walks you can take at the top. These range from 10 – 35 minutes and are graded easy to medium.

Once you have enjoyed the views, perhaps had some lunch and a stroll you can then start the descent back to Lucerne.

First catch the cable car which will take you to the gondola station at Frakmuntegg. Once at Frakmuntegg you can try out the rope park or toboggan run or simply transfer onto the panoramic gondolas which transport you to Kriens. This takes about 30 minutes.

3. Day trip to Mount Titlis

Another not-to-be-missed mountain day trip from Lucerne is Mount Titlis, located in the Uri Alps in Central Switzerland.  Here is all you need to know to plan your own independent mountain day trip! 

How to get there from Lucerne.

1. Take the Lucerne- Engelberg Express from Platform 8 at Lucerne Train Station. The trains leave hourly and the ride takes 40 minutes. Check the timetable here!

2. From Engelberg station you can either walk the 5 to 10-minute walk  to Titlis Valley Station or take the free shuttle bus from outside the station.        

3. Hop on the 8 seater Xpress Gondola cable car for about a 20 minute trip  to the midway station “Stand.” 

4. At Stand switch to the Titlis Rotair revolving cable car for an exciting 5-minute ride to the summit with spectacular views while the cable car revolves 360 degrees.

What to see and do at the Titlis Mountain Station

THE CLIFF WALK

CLIFF WALK:

Europe’s highest suspension pedestrian bridge at 3,000 feet above sea level is 100 metres long and a metre wide and has absolutlely stunning views over the glacier 460 m below and breathtaking views of the Uri Alps and on a clear day views as far as Italy! Be aware that the bridge shakes. Probably not for the faint hearted! 

GLACIER CAVE

GLACIER CAVE:

150 m walkway carved below the surface of the glacier featuring the blue glacial light and has art installations created in the ice. A surreal experience! 

ICE FLYER CHAIRLIFT

ICE FLYER CHAIRLIFT:

 The chair lift flies you over the glacier so that you can get a close look at some impressive crevices and ice. It’s an adrenalin-pumping experience!  It leads you to GLACIER PARK  where you can have fun with sledding and snow tubing. 

ALPINE LAKE at TRUBSEE STATION

Tramping 

ALPINE LAKE at TRUBSEE STATION:

On the way back down the mountain get off the cable car at the Trubsee Station and take an hours walk around the beautiful Alpine Lake.  More stunning views and just so very peaceful and serene!

USING YOUR SWISS TRAVEL PASS IN LUCERNE

We just love the convenience and ease of using the Swiss Travel Pass when we are traveling in Switzerland. Here are the Swiss Travel Pass concessions for the trips to Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus.

The day trip to Mount Rigi is 100% covered by the Pass

i.e the boat to Vitznau or Weggis, the cogwheel trains, the gondola, and the regular train back to Lucerne.

The day trip to Mount Pilatus –

1. Train or boat from the rail station in Lucerne to Alpnachstad- Free with Swiss Travel Pass

2. Cogwheel train to the peak of Mount Pilatus     –50% discount with Swiss Travel Pass

3. Cogwheel train to the peak of Mount Pilatus     –50% discount with Swiss Travel Pass

4. Gondola down to Kriens    – 50% discount with Swiss Travel Pass

5. Bus back to the rail station of Lucerne    –Free with Swiss Travel Pass​

The day trip to Mount Titlis-

1. Train Lucerne to Engelberg- Free with Swiss Travel Pass

2. Cable car from Engelberg to Mount Titlis: 50% off

Thanks Tracy for the information about taking a day trip to Mount Pilatus.

Are you thinking about traveling to the UK? Tracy also can help you with this on her website at  UKTravelPlanning.com

And thanks to Cyril Zemp at Luzern Tourismus for his assistance and Hannah Goodburn for some great photos..  

How could one possibly choose?

There are just so many very, very, picturesque and stunningly scenic train trips in Switzerland. However, on a recent eleven-day winter tour of Switzerland with our Swiss Rail Passes, we traveled far and wide on the train every day and covered a lot of train miles, but one particular trip stood out. 

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Why?

It is only a one hour trip, but it combined all of the aspects we expected from a Swiss train ride. 

*It was incredibly scenic. 
*It took a feat of engineering to build. 
*It was charming in that unique Swiss-style! 

We discovered that some of the most scenic train routes are on the small regional lines going up into or around the mountains. If you only have a limited time in Switzerland then this is definitely the one Swiss train ride we recommend you must do!
 

TRAIN TO AROSA -the Arosabahn

The train route is from Chur to Arosa and was built in 1914 to connect Chur, pronounced Koor, the oldest town in Switzerland, with the spa town of Arosa. It is 26 km long and climbs 1000 meters as it goes through the Schanfigg Valley. It goes through 19 tunnels and over 52 bridges. it features a spectacular section – the Langweiser Viaduct over the Plessur River.

You board the red train on the street at the Chur train station and for the first five minutes or so the train ambles through the town roads stopping traffic as it goes, just like a local tram, and then it follows the local stream bordering the edge of town and winds through a few tunnels.

Before long it starts to climb and wind, and wind and climb, over many bridges and through the mountainous landscape with the tall snow-laden pine trees and small rural villages with the stream now far below. We even glimpsed some deer by the rail tracks near  Langweis Station.

About halfway up you will start to glimpse the impressive Langweiser Viaduct and soon you will cross over it. At night it is lit up and looks quite eerie as it is surrounded by total darkness. This viaduct is 284 meters long and 62 meters high with the main arch span of 100 meters. We felt as if we were at the top of the world.

And if you happen to be in Chur on a Friday evening you can join gourmet enthusiasts on board the Arosa Gourmet Express and enjoy a delicious three-course meal and drinks while you sit back and enjoy the scenery!

AROSA AREA

 We have made this trip to Arosa twice and have yet to see anything of Arosa itself! Adjoining the station is a great cafe and bar called Guterschuppen and because of time constraints, this is as far as we have ever got. It’s a very welcoming and cosy modern bar and restaurant built in a large old industrial building with comfortable sofas and chairs and a welcoming fireplace. They serve a wide range of tasty food including brunch, lunch, dinner, bar snacks and sometimes they have live music and it is very hard to leave.

Next time we do this trip we promise ourselves that we will make an effort to get past the cafe and explore the Arosa area which is a very popular ski area. There is a cable car behind the station.  Just cross the bridge above the tracks and you will be at the cable car station that will take you up to the Weisshorn summit. At the middle station apparently you can visit a Bear Sanctuary for rescue bears! That sounds fascinating and totally unexpected in the middle of the Swiss Alps.

There are a couple of lakes in Arosa and Obersee Lake, the bigger one, in winter hosts special events like a horse race on snow, a winter golf tournament and a hot air balloon week. In December Arosa holds a Humour Festival.

CHUR 

Chur is also an interesting town to explore and makes a good central base for people who want to do the Bernina Express and Glacier Express train routes as well as the mini trip to Arosa. It is the oldest town in Switzerland and has picturesque cobbled lanes and historic streets blended into a modern car-free town center and is overlooked by the surrounding picturesque mountain peaks.  

TRAVEL TIPS & GUIDELINES

WHERE WE STAYED IN CHUR

Twice we have stayed at the Central Hotel Post in Chur. It is in a great location in the pedestrian area of the old town about 10-minute walk to the station. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby and the staff are friendly and helpful. The rooms are modern and clean and the price is very competitive. We can recommend the Hotel Post.

ON THE TRAIN

Sit on the right hand side of the train in the direction of travel for the best views

GETTING THERE:

The Arosa train departs from Chur every hour. The cost is about Euro 8 for a single trip 

From Zurich to Chur -average time -one and a half hours. The average cost is Euro 32.

From Geneva to Chur – average time four and a half to five and a half hours. Average cost Euro 50

Costs and times are approximate For timetables and prices go to –https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html

THANKS to Swiss Travel System for their assistance with our trip and Hannah Goodburn for her stunning photographs!

Make sure you include these not to be  missed experiences in your Switzerland itinerary!

• I’m sure that we don’t have to tell you how stunning Switzerland is.

• Switzerland may be small but the diversity of spectacular scenery, from the breathtaking snow-capped mountain peaks to the sensational mirror clear, turquoise lakes, and the range of cultures – the French, Italian, and German cultures- that have influenced the different areas of Switzerland to make it such a fascinating place to travel. There are the medieval old towns, the rural and very quaint mountain villages, and the slick and sophisticated cities to explore.

• We have listed some of the top experiences that you can take part in in Switzerland. There are so many to chose from and the list is daunting but here are some of our favorites! 

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1.   The Glacier Express-the slowest fast train in  the world!

The Glacier Express, known for being the slowest fast train in the world, connects the fancy alpine resort towns of Zermatt and St Moritz in the high mountains of the Swiss Alps. The journey itself takes roughly 7-hours between the 2-points, with a stop at Chur as a midpoint, following some of the most scenic mountain landscapes that you will ever come across. Given the high altitude and rugged, and at times seemingly impassable terrain, the high-speed train rarely reaches high speeds giving it the dubbing as ‘The Slowest Fast Train in the World’.

Zermatt would be the recommended start with an overnight stay, if possible, beneath the majestic background of the Matterhorn (of Toblerone fame).  The better half of the journey would likely be the second half after Chur, with the crossing of the Landwasser Viaduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the start of the River Rhine at the Rhine Gorge.

It is a long express journey, so it’s best to bring drinks and snacks, and there is also the option for meals served to the seats/tables from the restaurant and car bogey. Compared to standard train journeys in Switzerland, the train is high-end with panoramic carriages with big windows to enjoy the surrounding scenery. It is expensive for a single ticket, although the Glacier Express is included on the Interrail Pass and Eurail Pass as well as many local passes making it great value for money for wider travels.

By Allan Wilson  from “It’s Sometimes Sunny in Bangor”  

2. TOUR DU MOUNT BLANC-  Long distance hiking trail!

One of the world’s iconic long-distance hiking trails, the phenomenal Tour du Mont Blanc passes through no fewer than three different countries as it makes a full circuit around spectacular Mont Blanc. Featuring stunning scenery, strenuous passes, fantastic mountain huts and even a few great towns along the way, the TMB is a bucket list trek for all avid hikers.

Most people start in charming Chamonix, France and hike counter-clockwise, crossing into Italy to pass through the ski resort town of Courmayeur before heading into Switzerland to the greenest valleys and most rural areas of the trek around Champex-Lac. The entire hike is roughly 170 kilometres, usually takes around 10 days and involves nearly 10,000 metres of elevation gain and loss. So it is no easy stroll in the park. However, there are many access points making it possible to choose smaller sections if you are short on time (or fitness).

While you wouldn’t describe the mountain huts as cheap, they are still good value for what you get. Most charge around €50-60 per person for half-board with a dorm bed, excellent evening meal, breakfast and an incredible location. Because of the altitude (between 1,500 and 2,500 metres above sea level) the season to hike the TMB is quite short, usually from the beginning of July to mid-September. With such a small window the huts can book up quickly so it is a good idea to reserve well in advance (as much as 6 months if your dates aren’t flexible).

Whether you have time to do the whole thing or just a portion, experiencing the Tour du Mont Blanc should be at the top of any Swiss bucket list. Boasting exceptional scenery, amazing sunsets and fun camaraderie, it is sure to be an adventure you won’t soon forget.

From Dean and Laynni at Routinely Nomadic

3. LUCERNE   CARNIVAL

First Day Fashnacht Lucerne By Chris Devers (Flickr)

Lucerne is a charming city nestled in the Switzerland Alps with a gorgeous lake in the center. It’s the largest city in central Switzerland. Most visitors get to Lucerne by flying into Zurich or Bern and then taking a train or driving to the city. Lucerne is only 55km from Zurich and 110 km from Bern.

One of the best things to do in Lucerne is the Carnival. It’s unlike any of the other carnival customs in central Switzerland. The Lucerne Carnival takes place the days leading up to Ash Wednesday – Dirty Thursday, Fat Monday and Fat Tuesday. While groups of musicians blow their instruments and thousands of costumed celebrators chase winter away, strange figures in masks and costumes parade through the alleys.

On Schmutzig Thursday at 5:00 am, the Urknall (Big Bang) occurs – signaling the start of the event. The Fritschi – the first parade – starts at 2:00 pm on Thursday at the Luzernerhof, while the final parade takes place on Monday at 2:00.

However, the giant Monstercorso parade takes place at 7:30 pm on Tuesday at Bahnofstrasse. Not only are there are incredibly unique parades, but the timber bridges, including the Chapel Bridge, are covered (with plywood panels) featuring carnival art. 

If you’re unable to visit Lucerne during Carnival, there are still plenty of things to do! Walk along Chapel Bridge with views of the mountains, or go to the top of the mountains for incredible views of Lake Lucerne! Enjoy traditional fondue then go shopping for the perfect souvenir – whether it’s Swiss chocolate, a Swiss Army knife, or a Cuckoo Clock – you’ll find it all locally made in Lucerne. 

Experiencing the charming personality of Lucerne, especially during the Carnival, is one of the best experiences in Switzerland. 

By Pamela from  The Directionally Challenged Traveler

4.    SLEEP ON A STRAW BED!

Who would have thought that people would pay to sleep on a straw bed in a barn? But that’s what they do in Switzerland.

These so-called barn hotels were initially meant for hikers looking for a cheap place to sleep and shower after a hike.

And Switzerland being a hiker’s paradise, there’s plenty of this type of accommodation scattered all over the country, mostly near the mountains. While some can only be reached by car, some are conveniently located near train stations.

Now, they no longer only appeal to hikers. People from across the globe flock there to get a taste of the Swiss farm life.

But don’t let the idea of sleeping in a barn put you off.

Yes, you will be sleeping on a bed of straw, but it’s not as bad as you may think. Once you pile on some blankets over the straw (or bring your own sleeping bag), it’s quite comfortable. The “barn” is actually a very clean, well-maintained room with an en-suite bathroom and other conveniences you might expect in a dormitory room, including tables and chairs, and electrical outlets.

The rates range from CHF 10 to CHF 40 per person.

If you love animal interaction, you’ll be in heaven because these farms usually have lots of them. You may even get a chance to milk the cows. In the morning, you’ll wake up to the crisp mountain air with magnificent views of verdant hills and faint sounds of cowbells. Depending on the barn hotel, you may also be treated to a breakfast spread with ingredients sourced from the farm.

If you grew up in a city and have never been on a farm before, this is a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience you must not miss in Switzerland.

By Ummi Nadrah from Ummi Goes Where?

5. THE THRILL WALK!

Looking for an adrenalin fix? Want some stunning views to go with that? 

Then make your way to Murren in the middle of the Bernese Alps- about 4 hours by train and cable cars from Zurich, and about 5 hours from Geneva. Head to Interlaken and take the train to Lauterbrunnen. Then there are two options involving several scenic cable car rides to get you to the Schilthorn peak.

The Thrill Walk is an exhilarating  200-meter steel and plexiglass cliff walkway, that starts nearly 3000 meters high and has been built to curl and wind around a near-vertical rock face of the Schilthorn mountain. It starts with a series of steep steel steps (about 70-100) that lead to a walkway made up of several sections of challenging “Thrill Walk.”

One section has 20 meters of glass-bottom floor showing a heart-stopping long long way down to the snow and rocks below.

For even more thrills, take a stroll along the 9-meter steel tight-rope section, which fortunately is surrounded by netting, but nevertheless is absolutely terrifying to us wimpy types. If that’s not enough, another section is a wire cylinder suspended in mid-air to crawl through.

Built with Swiss precision engineering it is very safe, with a coward’s narrow path alongside the challenging sections for those scaredy-cats like me!

BUT the views are so worth it! 

For more information about Murren & the Thrill Walk  click here

6.  LIMMAT SWIM IN ZURICH

Limmatschwimmen or Limmat swim is an annual popular sports event in Zurich (Switzerland). Swimming in the Limmat river is forbidden because of traffic on the river but once a year in August, they lift this restriction for this event to be held on the last weekend of the school summer vacation.

You enter the water at the point where the river leaves Lake Zurich at the Frauenbad Stadthausquai and you float for 2 km down the stream to the river bath “Oberer Letten”. It takes up to 40 minutes if you just float and leave all the work to the current. While you are floating on the yellow rubber animal (each year it is something different such as a turtle, starfish, duck, etc) you can enjoy the view of the old town in Zurich like the Münsterbrücke, Rathausbrücke, Grossmünster church, Frauen church, the Town Hall, Central, Zürich main train station, the National museum, etc. 

The event has been organized since 1945. In the beginning, it was for the local swimming club as a competition. Today the competition starts at noon with the EWZ challenge and later a diving demonstration and swimming for the general public. It lasts until 4:30 PM.

In the last few years, they have had to limit participants to 4.500 people. It is open to people aged 12 and over. Tickets are also now hard to find. In 2019 they were sold in 8 minutes. The official price is 20 CHF and it includes public transport for Zurich. But later tickets were sold on the auction site for up to 150 CHF.

In 2021 this event was canceled because of COVID. It was canceled in previous years because of low temperatures or strong currents of the river. For 2022, the date is already known- August 20 or 27.. So if you are lucky enough to get tickets you will be in for a treat, enjoying Zurich from a different perspective. It is suggested to have a waterproof swimming bag so you will have all you need when you get out of the river. Alternatively, you can pay for your belongings to be looked after for you until you get to the end. Also, you will get a warm cup of coffee or soup there and a medal to remember this swim.

By Džangir Kolar from Dr Jam Travels

7.     Try Meringues, fresh raspberries, and the famous Gruyeres Double Cream

Gruyeres is best known for its delicious and world-famous cheese. When you’re in Gruyeres, visit the excellent cheese factory which is located by the railway station. It’s well worth a visit, but there’s so much more to Gruyere than the cheese!

20 minutes walk up the hill from the cheese factory is the Gruyeres castle alongside the very charming medieval village of Gruyere. The cafes here specialize in traditional local food from the Fribourg area, such as fondues, rostis, and dishes from the Bénichon menu. There is a Fondue Academy run by master cheesemakers that give visitors the chance to learn about the art of fondue. If you’re a chocoholic you can reserve a place in a workshop at the Chocolaterie de Gruyères.

But our favourite food is the “creme double de la Gruyere”- the local double cream – served with fresh raspberries, and meringues. The double cream is unique. It is made from high-quality milk from selected farms in the Gruyeres region and has a very high butterfat content. It is always served in a traditional wooden bowl. Gruyeres even holds a Double Cream festival annually.

The meringues are small oval-shaped and perfectly piped. Unlike most meringues with their crunchy outer layer and soft inside the Gruyeres meringues have the same texture throughout and simply crumble in your mouth. Totally Addictive!

For more information about Gorgeous Gruyeres click here. 

8.   TRAIN JOURNEY TO JUNGFRAUJOCH- top of Europe!

PHOTO CREDIT- Chris Devers (Flickr)

When you are visiting Switzerland, you should not miss Jungfraujoch. Why it is so special? At an altitude of over 11,000 feet, this place is not only the ‘top of Europe’, but also one of the most romantic places in Switzerland. The scenic train ride to the top of Jungfraujoch can be a memorable experience for you.

The world-famous Jungfraubahn is open all year round and offers the most spectacular views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau mountains. There are three separate journeys on the whole way from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch. Start your journey from Interlaken Ost station and reach Grindelwald within 35 minutes. Grindelwald itself is a small cute Swiss village. You can spend some time in this picture-perfect village before heading to Kleine Scheidegg by the next train.

The cute cogwheel train will be waiting for you on the opposite platform of Kleine Scheidegg station. This train will take you through a 7 km long tunnel and offers the best views of the Alps and surrounding areas. These trains are designed in such a way so that you can get the maximum views of the surrounding mountains.

Admire the beauty and the excellent engineering of this railway track once you reach the Jungfraujoch train station. There are restaurants, shops and a museum at the top of Jungfraujoch. Explore the area and take as many pictures as you can.

A train journey to Jungfraujoch is not cheap. If you have a Swiss Rail Pass, you will get a discount on the actual fare. The return fare from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch is around CHF 235. You can check their official site(www.sbb.ch) to get the latest price update.

Tip: Before your journey, check the Jungfraujoch webcam for the current weather update.

ByTrijit Mallick from ‘BudgetTravelBuff’

9. Have your photo taken with Freddie Mercury on the Montreux Waterfront Boardwalk!

Freddie Mercury loved Montreux! One of the most popular attractions in Switzerland is the imposing famous Freddie Mercury statue on the lakefront Place de Marche. Queen and Freddie Mercury fans still place flowers around the base of the statue. Strike your very best Freddie pose and get your photo taken!

Queen bought the Montreux Mountain Studios located inside Montreux Casino and wrote and recorded many of their songs here and Freddie lived out his final days in Montreux. There is free access and tours to the studios.

This is only one of the interesting things to do and places to see in and around Magnificent Montreux! 

Montreux is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva and surrounded by the towering Swiss Alps and acres of vineyards. It is also known as the “Swiss Riviera.” 

The 13 km lakeside promenade that stretches from neighboring Vevey, through Montreux to the Chillon Castle is a magic place to wander any time of the day or night. It’s so picturesque and there’s so much to see including some stunning heritage buildings, an abundance of interesting art and garden sculptures, and even tropical palm trees!

Montreux is famous for its annual jazz festival and music is much in evidence all around the city. In the garden of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace Hotel, you will see sculptures of famous musicians who have appeared at Montreux jazz festivals over the years.

Chillon Castle is a medieval castle dating back to the 12th century and is located on its own small island on the banks of the lakefront. You will see gothic vaulted chapels, medieval dungeons, sentries’ walk, bastions, the keep, and large banqueting halls within the 25 buildings and three courtyards.

A boat ride across the lake is a must-do with the stunning vista of the Alps rising above the crystal clear waters of the lake and the surrounding quaint Swiss-French villages. And take the Rochers-de-Naye mountain railway that winds slowly up steep gradients through fields, charming villages, and forests. There’s so much to see and do in Montreux.

For more information about Magnificent Montreux click here. 

10.  EMMENTALER SCHAUKASEREI- The Emmentaler Cheese Village

The Emmentaler Schaukäserei is a not to be missed experience on any trip in Switzerland, and a perfect end for 4 Days in Switzerland. Emmentaler cheese is famous worldwide and seeing how this cheese has been made for generations is unique. The museum showcases the current process of cheese making and the production of cheese over the ages. There are several different farmhouses on site in which they used to make cheese. You can follow a guided tour or watch demonstrations in the various farmhouses.

After touring the whole museum sit down in the restaurant and sample the Emmentaler cheese. A must for a visit to the Emmentaler Schaukäserei. After learning how the holes appear in the cheese, eating it is extra special.

Next to this there’s a fun playground and a petting zoo on site. The Emmentaler Schaukäserei is settled in the beautiful green hills of the Emmentaler Valley where the cheese gets its name from.

The museum is on the Schaukäsereistrasse 6 in Affoltern im Emmental in North Western Switzerland, near Bern.The closest large city is Bern. From there it’s 38 kilometers/ 24 miles, about 40 minutes by car. It’s also reachable by public transport from Bern, taking some 55 minutes and several trains and a bus, the 471. From Luzern it’s 60 kilometers/ 37 miles, an hour by car. From Basel it will take 84 kilometers/ 52 miles and an hour and 15 minutes driving.

Entrance is CHF 15.00 for adults and CHF 8.00 for 12-17 years old. Tours are CHF 8.00 for adults and CHF 5.00 for 12 till 17. Below 12 get in for free.

By Cosette from ‘KarsTravels’. 

11.  HIKING OESCHINENSEE-  an amazing lake!

Hiking Oeschinensee is probably one of the best things to do! This amazing lake – nestled within the Swiss Alps -knows how to impress. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country – and in a country full of stunning lakes, this means something!

You will find Oeschinensee (or Lake Oeschinen) in Kandersteg valley which is in the canton of Bernese Oberland.

The lake is close to Interlaken and yet it takes some time to get to Oeschinensee. From Interlaken Ost, take the train (about 70 minutes) or get to Kandersteg by car (about 80 minutes). Then either take the gondola up or start your hike already. The return ticket for the gondola is about 30 CHF (one way 22 CHF).

For the best views of the lake, you have to do some hiking (even if you take the gondola). Once at the gondola mountain station, there are several hiking trails. You can do a very easy one (20 minutes hike one-way), an intermediate one, or an Alpine hike which is for very experienced hikers only. 

The intermediate hike offers amazing views and most semi-fit people can do it. It takes several hours and includes some uphill (and strenuous downhill) hiking – so bring your hiking poles with you. 

From the mountain station, follow hike route no. 8 (Oeschinensee to Heuberg). The vantage point Heuberg offers breathtaking views. The whole hike takes about 3-4 hours (without any breaks). 

Then hike down to the lake and spend time on, at, and in the lake Oeschinensee – you surely deserve some time to relax after that hike. If you haven’t hiked much before, it will be challenging but it is doable! A couple of mountain huts along the way offer snacks and drinks – you can also bring your own snacks and a water bottle to refill with fresh water during the hike.

For fantastic views, visit on a sunny day – this makes hiking easier and also the color looks the most stunning.

By Arzo Nayel from “Arzo Travels.’

12.  Best Mini Train Trip In Switzerland – Train to Arosa -the Arosabahn

There are so many very very picturesque and stunningly scenic train trips in Switzerland, but on a recent eleven-day winter tour of Switzerland with our Swiss Rail Passes we traveled a lot of train miles but one particular trip stood out. Why?

It is only a one-hour trip but it combined all of the aspects we expected from a Swiss train ride.

• It was incredibly scenic.
• It took a feat of engineering to build.
• It was charming in that true Swiss style!

Some of the most scenic train routes are on the small regional lines going up into or around the mountains. If you only have a short time in Switzerland this is definitely the one Swiss train ride you must do!

The train route is from Chur to Arosa and was built in 1914 to connect Chur, (pronounced Koor) the oldest town in Switzerland, with the spa town of Arosa. It is 26 km long and climbs 1000 meters. It goes through 19 tunnels and over 52 bridges. 

You board the train on the street and for the first five minutes or so the train ambles through the town roads stopping traffic as it goes like a local tram and then it follows the local stream bordering the edge of town and winds through a few tunnels.

Then it starts to climb and wind, and wind and climb, over many bridges and through the mountainous landscape with the tall snow-laden pine trees and small rural villages with the stream now far below. We glimpsed some deer by the rail tracks near the only stop, Langweis Station.

About halfway up you will start to glimpse the impressive Langweiser Viaduct and soon you will cross over it. At night it is lit up and looks quite eerie as the only lights in the area. This viaduct is 284 meters long and 62 meters high with a main arch span of 100 meters and is 284 meters long. We felt as if we were at the top of the world.

There is quite a long tunnel just before the Arosa Station. At the station is a great cafe and bar called Guterschuppen. It’s a very welcoming and cosy modern bar and cafe with comfortable sofas and chairs and a fireplace. They serve brunch, lunch, dinner, bar snacks and sometimes have live music.

For more information about the Best Mini Train trip in Switzerland click here.

13.   BADEN BATHS- healthy hot springs

Everyone knows about the Roman baths in Bath, England and the remains that linger around Italy, but most people don’t realize that Switzerland is home to some of the best baths in the world.

Located 45 minutes from Zurich, Baden (not to be confused with Baden-Baden in Germany) is a charming town. In it, you’ll find a lot of local history, including a famous pastry shop and some medieval architecture.

The town rose to fame in the Roman era, when the mineral hot springs were used to cure the aches of Roman soldiers.  The town was actually founded after the first thermal baths were established by the Romans, making it truly a “wellness-first” town.

The mineral hot springs beneath the river Limmat offer an incredibly restorative experience. The natural waters are high in sulfur, but lack the smell that puts most people off visiting local hot springs around the world. Instead, you can enjoy an aroma-free natural bath at a balmy 47 C.

The traditional experience involves a private tub filled with the hot water, so you can luxuriate in privacy. You can still bathe this way at Atrium-Hotel Blume in Baden’s spa quarter.

In other areas, you can have a more Roman experience, swimming in a marble, underground bath, with cavernous arches and some modern whirlpool features.

If you don’t want to shell out for the illustrious spas around Baden, you can still enjoy this natural wonder for free! Visit the Thermal Bench on Limmatpromenade. This 8-meter bench is fitted with a bench and a long trough-shaped foot bath so you can soak your feet. It’s the perfect end to a day hiking around Baden and exploring the museums. Grab a croissant or Spanisch Brotli (a pastry filled with apricot jam and crushed hazelnuts), and enjoy the best views of the river Limmat while you indulge in a free thermal foot bath.

Most people visit Switzerland and never hear of this unique town. Experience the natural wonders of Switzerland’s wellness city when you visit.

By Nina of ‘Nina Out and About’

14.  Mt Pilatus Golden Tour

Mt Pilatus is a gorgeous mountain in the Swiss Alps near Lucerne, Switzerland, and it’s both easier and cheaper to reach than the popular Jungfraujoch region!

The best way to explore Mt Pilatus is with a Golden Tour ticket. This all-encompassing ticket includes a boat trip across Lake Lucerne, a trip on the world’s steepest cogwheel train to the summit, and a picturesque ride on a cable car gondola system.

Amazing views around every corner will keep shutterbugs busy, snapping away! Enjoy a relaxing ferry ride across Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad, where you’ll catch the next train up the mountain. The cogwheel train on Mt Pilatus is the world’s steepest and features beautiful alpine scenery. With the windows down, you can hear all the cow bells gently chiming across the mountain!

Views from the top are stunning, and there’s plenty to do at the Mt Pilatus summit. Splurge and stay at one of the two hotels located here, or just stop in for a delicious bite to eat before or after a hike.

There’s a hike for most abilities here: shorter hikes with stairs, moderate hikes to the chapel, or longer but completely manageable hike to the Tomlishorn, the highest point of Mt Pilatus!

When you’re ready to leave, queue for the cable car gondolas. The first gondola is standing room only in a floor to ceiling windowed cable car. Have your camera ready! A third of the way down, you’ll switch into smaller 4 person seated gondolas that carry you the rest of the way down the mountain to Kriens. A short walk to the bus stop and you will be back in Lucerne before you know it!

Tickets can be purchased online or at the kiosks right outside the central train station in Lucerne. You will literally walk off your train, past the buses, and right to the kiosk at the wharf to get your ticket. Tickets cost CHF 104 per adult (as of July 2021). 

By Rachel at ‘Means to Explore’

15.     “JAMES BOND  BUNGEE JUMP” IN  VALLEY VERZASCA, TICINO

While many people often head to Zermatt, Lucerne or Zurich, Switzerland has many less-discovered places. One of them is the Swiss-Italian canton of Ticino, home to the beautiful Valley Verzasca. 

Home to the famous Pointe de Salti bridge this picturesque valley boasts rich history with its traditional villages built in the style that is characteristic for the southern part of Switzerland.

One of the most popular stops in Verzasca Valley, home to Verzasca Dam, the tallest dam in Europe. It was featured in the James Bond movie titled Golden Eye (1995). At the dam you can take in stunning views, and if you are brave enough, follow in the footsteps of James Bond by leaping the “007 Bungee Jump.” This adventure is definitely not for the faint of heart but it will give you a pretty good dose of adrenaline. 

Continue your drive through the valley until you reach the hamlet of Sonogno, a gorgeous village at the end of the valley. Here you can explore gorgeous hikes, waterfalls and wander around to see the beautiful architecture. 

And if you are looking to chill and relax, you can even book one of the places in Sonogno, as this little town offers plenty of outdoor activities that could take you a couple of days. 

Make sure to stop in Locarno, the gateway to Valley Verzasca from where you can access public transportation.

By Daria Bachmann from ‘The Discovery Nut’

16.  Sampling Swiss chocolates at Maison Cailler

All you need to know about chocolate! The Cailler Chocolate Factory (Maison Cailler) in Broc near Gruyeres is one of Switzerland’s oldest and most important chocolate factories. 

It’s a short walk from Broc La Fabrique train station to the Cailler Chocolate Factory. The Nestle Outlet shop is en route and worth a stop to check out what is on offer.

At Maison Cailler you will begin the chocolate experience with a fun and interactive hour-long tour. You will learn about the history of the Cailler family, other great names in Swiss chocolate, and the history of chocolate, from Aztec cocoa ceremonies to the innovations of today.

The next part of the tour takes you through the manufacturing process. You can touch and see the raw materials. You find out more about the suppliers and producers of the ingredients used. You can see the chocolates being made.

The final part of the tour is a visit to the tasting area where you can sample all of the different amazing types of chocolate. Yum