Stunning Switzerland
When I found out I was going to be travelling through Switzerland, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. All I knew about it was that the Swiss loved fondue and clocks. I was quite astounded at the sights I saw and it is a journey that I would thoroughly recommend.
My adventures began in Zurich. I arrived at Zurich airport at around 2:30 pm then, having never traveled by train in Europe before, bravely made my way to the train station at Zurich airport to take me into Zurich city. I had no idea which train to get but the people were quite lovely and helpful. In case you were wondering about your own journey, you need to go to platform 3 or 4 at Zurich airport train station and make sure you take a train to Zurich HB. The train trip takes 10 – 15 minutes and was quite pleasant; I definitely had nothing to worry about! Being one of the two global economic cities of Switzerland, Zurich is a very upbeat city, much like Sydney in Australia. Although it’s an economic hub, it is quite small.
Zurich is a VERY clean city and it is easy to see that its people take pride in this and like to keep it that way. On my way to my hotel, I was waiting to cross the street and a lady on a bicycle going the opposite direction to me pulled up beside me. She had a basket on the back of her bike. A gentleman walking past had just finished his afternoon coffee and noticed that there were no rubbish bins around. Rather than littering, the gentleman put his rubbish in the basket on the back of the lady’s bicycle – as you do. My home for the night was the Hotel Schweizerhof. WOW! is all I really need to say. This 4*Superior hotel is beautiful, clean and comfy and in a GREAT location in Zurich. It was so good that I felt like I was staying in a 5* hotel. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the welcome drink of cool sparkling wine on arrival went down a treat. To satisfy your taste buds, the old town in Zurich is only a short 5-minute walk from the Schweizerhof Hotel or alternatively, you can take the “scenic” route by tram (free travel if you have a Swiss Pass). The old town is home to many different restaurants and most of Zurich’s nightlife.
Stage two of my travels brought me to Interlaken from Zurich via Bern. The journey takes around 2 hours (to Interlaken Ost) and first class is the way to go on any train (where possible) in Europe. The extra space in the seating is welcome and makes it easy to unwind. Interlaken is a quaint little town and the main starting point for adventurers seeking the mountainous heights of the Jungfrau Mountain – the top of Europe at 11, 333 feet.
The train journey up to the top of the Jungfrau is beautiful and well worth the trip. Relax as you take in the lush valleys and picturesque villages and townships, not to mention the splendid views of the glaciers. Traveling up/down the Jungfrau does require multiple trains. You will change trains a third of the way up/down at either Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen and again two-thirds of the way up/down at Kleine Scheidegg. Don’t be alarmed or put off, it is VERY easy to change trains. It is recommended to take one route up and the other down so you can experience the full aspect of the mountains and what they have to offer. Once I reached the top of Jungfrau, the views over the Alps were amazing and well worth the journey. Venturing out onto the snow is highly recommended for 360-degree views from the top. Stage three of my adventure took me to Chur. To get to Chur, I went from Interlaken to Brig via Spiez before boarding the Glacier Express from Brig to Chur. The whole trip took just over 5 ½ hours. I had heard bits and pieces about the Glacier Express but I was not sure what it was going to be like.
The Glacier Express is one of the longer scenic journeys; however, it can be broken up to do specific sections only, if desired. The train itself was comfy and relaxing. There is also an option to purchase a three-course meal on board that is served at your seat (drinks not included). Otherwise, you can purchase snacks and drinks. The view on the other hand, well, if I’m being honest…was beautiful! Really lovely to relax passing by with such a beautiful view. Audio commentary is available through the journey so you know what you are seeing. The town of Chur itself is a bit of a mix. Cross Interlaken with Zurich and you get the idea. Nice little town. Keep in mind that most of the restaurants in Switzerland are closed on a Monday night so you will find you are generally eating in your hotel. A nice little restaurant on the opposite side of the rail station to the main part of town is called Frohsinn where you can get seasonal traditional Swiss food for a good price.
Stage four of my journey found me jumping on board the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano (Italy) and back again (you don’t have to do the journey as a return, you can go one way either way and continue from there). After seeing how lovely the journey on the Glacier Express was, I didn’t think it could be beaten. I was quite thankful to be proven wrong. If you enjoyed the Glacier Express, you will LOVE the Bernina Express. It is absolutely STUNNING and I feel one of the must-dos if you are traveling through Switzerland. The scenery is breathtakingly gorgeous. The train itself is comfortable with big panoramic windows in first class. Traveling in first class is recommended as there is more comfort and space. A little snack cart comes through the train for snacks and drinks. There is no audio commentary available though. You will see gleaming glacial lakes as well as close-up views of glaciers as the train winds through the Swiss Alps. The townships and villages through the journey are so quaint and charming; you can see why people live there. The lush mountains and green meadows are really heartwarming to see.
I am still in awe of what I saw on the journey and am so glad that I had the opportunity to see it. The whole trip through Switzerland was definitely worth doing. You can do the journey over 4 or 5 days but extending your stay will give you a little bit more freedom to take it at a bit slower pace.
