Switzerland
4
 DAYS IN 
Switzerland

This express stopover in Switzerland served as a prelude to our Christmas trip. Since we only had four days, we focused on the highlights: Zurich, Interlaken, and Grindelwald.

‍

In terms of prices, accommodations were surprisingly reasonable. Food was a tad expensive, as expected, and it was comparable to dining out in New York City, although I wouldn’t say that food is Switzerland’s strong point. Still, there is plenty of good food, of course. Another surprising aspect that caught me a bit off guard was the transport price - it was easily 21 CHF for a 30-minute ride from Bern to Thun so you can imagine the costs of longer journeys between cities.

 

TRANSPORT | Public transport is incredibly convenient in Switzerland, and the SBB app is incredible for tracking train schedules and booking tickets. However, traveling between cities can be quite expensive, so there are certain cases where renting a car (especially for a group of four) makes better financial sense.

‍

The good thing is that some passes help with the prices, including the Half Fare Travel Card, Swiss Travel Pass, Day Pass, Interrail Switzerland Pass, and Eurail Global Pass.

‍

DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY | It was difficult not to skip Liechtenstein with a new country so close by, but since we were traveling to Thun from Zurich airport on our first night (which is already quite a distance away), adding Liechtenstein would have made the journey much longer than necessary on the first day. It is similar to Switzerland and is only worth a visit if it is convenient.

‍HIGHLIGHTS | Grindelwald, Zurich

Day 2: Interlaken & Grindelwald

‍

Interlaken

Grindelwald First

‍

Interlaken was relatively small, so we spent just over an hour there, enjoying lunch before heading to Grindelwald First. This involved taking a train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald and transferring to the cable car at Grindelwald BGF.

 

A separate station called Grindelwald Terminal connects to the Eiger Express and provides access to destinations like Jungfraujoch. To reach Grindelwald (or Grindelwald First), alight at Grindelwald station.

 

Many other towns and mountains around Interlaken are equally accessible, such as Jungfraujoch, visible from the Jungfrau site. Having previously visited Jungfraujoch, we opted for the next popular choice, Grindelwald.

 

The ticket to Grindelwald First was rather pricey, so having one of those travel passes would have been beneficial!

Day 2: Interlaken & Grindelwald

‍

Interlaken

Grindelwald First

‍

Interlaken was relatively small, so we spent just over an hour there, enjoying lunch before heading to Grindelwald First. This involved taking a train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald and transferring to the cable car at Grindelwald BGF.

 

A separate station called Grindelwald Terminal connects to the Eiger Express and provides access to destinations like Jungfraujoch. To reach Grindelwald (or Grindelwald First), alight at Grindelwald station.

 

Many other towns and mountains around Interlaken are equally accessible, such as Jungfraujoch, visible from the Jungfrau site. Having previously visited Jungfraujoch, we opted for the next popular choice, Grindelwald.

 

The ticket to Grindelwald First was rather pricey, so having one of those travel passes would have been beneficial!

Day 3: Thun & Bern

‍

Thun

Bern

‍

This was a relatively easy day. We spent the early morning strolling around Thun, which wasn’t part of our itinerary as it was a resting location on the way to Interlaken. I was pleasantly surprised by Thun and found it more enjoyable than Interlaken. It was replete with numerous historic buildings, and walking through the cobblestone streets was a delight.  

‍

After lunch, we headed to Bern en route to Zurich. Frankly, I didn’t find Bern particularly enjoyable. I couldn’t pinpoint why - it’s also a charming historic city. Perhaps it was the gloomy, overcast weather or the crowds, but Bern was likely my least favorite stop on this itinerary.

‍

WE STAYED AT the Park Hyatt Zurich. We initially booked an apartment in the lovely Wiedikon area, but had issues with it and had to find a last-minute alternative. We indulged a little and ended up at the Park Hyatt Zurich (using points, of course). It might not have been worth the price tag, but it was delightful and comfortable, and being within walking distance of Altstadt was nice.

‍

Day 4: Zurich

‍

St. Jakob Beck & Kafi Münsterhof

Bahnhofstrasse

Babu's (Lunch)

Zürichhorn

The Monocle Shop & Café Zurich

Rechtswissenschaftliche Bibliothek

Altstadt (Old Town)

Zeughauskeller (Dinner)

 

Zurich often doesn’t come to mind as a destination when discussing Switzerland, overshadowed by remarkable places like Lucerne and Interlaken. While the city itself may not be spectacular, I, as a city person. It was well-organized, extremely walkable, and close to nature. In many ways, it reminded me of Lyon. The Christmas markets throughout the city center certainly enhanced the experience.

 

Zurich also presents an excellent opportunity to sample Swiss cuisine, particularly Swiss fondue and Rösti, which are delightful at Babu’s.