We visited Switzerland around the beginning of spring, staying four nights and five days from March 17 – 21, 2017. Although, Five days is not about the right time I recommend you dedicate to exploring this very scenic Country, sadly that’s the only time I was approved to go on holiday (this time).

Touring Switzerland in 5 days is a bit of a stretch and I don’t believe there will be sufficient days to get enough of this beautiful Country, but our 5 days itinerary allows us to experience the best 5 days of our time in Switzerland, deciding our journey every day as we welcomed every morning with a different scenic view from our hotel hostel room.

C U R R E N C Y

Swiss Franc

1 Chf = 3.71 Qar or 1.02 usd(as of Mar 2017)

R O U T E

Zurich – Lucerne (45mins train)

Lucerne – Interlaken Ost (2hrs train)

Interlaken Ost – Zermatt (2.20 hrs train)

Zermatt- Geneva (4hrs train)

1 day Lucerne, 2 days Interlaken, 1 Day Zermatt, half day Geneva

H O T E L S

Day 1 – 5th Floor @ Hotel interlaken 106CHF

Day 2 – Hotel Blume (Interlaken) 90 CHF

Day 3 – Swiss Budget Alpen Hotel (Tasch – Zermatt) 100 CHF

Day 4- Hotel Central (Geneva)  129 CHF

T R A N S P O R T A T I ON

Swiss Travel Pass 4 days – 259 CHF

D A Y 1 – W E L C O M E  T O  L U C E R N E

We arrive Zurich Airport at 6am directly leaving for Lucerne via a direct 45mins train from the airport.

Arriving at Lucerne’s Central Station, we were ready to head and explore this beautiful town. We checked-in our bag in the lockers to return later for train to Interlaken. We took the largest coin lockers for our full-size suitcase at platform 3 which cost about 10 francs for 24 hours.

Not very far from Lucerne Train Station, we walk passed by the City’s signature Icon and probably the most photographed landmark in Lucerne, the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke). What seems to be just a bridge is full of history when you cross. It is well kept and offers a nice view of the river. The details in the paintings and the view from the bridge is just simply beautiful. Best part is it’s free of charge to cross and admire it.

About 12 minutes walk from the Chapel bridge, we went to see the Lion Monument hidden in a small garden in Lucerne. This monument  is an interesting remembrance in Swiss history of the Swiss mercenaries who fought for the French royals during the French Revolution.

Standing face to face with the lion that Mark Twain described as so moving and mournful is a beautiful experience. It actually can bring tears to your eyes when you look at the anguish in the eyes of the Lion. We stayed there for a while sitting at the bench, observing other group of tourist admire the sculpture.

Situated right next to the Lion Monument is the Old Swiss House, The Plan was to eat there for lunch but it was closed, so we move on to see Bachman Chocolate World for the flowing chocolate wall.

This one took us a little more time to locate- blame it to our poor internet access-no google map! I wish Mr. Travellaine captured my facial reaction when we at long last found it, there were quite a few people inside the store so I had to behave and act as genuine grown-up.

I kept strolling searching for the chocolate wall despite passing by the many enticing chocolate assortments, until I reached the wall next to the cash counter and saw it. It was tempting, the flowing chocolate looks so rich and fresh, I wanted to lick it.

Inside the store, everything looks insanely delicious and we will be foolish not to try the gorgeous looking chocolate cake that we kept staring since we got there. It was also about time for lunch and the smell of the pizza made us more hungry, we ordered a margarita style pizza and it both taste so well, we finished them off in a flash.

A few walk outside the Bachman Chocolate World right next to the Chapel bridge, we crossed the street to admire Lake Lucerne. This lake is known locally as Vierwaldstaettersee. We were lucky to arrive Lucerne on a sunny day and the view of the lake with the mountains surrounding it makes a lovely spot to relax. The water is crystal clear and I’m told it’s actually drinkable. Many people sit by the lake just lazing out and we did the same.

Lucern is clean, small and quiet ideal for couples like us who wanted to relax and have the best view of Switzerland and I don’t regret settling for it in place of Zurich. A perfect introduction to Switzerland for us!

Seeing the city from the water, by the boat would have been a nice experience, it is also free of charge with our Swiss pass but by this time we had already been awake for about 34 hours so we agreed to return to the train station to catch the next train to Interlaken. 

Throughout our train ride to Interlaken we barely put our camera’s down, enjoying a two-hour ride through beautiful mountains and along the shores of Lake Brienz photographing every scenic view possible.

D A Y 2  –  I N T E R L A K E N, G R I N D E L W A L D, L A U T E R B RU N N E N

Lucerne may have been situated where the Alps begin, But if you want to see the highest peak in Switzerland, you have to visit the Jangfrau Region, situated in the Bernese Oberland. Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken is just 3 of the 6 Towns located within the Region and I find Interlaken to be the perfect base for exploring this region.

The cheapest comfortable hotel available in the afternoon of day 1 for Interlaken happens to be a decent Hotel- about 4 minutes walk from the interlaken Ost Station. We stayed at the 5th floor, although, the lift final stop is at the 4th floor we didn’t have any issue carrying our medium size luggage one floor up through the stairs.

The hotel happens to have a decent breakfast too with an extra view of the Alps!.

We woke up to a rainy Interlaken, but it didn’t stopped us from exploring Jangfrau. We also had to checked out at 11:00 am, so we confronted the rain and head on to Interlaken train station, hire a luggage locker to keep our suitcase and hop on the next train to Lauterbrunnen, which by the way signifies “many springs” with a  total of 72 waterfalls streaming down into the Lauterbrunnen valley from the vertical cliff faces, some of which a few hundred meters high.

We got off the Train in Lauterbrunnen and continue with a bus, stopped at random spots together with two other fellow traveler, 20 minutes later and still no bus, and each time we attempt to stroll to the next station the bus would passed us and won’t take us until we are at the proper bus stop but we couldn’t make it in 2 mins which is about the time they stop to pick up passengers, funny thing is there is no covered bus stop, so my furry hat looks like a newly showered kitten. This by far is one of the most memorable experience in our entire stay in Switzerland. We walked under the rain for about 60 minutes with our feet soaking in our wet shoes trying to catch a bus to take us back to the main Station. And though it was fun and adventurous we both agreed not to do it again. **lol**

This photo is a reminder that no matter how out of control the situation was at that time we still manage to have fun.

walking aimlessly, with my sweaty shoes.

An hour later we took the train ahead to Grindelwald where we had lunch.

Grindelwald was gorgeous. The giant alps covered in white snow was a sight to welcome you as soon as you arrive at the station, It is also a Top Ski area, in the Bernese Oberland.

We spent the entire afternoon here and enjoyed watching people come and go with their complete skiing gear.

And though we both agreed being less adventurous this time. We found ourselves hopping at a bus again right across the restaurant where we had lunch. Where are we heading this time? not a clue…

We found a hotel with a deck covered in snow by the end of the bus trip and we made it clear with the driver that there is a next bus coming to take us back. Although we both have been to many European Countries, this is the very first time we can really touch a snow. Figure us making a snow ball and tossing at each other, much like in movies.. Literally! I know! it was a soiled snow but hey! you can’t judge an Asian girl who grew up knowing only summer and rainy as a season, also, the view of the cable car with a mountain covered in haze is spectacular and as I stood there, I surely felt how I was slowly falling in love with Switzerland.

We were hoping the weather would be better in the afternoon cause we were aiming to go to (jungfraujoch) Top of Europe yet it rained the entire day.

I was told the weather in Switzerland can changes rapidly, and that is the very reason we didn’t reserved anything ahead of time. I’m just so glad we bought a swiss pass, if it continues raining by the next day, we can just hop on the train to anywhere near with a better weather (possibly Zermatt). As the day end feeling cheerless, we decided to spend another night in Interlaken feeling positive of tomorrow’s weather, so we can finally see the Jungfraujoch.

D A Y 3 – G R I N D E L W A L D – K L E I N E  S C H E I D E G G

In the morning of our second day in Interlaken, we were greeted by a brighter and warmer weather and with still a bit of clouds we chance on going to Jungfraujoch. The hotel where we were staying on this day was a bit far to Interlaken Ost station, about 15 minutes by walk or 5 minutes by bus – we opted to walk. Dragging our medium size luggage we walked our way to the station.

We were glad we walked through the station. The view of the alps covered in haze looks like painting. And just before we reached the train station, we saw many group of travelers gathered at the park taking pictures in different fancy gestures and we enjoyed watching them.

Jungfraujoch is accessible by train from both Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. From our base at the Interlaken Ost Station, we took a 50 minutes train to Grindelwald and from there we bought a ticket to Klein Scheidegg, this is the station where you board the train to Jungfraujoch, cost us 47 Chf after a 25% discount with our Swiss travel pass.

On our arrival at Klein Scheidegg, we thought of checking the Jungfraujoch live cam for an interactive 360 live camera update of the view at the top of Jungfraujoch. At this moment, the sky hasn’t clear yet and we were still considering spending another hundred francs to go up to the Top of Europe which is quite expensive considering the visibility on that day and clearly we are paying for the view.

There were a variety of food outlets serving typical Swiss specialties with a great selection of wine and beers at the station, there were also a couple of skiing rental shops and we are both very jealous of all the skiers and sledgers having fun and making their way down the mountains so we check each shop as soon as we finish our meal and a bottle of beer. 

For a moment we agreed it will be more valuable for us to learn to ski since we are at the Skiing capital of the world and we really like to learn it for a long time. So we check a random shop and were quoted something like 500 CHF for an hour of training for both of us, about 200 instructor fee and an additional 300 for a complete skiing equipment for two. Ouch! While the Alpine ambiance is lovely, I thought we could have the same experience for a fraction of the cost in Georgia (Europe) where we initially plan of having a lesson with only a 3 hours flight from Qatar. 

We didn’t let that cut the fun, we rented a 10Chf plastic sledge and enjoyed sledging for about two hours. The difficult part was climbing the snow capped hill up and a 6cm wooden heel gamuza boots which I am wearing is sleek and does not help with the grip and breaking. So clearly, I didn’t climbed that far. It was so much fun and we did it so many times until my feet starts feeling numb from the cold. So take it from me and do bring a proper snow boots.

By the afternoon we are on our way for a 2.5 hours train ride to Tasch, a little more than 5 km from Zermatt.

D A Y 4 – Z E R M A T T 

Welcome to the Matterhorn a.k.a the Toblerone mountain!

After being blown away by the beauty of Bernese Oberland, the next stop in our Switzerland itinerary is a place I’d always longed to visit, located near the southern end of Zermatt, the “Matterhorn” is one of the world’s most famous mountain. It rises 4478 meters high, but is not the highest mountain in Switzerland. 

Our day started early and we were lucky to be exploring Zermatt on a nice sunny day, cause bad weather in Zermatt means you are pretty stuck in your hotel reading or liking all the pictures of your friends in instagram.. so Yey for that!

Today also happens to be less suitcase dragging. Our hotel is right across Tasch Terminal and about 15 minutes train ride to a car free City of Zermatt. 

Arriving Zermatt Station, we located a coin locker to leave our suitcase and followed the signs until we reached the Cable Car Station, the walk was approximately 20 mins but it didn’t felt very long being entertained by a good view.

The Gondola ride cost 100 CHF each but our swiss pass provided us with a 50% discount. The ride take you on a tour of the mountains for about 45 minutes and you will need to change gondola more than once. The final stop is at 3,800 meters but along the way there are around 3 stops where you can always re-route back down. After a successful skydive at 10,000 feet I thought I was immune of altitude sickness but when we crossed 2,500 m I started feeling dizzy, I fight it off and a few minutes later I am okay.

There is a very nice cafeteria at the top, we stayed there for 1 hour and enjoyed the changing views of the Matterhorn and clouds.

For someone travelling from the Asia, this unfamiliar landscape was a life changing event…. almost godly. To see the mountain in reality is worth a 1000 pictures.  My perspective went from a “it’d be great to see someday” to ” I’d be missing out on one of  life’s great experiences if I hadn’t come here “.

D A Y 5 – G E N E V A

Arriving Geneva from the breath taking Swiss mountain is like being transported to the future. From old houses to commercial buildings centered around the famous Lake Geneva.

Having ranked among the top ten most pleasant cities in the world I am sure Geneva is a thousand in one and the same city.

The City is also home to the Red Cross and to more than 200 International organizations including of course the second largest of one of the four major office site of the United Nations. Which makes this a definite place to visit when in Geneva.. not to mention Mr. Travellaine’s profound interest in International Affairs. So, yes! The United Nation was the Highlight of our Geneva Trip.

The only way to visit the inside of the UNOG is to go on a guided tour, which involves queuing up at the gate to go through security. We arrived around 9:30 in the morning and it took us 35 minutes from getting there to buying the tickets for the tour (12chf each). The entrance security is pretty stiff, but you will end up with an ID badge that you can keep. And while Mr. Travellaine was the real happy person to be there, I was at front to pay for the tour, unknown to us, only one ID is given per group. I did tried to convince the security guy how Mr. Travellaine is the one most deserving of the souvenir ID but to no luck.

The buildings aren’t particularly beautiful, but the history is very cool, The tour takes you to some of the key meeting rooms in the UN and gives a good explanation of the main organization structure of the UN. It’s certainly a must visit if you’re interested in international politics, but even if not the tour is eye-opening.

After the tour we had a Ramen noodles and Pork Tonkatsu for lunch before we head to the airport for our afternoon flight to Doha. 

Traveling through Switzerland feels like you have been cast into a fairy tale! The Swiss Alps are snow capped all year and with lakes around most corners in this picturesque European country, Looking back, I am quite impressed at how our spontaneous Itinerary went.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH A VIDEO OF OUR 5 DAYS TRIP BELOW..