Grindelwald
No matter where you turn in Switzerland, you face a postcard view. To your left, you have mountains perfectly capped with snow year-round. To your right, you have crystal clear lakes reflecting the surrounding beauty. Seemingly the whole country is stunning, and you’ll find it hard to go back home.
With so much to see, planning a shorter trip in the country can feel like an impossible task. Maybe you are in the mood for an outdoor adventure. Maybe you’d prefer to enjoy some of Switzerland’s historic cities. We decided that we wanted some variety, and the result was a 5-day trip that was absolutely perfect.
With a goal of making it to Munich for Oktoberfest, we worked our way across Switzerland, stopping in multiple cities over the course of the trip. While it is tough to beat the convenience of taking a train, we enjoyed the flexibility of having a rental car on Day 2. If you’re planning to make multiple stops in a single day, going this route should save you money and also offer significantly better views than those from a train.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix
Our stay in Geneva wouldn’t have been complete without a bit of luxury. After taking a bus from the airport into the city, we made our way to The Hotel de la Paix. It was everything we could have asked for – from the welcome chocolates, to the friendly service, to the incredible view we had of the Jet d’Eau from our balcony. The hotel’s central location also makes it easy to reach popular spots by foot or public transport.
Jet d’Eau
Speaking of the Jet d’Eau – it is well worth getting up close and personal with the fountain. There is a nice pier extending out to the Jet, which is a great place to sit, relax, and enjoy the mist coming off the stream. It’s tough to appreciate the sheer volume of water shooting out until you get a closer look. You can even walk out past the fountain, but mind the slick ground.
Cafe Des Negociants
Finding a budget-friendly meal in Geneva can be tough. Rather than scrounge for something simple we could enjoy back home, we decided to bite the bullet and find an upscale restaurant with a more reasonable price tag. Enter Cafe Des Negociants – a Michelin restaurant in the trendy neighborhood of Carouge. The staff were very inviting, but be prepared to point at the menu to order unless you speak French. It all makes for a great, authentic experience that pairs well with the delicious Swiss food. While in this neighborhood, take some time to walk around and enjoy the town. There are plenty of great, casual bars to pass the time before or after dinner.
Free Walk Geneva
We love doing a free walking tour in each city we visit – assuming one is available. They are a great way to learn about the local history and culture, and the tour guides’ passion is evident as they perform the tours complimentary and truly love their cities.
Thankfully in Geneva we were in luck! Choosing between two options with Switzerland Free Walking Tours, we decided to do the Heart of Geneva Tour. These tours are only as good as their guides, and while this one wasn’t our favorite, it is still a great option if you are new to the city and like to hear a little history. The tour was about 2.5 hours, started at the Clock Tower, and went through the Old Town, the Parc des Bastions, and a few other sites. After ending the tour at the Jet d’Eau, the guide offered us some delicious complimentary Swiss chocolates.
Getting Around
Driving in Switzerland is a breeze. We chose to go through Sixt Car Rental, and it was a completely painless experience. The only thing to note is that parking spots are a bit small in the cities. We recommend getting a smaller economy car and using the savings to splurge on a navigation system. Signage is reliable on the highways, but a live map can help if you are searching for hiking trails or make a wrong left turn.
Da Bears
We only got to spend an afternoon in Berne, but it was well worth the stop! This beautiful city straddles a river and has a unique bear park along the shore. As the official mascots of the city, the bears tend to draw a crowd in the viewing area around the park, but there should be enough space to find a nice spot. There is even a brewery right there if you want to get drunk and watch some bears.
Interlaken / Grindelwald
One of the most beautiful areas we have ever seen. Grindelwald is a small spot close to Interlaken, nestled in lush greenery and snow-capped mountains. Our main objective in going to Grindelwald was to go hiking. Unfortunately, it was close to twilight, and we missed the turnoff for hiking. We tried to find the hike’s starting point, but because we are TOO GOOD at navigating, we ended up driving the hiking trail instead…and at least got to enjoy the view and breathe in some crisp, fresh air.
The Hotel Lucerne
As one of the five-star hotels in the city, The Hotel Lucerne fits its boutique bill. We honestly have never visited another hotel quite like it. Each room’s ceiling is fully covered with a scene from a classic movie, giving you something…interesting to wake up to each morning (depending on your room). Our room’s ceiling had a scene from Fellini’s Casanova, and our friend’s room had some tasteful (?) nudity from a movie we did not recognize. While maybe not recommended for children, this hotel overall had everything we like: great rooms, wonderful service, and Marriott Platinum member benefits, including free breakfast in their restaurant and local cheese, wine, and crackers as a welcome gift.
Where to Eat
Aside from the spectacular breakfast at our hotel, we had the opportunity to try a couple other gems in Lucerne: Rathaus Brauerei and Spaghetteria Valentino. The Rathaus Brauerei is a brewery and restaurant in Lucerne’s historical town hall building. The beer is high quality and refreshing, and the pretzels are delicious.
Spaghetteria Valentino is a small Italian restaurant in Lucerne’s old town. Each of us tried either a pasta or an entrée, and they were all delicious and pretty large portions!
Things to Do
There are definitely some must sees in Lucerne, including the Kapellbrücke, the Lion Monument, and the Museggmauer. However, one of our favorite things about Lucerne was the random animal farm we stumbled upon. On the backside of the Museggmauer, we had the pleasure of encountering alpacas, chickens, highland cattle, and more!
Mount Pilatus
This hike is easily accessible from Lucerne via public bus, but that’s where the “easy” ends. The hike is tough. Also, be sure to look up when Mt. Pilatus closes. It tends to get pretty foggy, and there is a certain time of day in which they make everyone leave the observation center at the peak.
We decided to take the aerial lift from the first to the second stop, hike from the second to the third stop, and take the aerial lift again from the third to the final stop. It is possible to hike the entire way, but due to our time restrictions (and laziness and out-of-shape-ness), we decided to only hike a portion of the mountain.
Carlton
For a night out in Zurich in the middle of the week, we decided to go to the After Work Party at Carlton – a restaurant that turns into a bar after dark. The crowd was…interesting. The music made for a fun evening, but what really kept us entertained was the people watching. You can count on some shenanigans at this older banker bar.
Downtown Zurich Free Walking Tour
Choosing between the numerous walking tours in Zurich, we decided on the Downtown Zurich Tour. It seemed to be the best balance of duration and history, and it was recommended by our friend who lives in Zurich. We definitely enjoyed this tour more than the one in Geneva, and the guide gave us complimentary chocolates and coupons for stores around the city (including Starbucks!).
Local Cuisine – Raclette versus Fondue
We had the pleasure of staying with some of our good friends in Zurich who were amazing hosts and made us a traditional Suisse meal while we were visiting – raclette. It was a one-in-a-kind meal and perfect for a night of catching up. However, we could not leave Switzerland without trying their famed fondue as well, so we stopped by one of our friend’s favorite restaurants for fondue – Swiss Chuchi in Hotel Adler. Oh my it was delicious!
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan
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