A few days through this land of four languages, diverse landscapes and picture perfect scenery has been a ‘getaway’ in the true sense of the word. Switzerland is scenery in its purest, copy-book best form. Whoever said nature is full of imperfections obviously never visited Switzerland. Our various drives through the country were such a treat to the eye, we’d often forget to take time out to eat our meals or stop for a coffee. Appetite grows on what it feeds, and interestingly enough, our appetite (and standards) for beauty and scenery evolved significantly as the trip progressed.
We drove through the length and breadth of Switzerland, and at times, ended up entering France or Italy (because that’s how little international borders mean in Europe). Every time we would exit and re enter Switzerland, there would be a noticeable, obvious change (improvement, if I may add) in the roads, the level of cleanliness, the scenery, and of course the prices. Switzerland drains your wallet, it sucks every part of it, and it doesn’t apologise! Over 30 Swiss Francs for a simple meal and 6 francs for coffee are the norm. I have to admit though, the scenery more than makes up for how poor you feel.
Perfectly manicured roads & organised traffic make driving a real pleasure in this place.The trip was filled with many memorable drives, but there are bound to be some favourites.
The drive up to Grindelwald from Lucerne was short but stunning. The scenery exceeded our expectations, something we began to get used to as the days progressed. Grindelwald is a famous ski town in the alps and the little wooden chalets in and around it make for a very quaint and typical swiss sight. The drive into the alps opens up to expose some of the most breath-taking views of the little settlements in and around the town, with the Alps providing a perfect backdrop.
The drive from the Italian border into Switzerland via the Simplon Pass is another drive you wouldn’t want to miss. We were lucky to get a clear day in the alps though. This drive was an absolute pleasure as we drove through some very heavy and fresh snow all around us. The pass finally descends into Brig, which is a German speaking settlement in the Valais region.
We spent a night in the quiet town of Saint Martin which sits in the French speaking part of the country. En route Saint Martin, we stopped by in the town of Aigle and had the pleasure of walking through and appreciating some elaborate and charming Chateaus, including the Chateau d’Aigle. The chateaus are surrounded by perfectly laid out vineyards on all sides- something very typical of this region of Switzerland. When travelling through this part of Switzerland, I would recommend trying some local wine at the restaurants/or at the wineries- they’re surprisingly very reasonably priced.
One of the lesser mentioned parts of Switzerland is the Ticino region. This region sits along the Italian border, and you’re under an hours drive away from Milano (if you’re keen on a short change of scene!). Ticino is typically Italian, and quite distinct from the rest of Switzerland. Personally,I think the Ticino region is raw, and less catered to the everyday tourist- which is something I absolutely loved. As you drive up the vineyards into the town of Mergoscia, you’ll notice the thinning of settlements, minimal shops and barely any activity. The vineyards in the Ticino region are laid out in residential areas and family wine producers are extremely common. As we drove up higher, past Mergoscia to a point that googlemaps hasn’t yet conquered, the views of the valley were uninhibited and serene. The magnificent Contra Dam is quite a sight as you drive through this region.
The French part of Switzerland – the Valais region in particular – is one of the most aesthetically beautiful parts of the country. The houses, chateaus and historic centres in the little towns are impressively laid out with flowers, colourful windows and offer, largely, a very French flavour. The attention to detail both inside and outside homes, streets and cafes is quite something.
This article does not cover the three main cities of Switzerland (Zurich, Geneva & Bern) that we visited. This is not because they were any less spectacular (or interesting) by any stretch of imagination, but simply because regional Switzerland leaves you with much more to share.
Bern, however, is a city I loved. The Old City of Bern, the bridges, the sleepiness in its environment coupled with admirable architecture, qualify for a city well worthy of a visit. Einstein also called it home for a brief period of two years! His house (EinstenHaus) is open for viewing and still contains furniture and some of his belongings from when him and his family lived in that house.
Decent coffee? Lets not get too ambitious. Some cafes didn’t disappoint though.
Cafe New Zealand, Zurich
Einsteins Cafe, Bern
Boreal Cafe, Geneva
For brekky in a simple Swiss neighbourhood setting, Kafi Dihei in Zurich
Asian food- Lily’s in Zurich
Fondu is a must try in Switzerland, but particularly in the town of Gruyeres (where the cheese comes from!). We had some excellent Fondu at Le Chalet de Gruyeres.
As I return to noisy London, its tasteless, genetically modified vegetables & questionable water quality, I wonder what the Swiss did right to deserve a country so prosperous, so spectacular, so blessed! It’s Disneyland for real, for free, for life!
travellerspen 
thank you for this post, very informative. i would like to know what else is available in Grindelwald beside ski.
LikeLike
Zzzisle thank you for your feedback. This little town has a gorgeous landscape, some amazing little scattered Swiss cottages and cosy Cafes on offer. Most things in Switzerland are easily accessible and you could travel around on the very well connected Swiss Rail.
LikeLike
Lovely post and it’s so true that there’s an abundance of beauty in Switzerland. We visited half of it in the three weeks we spent there this past summer. Have written some about it on my blog. Lovely photos too.
LikeLike