the ultimate guide to the swiss alps
the do’s and don’ts + everything in between that you need to know when planning your trip to the Swiss Alps
first things first, let’s start off with where to go!
you’ll likely be flying into Zurich from your respective hometowns as it is the largest and most popular international airport in Switzerland
from the Zurich airport you can choose to rent a car — car rentals are conveniently located within terminal B
personally, for a first timer I would suggest ditching the car and opting for the amazing swiss railway system which connects to pretty much anywhere you would want to go throughout the country, and it is by far the most scenic way to see the country
the swiss rail system is punctual, pristine, and simply an all around magical experience — you may find yourself paying slightly more for this than for a car rental
I would suggest looking into the swiss-pass if you plan to explore multiple locations by train — however this is not necessary and you may opt to buy tickets at any train station you find yourself at!
when you land in the Zurich airport you will find the train station directly downstairs — follow signs for “trains” or “bahnhof”
My suggestion is to skip over the swiss cities, because if you’ve seen one European city you’ve kind of seen them all — there’s a church, a cobblestone street, and another church (slightly redundant if you ask me) and while Switzerland has some super charming cities and towns, if you’re visiting to see the alps, then I’d head right over there!
If you do have a hankering to see some cute cities, towns, or villages, I’d recommend Basel, Luzern, Bern (in the German speaking part) & Bellinzona and Lugano (in the Italian speaking part) all of which can be easily reached by the train
NOW BACK TO THE ALPS
From the Zurich train station I suggest buying a ticket directly to Interlaken Ost which drops you off right in the middle of the Bernese Oberland
Interlaken is where I suggest you set up camp as it is a great location to access tons of activities, hiking trails, restaurants, shops, etc.
Accommodations in Interlaken
Balmers Hostel - for the budget traveler - this hostel offers several private rooms, but also offers dormitory style rooms at a low cost! It is very clean and comfortable, and the vibes are just fantastic! If you’re traveling solo you’ll be sure to make some new friends here
Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof - still a budget option as it’s a hostel, but this spot is much more mellow and lowkey than Balmers. A good spot for solo travelers as well - clean, comfortable rooms at an affordable rate! Also great breakfast :)
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa - for the luxury traveler looking for the best of the best this is it -it comes with plush beds, free buffet breakfast, and so much more!
There’s also tons of airbnb options, and private apartments on booking.com that boast excellent views and wonderful reviews
once you’ve settled in and had a good nights sleep i’m sure you’ll want to get out and explore the beautiful landscape!
Day 1 you should check out the tram that takes you up to Harder Kulm for amazing panoramic views of the spectacular valley below
after that you should head into town for some of the best pizza in all of Switzerland at x-port pizzeria — it’s nothing fancy, it just tastes really good
Day 2 you should hop on the 20 minute train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald — on this train ride you can expect to see the most amazing views of the alps! From the Grindelwald train station you can get out and walk around the charming town, or you can continue on the small train up the mountain the Kleine Scheidegg
From Kleine Scheidegg you can access amazing hiking trails and absolutely stunning views of the alps! If you have the time you should definitely stop for a meal at the restaurant grindelwaldblick
Day 3 Take the train again from Interlaken Ost and head toward Basel, get off at the Spiez stop and transfer to the train bound for Kandersteg - from Kandersteg you should take the cable car to Oeschinensee and spend the day exploring this beautiful mountain lake area
Day 4 spend the day having an amazing adventure with Outdoor Interlaken the ultimate resource for outdoorsy excursions in the area! You can sign up for activities like canyoning, skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping and so much more!
Day 5 Take the train (again) but this time head toward Lauterbrunnen — spend the day in this jaw-dropping valley full of waterfalls and steep cliffs — take a leisurely nature walk among the cows and say hi to the farmers along the way! You’ll find several alpine cheese vending machines while you walk as well
Day 6 Head over to the thrill walk in Birg and take the tram all the way up to the Schilthorn for amazing panoramic views of the alps! The tram ride itself is one for the books, and taking the thrill walk is a great way to spend some time for the more adventurous out there!
There’s truly no shortage of amazing things to see and do when visiting the Swiss Alps, but if you take my advice and do even a few of the things on this list you are guaranteed to have a magical time
