Switzerland really does have Swiss candy
My trip to Switzerland has come to an end.
I was very lucky to have many days of clear, sunny weather.
The scenery was breathtaking, and these photos are straight from the camera with no editing.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Well-known pros and cons:
💯 Beautiful scenery
Public transportation is convenient and punctual.
Kid-friendly, pet-friendly, accessible for people with disabilities, and outdoor-friendly.
❌ Expensive and the food is not great (the Coop stores found at every transport hub make up for it a little).
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
[Männlichen - Wengen - Lauterbrunnen]
The hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is truly beginner-friendly, with a gentle downhill path the whole way.
You can enjoy panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains throughout the entire route.
After reaching Kleine Scheidegg, you can easily visit Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, and Mürren along the way.
I highly recommend this for anyone visiting Switzerland for the first time, those short on time, or those planning to summit the Jungfrau! The scenery is so beautiful that even someone like me, who doesn't love outdoor activities, wanted to hike. This section is truly super beginner-friendly.
[Thun - Spiez - Bern]
Spiez is a small town. By comparison, I prefer Thun, which is a small city with more places to explore.
This itinerary lets you experience local Swiss life and culture. The best part is that the Lake Thun cruise and the passes for the castles in both towns are completely free, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll.
Since I stayed in Bern, I visited it as well. If you don't want a packed, high-intensity itinerary, you can skip it.
[Stoos Hike]
I posted a note about Stoos earlier—I recommend it! If you have time for an in-depth trip, I suggest planning a hike. It doesn't have to be Stoos (for example, the Tour du Mont Blanc). Hiking and enjoying the scenery in such a beautiful setting, and immersing yourself in the local outdoor lifestyle with friends, is very worthwhile!
🌟🌟🌟
[Brienz Steam Train 🚂 and Boat Cruise 🚢]
As mentioned in my previous note, the highlight is the experience of enjoying the view from the train, and you need to arrive early to snag a good seat.
If your itinerary is tight, consider whether it's worth it.
[First Mountain & Pfingstegg]
This time I tried the First Mountain Cart and the First Flyer, as well as the Pfingstegg toboggan run. I recommend the First Mountain Cart 🙆🏻♀️, but the First Flyer is both expensive and boring 🙅🏻♀️. The toboggan run is okay, but if you add in the cost of the round-trip cable car, it's not very cost-effective, so I don't recommend it 🙅🏻♀️.
Especially if you have to wait in line for a long time—like the two or three hours during the National Day holiday—I suggest skipping it; it's not worth it.
[Matterhorn]
⚠️ The Matterhorn is very weather-dependent. I suggest checking the weather in advance and planning flexibly. Don't be a gambler like me and book your hotel too far in advance. Hotels in Zermatt with a view of the Matterhorn are super expensive! Of course, Switzerland doesn't look good anywhere when it's cloudy or rainy.
Setting aside the weather, I still give it three stars because Zermatt is very commercialized, with construction and hotel building everywhere, so the experience was just average. If you don't hike, going up the mountain is just for taking photos, and the hiking scenery is just okay. Also, Zermatt is far from the major tourist areas, so if you don't stay there, your itinerary will be very intense. If you are short on time, I don't recommend it.
🗻
Overall, I still most recommend the Lake Lucerne cruise and the snow mountain activities in the Interlaken area; enjoy the lake and mountain views of the Alps. My biggest regret this time was not going paragliding, especially since I didn't do it on the clear, sunny days! Actually, the unit price for paragliding in Switzerland is cheaper than indoor flying experiences in Shenzhen. You must go skiing during the snow season! I don't recommend visiting cities; the European style isn't distinct enough (like Baroque or Gothic architecture), and shopping in Lucerne is enough.