BY
Javen Kong

Social Media Lead

Hype Issue #59

Published on

August 14, 2024

Switzerland, a landlocked country surrounded by France, Italy, Germany and the world famous Alps. The country doesn’t seem like much on paper; there are plenty of other countries in Europe that are more accessible.. Take the beauty of Paris, the charm of Milan or even places like Barcelona or London for examples. 

However, you won’t be disappointed with a visit to a place with fresh mountain water, with glorious scenery and the just-right touch of cooling weather that Singaporeans so crave, accessible with modern transportation systems. This guide will focus on places of interest, some obscure, some less so.

Zurich

Switzerland’s capital city area boasts historical architecture that seems to just blend amazingly well with natural elements. Within the main city, the historical Old Town still comes to life every night, with live performances and a vibrant nightlife scene.

Zurich has wonderful classic architecture, complemented with modern amenities, making for a beautiful contrast. Photo by Javen Kong.

Things to do 

Just outside of Zurich lies the Lindt Home of Chocolate, one of the factories and a museum for the chocolatier Lindt. Tickets are in high demand, requiring bookings at least a week in advance! The ticket grants users a factory tour, following the process of making a chocolate bar, as well as getting some free chocolate along the way! Before you groan about the hassle, note that the high demand means that the trip is worth it, to some degree. 

If chocolate isn’t for you, why not try the FIFA Museum in the main city? It’s four levels of football related exhibits and minigames, including FIFA video game stations! Though tickets are always available, 35 francs($53.59 SGD) for a single ticket might make some eyes water. 

The FIFA Museum’s display of all national team shirts in its ground-level exhibit. The Museum is home to storied history, touching on the culture of football. Photo by Javen Kong.

To the north of Zurich, is the famous Rheinfall, split in half by the border of Germany and Switzerland. If question marks are forming, they’ll be swiftly erased once you experience the beauty in real life. How does one describe the feeling of a perfect summer scene? Fluffy dotted clouds, emerald-green trees and little cottages along with the roars of crystal clear waters. The only things missing from this are good food and a picnic spot. It’s tough to explain in words, so the pictures below will do all the talking.

How does one describe perfection? A glimpse of the beauty on display at Rheinfall. Photos by Javen Kong.

Luzern(Lucerne)

Being one of Switzerland’s lesser known cities, many tours might skip past Lucerne for more exciting cities. However, this charming little town in the heart of Switzerland is home to the Chapel Bridge, as well as Lake Lucerne.

Things to do
Time for a little history! Chapel Bridge is a wooden football bridge a five minute walk away from Lucerne’s main station. Considered to be Europe’s oldest covered bridge, its simple beauty still draws tourists to simply stroll and immerse themselves in the historical artefact.

Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge, everlasting in the gloomy weather. Photo by Javen Kong.

Lake Lucerne is another attraction that is well worth a visit. Cruise companies offer several different routes at the lake’s piers for visitors to choose from. The cruises provide many stops along the way at places like Bürgenstock and Alpnachstad, for visitors to get off and explore more of the Lucerne region. 

Lucerne also serves as transit stations for trains to Engelberg, a must visit for Mount Titlis, one of Switzerland’s many mountains. This mountain is famous for its rotating cable cars, which swivel 360 degrees to give visitors a panoramic experience of the views of the snow caps and the Swiss Alps as it travels up the mountain.

The famous Rotair, providing visitors with stunning views of Mount Titlis.  Photo courtesy of the official Mount Titlis website.

Titlis itself is yet another stunner. It offers breathtaking views of pure snow, the fuel of everyone’s Christmas dreams. Even in the summer, it snows, though that’s not the main attraction(But yet, it is!). Titlis boasts a 5 level visitor centre with attractions like a real glacier cave and eateries. Outdoor fun is plentiful: there’s a Cliff Walk along the edge of Titlis and the Ice Flyer, an open-air gondola that takes you whizzing down the side of the mountains!

Mount Titlis, covered by snow caps, is a popular ski town during the winter. Photos by Javen Kong.

Interlaken

Next, venturing into the mountains is the tucked away region of Interlaken and Grindelwald. Interlaken is a secluded place in the middle of the country, about two hours by train from Lucerne and Bern respectively. 

Things to do
It’s advisable to hop onto the coveted Interlaken Express. The views onboard are picturesque, However, booking tickets in advance is recommended due to its year-round demand, for the picturesque views it provides.

Reservations aren’t required however, as in Europe, trains accept that you can purchase a ticket without reserving a seat. You can hop on the Express without having to pay the additional 14 franc/person($21.41 SGD) booking fee. This is highly based on luck, of course! 

Interlaken itself serves as a transit station for more trains toward the Grindelwald region, where another of Europe’s well-known mountains stands: Jungfrau. The hour-long train treats visitors to spectacular views of the Jungfrau region and of Jungfraujoch itself; from a distance.

A glimpse of Jungfrau, captured from the train to Grindelwald. Photo by Javen Kong.

To summit the mountain however, is another story. Though your cable car tickets are subsidised by the Swiss Travel Pass (more on that later), you must be well prepared to endure fierce winds and low temperatures: Jungfraujoch is known to have snow all year round. 

It’s just as enjoyable to have some fun in the town of Grindelwald itself. Visitors can try out cheese fondue, immerse in the natural scenery and enjoy many activities such as the Fly-Line and the Rodelbahn (tobagganing) rides down the Pfingstegg mountain.

The sights of a Swiss summer! The Pfingstegg mountains overlook Grindelwald. Photo by Javen Kong.

Lugano

Last, but definitely not least, the little-known town of Lugano, where many luxury brands make their home in this Monaco-esque seaside town.

Lugano is a small town near the Swiss-Italian border, and is strongly Italian influenced, from architecture, to food and even language. Lake Lugano, reminiscent of Como, frames the townscape. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to do aside from shopping at your favourite luxury brands or enjoying a meal by one of the restaurants near the lake. It’s still worth paying a visit to experience the town life you otherwise wouldn’t see in the main cities.

Even in the gloom, Lugano still looks like something out of a movie.  Photo by Javen Kong.

Budget Friendly Tips!

Now that you’ve been treated to the visual experience, let’s talk about the cost. A trip to Switzerland is going to leave a dent in anyone’s pocket, and being Singaporean, saving money is in our blood. In that case, let’s go through some tricks for saving money to spend on the important things (chocolate!). 

In terms of transportation, the Swiss Travel Pass is definitely the way to go. The Travel Pass covers all forms of transport around the country, and you’ll only need to show your ticket sporadically for continued access. Do note the prices for the tickets are  pretty steep! A 6 Day Pass sold by the SBB website costs a hefty 379 francs ($568.16 SGD). However, the pass gives you unlimited access to the entire country for the duration of your ticket. If you aren’t staying in Switzerland for long, you can opt for a 30 minute tram pass so long as your trip is less than 30 minutes, as opposed to zonal tickets.

For accommodation, while booking a hotel may seem standard, opting for a serviced apartment for your stay is much more worth it. In Switzerland, Burger King for 4 people can reach 95 francs ($150 SGD)! Hotels also have significantly less space and amenities. If the budget’s tight, read on to find out about the advantages of a serviced apartment.

Serviced apartments bring space and the comfort of having rooms for privacy, and common areas like the living and dining spaces. Most of these apartments are also equipped with kitchens, where food can be prepared, and appliances like induction stoves, cutlery and cookware, and in some cases, dishwashers. Thus if you’re looking to stretch your dollar the furthest, the necessity of a serviced apartment applies.

On the topic of cooking, here’s another hack. As food prices in Switzerland can be pricey, bringing your own stock from home, or buying microwavable food from their supermarkets as cheaper alternatives is the way to go. Swiss supermarkets like Coop or Migros, offer wide ranges of foods that can be kept and reheated. Bread, microwave-ready foods, even ready-to-eat muesli packs are all cheap alternatives to restaurant food. 

In short, Switzerland has so much to offer! Don’t be daunted by the horror stories about expenses and make use of the tips above! To see such beauty in motion is definitely something that can’t be passed up.