Samikshaa V Baaliyan
Switzerland has always been a dream destination for many people, but strangely, it was never on my bucket list. I’ve always been more into unique experiences, and for some reason, Switzerland didn’t feel special to me. Maybe it’s just how I am—when something is loved by everyone, I tend to avoid it, thinking it’s probably overhyped. But since this trip was planned along with my Finland visit—where I was going to tick off many bucket-list experiences—I agreed to include Switzerland.
Before heading out, we had heard a lot about the famous Golden Pass and Glacier Express trains, and not wanting to miss out, we added both to our itinerary. The Golden Pass can be boarded for a shorter ride, just to enjoy the wonderful scenery, while the Glacier Express is an eight-hour journey that goes all the way to St. Moritz. Since we didn’t have that much time on our hands, we decided to get off at Andermatt, a small, quiet town with hardly any people around.
Honestly, the Glacier Express ride was just okay at this time of the year. Maybe it’s much more beautiful when everything is covered in snow. I’d suggest taking it only if you’re visiting in the winter months. Otherwise, all Swiss trains have big windows and pass through equally picturesque locations. You can enjoy pretty views on any route, especially if you plan well; maybe the scenery becomes more dramatic after Chur, so it’s worth scheduling carefully.
We started our trip in Zurich, where the main train station, Zurich HB, took me by surprise—it looked more like an airport than a rail terminus, with over 50 platforms! It was a bit overwhelming on the first day, especially since we had luggage and were moving to a new city every day. But we soon noticed everyone else doing the same, which made it feel normal. The trains were super punctual, smooth, and well-managed. People even brought their dogs along—something I can’t imagine doing with Simba!
Our first stop was Interlaken. On the way, we passed Lucerne, and the panoramas were already breathtaking. Interlaken itself was stunning—paragliders in the sky, snow-covered mountains as backdrop, horse-drawn carriages on the roads, luxury shops, and cosy restaurants. The place was tranquil and beautiful. I even started imagining what it would be like to live there! We then made our way to Zermatt, home to the famous Matterhorn peak.
The town had quaint wooden chalet houses, a river running through it, and shops everywhere. The snowy summit was visible from almost every corner. It reminded me of Himachal, where I’m from, and made me realise how sometimes we don’t fully appreciate what we have back home.
Then it was time to embrace Europe’s highest mountain station, Glacier Paradise (12,470 feet), which we reached by cable car. We couldn’t, however, stay out too long since it was freezing and super windy. And clouds covered the Matterhorn that day, so we weren’t able to see it clearly. Still, being in the snow felt magical; I’ve always loved snow, and just looking at it makes me peaceful and happy.
On the way back to Zurich, we stopped at Bern, which turned out to be a great decision. Here, I finally got to ride a tram, something I’d always wanted to do. Bern had beautiful old buildings, street markets, and a nice mix of history and charm. It wasn’t even in our original plan, but I’m so glad we included it.
And on our last day in Zurich, we dropped in at the Lindt Chocolate Museum, picked up some chocolates to carry home, and took a boat ride on Lake Zurich to enjoy the sunset—nothing too extraordinary! In fact, Zurich felt like most big cities, but still, it was a nice way to wrap up the vacation.
I began this visit not expecting much from Switzerland but returned with some amazing memories. Sometimes, the places you don’t expect much from end up surprising you the most.
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