Back in November 2022, my mum and I spent a week gallivanting around Switzerland. As our time in…
Times visited: 3
Cities visited: Lucerne, Bellinzona, Lugano, Zürich, Bern
Towns and villages visited: Stein am Rhein, Vitznau, Weggis, Kilchberg, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Grindelwald, Brunnen, Seelisberg
UNESCO sites visited: 3/13
Switzerland had long been a dream destination of mine. In 2020, my mum and I were all set to finally explore the country together on a scenic roadtrip, but then the pandemic hit, and our March plans were cancelled. We tried again for November, but once again, the trip didn’t happen. Still, I did manage a brief introduction to Switzerland that summer. While on a roadtrip around Germany, I made a detour into the very north of Switzerland to visit the German exclave of Büsingen am Hochrhein, completely surrounded by Swiss territory. I only had a day in the area, but I made sure to also see a bit of Switzerland. I wandered around the postcard-perfect streets of Stein am Rhein and went for an evening walk by the Rhine Falls – Europe’s most powerful waterfall.
In the summer of 2021, I had two more fleeting but memorable encounters with Switzerland. First, during a visit to Liechtenstein with my family, we walked across the Alte Rheinbrücke bridge into Switzerland, but only stayed for a few minutes. The next day, my mum and I hiked from Nauders in Austria up to the Dreiländergrenzstein, the exact point where the borders of Austria, Switzerland, and Italy meet. We crossed into Switzerland once again and sat down to enjoy a snack at the Swiss part of the summit.
Finally, in November 2022, the long-awaited roadtrip with my mum became a reality! We spent eight wonderful days driving through the breathtaking landscapes of Switzerland. Based on the shores of Lake Lucerne, we explored the beautiful lake region: hiking through golden autumn forests, driving the scenic route to the Gätterli Pass, and catching unforgettable sunsets. Other days, we ventured far and wide, including a day trip to the Italian-speaking region of Ticino where we explored castles, soaked up cozy city vibes, and visited the geographical oddity of Campione d’Italia – an Italian exclave entirely surrounded by Switzerland. We spent an afternoon wandering Zürich, indulged in a delicious tour at the Lindt Home of Chocolate museum, and strolled the charming medieval streets of Bern, the country’s capital. But our favourite day of all was spent in the Bernese Alps. We hiked from the waterfall-filled village of Lauterbrunnen up to the peaceful, car-free village of Wengen, and ended the day watching the sun set over the majestic peaks in Grindelwald. November turned out to be the perfect time to visit Switzerland – mild weather, colourful autumn foliage, and far fewer crowds than the busy summer months. After years of waiting, the trip was everything we had hoped for and more!