Sights to behold
Summer brings out spectacular colours in the Swiss countryside. From lush valleys and shimmering lakes to dramatic mountain peaks, Swiss landscapes appear sun-kissed with glittering colours splashed all across. While the best way to appreciate the varied terrains is by train, you can hike or bike through the gorgeous countryside to take in the unspoiled beauty. Book an excursion to Jungfraujoch, at 3,500m above sea level, to enjoy the Alpine world and breathtaking views of the mountain trio — the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger.
Sweet treats
No trip to Switzerland is complete without a visit to a chocolate factory. Make a pit stop at the Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate factory at Kilchberg in Zurich to explore the goodness of Swiss chocolate. You can also head to the sweet corner in Zurich’s old town to sample artisan chocolates and pastries. However, if you have time, hop on to the Chocolate Train, running between Montreux and the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory at Broc, to stock up on the world’s best Swiss chocolate before you head back home.
Passing panorama
Switzerland is well connected by a flawless rail network weaving through some of the world’s most picturesque locales, jagged snow-covered mountains and charming towns. The all-in-one Swiss Travel Pass is your best option to access the country’s public transport network, including premium panorama trains such as Glacier Express, Bernina Express, GoldenPass, Gotthard Panorama Express and Palm Express. A ride on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway on the mount Pilatus, scaling from Alpnachstad to the Pilatus Kulm, is truly thrilling allowing you to feast your eyes on dales, woodlands and mountains.
Culinary indulgence
One of the pleasures of travelling to Switzerland is discovering the local cuisine, an amazing amalgamation of the influences of German, French and Italian culinary heritage. From enjoying idyllic meals over steaming bowls of polenta in a small café in Montreux or a hearty ragout of veal and mushroom in a trendy venue in Zurich, to diving into cheese-laden pasta after a long walk in a tiny family-run restaurant in Lugano, food forms the basis of Swiss hospitality.
Check in to history
From charming mountain resorts to baroque guest houses and restored family homes, Switzerland has some of the finest retreats that take you back in time. The historic hotel from 1840, Hotel Bellevue des Alpes, boasts a fairy-tale location on the Scheidegg Pass in Jungfraujoch, while Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St Moritz, which once hosted Alfred Hitchcock, makes for an ideal base to explore the gorgeous Alpine resort town in the Engadine valley. Staying at Beau-Rivage Palace, overlooking Lake Geneva, in Lausanne gives you the chance to experience the opulence associated with the grand palace hotels in Europe.
