I have been to Switzerland several times as I have family who live there, thus adding Zurich as our second stop on our Round The World trip was a no-brainer. It’s a beautiful country with scenic views of mountains, lakes and cows (who are constantly ringing their cow bells, but the noise is worth it as they produce amazing milk for cheese, ice cream and chocolate). While this particular visit was only a couple days spent mostly with family, I’ll include some past activities that I participated in while visiting Switzerland.
Funny story before I get started… On our flight from Madrid to Zurich, I got tangled in a long and sturdy piece of string. Instead of tearing it off, which most people would do I suppose, I decided to untangle myself by lifting it over my head. Unfortunately, the string was attached to the hem of the flight attendant’s skirt so as I lifted it over my head, her skirt lifted up as well and exposed her underwear. The flight attendant swung her head back quickly, searching for the Peeping Tom. I started laughing and apologized, showing her the 2-foot thread in my hand and offering to rip it off her hem. Luckily she laughed it off too.
Where Did We Stay?
I always appreciate my family’s generous hospitality whenever I visit, and I’m grateful I don’t have to search for a hotel. I know there are some nice options for hotels in the city, of which I have never stayed in so I can’t go into detail other than Zurich is one of the most expensive cities to visit so hotels don’t come cheap and redemption rates for points at Park Hyatt, for example, are on the high side.
The Attractions
Mount Rigi is a favorite attraction. Several years ago I took a cable car up the mountain, enjoyed the views from atop overlooking Zurich on one side and Lake Lucerne on the other. We went up and over and took a boat to Lucerne. There are also many trails if you’re interested in hiking.
Lucerne is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Switzerland. On my first trip to Europe, the Grand European Tour, we stopped in Lucerne to explore the old town, Chapel Bridge (a picturesque bridge reminiscent of the old town), and Lion Monument (carved out of a stone wall commemorating soldiers who were killed in an attack during the French Revolution). The town also offers quaint little shops, in addition to the tourist shops, and amazing restaurants.
Taking a boat tour on Lake Zurich or Lake Lucerne is a nice and relaxing way to see the cities. They also make stops along the way as they’re modes of transportation for people like a train or bus. I always take a special boat ride in Zurich to go across the lake to visit my favorite store, Lindt & Sprungli chocolate factory. Funny story…On my second visit to Zurich, I packed my carry-on luggage with 25 pounds worth of chocolate bars, truffles and my favorite summer edition chocolates, and while going through security I was pulled aside for a bag inspection. The security agent looked at me quizzically and said, “Really? You’re consuming all this chocolate.” I replied, “Yes, mam, I love Swiss chocolate because it’s the best…and I’m sharing them, of course.” She laughed, told me the stacked bars and tin cans looked suspicious, and then let me through.
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A new activity we did this summer was the Glacier Express, a scenic train ride through Switzerland. Although it was summer, there were still mountains capped with ice and we also saw many picturesque towns all through the country. A half-day tour is good, then hop out and explore a city along the way.
One year my cousin took me to Bern, capital of Switzerland. We explored the city, toured the Legislature, and visited Bear Park where three bears, the country’s mascots, roam around. The highlight of the visit was an event happening right across from the Parliament building. I was surprised and super stoked to discover that Roger Federer was there (I’m a big tennis fan). And he was really cool going all around and signing almost everything for the fans.
The Food
On my first visit, I was surprised to find that Zurich had an eclectic variety of foods, from traditional German/Swiss to Italian, Japanese, Thai, Indian, and even McDonald’s. The best, however, are the desserts and Swiss Raclette. So delicious!
Swiss Transportation
I’ve used public transportation around the world and Switzerland, by far, is the best in terms of punctuality, cleanliness and efficiency. Purchasing tickets can get a little confusing, but the locals are super friendly and help out, plus I have family always helping us with that. What makes it so easy is that tickets can be purchased to include trains, buses and cable cars, and each system is punctual to the minute majority of the time. And best of all, most of these costs were covered on my Barclay’s Arrival+ credit card, which has redemptions for travel costs including transportation.
The Final Word…
I enjoy visiting Zurich and spending time with my family there. I’ve always gone in the summer and I’m thinking I should one day visit during ski season, but I’m not too fond of the freezing cold (I live on a tropical island after all). If I didn’t have family in town, I would have included a goal for a hotel stay, and since I love Hyatt so much I probably would aim for the Park Hyatt. I’ll definitely visit again.