Hot chocolate, Swiss fondue, and skiing in the Alps, oh my!
Switzerland was one of the destinations that I knew I wanted to pay a visit to while abroad. The gorgeous landscape, medieval culture, and world-renowned cheese & chocolate; what more could you want?
I planned the trip with my friend Zoe from high school, who was also studying abroad in Paris in a different program. We booked our flights through Swiss Air, and it was $178 to fly from Paris. This was one of the pricier flights that I took while abroad, but the quality of the airline made it worth it. We even received mini Swiss chocolates during our descent to welcome us to Switzerland!
Zoe and I booked an Airbnb for our stay while there, and we loved it. To get there, we utilized the public train system from the airport. The ticketing system was a bit confusing to figure out, but a Dutch man helped us. The three of us sat on the train together and chatted about why we were visiting, and he was there for a business conference. That’s one of my favorite things about traveling, meeting new and interesting people!
After getting settled in, we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood we were staying in & pick up some lunch. We stumbled upon a vegan restaurant called ‘Roots’. It was located on a picturesque small river, with boats docked in the clear water, old houses and pine trees lined up along the river. Zoe got an acai bowl, and I chose a veggie nourish bowl, both were delicious.
After lunch, we started heading to our next destination - The Lindt Chocolate Factory! We bought our tickets in advance, which I would definitely recommend as certain time slots easily sell out. We took the bus there, which was easy enough. The factory was an absolute chocolate-y dream, felt as though my childhood Willy Wonka dreams were coming true! You begin the tour by learning about the history of chocolate-making and why Switzerland became known for its chocolate. Then, the best part - eating it! You can sample from chocolate fountains and a machine that drops out different flavored chocolate pieces into your hand. When you’re leaving, you can even take some samples of the famous Lindt truffles with you! For any chocolate lovers, this is the place for you.
After exploring the factory, we walked back to town to 1) enjoy the beautiful scenery on the lake and 2) work off the chocolate. We walked along bridges and soaked in the view of white swans in the water and snow-peaked mountains in the background. We kept walking around the streets of Zurich once we got back and enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the water.
For an evening activity, we walked to an outdoor market. The ambiance was cozy and homey, with small firepits, blankets on chairs, and small huts resembling log ski cabins. I got a traditional Swizz comfort food called “älplermagronen”, which is essentially mac & cheese with potatoes and served with applesauce. It was just what I needed to warm me up!
We went back to our Airbnb and got a good night’s rest in preparation for our big plans the next day. We were going on a tour to visit the town of Lucerne and spend time on top of Mt. Titlis! The tour was amazing, and definitely a highlight of our trip. They took us to stops along the way to the mountain to tell us about the history, and for much-needed photo ops, of course. Once we got to the mountain our first activity was to go tubing! Zoe and I decided it would be too much of a hassle to go skiing, so we were both glad to get a different snowy activity in. After that, our guide took us up multiple ski lifts to get to the top of the mountain. I remember pinching myself because of the views, it felt so surreal to be in the middle of the gorgeous & breathtaking Swiss Alps. On top of the mountain, there were several activities, such as walking along a hanging bridge, going into an ice cave, and exploring the lodges. Zoe and I got a sandwich with Swiss cheese (duh!) for lunch, which was delish. We hung out at the bottom of the mountain where there were multiple firepits, a bar, and a DJ playing music. The tour continued into the town of Lucerne, where the architecture and culture made it feel as though we had traveled to the medieval eras. It’s a tradition for the Swiss people to put on carnivals during February, right before the celebration of Mardi Gras for other cultures. We saw groups of people in extravagant costumes parade around the town, which was a super cool experience.
For dinner on our second night, we had a reservation for a restaurant that was recommended to me by a family friend. It was to have traditional Swiss fondue in a gondola! This was a really memorable experience of our trip, and definitely worth it. We started with mugs of hot wine, which was needed after a long day. The fondue was warm, creamy, and so tasty. It came with bread, baby corn, pickles, and pearled onions - all of which are traditional to eat with the fondue.
We started our last day with an oatmeal bowl with apples, nuts, and cinnamon from our new favorite restaurant - Roots! There was a good amount of time in the day between our checkout time and the time that we had to get to the airport. So we stored our luggage in the train station lockers. I had only brought my Patagonia backpack, so it was easy to store. I would definitely recommend investing in a good quality backpack that you can use to pack lightly for weekend trips.
After dropping our luggage off, we spent the rest of the day exploring Zurich. Before we knew it, it was time for us to take the train back to the airport.
My time in Switzerland was unforgettable, and one of my favorite trips that I took while abroad. It was the perfect snowy & cozy getaway from the hustle and bustle of Paris that I had pictured. Zurich gave me memories that I know will last a lifetime, and I cannot wait to return one day!