Switzerland—Before embarking on this travel blog, I pondered over what to title this travel narrative: “A Family Journey to Switzerland,” “Swiss Adventure in 8 Days,” “The Ultimate Swiss Handbook,” and more. Then it dawned on me that in India, we affectionately dub Coorg the Scotland of India, Shimla the British Summer capital, and Khajjiyar the Mini Switzerland of India. Why should we label our places with a foreign stamp when they have their own unique identity?
So, I deliberately titled this travel blog as SWITZERLAND – THE KASHMIR OF EUROPE.
Switzerland Travel Itinerary
Below is the Swiss Itinerary we followed on our trip in Jun 2024
11-Jun-2024 (Tuesday): Kick off our adventure by flying from Delhi to Zurich with a change of flight in Dubai.
Dubai Zurich Flight
12-Jun-2024 (Wednesday): Discover the breathtaking Rhine Falls and the charming town of Schaffhausen. Later, hop on a train to Engelberg, with a change at Luzern.
13-Jun-2024 (Thursday): Spend the day exploring the magnificent Mount Titlis. Later in the afternoon, make a quick visit to Stanserhorn, conveniently located near the Stans train station.
Stanserhorn
14-Jun-2024 (Friday): Experience the stunning views from Mount Rigi, then dive into the delights of Luzern City, including a visit to the iconic Chapel Bridge.
15-Jun-2024 (Saturday): Check out from our cozy Engelberg Airbnb and embark on a train journey to Luzern. Next, travel from Luzern to Lausanne and onward to Montreux. Marvel at the Chateau de Chillon, then take the picturesque Golden Pass Express to Interlaken. From Interlaken, board the train to Lauterbrunnen and finally to Wengen. Lastly, we enjoyed a leisurely walk to our Wengen Airbnb, where we stayed for the next four nights.
16-Jun-2024 (Sunday): Visit the spectacular Jungfraujoch and explore the quaint town of Lauterbrunnen.
17-Jun-2024 (Monday): Set off to Zermatt and take in the awe-inspiring Matterhorn and Interlaken City, including Harder Kulm.
18-Jun-2024 (Tuesday): Head to Grindelwald First for some adventure, then to Schynige Platte
19-Jun-2024 (Wednesday): Check out from our Wengen Airbnb and enjoy a serene Brienz Lake cruise in Interlaken City. Later, catch a train to Zurich and indulge in some sweet moments at the Lindt Home of Chocolate. Finally, it is time to fly back to Delhi via Dubai, wrapping up an unforgettable journey.
Switzerland Stay
Zurich: B&B Hotel Zurich Airport Rumlang, Hofwisenstrasse 52, 8153 Rümlang, Switzerland
Engelberg: SnowKaya Engelberg, Titlisstrasse 2, 6390 Engelberg, Switzerland
Wengen: Chalet Fortuna, CH-3823 Wengen
Switzerland Flight
We booked Emirates flights for the four of us, flying from Delhi to Zurich via Dubai on June 11 and returning from Zurich to Delhi via Dubai on June 19. The stopover in Dubai was around three hours, which was just enough time for the changeover. There was no requirement of a Dubai transit visa for the changeover. Our luggage was checked in at Delhi and we got it directly at Zurich.
Switzerland – Types of Swiss Pass
We considered different types of Swiss Passes, including the Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Flex Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, and Bernese Oberland Regional Pass. In the end, we chose the Swiss Travel Pass for eight days. It was a bit pricier than the Half Fare Card, but the convenience was worth it since it covered all trains, buses, major ferries, and ropeways. Plus, kids under 16 could travel for free with their parents using a family card, which we could get online for free, along with the Swiss passes.
Swiss Pass
For Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass is the most popular travel pass in Switzerland, offering unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats throughout the country, including public transport in cities. You can choose passes for 3, 4, 8, or 15 consecutive days. If you need a pass for non-consecutive days, the Swiss Travel Flex Pass is a great option.
Here’s what the Swiss Travel Pass includes:
- Unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats, plus public transport in cities.
- Valid for fixed, consecutive days, while the Swiss Flex Pass is for non-consecutive days.
- Free entry to over 500 museums.
- Mountain excursions to places like Rigi, Stanserhorn, Stoos, Brunni, and Klewenalp.
- Up to 50% off on most mountain excursions.
- Scenic train journeys like the Bernina Express, Golden Pass Express, Glacier Express etc.
- Discounts on other regional passes.
The Swiss Travel Pass makes exploring Switzerland easy and fun!
SBB Mobile App
In Switzerland, SBB is a must-have phone app for trains, buses, ferries, and ropeways!
Switzerland Travel Adaptor Type
The voltage in Switzerland, like most of Europe, is 230V/50 Hz. Switzerland uses type C 2-pin and type J 3-pin plugs. Type C plugs also fit into type J sockets. We bought three J type adaptors from Amazon, which helped us charge phones, GoPro, Laptops and Camera battery. Most power sockets in Switzerland are designed for three pin round plugs.
Switzerland – Forex Card
I used a BookMyForex FOREX Card to carry Swiss Francs (CHF). All it took was logging on to their app, submitting the required documents online, and transferring INR to them. Within two days, the CHF was loaded on my card. What made it even better was that the card was never declined for any transaction.
Upon returning to India, the unused CHF were promptly converted back to INR at the prevailing forex conversion rate.
Their service was convenient and hassle-free, making my travel experience even better!
Quite detailed and informative. Not to forget such breathtaking places with beautiful landscapes. 🙂👏