Flying from Athens to Zurich, I was captivated by the stunning transition from the Adriatic Coast to the grand Swiss mountains below. We'd strategically picked a hotel near the airport, primarily for its proximity to the S-Bahn, which I knew would be our go-to for getting around. I'd been warned about Zurich's reputation as one of Europe's most expensive cities, and that $45 taxi ride for what felt like a stone's throw from one end of the airport to the other certainly confirmed it!
We spent a good amount of time navigating between the modern city center and the charming, historic Old Town. The food, honestly, was a bit of a letdown—nothing particularly exciting, but it did the job. It felt like every menu featured fondue (a dish I'd frankly outgrown back in medical school), alongside the usual pizza and spaghetti.
Lake Zurich
defines one edge of the city, a beautiful expanse of water that stretches for more than twenty miles. The lakefront is incredibly inviting, perfect for walking, which is exactly what we did. We explored the area, even stopping into an Omega watch shop (window shopping only for me!), and then settled down for a fantastic lakeside lunch before returning to our hotel.
The real gem of our trip came on the second full day when we hopped on the S-Bahn to visit the incredible Rhine Falls.Photos This impressive natural wonder, located on the Rhine River near the German border, is said to have the highest water volume of any falls in Europe. Taking a small boat right up to the foot of those torrential falls was an unforgettable experience and definitely the highlight of my day.
A Swiss Summer Adventure: From Cities to Alpine Peaks
Our Swiss journey continues in Bern, a picturesque, hilly town with a population of about 100,000, serving as Switzerland's charming capital. It's striking to realize that the entire country's population of 7 million is roughly equivalent to Houston's! The Swiss struck us as remarkably unpretentious; we even saw their president casually conversing with shop owners on the street. Bern's "Old Town" is uniquely nestled within a horseshoe bend of a river, and we watched many locals cool off by floating down the strong current with their belongings secured in waterproof bags – much like tubing on the Guadalupe River in Texas! I was tempted to join, but my travel companions convinced me otherwise. While scenic, Bern didn't offer a vast array of activities, so after a meal or two and a single overnight stay, we drove on to to the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory the original home of milk chocolate and now owned by Nestle..After sampling a years worth of chocolate in an hour, we progressed to Lausanne.
Lakeside Charm and Mountain Majesty
Lausanne, situated on the northern shore of Lake Geneva in the southern part of the country, was our next stop. As home to the International Olympic Committee, it boasts an Olympic Museum, which, while not particularly memorable, felt like a must-see. We spent two nights here, using the metro to explore our hotel, the lake promenade, and the city center. Geneva, a major city at the western edge of Lake Geneva, was an easy 50-minute train ride away, making for a perfect day trip. We explored its old town and enjoyed lunch by the lakefront. As a watch enthusiast, I couldn't resist visiting Breitling and Omega shops, though I only admired their timepieces without purchasing. PHOTOS
After enduring a week-long European heatwave, we eagerly left Lausanne for the refreshing cooler air of the mountains. Our drive eastward along Lake Geneva's northern shore took us through Montreux and into the majestic valleys of the Swiss Alps. After an hour or two, we turned north off the expressway towards Täsch, the end of the road for vehicles. Zermatt, our ultimate destination, is a car-free town accessible only by a 30-minute, 500 ft. climb aboard a cogwheel train ride.
If you've visited Vail, Colorado, you'll find Zermatt strikingly familiar, as Vail was modeled after it. While both towns have a similar number of permanent residents, Zermatt offers considerably more ski terrain, housing, and retail. Unlike Vail, which I can traverse on foot in an hour or two, I walked for two hours in Zermatt and barely scratched the surface, as the town sprawls on both sides of a mountain stream. I did manage to get a magnificent view of the Matterhorn, arguably Switzerland's most famous mountain, though not its highest. We noticed an unusual amount of snow and ice melting due to the summer's heat, and the crowds, particularly Chinese tourists, were overwhelming throughout Greece and Switzerland this summer. After a fulfilling day, we left the mountains and spent the night in the small Swiss town of Visp.
Epic Mountain Passes and Lakeside Delights
From Visp, our journey continued down the valley as we prepared to cross the Alps via the infamous Furka Pass. The views, roads, and engineering were absolutely stunning. For James Bond fans, a famous scene from Goldfinger was filmed along a stretch of this road, featuring the Belvedere Hotel perched precariously on the mountainside. After clearing the 8,000-foot pass, we descended into Andermatt, a popular ski resort. The road then led us through the Susten Pass on our way to Interlaken. These two passes are among Switzerland's most renowned, showcasing the country's remarkably well-constructed mountain roads and tunnels, making driving an exciting and enjoyable experience.
Despite covering only 100 miles, the drive took us all day, with plenty of stops for rest and photos. We couldn't secure a room in Interlaken that night, so we stopped short and made it there the following day.
Interlaken, as its name suggests, is an isthmus nestled between two beautiful lakes: Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. We began our day with a cruise on Lake Brienz, traveling from one end to the other before having lunch and securing a room for the night in Interlaken. This might just be my favorite stop in Switzerland! After lunch, we found a parkside bar, enjoyed a drink, and watched numerous paragliders gracefully descend into the park across the street. Paragliding is a top attraction here, as is a cruise on Lake Brienz, both of which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Serene Retreats and a Homeward Journey
Our adventure continued towards Lucerne, following the foothills of the rivers and lakes that connect central Switzerland. We ventured into a scenic valley for a hike and crossed another impressive mountain pass, the Brünig Pass. The Swiss engineers have truly outdone themselves, creating a marvelous network of roads and structures that seamlessly guide you through the mountains. We paused at another lake for lunch before arriving in Lucerne, where the UEFA Women's Euro football teams were convening for a series of games. As expected, finding accommodation was impossible due to the event.
Undeterred, we continued towards Zurich and stumbled upon a hidden gem of a hotel – a wellness spa overlooking a small lake. The rooms were simple, clean, and boasted terraces with lake views. It was so comforting that we extended our stay an extra night, savoring the tranquility.
Finally, we reached Zurich, where we returned our car and spent our last night at the original hotel from the start of our trip. From there, we embarked on a long, 15-hour connecting flight home. While I can effortlessly book cruises, I truly believe I would never have been able to navigate Switzerland's roads so successfully without my good friends and long-time travel companions, Sandra and John Lopez.
