Find me in the Alps

We owe it to movies and books in glorifying the existence of Switzerland. Every avid traveler has this country bookmarked, at least once in your life you would want to go check out the hype. Created in the 13^th century, Switzerland is home to gorgeous lake towns, picturesque villages and the world renowned high peaks of the Alps. Divided into 26 cantons (or states) the big cities contain medieval quarters, the “old town”, which retain its old-world charm. The country is also known for its ski resorts and hiking trails. Banking and finance are key industries, and Swiss watches and chocolate are world renowned. Euros are accepted, the currency is Swiss Francs. They are mostly French speaking but can manage speaking English too.

Day 1

For international flights, Switzerland can be accessed through bigger cities like Zurich. Lucerne is the closest town to Zurich. Located at the end of a lake, framed by impressive mountains it gives a great flavor of the journey ahead. The well-preserved the late Renaissance era old town with Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke) has made this place a tourist favorite. Other points of interest are the 500-year old Museggmauer, the very popular Kornmarkt which runs in most Swiss towns, Switzerland's oldest Baroque church Jesuit Church, Gletschergarten (Glacier Garden) and the very beautiful monastery turned to church Hofkirche.

Day 2

Interlaken is probably the most celebrated town which defines Swiss beauty. Known for the very gorgeous Jungfrau summit, the Alpine peak (at 13,642 feet) offers a view with an ice sculpture palace, chocolate shops and a cog railway. Most people make trips to Swizterland just to get to this main summits of the Bernese Alps. The Augustinian monastery, outdoors sports at Höheweg, Harder, the adorable Schynige Platte train and the shops at Unterseen are other sights to cover

Day 3

A drive to nearby towns of Lake Thun (must see the Oberhofen Castle here), Breinz and Lauterbrunnen (go to the Trummelbach Falls and outdoor sports like paragliding) can be rewarding to get a deeper insight into the Swiss culture.

In the town of Gadmen, Trift Bridge is one of the most spectacular pedestrian suspension bridges of the Alps. It is 100 meters high and 170 meters long, and is poised above the region of the Trift Glacier. Even reaching the bridge through the ravine by cable car is an adventure.

Grindelwald on the Bachalpsee Lake is a very beautiful Swiss town with great cheese fondue spots and outdoor sports. Sights to cover are the Aellfluh lookout or hikes to the Sphinx Terrace or along the Aletsch Glacier.

Day 4

Zermatt lies at the foot of the highest mountains in the entire Alpine mountain range. Matterhorn mountain is its most visited site. However, a single visit to the Matterhorn village is not enough to experience all of the attractions and records. Zermatt is probably the most beautiful, decorated and unique Swiss towns. Every house, shop and hotel is laid with beds of flowers, wooden construction, alpine architecture and intricate lace curtains. Many people are not aware that the logo of the Toblerone chocolates which features a mountain is actually the Matterhorn peak.

Day 5

Around Zermatt, other popular points of interest are the Gornergrat lookout, Hinterdorf wooden town, Gorner gorge. Short trips can also be made to Tufteren for trying out their delicious apple strudel and doing the very beautiful flower walk in summer months.

Gruyere is another beautiful medieval village known for its cheese. It also boasts of fun tours of its cheese factory and chocolate factory.

For the passionate photographers, Eglise du Trient is worth a visit for its unique location, color and gorgeous valley views.

Day 6

For the second half of the trip, we moved to the southern warmer part of Switzerland. The Gotthard Pass (2,106 m) is a mountain pass in the Alps connecting northern and southern Switzerland. The format, structure and views of this highway were stunning to say the least. It reinstates the solid Swiss infrastructure while retaining beauty all along the way. Cyclist and race car drivers fancy driving through this curvy path, making it a visual treat for commoners. 

Our first stop on the southern side was Ascona, the Swiss Riviera.  Known for its Mediterranean-style architecture and cafe-lined promenade on Lake Maggiore, it is the lowest lying town in Swiss country. Popular spots here are Borgo Old Town,  Lungolago and piazza Motta. You could spend hours just walking or gazing at the beauty of Lake Maggiore.

Day 7

Driving around through Vallemaggia, the spectacular valley with astoundingly turquoise water and amazing rock formations of Valle Verzasca,  franciscan monastery is built on top of a rock Madonna del Sasso and charming old town Città Vecchia are other ways of exploring the green waters, unspoilt nature and the authentic villages. Also, bungee jump at Verzasca Dam (as shown in the James Bond movie Golden Eye) and the bathing area at the ancient Lavertezzo stone bridge are much visited sites.

If time permits, a day trip by the water to the Brissago Island is a great addition to the itinerary. Accessible by ferry, the island offers beautiful botanic garden, pools and great quaint tea shops.

Day 8

The picturesque lakeside city of Lugano is famous for its beautiful quasi-Mediterranean scenery, its Film Festival, and for being the residence of the Nobel Prize winner, Hermann Hesse. Points of interest include the old town, Cantonal Art Museum and the furnicular at Monte San Salvatore. For families with kids, Swissminiatur is a theme park featuring miniaturised versions of the country's landmarks. There are 120 models of houses, castles and monuments in the open air, distributed throughout the 14,000 square meter park. The models have been recreated authentically - with great attention to detail - and are surrounded by thousands of plants and flowers.

Locarno the Italian speaking resort town is known for its sunny weather. Founded in the 12th century, the old town's Castello Visconteo houses the Museo Civico, which showcases Roman antiquities. Piazza Grande is the heart of the city center and also the major shopping area. In summer it hosts a few major events, such as the Moon & Stars open air concerts, the world famous International Film Festival and, during the winter Locarno On Ice.

Gandria is an unspoiled, picturesque lakeside village at the foot of Monte Brè. Perched on the steep mountainside it is a community of narrow streets, inaccessible to cars, with a delightful surprise round every corner. Sentiero dell'olivo (Olive tree trail) is a beautiful 30 mins walk in the village that bring you closer to the history and scientific nature of olive tree growth and the oil won from olives.

Day 9

Bellinzona known for its 3 medieval castles, including the hilltop Castelgrande and Sasso Corbaro. Both have views of the city, the surrounding Alps and Montebello, the third castle. In 2000, these castles were included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Artù, the little tourist train, starts in the old town and brings the guests conveniently to the castles of Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. At the most important historic monuments and attractions, the train stops to let the visitors get off and on.

Montebello Castle, the most picturesque of the three, is a spectacular example of a medieval castle and houses a very interesting civic and archeological Museum. Steps along the old city walls lead the visitor to the Piazza della Collegiata; from here follow the San Michele path up to Castelgrande, remodeled in the last years by Aurelio Galfetti. In the south building there is an elegant restaurant with its annexed wine cellar where almost all of Ticino's wine production can be tasted. From Castelgrande follow the wall, also restored, which once went all the way to the Ticino River. A footbridge crosses the part, which was knocked down to allow transit on the Viale Portone. The view from the wall sweeps over the very modern buildings, the pride of Ticino's architects (Casa del Portone, Casa Bianca, Casa Nera, Casa Fabrizia) with the green background of the Sports Center with its public pool and tennis courts on the river's edge.

Day 10

Probably one of the most unique restaurants you will ever visit is here. Drive through the Guarda Village and take the tram up the Aescher cliff. In the heart of the mountains lies the most quaint, breath-taking yet fancy restaurant.

Switzerland is such a place that remains in your heart forever, the shades of greens, blues, flowers, the fresh air.. all of it. Once you leave this place, you know for sure, you will visit again. Perhaps, sooner than you think.