Choose Your Base Wisely
While Zurich is a great airport and travel hub, the city itself is expensive and not as interesting as other places you could visit. Bern has far more cultural sights and makes a useful base for exploring the surrounding countryside. If you want to spend time in the gorgeous Alpine region, Interlaken makes an ideal travel base. From Interlaken, you can take a short ride via bus or train into the surrounding mountains.
Consider Renting a Car
While much of Switzerland is accessible by bus or train, you might want to consider renting a car for your visit. If you have a car, you can explore more small villages and travel at off-peak hours.
Visit Different Language Areas
Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. It’s fun to spend time in each of the language areas, especially if you aren’t traveling to other neighboring countries during your stay. If you’re staying in Bern or Interlaken, take a trip to Lausanne or Gruyere.
One language tip for German speakers is that most local residents speak in a dialect of Swiss German. It may take some getting used to since common phrases are different. Most Swiss German speakers can also speak standard German and will understand you, even if you don’t catch many of their local phrases.
Get Out in Nature
Fully enjoying a trip to Switzerland means spending time outdoors. While the mountains may be lovely from your hotel room windows, you’ll have much better memories of your trip if you get out and explore. You don’t have to be a seasoned climber to get up close and personal with the view. The Interlaken area features many funiculars or cable cars that help visitors gain some elevation. You can hike along easy trails and see the alpine forest close up. A great place to take the cable car is in Lauterbrunnen. The waterfalls will amaze you.
Enjoy the Local Cuisine
All the walking you’ll do will help you burn off the calories from traditional Swiss food. As you might expect, cheese and chocolate feature heavily in the old-fashioned cuisine. Go beyond fondue and try raclette, a dish with hot cheese scraped from a wheel. Also, try the famous potato rosti. The local version of macaroni and cheese, Älplermagrone, will give your taste buds a treat. You won’t have to spend your entire visit eating cheese and potatoes; the farm-fresh and innovative cuisine is also available.
Take the Family
While you may believe that a trip to Switzerland should be saved until the kids are older, the country is a great family-friendly destination. With a wide range of fun outdoor activities and castles to explore, your energetic kids will have a good time.
Brandon Oda invites you to enjoy planning your first trip to Switzerland. You’ll come home with a treasure trove of amazing memories of the food and the landscapes. You will have such a good time, you’ll want to plan your next trip to Switzerland as soon as you get home.
