Switzerland in a Week – What to Discover by Train?

Switzerland is simply amazing. There is no need to beat around the bush, to wonder if it is worth it and if it is actually as picturesque as in the photos. It is even more beautiful, because in the photos we can’t smell the fragrance of blooming flowers or hear the sound of water flowing from the numerous fountains.

Today I take you on a journey through Switzerland. Follow my itinerary to see what places in Switzerland are worth seeing. There are many more places, because we can find something beautiful at every turn in this country. My plan is to do it in a week, in slow-travel mode. We’ll explore boutique Swiss cities, take day trips to the mountains, try local food and do a lot of travelling. By train. And sail by boat!

I visited Switzerland on an invitation of Switzerland Tourism at the Swiss Embassy. During that time, I explored Swiss cities and charming corners of Switzerland on my own. Thank you ?!

Going to Switzerland – Practical Tips

Before going to Switzerland, it is worth:

– Turn off mobile Internet. Roaming is expensive. We can spend a lot of money, even up to 20 000 euros – there were such cases! How to solve this? Using maps, searching for nearby attractions while traveling is something we are used to do. The solution is simple – you can buy a SIM card for 20 francs,  for instance, of the Swisscom network and have Internet for the next, let’s say, 7 days.  You can find these at vending machines at the airport and it’s nothing difficult to figure out, you just need to have your ID card with you. The second solution related to the phone in Switzerland – you can buy a package  via your network.  At my operator (T-Mobile) 1 GB costs about 150 euros. So much more profitable is the first option, of course.

– If you are traveling by train and public transportation, see if it  pays for you to enjoy various attractions with the Swiss Travel Pass. This card covers not only trains and public transportation, but also boats, museums, and castles. If you want to do a lot of sightseeing, it can come out much cheaper than buying tickets for each transportation, museum separately.

– Buy insurance (the European health card works, but does not cover the entire amount of medical treatment).

– While staying in some cities, such as Montreux or Bern, you will get a card for public transportation at your hotel. If you don’t have a Swiss Travel Pass, it can be useful.

– I visited the German-speaking and French-speaking parts of Switzerland. It is worth to know that in this French part lunches/dinners are eaten at designated times – until 2 pm and from 6 pm. Besides, you can go for pizza or fast food.

– In Switzerland there are only contacts for narrow pins. A phone with a European charger will charge without a problem, but for a laptop you need an adapter. You can rent it at the hotel – but not in every one.

– Do you need a passport to Switzerland? This is the most common question. Much depends on your citizenship. I flew on a plane with a Polish passport and only had my ID card with me. And yes, to Switzerland an ID card was enough for me.

Let’s Start the Tour!

Switzerland by train – important information

Swiss trains are really comfortable. Top quality, they arrive on time and, of course, are not the cheapest.

How to save money on trains and attractions? If you have plans to do a lot of traveling and sightseeing, a Swiss Travel Pass will be useful. With this pass for a limited time, you are eligible to travel on trains, ships, buses, and even mountain railroads! On special panoramic trains, including the Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gotard Panoramic Express and Palm Express, seat reservations or an additional fee are required.

The pass does not apply to all railroads, but with this card you get a 50% discount. The Swiss Travel Pass also gives you free admission to more than 500 museums, including castles!

Top Spots of Bern

What is worth to see in Bern? In my opinion, the best would be to start with the first delight – the view of the Aare River from the Parliament. This view is really amazing! If you want, you can visit the Parliament and, if you are lucky, see the politicians in session. Bookings are made through the parliament website. Next to the Parliament in Bern there is the Kleine Schanze – a park, where it is worth stopping to have a coffee or just to watch the Swiss who spend time there on sunny days.

Bern’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There you will find the Zytglogge – the clock tower, which we visit a few minutes before the full hour. Three minutes before the full hour a short spectacle plays out. So short that if you come, let’s say, at 12 o’clock, it will already be over. And you will have to wait another 57 minutes for the next one!

An unmissable attraction of Bern is Rosengarten and Bärengraben. I’ll start with the latter, which you can walk to via Nydeggbrücke – from this bridge you can see the former Lindt chocolate factory! Bern is a city that is famous for… bears. Its symbol, with which the legend is connected, are precisely large bears. And you can see them in Bern, precisely in Bärengraben.  You can watch the bears sleeping, bathing (not in the Aare River, to be sure!) or up close, when they are in the old enclosure. That’s when you can see them at their best – check for yourself!

Rosengarten, or rose garden, is located on a hill. The views from it are phenomenal, and if you don’t want to climb, take the No. 10 bus towards Ostermundigen – It leaves directly from under the bears and right next to the station. The garden makes an amazing, idyllic impression. There is a restaurant – perfect for coffee, cake or something bigger. Meanwhile, the view of the city from Bern’s Rosengarten is unmatchable!

The attractions of Swiss Bern are endless. With a Swiss Travel Pass you can visit a ton of museums, which I will point out to you: Alpines Museum der Schweiz, Bernisches Historisches Museum/Einstein Museum, Heilsarmee-Museum, Klingende Sammlung, Kornhausforum, Kunsthalle, Kunstmuseum, Museum Cerny, Museum für Kommunikation, Naturhistorisches Museum, Psychiatrie-Museum, Zentrum Paul Klee.

I personally visited the Einstein Museum, which is located in the Historical Museum. Definitely worth learning about the history of Albert Einstein and his family! And if you can’t get enough, you can see his apartment in the Old Town, from the time he lived in Bern.

Where to Sleep in Bern?

There are really a lot of hotels in Bern. I opted for the Hotel National Bern – I paid 100 francs per night (including breakfast). Located not far from the Old Town, near the train station. Clean and with friendly staff. At the reception desk a lady Malwina, who is happy to help ?.

Thun – a Wonderful City in Switzerland

While in Bern, it’s definitely worth popping out to Thun! It is, in my opinion, such a “must see” in Switzerland – a lake, mountains, a beautiful town, a castle, greenery. There is no shortage of anything here, so even if you have little time, stop at least for an hour – you will not regret it. I myself went to Thun spontaneously, around 5 pm, and it was a great decision. I totally fell in love with this town.

What Is Worth Seeing in Thun?

• Thun Castle
• Lake Thun and the mountain panorama
• Schadau Park
• It’s worth taking a boat trip (I write more about lake tours in Switzerland)

Take a ride on a period train!

An amazing attraction of Switzerland are the trains. Punctual as clockwork, Swiss of course. There are many wonderful routes and it’s hard to decide on any one. I chose the Belle Epoque train, which goes from Zweisimmen to Montreux. It’s stylized to look like the old days – something wonderful. There is also a panoramic train on the same route, so as you can guess – the views are breathtaking.

The plan was as follows: in the morning a ride to Zweisimmen. I will not give you the exact departure times, because they can change, but the ride from Bern takes 1h 20 minutes. The Belle Epoque train, on the other hand, ran twice a day in the summer.

Honestly, it was worth it to make up some distance and take this wonderful train. Let me just tell you that this is not the only such opportunity, because in Montreux you can take a trip on the Chocolate Train! And it’s often a Belle Epoque train (sometimes panoramic).

Montreux – the Swiss Riviera

Montreux is a well-known resort whose promenade stretches for miles. Add to this a fabulous location – lake, mountains, palm trees and really interesting architecture. Besides, it’s a great place for excursions – to the mountains, on the lake, or discovering vineyards or local museums and attractions.

However, this city is famous above all, for music! First, for one of the most famous jazz festivals in the world. In the summer, the Festival de Jazz de Montreux has been held since 1967. This year you don’t have to pay to enter the concerts, but to attend the festival you need to show a valid test or vaccination QR code. Interestingly, it was here in Montreux that the band Queen recorded 7 albums! Therefore, on the promenade  go see the statue of Freddy Mercury, the singer of the band Queen. You can also visit the band’s museum – a former recording studio.

Chocolate Train in Switzerland and Gruyères

Switzerland means chocolate. And cheese! If you want to discover the secrets of Swiss chocolate production and history, be sure to take a trip on the chocolate train! Here you need to make a booking in advance, with a Swiss Travel Pass you pay a surcharge of about 250 zł (59 francs) – the price includes refreshments and a tour of the following places:

Gruyères, a cheese factory, you visit the charming village of Gruyères, famous for its cheese (more on that later).

Chocolate tasting at the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory (it is advisable to bring water with you!).

Check also: Bern – What Places Are Worth Visiting Here? Attractions of the Picturesque City in Switzerland

When taking a trip on the Chocolate Train, you should know that it takes all day – departure from Montreux is first thing in the morning, at 9:50, return in the afternoon. In Gruyères, I recommend eating cheese fondue, such as at the Remparts restaurant. They also serve really good wine!

What is there to see in Gruyeres? I visited the Gruyeres castle (needless to say, it’s worth it? The views are breathtaking!), the Tibet Museum and the Giger Museum. The Tibet Museum, although small, made an indescribable impression on me – mystical music, exhibitions that transport you to the world of Tibet. The Giger Museum, on the other hand, is the museum of the gentleman who created the Alien film series – It is amazing, but also quite eerie.

 I would forget to add – the attractions in Gruyères are free if you have a Swiss Travel Pass!

Chateau de Chillon

The most popular castle in Switzerland? Definitely Chateau de Chillon! Located on the edge of Lake Geneva, it is simply fabulous. However, let me start with some practical information. Admission to the castle can be booked in advance. In this way, I managed to avoid quite a long queue. Besides, entry is free with a Swiss Travel Pass.

If you are not a fan of visiting castles, it is worth approaching at least from the outside, especially from the harbor side. From this side, the view of the castle is unmatchable! Inside, we can visit the cellars (once used as a warehouse or prison), see the chambers or the beautiful courtyard.

Chateau de Chillon is located just outside Montreux, and we can get to it in several ways:

– by walking along the promenade up to the castle,

– taking a boat from Montreux (or other towns where there is a port),

– by taking the bus/rail.

Rochers de Naye – a Trip to the Swiss Alps!

Visit Switzerland and not go to the mountains? It can’t be! There are so many mountains and trails that it’s hard to decide which one to choose. From Montreux the easiest way is to go to the Rochers de Naye – the train (not the lift!) takes an hour, so it’s a trip also for those who prefer to admire rather than get tired. A suggestion for the active – you can climb to the top ?.

Rochers de Naye is a 2042 m peak located in the Freiburg Pre-Alps, part of the Western Alps. I don’t know if there is a better viewing point in the area, and to be honest, I doubt it. From Rochers de Naye we can see Lake Geneva! In addition, we can see the mountain peaks above Montreux, hike, look at the Alpine Garden and… see marmots! Yes, I know, marmots in Switzerland are no discovery. But are there many places where you will see marmots up close? This is where their small farm is located,  you can see their habits, how they “wheeze” when threatened or eat a meal (grasses, flowers). Something truly amazing!

With a Swiss Travel Pass – a 50% discount upon entry.

Boat Tours on Lakes in Switzerland

Boat tours on lakes in Switzerland turned out to be my favorite attraction. I was able to sail on Lake Thun and on Lake Geneva. I will tell you what it was like – I’ll start with the fact that there is a bar on the boats and you can often order something to eat. Besides, the following tours are included in the Swiss Travel Pass – meaning you don’t have to pay extra for them!

Lake Thun Tour

The port in Thun is located right next to the Thun Railway Station. There you will also find the timetable – you can sail to more towns, such as Spiez. You can also take a sunset tour of the lake, but mind that on such tour seats are often reserved. I didn’t have a booking, and yes I had a place to sit, but there were no seats at the elegant tables where one would have a pleasant dinner.  On this route you can order delicious dishes!

The trip around the lake began at 6:40 pm and ended after sunset, around 9:30 pm. The ship stopped at all stations, but most passengers sailed all the way – from Thun to Thun ?.

Lake Geneva Tour

I sailed on Lake Geneva twice. On the route you can order coffee, drinks –  unfortunately, I do not know what they have on the menu to eat, because I sailed quite a short time.

A trip on Lake Geneva from the Château de Chillon. I noticed too late that the back of the ship was another great place for photos and went forward. Do not make my mistake, for such a trip will be unforgettable!

Journey from Vevey to Montreux. The town of Vevey is located not far from Montreux and is definitely worth a visit. It’s more intimate than Montreux and it’s where I scored a dip in Lake Geneva!

Travel to Switzerland

I traveled in Switzerland only by train and public transportation and it was a hit. Everything was on time, of the highest quality. Amazing landscapes, comfortable seats and well-adapted train stations – three things that were memorable for me. Do you want to know more about traveling to Switzerland? I look forward to your comments.

See also:

Appenzell: Journey through Alpine Splendor and Swiss Tradition

Montreux – a Magical Place in Switzerland. What To Do There?

Best Things To Do In Bern

Gruyères, Switzerland: Explore the Cheese Capital in the Heart of the Alps

Hidden Gems of Switzerland: Must-Visit Lesser-Known Attractions