I really enjoyed by time in Switzerland. The beautiful were nice. The beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps was unamtched. The vibe was calm and serene. And the water was clean. Here's my travel blog about my wonderful trip to Switzerland, along with a detailed interary and list of things to do to maximize your time there. 

Switzerland is a country in Central Europe with no coastline. It is bordered by France, Germany, Sustria, Liechtenstein, and Italy. It is famous for its natural beauty, with the Alps covering a significant portion of its territory. It's known for its high quality of life, clean tap water, and efficient public transportation.

Language: Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. 

• Download: Google Translate (German is the most spoken language of the 4)

Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)

• Most places accept major credits (like Visa and Mastercard), and cashless payments like Apple Pay. Specific card types like American Express may have restrictions.

• I did not exchange any currency and used my credit card or Apple pay for everything in Zurich and Grindelwald.

Entry Requirements: 

• Passport (that doesn't expire for for at least 6 months)

• Starting in late 2026, US citizens will need an ETIAS authorization (an electronic travel authorization) to visit.

• Show proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket

• No Visa required for stays less than 90 days

Transportation

• Uber

• Both Zurich and Grindelwald have downtown areas with lots to do in walking distance (bars, restuarants, and shops).

Pros

• Nature, Hiking, Skiing

Cons

• Switzerland is expensive. I'm talking $20 fast/quick food meals and $80 dinners as a standard. 

• Many shops and stores are closed on Sundays

•  Can take the SBB Train from Zurich to Grindelwald. Transfer at Interlocken OST. Its about a 3 hour train ride and cost about 60 CHF.

• Lindt Chocolate Museum - interactive museum where you learn the history of chocolate making and taste different flavors of chocolate all included with your museum entry ticket.
• Luxury Shopping in the Prestigious Bahnhofstrasse are where the most prestigious and expensive stores are found: Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, and Cartier to name a few. 
• Get your Steps in and Walk the City
  • Walk, Run, Cycle around Lake Zurich
  • Visit the Zurich's Beautiful Old Town Historic District by foot
    • Visit 3 old historical churches:
      • St. Peter's Church
• Take a Day Trip to the Swiss Alps. Or take a train out there to stay in the mountains for a couple of days.

• I got a 1 day Jungfrau ski pass for around 79 CHF that included the costs of the ski lifts, skiing down any of the many slopes (not the rental of the ski gear), and zip lining at First Flyer (normally 35 CHF) and First Glider (normally 35 CHF). (I'll make sure to add my pictures to the gallery below.)
• Get Ski Lessons if you are an amateur because you don't want to miss skiing in the beautiful Swiss Alps of the Jungfrau region. Just being up in the mountain tops surrounded by snow covered mountains is a surreal experience. There are bar/restuarants scattered around the mountains where you have have food and drinks (hard and soft). So even if you are against skiing, still take the ski lift to the top for absolutely amazing views. 
• Grindelwald-First (Top of Adventure) - take gondola to First Flyer, First Glider, Mountain Carts, and Trottibikes
  • This is my top choice because there is so much to do on this mountain: ski, zip line, snow sledge, eat, drink, hike
  • The ski lift/Gondola ride is a 25 minute trip up to the top of the mountain
    • There you will find options such as: 
      • First Cliff Walk by Tissot: A suspended metal walkway offering dramatic views of the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains.
      • First Flyer - zipline down the mountain
      • First Glider - imagine going a zip line, but superman style
      • Eat at Berggasthaus First - a restaurant at the top of the mountain with epic views. I didn't eat here since we had dinner plans at Da Silva Italian restaurant which was at the bottom of this mountain. However, if you don't want to go all the way down the mountain to eat, then this is a good option. 
      • Snow Sledging or Tobagganing. This was a kid friendly activity. You basically use your feet to slide yourself on a sled across the mountain. Or have your parent try to pull you. But it wasn't like snow tubing down the mountain. It's not really steep as it goes sideaways across the mountain. The mountain is steep so the steep slopes is where you see the skiiers and snow boarders speeding down the mountain. Which is why I saw all the really little kids and their parents doing the snow sledging activity. It's nice that they have a family friendly activity at the mountain tops. 
• Village Stroll and Local Dining: Explore the charming town center, packed with shops, and dine at local restaurants for authentic Swiss cheese and fondue.
• Fire and Ice Spa at Bergwelt Grindelwald hotel. If you are a staying at the hotel you can enjoy their indoor pool, fitness center, sauna, and outdoor hot tub for free as its included for your room rate. However, to book spa treatments is an added cost. The spa treatments will cost you a pretty penny. I remebber seeing prices around  160 CHF for a 30 minute massage with other massages averaging around 300 CHF which is around $375 USD.

• Adventures I missed out on that would have also been fun
  • Igloo Building Workshop - Request Prices here
  • Paragliding: Experience the valley from the air, a popular activity in the area to take in the stunning landscape.
  • Männlichen Cable Car and Royal Walk: Ride the gondola for sweeping panorama views, featuring an easy, scenic hike or the "Royal Walk" to a panoramic viewpoint.
    • • I did Grindelwald First which was a similar experiencffe except it was on a diffrent mountain. Grindelwald First also had the zip lining experiences which I really enjoyed.
  • Pfingstegg Toboggan Run: A mountain toboggan ride offering fun and great views of the valley, popular for families.

• Zurich
• Best most affordable form of transportation is Public Transportation: Subway system/metro, buses, trams
• Uber is available; but expensive
• Taxis are available; but expensive
• Walking is best for City Exploration
• You can also take a water taxi across Lake Zurich
• Grindelwald
  • Take SBB train (like their version of Amtrak from Zurich HB, transfer at Interlacken OST, and end at Grindelwald).
  • Once in Grindelwald, you can walk or their are shuttles that take you around. 
  • Also, your hotel may arrange transportation for you

• Spring (March–May) with mild weather and blossoms, 
• Summer (June–August) with warm, sunny days perfect for hiking, 
• Autumn (September–November) featuring cooler temperatures and colorful foliage, and 
• Winter (December–February) with cold temperatures and snow, ideal for winter sports.  

EXCURSIONS

(Here you will find links to book fun excursions)

Switzerland Sample Itinerary

I've moved all my Travel Itineraries to my Legacy Queen Gumroad Platform. My travel itineraries comes with, links to booking, a budget breakdown, hotel recommendations, and travel tips.

Click this link to explore: https://legacyqueen.gumroad.com/l/travelguide 

• 🇨🇭 5-DAY ZURICH + SWISS ALPS ITINERARY

• 4-Day Geneva + Crans Montana Sample Itinerary

Where to Stay

Zurich

• Neues Schloss Private Hotel Autographic Collection - this is where I stayed and I really enjoyed my stay here. While we did walk around, Uber was our primary mode of transporation on rainy or snowy days since you would have to walk abit to get to the main touristy areas. No complaints about the hotel itself. It's a luxury boutique hotel under the Marriott Autograph Collection. So the luxury and quality was there. Also, the customer service was outstanding!

• Budget - Old Town Hostel Otter - around 30 CHF a night. They have really good reviews on HostelWorld.

• If I were to visit again I would research hotels closer to Zurich's Old Town  or the Lindenhof area since it has a nice walking area with lots of shops, restaurants, bars, and historic churches. 

Grindelwald

• Luxury - BERGWELT GRINDELWALD | ALPINE DESIGN RESORT - around 300 CHF a night - This is where I stayed and I really enjoyed by stay here. This is defintiely a luxury higher end hotel. The customer service is outstanding. Now there is a small hill you have to climb to get to the hotel from the main bustling Grindelwald vilalge street. However, we could have arranged transporation through the hotel. Also, it is a 2-5 minute walk to the Grindelwald First stop, which is where you will take the ski gondala to the top of the mountain to ski, zip line, and do the Cliff walk experience. It is also walking distance (8-10 minute walk) to the SBB train for when you are ready to return to Zurich or explore other parts of the Swiss Alps. Although, as mentioned before, the hotel will arrange (for free) picking you and your luggage up from the train station and dropping you back off. 

• Budget - Grindelwald Youth Hostel - around 50 CHF a night

  • They have really good reviews on HostelWorld.