In Pic- Interlaken
Switzerland is a destination of many stunning facets, one of them being the charming resort towns and villages that exude natural beauty and leave you in awe. There are countless options for these breathtaking towns and villages, each and every town and village of Switzerland has a unique beauty and scenic views of its own. If however, I had to shortlist a few must-see places, the below would be my list as per my experience and research.
1. ZERMATT
Zermatt is a world-famous mountain resort town, especially known for its proximity to the iconic Matterhorn peak (as popularized by the Toblerone bar and Disneyland as well!). If hopefully there are clear skies, you can see the Matterhorn from different vantage points in the town. This area is popular amongst tourists and locals alike who come here to ski and hike. For a little shopping/eating head to Bahnhofstrasse. Check out Hinterdorfstrasse close by for some unique old and historical buildings. Then proceed to the Kirchbrücke (bridge) for some awesome views of the Matterhorn on a clear day. You can also head to the Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis close by to know more about the history of the Matterhorn and its climbers. Also close by is the Pfarrkirche St. Mauritius a simple yet elegant church. Surrounding this church are some beautiful streets to roam around as well. If you want to get right to it and head higher up to get better views of the Matterhorn, right outside the main railway station is the Gornergrat Bahn, where you head up to 3100 meters above sea level. There you can get to see some stunning Matterhorn views, the gorgeous Riffelsee Lake where if the wind is still the Matterhorn is reflected perfectly on the lake, the Gorner Glacier and more. A budget-friendly option to take is the Zermatt-Sunnegga Funicular, which also offers stunning Matterhorn views. It is usually lesser crowded and cheaper than Gornergrat. You can see the reflection of the Matterhorn on Lake Leisee. Sunnegga also has swimming during the summer and is also the starting point for many hikes including the Five Lakes Walk. You can also go higher from here by cable car, but it is prohibited for certain age groups for health and safety reasons, check out the official Zermatt website for complete details. There are many mountain restaurants to enjoy as well here, check out the official website of Zermatt for further details. Some other popular cable car/gondola rides are the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Rothorn, Schwarzsee, etc. Another famous train line is the Riffelberg Express. People who want to explore it all sometimes buy the Peak Pass which is expensive but has a lot of inclusions (check out the official website of Zermatt for a complete list of inclusions and exclusions).
2. INTERLAKEN
Interlaken as the name suggests is a scenic resort town situated in the narrow stretch of the valley between two breathtaking lakes - Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Connecting these two water bodies and passing through Interlaken is the River Aare. The best way to enjoy the views this town has to offer is to head to Harder Kulm also called the Top of Interlaken. You cannot only see the lakes from here but also famous peaks like Jungfrau. There is also a panoramic restaurant here to enjoy the views while having a bite. In the town, some famous attractions are Höhematte park, Jungfraupark Interlaken, Interlaken Castle, Reformed Castle Church Weissenau Castle and more. Head to Marktplatz for some shopping or food. If you are an Indian like me, you can see the Statue of Yash Chopra an iconic Indian filmmaker along the way to Marktplatz. You can also take a day trip from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. Basically, Interlaken is a town where you can just take a step back, relax and take in the stunning views right around you. Just the general beauty of this town is awe-inspiring and memorable.
3. LAUTERBRUNNEN AND GRINDELWALD
Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald are considered to be some of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. Lauterbrunnen village is based in a valley featuring rock cliffs and the most stunning waterfalls, it seems to be straight out of a fairy tale. Visit the Staubbach Falls, one of the major attractions of Lauterbrunnen, which is an impressive 300-meter tall waterfall from this vertical slab of rock valley. You can also walk the path that leads up to the viewing gallery to see this awesome waterfall up close. Another famous one is the Trümmelbach Falls, where you can go up the mountain by a tunnel lift, and then walk downwards through the cave-like tunnels exploring this powerful roaring waterfall at different vantage points. As you walk through the village, you will get to see many more waterfalls on scenic rocky cliffs and beautiful houses and churches. People also paraglide here and go biking and hiking! There is also a cable car that takes you to the Schilthorn peak (Schilthornbahn). It has some stunning views, a revolving restaurant and also a 007 James Bond Museum. You can take a day trip from Lauterbrunnen to visit Grindelwald, another beautiful village. Grindelwald is considered the base station to travel to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. The main attraction here is First, a scenic summit with loads of activities like the First Cliff Walk, an exciting high walkway suspended on the mountains for some thrills and stunning views. It also has the First Flier, a thrilling zip line ride in the Alps of over 800 meters. Many people take a hike from there to see the absolutely breathtaking Bachalpsee lake. Take a walk around Grindelwald Village for some gorgeous Swiss scenery and houses. Another famous peak accessible by cable car is Männlichen, which is less touristy and has some stunning views of the Swiss Mountains. To get some nice views over Grindelwald and have some family fun, head to Pfingstegg. There are many hiking trails here that one can try depending on personal preferences. There is also the superb Glacier Canyon Trail, where one can explore the glacier-carved area and tunnels, a marvel of nature. Basically, both Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald have so many great hikes, peaks, and natural beauty to explore, they really make you feel closer to nature.
4. ST. MORITZ
St. Moritz is world-renowned for its ski resorts and luxury. It has hosted the Winter Olympics as well, twice. Some of the main attractions here are the St. Moritzersee (St Moritz Lake), Seggantini Museum (popular works by Giovanni Segantini), Engadiner Museum (based on Alpine culture, furnishings, weapons and more), Casino St Moritz, Leaning Tower of St. Moritz (church), Cresta Run (adventure sports), White Turf (horse racing track) and more. Some of the iconic scenic peaks one can visit from here are Piz Nair which is a famous ski area and has a restaurant with wonderful views and Engadin St. Moritz Mountains which is also famous for skiing and hiking. Corviglia is another famous site for winter sports. Another amazing lake close by is the Lake of Staz for a picnic or hiking. Take Heidi's flower trail or Heidi‘s Blumenweg for a scenic hike. If you are highly adventurous and love rollercoasters, head to the St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun and take a tourist ride on the bobsled run (seasonal). It may seem more like a winter town, but Switzerland is so full of natural beauty during summer as well, so one can visit during summertime and explore this famous town.
5. GSTAAD
Gstaad for us Indians became famous because some iconic Bollywood movies were shot there like DDLJ. That being said after knowing more about this upscale resort town I realized it is well known as a holiday destination for celebrities etc. No wonder iconic luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Hermes, Chopard and more have their stores here. To view the beauty of this town along with shopping head to the Gstaad Promenade which is a beautiful cobbled street lined with restaurants, cafes and shops. Close by is the world-famous hotel, the Gstaad Palace. On google maps, you can find some spots where the famous Indian movie DDLJ was shot like the DDLJ Location - Red Convertible and the DDLJ Bridge. If you wish to head up for some scenic views or for skiing, you can head to Wispile, Horneggli, Rougemont, Rinderberg and more. If you wish to explore a lot, it may make sense to buy the Gstaad Card, check out their official website for complete details on inclusions and exclusions. There are also many hiking trails here and paragliding as well. A good day trip from Gstaad is to head to Col Du Pillon from where you can take the cable car to Glacier 3000 which is famous for its skiing and snowboarding, Peak walk by Tissot Suspension Bridge, Alpine Coaster, Glacier Walk, Dogsled Rides, and more. It is famous not only during winter but in summer as well.
So these are my top 5 resort towns/villages as per my research and personal experiences. There are an infinite number of attractions at each one of these places, there is so much to see and do. I have tried to mention some top attractions, feel free to look up those areas more to suit your tastes and preferences.
Thanks for Reading ❤️
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