Switzerland is a traveler's paradise and for good reason. From breathtaking landscapes to majestic mountains, and turquoise-colored lakes to scenic drives, Switzerland is a one-stop destination. Switzerland offers a unique blend of nature, culture, and history. Arilene and I had the opportunity to visit Lucerne and Zurich, two cities that are located in central Switzerland in the summer of 2022. Prior to our visit, we had seen Switzerland only in movies, but it exceeded our expectations and it is much more gorgeous in person. Here's a glimpse into our 3-day itinerary and the highlights of our visit.
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DAY 1
We began our trip in Lucerne, a charming town on the banks of Lake Lucerne. Lucerne is a smaller village town as compared to Zurich which is a major hub and a city. Thus, Lucerne is comparatively cheaper, however, it is pretty expensive compared to some other destinations. We booked a hotel in the historic Old Town, which was a walking distance to local shops and restaurants. From our hotel, we had a gorgeous view of the majestic Mount Pilatus (above).
We explored Lucerne using public transportation which is one of the best public transportation systems in the world. The city has a compact layout, and all the main attractions are well connected through public transportation. Lucerne has a network of buses that operate throughout the city and the surrounding areas. The buses are clean, modern, and comfortable, with frequent services to most parts of the city. The bus schedules are easily available on the VBL website. The city also has a well-developed railway system that connects Lucerne with other major cities in Switzerland like Zurich. The main railway station, Lucerne Hauptbahnhof, is located in the city center and is served by local, regional, and national trains. You can find the schedules and fares on the SBB website.
Day 1 was spent unpacking, finding a local laundromat since we had been traveling for a while before reaching Lucerne, and finding a local restaurant to grab something to eat. We slept early since we had a full day planned in Zurich the next morning.
DAY 2
From Lucerne, we took a train ride to Zurich. We booked a round trip to Zurich on the SBB website, and purchased a Zurich day pass once we reached Zurich that gave us unlimited access to local transportation, discounted entry to over 50 local attractions and museums, and an unlimited boat ride on Lake Zurich. Lake Zurich is breathtaking and is surrounded by stunning mountains. The boat ride provided us with breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery. The train from Lucerne to Zurich takes about 90 minutes and the ride is as scenic as it can get complete with scenic views of turquoise-colored lakes and majestic mountains. The visuals are literally jaw-dropping.
Zurich is a vibrant city known for its picturesque old town, museums, and high-end shopping. It is a major hub for tourists and locals alike. Many people live in Lucerne because its more affordable but work in Zurich due to better job opportunities. We spent a day exploring the city's sights, including the famous Bahnhofstrasse shopping street, Lake Zurich, and the famous Lindt Chocolate Factory Outlet.
The Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate factory is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Switzerland.
The Lindt chocolate factory is located in the small town of Kilchberg, which is about 5 kilometers from Zurich. You can reach the factory by taking a train, bus, or boat ride from Zurich to Kilchberg, and then a short walk. We took the boat ride from Zurich to Kilchberg and walked the remaining distance.
The factory offers a guided tour of its production facility, where you can see how the chocolate is made, learn about the history of the company, and sample some of the chocolate. The tour takes about an hour and is conducted in several languages, including English. You can book your tour in advance or purchase the passes on-site. We purchased the passes on-site.
The factory also has a museum that showcases the history of chocolate-making and the Lindt brand. You can see vintage chocolate-making equipment, historical advertisements, and interactive displays. The museum is open to the public and does not require a reservation. During the tour, you can taste samples of different chocolates being made. The small chocolate bars keep popping out of the machines and you can taste as many as you want. Also, there is a machine from which molten chocolate keeps flowing and you can taste that as well. Pure Heaven! I felt like a 5-year-old again.
The Lindt factory has a large retail store where you can buy a wide variety of Lindt chocolates and other Swiss souvenirs. The prices are generally lower than in the tourist areas of Zurich, and you can find exclusive products that are not available elsewhere.
After the retail store, you can relax and dine in the restaurant located in the factory that serves fresh coffee, brownies, sandwiches, and ice cream.
The factory and museum are open from Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm, except on public holidays. The guided tours are conducted at specific times, so check the schedule before you visit.
Finally, we returned to Lucerne for our last day of the trip.
DAY 3
For our last day, we booked a half-day tour of Mount Titlis from Lucerne. We had booked the tour in advance here to get the best price. Our tour was a fully-guided tour by a professional multilingual guide.
The tour included transportation through a scenic drive that included pickup and drop off in a comfortable coach from Engelberg up into the high-alpine glacier world of Titlis Mountain and back to Engelberg. The tour included tickets to the Cable cars to the top of Mt Titlis, Ice Flyer chairlift, Cliff Walk, Glacier Cave, and Glacier Park.
Mount Titlis is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Switzerland, famous for its stunning alpine views, glaciers, and activities. Here's what you need to know about taking a tour of Mount Titlis:
Mount Titlis is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, near the town of Engelberg, which is about 35 kilometers from Lucerne. You can reach Engelberg by train or bus from Lucerne, and then take a cable car to the top of the mountain. It is highly recommended to book this tour well in advance due to high demand and limited availability. We booked our tour at least 3 months in advance. However, the weather started acting up on the day of our tour. It became cloudy and foggy. We had limited visibility however we were glad that we didn't have to cancel the tour. We were able to reach the top however couldn't get a proper glimpse of the mountains and the valley due to fog and clouds. We just thought that this means we would have to come back. Switzerland calling us again!
The cable car ride to the top of Mount Titlis is a thrilling experience, offering panoramic views of the mountains and valleys below. The cable car consists of two parts, the first from Engelberg to Stand, and the second from Stand to the top of Mount Titlis. The entire journey takes about 45 minutes and operates year-round. However, you can see in the picture below that there were clouds and we couldn't see the whole valley.
Once you reach the top of Mount Titlis, there are several attractions to explore, including the Titlis Cliff Walk, the Glacier Cave, and the Ice Flyer Chairlift. The Titlis Cliff Walk is a suspension bridge that hangs 500 meters above the ground and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The Glacier Cave is a natural ice cave that takes you deep into the glacier. The Ice Flyer Chairlift takes you over the glacier, giving you a unique perspective of the ice formations.
After the tour, we relaxed in a cafeteria in the Mount Titlis complex that was surprisingly serving Indian snacks including samosa and chai (Indian tea). And to my delightful surprise, the snacks were delectable and served warm. Paradise!!!
Switzerland is a photographer's and traveler's delight, full of exquisite natural beauty and landscapes. The picture below is taken from my phone, a Samsung Galaxy S22. I love my phone!
After the tour, we returned to Lucerne and decided to eat traditional Swiss cuisine for dinner on our last night in Switzerland. We decided to order Fondue at a local restaurant. Needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner and returned to our hotel with our bellies full. However, please be patient when you order food in Switzerland. The servers are super polite and like to give you ample time to decide before you place an order. You might think that they forgot about you but that is hardly the case. Our server was super polite and gave us excellent recommendations for food and drinks as you can see in the picture.
In conclusion, Lucerne and Zurich are two beautiful cities that are well worth a visit. From the picturesque bridges and cobblestone streets of Lucerne to the museums, shopping, and stunning views of Zurich, there's something for everyone in these two cities. Whether you're interested in history, culture, or nature, or just want to relax and take in the scenery, Lucerne and Zurich are two destinations that should be at the top of your travel list.
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