Switzerland is Breath Taking
A Journey Through Mountains, Towns, and Tranquility
A trip to Mount Pilatus gives you beautiful, wide spanning views of the valley below and the surrounding mountain ranges.
After a whirlwind week in London, Switzerland offered a slower, quieter welcome. We flew into Geneva, and within minutes, we were through one of the calmest international airports I’ve ever experienced. Clean, modern, and efficient. Everything felt easy.
Even the five-minute ride from the airport to our hotel reminded us that we’d arrived in a country that values simplicity and structure. We were only in Geneva for one evening and in that evening we found clean streets, a quiet downtown and people opting to ride bikes instead of drive cars.
In her own way, Switzerland was telling us to slow down and enjoy the ride.
Setting Up Basecamp in Thun
Take a walk along the Aare river to get beautiful views of Thun and make some stops at a few local shops.
Rather than hop between cities every night, we chose Thun (pronounced “toon”) as our basecamp. Nestled between Lake Thun and the Bernese Oberland Alps, it gave us easy access to other cities like Lucerne and Interlaken.
Our hotel sat within walking distance of a tram station, and from the moment we dropped off our bags, the town invited us to slow down. The German-speaking locals were kind and patient, and even though we didn’t know the language, most conversations transitioned smoothly into English.
The city itself felt like a fairy tale — cobblestone streets, pastel buildings, lakeside cafes, and castles perched on hillsides. These features each highlighted during an evening stroll around Lake Thun where golden hour made everything glow. Thun showcased the majesty of the Swiss landscape, leaving a lasting impression in our hearts.
Exploring Lucerne & Mount Pilatus
The Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) spans the Reuss river and is an ideal place to get a few pictures.
From Thun, we took the train to Lucerne, a city that blended old-world charm with modern-day ease. The Old Town was full of life: flower-lined bridges, historic churches, and shop windows displaying everything from chocolates to cuckoo clocks.
One of the biggest highlights was the Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus. The journey included a boat ride across Lake Lucerne, a steep cogwheel railway ride (the steepest in the world), and panoramic views from the mountain’s peak. We spent the afternoon walking trails, soaking in views of the valley below.
Alphorn players serenading visitors at the top of Mount Pilatus.
On the mountain top, we could hear alphorns being played, adding to the atmosphere. Two alphornist provided background music as we walked down to a trail with an expansive view of the Swiss mountainside. The sheer vastness of the Emmental Alps was on full display.
The Calm of Interlaken & the Pulse of Lugano
A lakeside view of downtown Lugano, an Italian town in southern Switzerland.
We carved out time for Interlaken, a town “between lakes.” While it’s known for adventure sports, we leaned into slower moments: strolling the Aare River, admiring the paragliders in the sky and enjoying lunch before catching a train towards Italy.
But before Italy, we transitionaed south to Lugano, brushing the Italian border. It felt distinctly different. Lugano was much louder, more expressive, slightly chaotic -- a sign of things to come in Italy. It was a noticeable shift in tone, almost as if we’d crossed into a different country entirely — and in a way, we had.
The locals spoke Italian, shops sported designer brands and the cuisine included pizza, pasta and spritzes. Italy was telling us "welcome" well before we ever crossed the border.
Beauty at a Premium
Switzerland exceeded every expectation. The views, from lakes to peaks to trains winding through countryside, were consistently stunning. The people were kind, the air was fresh, and the infrastructure was among the best I’ve experienced.
But all that beauty comes at a price.
Meals, parking and transit — everything was more expensive than expected. We found small ways to offset the cost: day passes for trains, groceries from Co-Op and Migros instead of constant dining out, and walking rather than riding whenever possible.
If you’re planning a trip, don’t rush. Pick a base, move slowly, and let each place reveal itself in its own time. Switzerland rewards those who move slowly.
