Living The Swiss Dream

STAY ZERMATT Hotel Daniela is an alpine-style property within the town centre, and a nine-minute walk from both the Matterhorn Ski Paradise and the Gornergrat railway. Doubles from `27,166; julen.ch MONTREUX Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Autograph Collection is set in a landmark Belle Epoque building across the street from Montreux station. Doubles from `22,796; marriott.com EAT Bazaar by CERVO in Zermatt serves dishes inspired by the lively markets of the East. cervo.swiss Gitz-Gädi is styled like a rustic hunting cabin, and combines typical Swiss or Valais dishes with a modern international cuisine. Try the lamb fillet and slow cooked beef cheeks. hotelsilvana.ch Cheese Factory in Zermatt serves a mean chili fondue and different varieties of raclette. The Swiss meringue here is worth a try too. schweizerhofzermatt.ch La Rouvenaz is a cosmopolitan trattoria brasserie serving Italian specialities and seafood, in the centre of Montreux overlooking the lake. rouvenaz.ch Montreux Jazz Café is located inside Hotel Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. The Swiss perch fillets with foamy butter, GETTING THERE tartare sauce, French fries, Swiss Airlines (swiss.com) and green salad is a must try. offers direct flights from Delhi montreuxjazzcafe.com and Mumbai to Zurich. Brasserie La Coupole 1912 Restaurant Resto Bar is located just opposite the Vevey station, and serves traditional Swiss dishes like roesti gratinated with Vacherin cheese, served with cured meat. astra-hotel.ch VISIT Santa’s House at Rochers-deNaye In the days leading upto Christmas, the House of Santa Claus comes alive in a grotto in the heart of Rochers-deNaye mountain. The 55-minute cogwheel railway ride from Montreux offers unrivalled views over the Alps and Lake Geneva. Alimentarium The world’s first-ever foodthemed museum located on the bank of Lake Geneva in Vevey has interactive and exhibits, cooking workshops, and guided tours. The emblem of the Alimentarium is the eight metre-high fork rising from the lake. alimentarium.org Vevey Noel The Christmas village on Place Scanavin in Vevey is the best place to soak in the festive spirit. There are chalets and kotas, wood fires, and mulled wine to celebrate with family and friends. SWISS TRAVEL PASS For a comfortable journey through Switzerland, get a 1st Class Swiss Travel Pass. It offers unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat, and free admission to more than 500 museums throughout Switzerland. myswitzerland.com