A winter wonderland
A medium-budget trip to Switzerland in winter is possible with a little planning.
IT WAS not the traditional white Christmas. After two years of scrimping and saving and a whole year of planning, a bucket wish list of visiting Switzerland – to be a kid and revel in snow – became a reality earlier this year.
Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries to visit but with proper planning, it is possible to travel within a budget. Train travel is efficient, affordable, punctual and, like everything Swiss, precise. For example, trains depart at 8.08am, not 8.10am. Purchasing a Swiss half-fare card at CHF120 (RM508) entitles one to 50% discount off the normal fare, and this also extends to funiculars, mountain railways and boat cruises.
Trust me, you save a substantial amount with a discount card like this.
The only things that are cheap in Switzerland are chocolates and strawberries!
We started our two-week holiday there in Bern, the capital and a Unesco World Heritage city.
Although visitors have to pay a city tax of CHF5.30 (RM23) per day, transportation was efficient and free throughout the city, as well as to the mountain, Gurten. Head to the Alstadt (Old Town) to enjoy more of this beautifully preserved city. There are numerous fountains there, and you can take its pure Alpine drinking water for free.
Physicist Albert Einstein was born in Bern; there is a statue of him at the Barenpark, which is actually a bear park. This park was closed in winter when we visited as the bears were hibernating.
The most famous landmark in Bern is the medieval Zytglogge Astronomical Clock from the 13th century. There are two large clocks on display.
Our next stop was Zermatt, a ski resort and a vehicle-free town, shaped by ancient traditions and modern tourism. It is nestled in a valley at the foot of the stunning 4,477m Matterhorn, which is visible from every angle in town. A ride up to Gornegrat at 4,000m would set you back by CHF76 (RM321, full fare).
Strolling through Zermatt Old Town with its charming wooden houses covered in snow as well as stables and barns built between the 15th and 19th century, feels like a trip back in time.
You would be tempted to board the Glacier Express to St Moritz, which is supposedly where the rich and famous go for their holidays. The Glacier Express is not only Europe’s slowest express train but also very expensive with fares starting from CHF149 (RM630).
This price excludes the compulsory reservation fee which varies each season (CHF23/RM97 in winter).
For those travelling on a budget, opt for the Swiss Regional train which goes along almost the same route as the Glacier Express (there are two stops but it’s not really an inconvenience).
We also went to Chur, one of the oldest cities in Switzerland that has been inhabited since 3000BC and referred to as The Alpine City. The place has narrow winding streets, snow-capped mountains, modern shopping centres and beautiful nature. Most tourists stop by this small town to embark on yet another magnificent train ride, the Unesco World Heritage Albula and Bernina Express which connects northern and southern
Europe with spectacular view of the Alps.
Just like its sister train the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express has a cheaper regional train which ends in the small Italian town of Tirano.
Zurich is a city synonymous not only with wealth and high-end couture but also the most expensive real estate in all of Europe. The Bahnhorstrasse is the world famous shopping mile that’s lined with department stores, boutiques and jewellery stores.
As in most European cities, cathedrals top the list of the most visited tourist attraction and Zurich has a few of them. The twin spires of the Grossmunster Church, St Peter’s Church and the Fraumunster, built specifically for aristocratic women with the famous large stained glass windows by Marc Chagall, dominate the landscape.
Like most Swiss cities, Zurich is a nice place to walk around in. Start the day from Lindenhof situated in the city’s historic quarter to enjoy a magnificent view of the Limmat River and continue to the Old Town, which will ultimately lead to Burkliplatz, a town square with a boulevard and a lakeside promenade. It is also the starting point for tours on Lake Zurich.
Switzerland is a landlocked country with Germany, France and Italy as its neighbours. We visited mostly the German-speaking side of the country and would have loved to visit the French and Italian sides as well, but couldn’t.
Perhaps that’s where we will go on our next big trip!
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.