A Swiss Weekend Getaway
Switzerland is a country of stunning natural beauty, and there is no better way to experience it than by spending a weekend in the Swiss countryside. Geneva is a great base for exploring the surrounding area, and there are plenty of things to see and do in the nearby towns and villages. The trains are so good, and it’s beautiful travelling through the Swiss countryside.
Day 1: Gruyères, Maison Cailler and Giger Museum.
Gruyères is a charming medieval town located about 45 minutes from Geneva. The town is famous for its cheese, and there is a cheese factory where you can learn about the production process. You can also visit the Giger Museum, which is home the works of HR Giger, the artist who created the designs for the Alien films. Later on in the evening, pop in to the Giger themed bar with its Alien cocktails and Alien decor.
After visiting Gruyères, you can head to the Maison Cailler chocolate factory, we walked from Gruyères on a beautiful sunny day, past fields and rivers and through small hamlets. It took just over an hour. At the chocolate factory you learn all about the history of chocolate and take a tour of the factory. You can also have unlimited samples of the delicious chocolate that is made there!
Head back to Gruyères by train/bus and watch the sunset from the ramparts, grab a glass of wine at the cute little wine terrace near the entrance to the hilltop village and finish the night off with a delicious fondue.
Day 2: Interlaken, Harder Kulm and Schülerbad.
Interlaken is a beautiful town located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. The town is surrounded by mountains and lakes, and there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. You can go swimming in the lake at Schülerbad, it’s gorgeous, the water is amazing and a great way to cool down after a big hike. It’s just a short bus journey away from Interlaken station.
Interlaken also has a cable car up to the top of Harder Kulm, one of the mountains looming over the valley. It’s a great spot for panoramic views of the surrounding area. There’s a restaurant and a deck to take some amazing photos. We grabbed some food and then went for a hike along one of the many trails, before heading back and enjoying an ice cold beer.
Just remember to time your journey back down, there was a big queue when we headed back but it went relatively quickly. We grabbed a few beers and found a spot by the river, it was ice cold but so refreshing! If you get caught in the current don’t panic, there are plenty of spots to get out along the town.
Be warned, Interlaken isn’t that busy by night, it’s definitely more of a daytime place.
Day 3: Lauterbrunnen, Staubbach Falls and Trümmelbach Falls.
Lauterbrunnen is a picturesque village located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. The village is surrounded by mountains and waterfalls, and it is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers. You can take a short train ride up there, it’s a beautiful journey. Once there you have so many options, you can visit Staubbach Falls, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in Europe up close. Or you can take a leisurely walk to UNESCO Trümmelbach Falls, 10 waterfalls located inside a glacier!
The walk there is stunning, following the river upstream with views of Staubbach pouring down the mountain side. Once you get to Trummelbach you can take a lift through the mountain and start near the top. It’s incredible to see the force of the water at each fall. Then you meander down, passing waterfalls and marvelling at the way it’s carved through the rock.
As you come out of the cave system you’re greeted with views across the valley, a great photo opportunity! There’s a restaurant at the bottom, but we headed back to Interlaken as we had limited time and wanted to swim in the lake! So we picked up some bits for a picnic and relaxed before taking the train back to Geneva.
Tips for Planning Your Trip.
- The best time to visit Switzerland is during the summer months (June-September).
- There are several airports in Switzerland, including Geneva, Bern and Zurich Airports.
- Swiss trains are a great way to get around the country.
- There are many different types of accommodation available in Switzerland, from luxury hotels to budget hostels.
- Be sure to pack for all types of weather, as the weather in Switzerland can be unpredictable.
- I would also recommend visiting the following websites for more information on Switzerland:
Switzerland Tourism Interlaken Tourism
Lauterbrunnen Tourism Gruyères
I hope this blog post has helped you plan your trip to Switzerland, and you have a wonderful time exploring the Swiss countryside. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment. Or for more Switzerland ideas, check out my other blog here.
ALWAYSANOVICE 