Reset search
Satellite
Search this area

Switzerland Aspi

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
  • Portugal & Switzerland
    Day 16–19

    Oberland Region

    May 26, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    The alps! We decided to use Interlaken as our "base camp" for exploring the region.

    We arrived mid day and decided to rent bikes and ride along Brienzersee - a blue green lake east of Interlaken. We followed along a narrow road and stopped both at Iseltwald for lunch and Giessbachfälle! The hills to the waterfall were no joke but made for a fast journey back once we turned around! A street food festival was in full swing when we arrived back in Interlaken; enjoyed a couple beer and a "sushi hotdog" before heading to the hostel to check in.

    We stayed at Balmer's Hostel, which is repeatedly voted Switzerland's best hostel and is one of the oldest, opened in 1907. It consisted of 3 or 4 interconnected houses converted into shared dorms, private rooms and lots of different social spaces. They even have a club in the basement, although it wasn't open while we were there. We made fast friends with our neighbors Jay & Shiv from Manchester and signed up for the beer pong tournament that night. The hostel had a very fun and friendly atmosphere!

    Day 2 we took the train to Lauterbrunnen - walking along the village streets admiring the many waterfalls! We took a cable car up to a mountain village called Grimmelwald which had spectacular views of the mountains! We walked from here to Mürren and then all the way back down to Lauterbrunnen. Sadly the rain found us for the last hour of our hike as we descended.

    Day 3 - Jungfraujoch & Grindelwald. We took an early train from Interlaken to Grindelwald and hopped on the Eiger Express, we would have great views of the Eiger but the clouds were socked in low. From the Eiger Glacier we had another train which tunneled through the mountains up to Jungfraujoch, "The Top of Europe". At about 3650m (12000 feet) above sea level, we could feel the elevation instantly when we got off the train. We were rewarded with blue bird skies and unlimited views above the clouds! The station at the top was massive, with many tunnels leading to other plateau viewpoints, an ice cave and a terrace atop one of the peaks. They also use this station for scientific research at high elevation. We found the highest patio bar in Europe to enjoy the views, and also picked up some treats at the highest Lindt chocolate shop. We were tired from the early wakeup but we're so glad we took an early train as we had no wait, but there was a massive line when we got back down.

    We stayed in Grindelwald for the rest of the day and took the gondolas up to First Peak. We had more beautiful views along the way of all the farms surrounded by mountains. They have a free cliff walk here which is not for the faint of heart but offered views looked down and many paragliders.

    The photos are from our bike ride, the sushi “hotdog”, the hike from Mürren to lauterbrunnen, JungFrau and finally Grindelwald First    Read more

  • Morris & Susan's Viking WC
    2
    1
    Day 107

    Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

    April 24, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    Awoke to large snowflakes falling gently this morning as we looked out our balcony overlooking the Bernese Swiss Alps. Change of plans today due to snow avalanche risk at some of the mountain areas nearby, so our scheduled hike was canceled. We decided to go over to the next valley above Interlaken and get to the top of Jungfrau via the highest train station in Europe. So we planned out the route via trains and off we went to explore.

    The train wove through small villages as we climbed the mountain. It was still snowing and cloudy as we changed trains for the last leg of the journey through a long tunnel to the top. Luckily, as we emerged outside, we were not disappointed as we were above the clouds. The view was spectacular with the summit of Mt. Jungfrau at 13,642 feet elevation standing right in front of us.

    On the Reasearch observation platform, you could see the glacier valley to your right. We went out on Glacier's point, but by the time we reached it, the clouds had moved in, and the temp was -2F....Burr.

    Before leaving, we explored the newest attraction, an ice cave lined with ice sculptures, and had lunch up top. (Who knew fresh salmon could taste so good at 12,000 feet). One of our stops on the way back was the small town of Grindelwald, where Susan had visited 40 years ago, for a fun trip down memory lane.

    Returned to Lauterbrunnen around 6 pm and set off for a walk on the valley floor to see the cascading waterfalls along the cliffs. Along the way, we found Susan's perfect dream house. Finished the evening at a local pub for dinner.

    Switzerland is such a peaceful idyllic setting of nature at its best.    Read more

  • TravelerMy Interrail Adventure 2024 ✨
    2312162
    Day 11

    Days 10-12: Swiss bliss 🇨🇭❄️🏔️

    April 21, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌫 2 °C

    After a short train journey from Bern, I arrived in Interlaken. It's a small town surrounded by stunning snowcapped mountains and hugged eitherside by two beautiful lakes. The Aare River running through the town is the most unbelievable blue! 💙

    Everything about the landscape here is unreal! The photos just don't do it justice (most of the pics were taken on my camera so this is a small upload) 📸    Read more

  • TravelerParenthèse européenne
    Day 2

    J1 - journée à Berne

    March 2, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Ce matin difficile de sortir du lit, l'habitude de se lever tard ces dernières semaines de fait ressentir ! Après avoir pris une douche et remballé mes affaires j'ai quitté l'auberge en y laissant mon sac pour la journée.

    Je me suis baladée dans la ville, la vieille ville est assez petite mais jolie. Les bâtiments sont tous gris, avec des arches au rez de chaussée sous lesquelles on trouve restaurants et magasins. Je suis allée visiter le jardin des roses dans lequel se trouvent environ 80 espèces de roses différentes. Mais vu la saison, aucun rosier n'était fleuri. Le jardin est quand même agréable, avec une belle vue sur la ville. J'ai passé la matinée sous un soleil agréable et réconfortant. Ensuite je suis allée en haut de la colline de Gurten, l'ascension à pieds m'a rappelé la montée de la Bastille en terme de dénivelé et de longueur, j'étais ravie de ne pas porter mon sac ! En haut il y avait une tour avec des escaliers, on y avait une vue magnifique sur la ville, ses alentours, et les Alpes !

    Ensuite je suis rentrée me poser à l'auberge devant une série en attendant mon train pour Interlaken, où je passe la nuit. J'y ai retrouvé Jeanne, la française rencontrée hier, et nous avons partagé un repas et un verre.

    Cette journée était assez spéciale pour moi car je pense ne pas encore m'être faite à ce voyage et au fait d'être seule. Je traverse donc des moments de questionnement, mais ça n'est que le début. En espérant que ça s'arrangera les prochains jours !

    Je vous embrasse    Read more

    See translation
  • Winter in Europe
    41
    Day 14

    Interlaken

    January 17, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Next stop was Interlaken, a relatively quick train trip under the Alps. It seemed quick, but the tunnel is 18kms long and the train is doing 200kms an hour. Love Swiss engineering.

    Interlaken is in the middle of 2 massive lakes and the photo ops just kept coming.Read more

  • TravelerEurope - Fall 2023
    1
    Day 29

    Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen hike

    October 24, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌧 45 °F

    Doesn't have those spectacular alpine views, but still a very pretty area to hike through. Route took me past some nice variety -- more remote stretches as well as a few farms and teeny towns. I JUST managed to beat the fog and mist rolling in, so I still got some nice views before it obscured them completely. It actually kind of added to the ambiance in the lower elevation part when it did start rolling in, gave it a neat "Wuthering Heights" vibe. (Also passed another of those little stations where local farmers put their cheese for sale and you just grab some and leave money on the honor system.)Read more

  • Martha SleutelItaly & Switzerland
    12
    Day 14

    Trummelbach Gorge and Waterfall

    September 18, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    What to do on a rainy day? Go to a subterranean waterfall!

    Trummelbach Falls is a series of 10 glacier-fed waterfalls that thunder down a gorge INSIDE a mountain. Water gushes through a chasm in a mountain, erupting in multiple chutes and falls.

    As with all the sites here, getting there took 2 cable cars, and a short bus ride. Inside the waterfall tunnel, there was a funicular, bringing us halfway up. From there, we climbed multiple levels of steps and hugged the tunnel walls on flat stretches.

    Truly amazing. The most unusual waterfall we've ever seen!    Read more

  • Swiss Family Young
    1
    Day 4

    Interlaken Bound

    September 17, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    This morning we said goodbye to Lucerne and the first leg of our mini tour of Switzerland came to a close. Our home for the next 4 days will be Interlaken, a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region of central Switzerland, built on a narrow stretch of valley, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz (hence the imaginative name).

    The journey from Lucerne to Interlaken was just stunning, as the train threaded its way through narrow valleys, hemmed in by steep sided mountains (or tall hills - I didn't check). We crossed green valley floors, watched by herds of cows ringing their bells in greeting, and climbed gradients I didn't think possible for a train. At times the track bed was blasted into the side of the mountain, such that we seemed to cling precariously close to the edge. Our route took us past several lakes, which as result of the mineral content of the glacier melt water that feeds them are beautiful shades of bluish green (my description) or depending on the light are emerald, turquoise or azure (Jackie's description).

    As I gazed out of the panoramic window from our seats in First Class, my eye caught the Co-op bag with the 2 croissants we had bought for the journey. Two pastries and a bottle of water for £4.30 - definitely got to be cheaper than the food on board. You can take the boy out of Lanarkshire but you can't take Lanarkshire out of the boy.

    The Swiss Railways seem to be run on trust, at least on a local level. We dutifully purchased our tickets for each journey made, however with no barrier checks at platforms or inspection on the train, I did wonder if fare dodging was a thing. There was a notice posted on the wall warning of a 100 CHF fine for travelling without a valid ticket, so I suppose it must be. We did have our tickets and half-fare entitlement checked on both intercity trains for our journeys to Lucerne and Interlaken.

    Remaining on the theme of public transport, the bus was waiting at the train station for our arrival and brought us swiftly to the Neuhaus Golf and Strand Hotel. Transportation hubs certainly make tourist travel simple and stress free. Our hotel is quite different from the one we have just left, and is directly on the shore of Lake Thun, with nothing much else around. Our room is a good size and comfortable, with a balcony overlooking the lake. At the time of writing Jackie is sitting on said balcony, with a glass of wine in her hand and a big grin on her face. In between talking about Heidi, she keeps saying "I love it I love it". When Mrs Y is happy, I am happy.....    Read more

  • Martha SleutelItaly & Switzerland
    Day 13

    Schilthorn - Charlie's Scary Adventure

    September 17, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    The Schilthorn is one of the highest peaks in the region (9748 feet) with panoramic views of the Swiss alps. We took two cable cars to the top. There were metal mesh pathways attached to the cliff for those who wanted to be able to view the valley thousands of feet below - right under your feet. I couldn't do it - didn't even try. Or give it a 2nd thought. Hard no.

    Charlie ventured out onto the cliff edge. The photos do not AT ALL capture the depth of the valley below.

    After taking the cable car down the mountain, we went (via cable car) to another town in the valley and walked along a beautiful stream, past waterfalls to Lautenbrunnen.

    The video was taken at dinner next door to our hotel.    Read more

  • Martha SleutelItaly & Switzerland
    2
    Day 12

    Getting to Murren

    September 16, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Train travel is so nifty.
    -- Just show up at the train station 5-10 minutes before your train leaves, find your platform, and get on your train.
    -- Luggage is no problem (size, weight, extra cost, etc), except carrying it up or down steps in many train stations. There are elevators in almost all stations.
    -- Seats are wide and comfortable (often lots of empty seats). Convenient tables and plugs. Plenty of room to spread out and wide aisles to walk around in.
    -- Schedules are easy to look up on apps, and trains to different cities are frequent, sometimes every 20 minutes.

    We took multiple trains today. First, from Lausanne to Montreax, then on the Golden Pass scenic train to Interlaken ("between lakes"). Then, it got complicated.

    Today's destination was Murren, a town on a cliff. No main roads go to the town and there are few vehicles (mainly construction or maintenance or a very few 4WDs). To get there - higher in the mountains - we took a mountain train/cog train. Next was a large cable car, and then another cog train to Murren. This whole process, from Interlaken (at the valley floor) to Murren took 30 minutes. Fortunately there are restaurants, hotels and one small grocery store here. Enough for us!

    Many different lifts, cable cars, and other contraptions get people to the tops of the nearby mountains. From our hotel, we can see many glaciers. Tomorrow, we'll explore.    Read more

Join us:

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice