Europe (Switzerland) April/May 2012

Total expenses incurred (5 days): CHF366.10 = Rm1,223

Hostels (4 nights): Backpackers Lucerne CHF32x2 + City backpackers-Hostel Biber, Zurich CHF37x2 = CHF138.00 (4-dorm bed room)
Food & groceries: CHF24.70
Souvenirs: CHF23.00
Eurolines service fee: CHF5.00
Misc: CHF2.00
Swiss trains: Total CHF173.40 = Rm580
Geneva > Bern via Laussane - CHF47.00
Bern > Lucerne via Olten & Zofingen - CHF43.40
Lucerne > Interlaken (return) - CHF30 x 2 = CHF60.00
Lucerne > Zurich - CHF23.00
Transport: Eurolines Bus pass (London > Geneva; Zurich > Paris)
Currency Exchange CHF$1=Rm3.34

1) Geneva, Switzerland & train ride from Geneva > Lausanne (stopover) > Bern (stopover) > Lucerne (overnight stay) 

Our Eurolines bus from Paris arrived in Geneva at around 06.00 and before heading to Geneva train station for a train ride to Bern/Lucerne, we lugged our bags towards Lake Geneva, a short distance from the bus terminal. After taken a few pictures around the Lake Geneva, we strolled pass the famous Rue du Mont-Blanc with rows of posh shops selling Swiss knives, watches, pens, chocolates and gifts / souvenirs.

Lake Geneva is listed as a Natural Wonder of the World and Geneva is Switzerland's second largest city. It is also the HQs of United Nation, International Red Cross, International Labor Organization & World Health Organization.

As Geneva was our first stopover in Switzerland and due to time constraints, we were not able to explore the city in greater depth. If given the opportunity again, I could like to make another visit to Geneva in the near future. 

2) Lausanne, Switzerland - a brief stopover & a free & easy walking tour of downtown Lausanne before heading to Lucerne for our overnight stay 

From the Zurich train station, our group boarded a train to Bern (CHF47) via Lausanne. Our group made a brief stopover in Lausanne, overlooking Lake Geneva. Lausanne is the HQ of the International Olympic Committee and also the host of the Swiss Hotel School. The Olympic Museum is also in Lausanne.

As it was drizzling at the time of our visit, it was quite challenging for us to walk up the cobblestone shopping street just opposite the train station. At the higher ground of the city center, we had a panoramic view of Lake Geneva & a magnificent view of snow-capped mountains in the background.

Lausanne has one of the Switzerland's grandest Gothic cathedrals found in the city center. 

3) Bern, Switzerland - train ride from Lausanne > Bern (stopover) & free & easy walking tour in downtown Bern 

If you do not make a stopover in Lausanne, the train journey time from Geneva to Bern is approx 1 hr 45 mins. 

I made a point to visit Bern due to her famous 15th century Old Town which has been gazetted as an UNESCO World Heritage site. My original plan was to stay overnight in Bern but opted for Lucerne instead due to its close proximity to Zurich.

We were impressed with Bern after strolling along the Marktgasse to the Zytglogge Clock Tower. The real attraction was rows of colorful Swiss flags lining out on both sides of the covered arcades in Martgasse area. If you have a deep pocket, Bern's Casino welcomes you with open arms ! As I am no gambler, so I just walked pass the Casino.

Bern is also the place where Albert Einstein developed his theory of relativity in 1905. Travelling does broaden one's knowledge in Science ! Do you know that Toblerone chocolate is made in Bern ?

4) Lucerne, Switzerland - train ride from Bern > Lucerne; free & easy walking tour in downtown Lucerne

From Bern, we took a train (CHF43) via Olten & Zofingen and arrived in Lucerne at around 17.00 (journey time - 1hr 30 mins) and stayed in Backpackers Lucerne hostel for two nights. Our room (4-bed) faced a snow-capped mountain and the view from the hostel's glass window looked very spectacular. The hostel has a nice & well equipped kitchen and we had our own cooked breakfasts & dinners during our three days stay there.

The next morning, we walked to the Lucerne train station and bought a return train ticket (CHF60) for our day trip to Interlaken (journey time 2hrs) on that day.

During our stays in Lucerne, we took our leisure time and visited the 15th-century Old Town, Lake Lucerne & the famous Kapelbrucke (Chapel Bridge) dating from 1333 - Lucerne best known landmark.

5) Interlaken, Switzerland - train ride from Lucerne > Interlaken; free & easy walking tour in downtown Interlaken

Some years ago when I attended a MATTA Travel Fair in Kuala Lumpur, the exhibitor of a Switzerland tourist booth provided me some interesting advice on Interlaken. The official reiterated to me that should I make a visit to Switzerland in the near future, I should as a first timer includes Interlaken as one of the top priority destinations.

Today, my dream has come true. We were excited when we boarded a train from Lucerne to Interlaken Ost and along the way, we admired the natural beauty and landscape of this wonderland of Switzerland. On arrival , we took a slow walk from Interlaken Ost station to the main street leading to Interlaken West. Our spirit was high & cheerful; the surrounding sights simply stirred our souls and the weather was cool and refreshing. A very memorable visit indeed !

To sum it all, the views from the train's window were simply awe-inspiring - snow-capped mountains, stylish Swiss homes & rural farmhouses, beautiful lakes & hills, tall pine tress, peaceful meadows etc - no wonder tourists like to flock to this land of paradise. 

6) Zurich, Switzerland - train ride from Lucerne > Zurich & overnight stay in Zurich before heading back by Eurolines bus to Paris, France 

From Lucerne , we took a train to Zurich (CHF23 - journey time 1hr) and stayed for two nights in this capital city & leading world financial center of Switzerland.

For the next three days, the weather in Zurich was wet and cold so it was quite messy for us to move around the various tourist sites in Old Town and near the Lake Zurich & Limmat river front area. Nevertheless, with the help of our umbrellas, we had a good glimpse of Zurich by day & night. Zurich train station is an interesting landmark not to be missed.

For the 2nd day, we made a day trip from Zurich by train to a small neighboring country called Lichtenstein.

On the 3rd day, we departed Zurich for Paris on an overnight Eurolines bus thus ending our visit to Switzerland with a lingering mind. In Paris, we stayed for three more nights. On 26 April, my wife and in-laws departed Paris for their flight back to Kuala Lumpur thus ending their 15 day free & easy trip to 5 countries (France, England, Scotland, Switzerland & Lichtenstein). As for me , I continued my travel for another 15 days to Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar & Morocco. I returned to Paris on 9 May and departed for Kuala Lumpur on 11 May.

7) City Backpacker - Hotel Biber, Zurich, Switzerland (2 nights)

8) Backpackers Lucerne, Switzerland (4 nights)

9) Lausanne, Switzerland - more pictures (train ride from Lausanne > Bern)

10) Lucerne, Switzerland - more pictures in downtown Bern & Lucerne lake - very scenic touristy place ! 

11) Country side scenery from Bern to Lucerne, Switzerland (as viewed from the train's windows)

12) Countryside scenery from Interlaken > Lucerne, Switzerland (as viewed from train's windows)

Countryside scenery from Lucerne > Zurich, Switzerland