A Swiss Surprise: A First International Trip Filled With Family, Alps And Alpine Wonder

After about more than a decade of my marriage, one day, out of the blue, my husband said, “We are going to Switzerland to meet your aunt!” and I couldn’t believe it. I had never flown overseas. I was eager but apprehensive. My husband had managed to get hold of the email id of my oldest cousin Alexandre online, connected with him and that’s how this trip materialised. I was going to meet my aunt and my cousins after more than 30 years!

The flight was smooth and as we neared Switzerland, I spotted the Alps from the plane which looked like vanilla icing on a huge cake. After landing in Zurich, I was extremely thrilled to see my uncle Rene (now no more). He had come to receive us at the airport. He was as charming as ever and he always believed in the Swiss greeting of three kisses – one on the left cheek, then right cheek and then left again. Being an engineer, he had travelled the world on projects and spoke good English, French (since he was born in Geneva) and of course, Swiss-German.

My cousin Alexandre picked us up in his BMW and we drove to Baden that was about 30 minutes away, where my aunt lived. As the car zipped past, I was zapped! The weather in May was cool and everything seemed so pristine, so clean and organised. This was another world altogether. My aunt welcomed us warmly and we had a cup of tea with biscuits that had a layer of chocolate between them. The family spoke Swiss German with each other and in English with us. It all reminded me of European films with sub-titles. It was so amazing to see my aunt so well-settled and deeply entrenched in the Swiss way of life. But she never forgot her Indian-Goan roots.

Some Swiss Sights

Rene and Rita took us to a few famous spots in Switzerland – Zurich, Rhine falls, Mount Pilatus and Lucerne. Zurich, the financial capital, was full of smart, chic bankers, the best cars, superb eateries, designer stores and yet, the city had a laid-back feel in certain parts. Out there, the Bahnofstrasse, the road that stretches from the railway station to Lake Zurich and which is reportedly paved with gold in the lockers underneath, required a better part of the day to explore. One of our stops was the Sprungli and Laderach chocolatiers who offer the best chocolates! We saw the vegetarian restaurant called the Hiltl, where diners can choose their food and pay by weight; it also has an amazing buffet on offer, with plenty of Indian dishes. The stores on Banhofstrasse have the world’s best brands and almost every other building is a bank’s headquarters - Raifessen, UBS, Credit Suisse and more.

We visited the Old Town (altstadt), the Grossmunster (Great church), the Church of Our Lady (Fraumunster) and walked to the Lake Zurich promenade for a leisurely boat ride. While returning home, we visited a food market at Zurich Railway Station, where fresh produce and food was being sold. One of them had samosas. My uncle Rene gorged on them as he loved Indian food while we tasted various cheeses and Raclette, molten cheese served with potatoes.

The trip was just for seven days, so we decided to cover as much as possible. Alexandre took us to Berne, the capital. He took us inside the Swiss Parliament and we even saw a session in progress. As we travelled by trains, we saw that many people travelled with their pet dogs on the train and also carried their bicycles along – either using them to reach their place of work or after a cycling expedition.

A Comfortable Commute

I couldn’t stop marvelling at the beauty of this country. Small things touched me; car drivers stopped for pedestrians to cross, and we could drink water from the fountains that were aplenty in the cities. The big things that left me astounded were the transport systems – the trains were spotlessly clean and always on time. There was no place in Switzerland, be it the top of the mountain or the remotest village that wasn’t connected by public transport. The tunnels, the highways, the boats, buses, trams and the cable cars, there were plenty of ways to reach wherever you wanted to go even if you didn’t have a personal car. The buses had a ramp that lowered for the wheelchairs to enter and for the elderly to step down – that was the extent of attention to inclusivity. Boats connected many parts of the city to each other and offered great views, besides refreshments while on water. Cycling to work was a culture too. And then there was this one ubiquitous Swiss Pass with which we could take any mode of transport across the country.

Views & Valleys

Well, to speak of the views now, each train ride had something unique to offer and every mountain top was scenic. On the way to Interlaken, we passed by Lake Thun and Lake Brienz; though called lakes, they are vast blue green water bodies, with picturesque snow-capped mountains and valleys in the backdrop. I didn’t want to take my eyes off from the train window lest I missed the spectacular vistas. While on top of Jungfrau, there is nothing but snow even during summer, with some peaks offering a bit of greenery adding to the landscape.

One of our excursions was to Mount Pilatus and it was my first time in a cable car. To be honest I was a bit scared as the cars swung high up into the mountains. It had glass on all sides for enjoying the views below and it was exhilarating. During winter there is snow all around, and during summers the coniferous trees are in various shades of green, while during Fall the landscape is red, yellow and brown. All round the year, this country is a delight.

Walking is a must in Switzerland as in every European city and there are enough cafes to sit in and watch the world pass by. We tasted plenty of cheese, paired with bread and wine – in restaurants and at my aunt’s place. With Bollywood promoting Switzerland, it was on everybody’s bucket list and I found that in most of the tourist spots, there was a good offering of Indian cuisine for people from all over the world.

Meals & More

Out of curiosity I asked my cousins about their meals at home – the Swiss eat cheese and bread as a staple, lunch consists of a light meal like a sandwich and dinner is early – soup, bread and cheese. In case of special occasions, there are plenty of restaurants that offer classy meals - super expensive but an experience of a lifetime. Fish from the lakes is a speciality, while meat is a delicacy – coupled with fresh vegetables, bread and rice. Wine is a must with most meals and desserts too, while espresso is the grand finale to a meal.

Chocolates are synonymous with Switzerland. I was amazed at the range of chocolates to choose from – the Toblerones, the Milkas and Lindts that I bought from the supermarkets Coop and Migros, to the gourmet chocolates of Laderach and Sprungli.

Over the seven-day trip, we met all my cousins – Anne Claude and Daniele with their respective spouses and their children, had some fantastic meals together, learnt a few Swiss-German words, and ate plenty of cheese. The trip was fantastic, an experience to cherish but what made it extraordinary was the family reunion.

The Information

Switzerland is a land-locked country. The borders are influenced by the neighbouring countries.

Lake Geneva Region (French side) – While Geneva is a must, Montreux is the Swiss Riviera city of fashion. Lavaux, which is about half an hour from Montreux, is Switzerland's largest wine-producing area. This site has been included as a World Heritage Site in 2007.

Lugano – The Italian side of Switzerland, it adds a bit of Italian splendour to your Swiss experience by including the Ticino region.

For the Alps

St Moritz - The train ride from St. Moritz to Zurich is a marvel of Swiss technology. Tunnels, and bridges towering above green valleys with superb views makes it a journey to remember. A part of the route is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Zermatt - This quaint town of Switzerland shares a border with Italy and is great for skiing. What makes Zermatt famous is the Matterhorn (4,478 metres high), and referred to as the Toblerone Mountain.

Gornergrat - Located right next to Zermatt, with snow covered peaks and snow plains all around, the best views of the Matterhorn are from Gornergrat.

Glacier 3000 - To get to Glacier 3000, the first part of the journey involves a train ride on the Golden Pass Panoramic from Interlaken or Montreux.

Getting There

Mumbai-Zurich – Swiss Air operates flights daily from major cities.

The Swiss Travel Pass allows unlimited travel on train, bus and boat, public transport and free admission to some museums. It also includes mountain excursions (check while booking). The Swiss Travel Pass is available for 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days.

Aruna Gracias Rathod is a freelance journalist and writer.

FAQs

1. Is this article a travel guide or a personal travel story?
This article is a first-person travel memoir that blends personal experiences with practical insights into travelling across Switzerland, rather than a conventional itinerary-led guide.

2. Which Swiss destinations are covered in the story?
The journey includes Zurich, Baden, Lucerne, Rhine Falls, Mount Pilatus, Jungfrau region, Interlaken, Berne, and scenic train routes past Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

3. Does the article mention public transport in Switzerland?
Yes, it highlights Switzerland’s efficient transport system, including trains, trams, boats, cable cars and the Swiss Travel Pass, with a strong focus on accessibility and punctuality.

4. Is Swiss food and dining discussed in the article?
Absolutely. The story explores Swiss food culture through cheese, chocolates, lake fish, bread-based meals, wine traditions, vegetarian dining and popular chocolatiers like Sprüngli and Läderach.

5. Who would enjoy reading this Switzerland travel piece?
Readers interested in slow travel, emotional journeys, first-time international experiences, European culture, and family-led travel stories will find this article particularly engaging.