Rochers-de-Naye

A cogwheel train takes you to the rocks above Montreux. From there, you can enjoy a grand view of Lake Geneva and the Swiss and French Alps.

The trip to Rochers-de-Naye

Steam trains have been running up to the Rochers-de-Naye since 1892. Today it is an electric cogwheel train that takes passengers to the mountains. The ridetakes about an hour from Montreux.

 

What to do and see

The train station at Rochers-de-Naye is located at an altitude of 1968 m. In summer, you can walk to the observation platform at 2042 m. All year round, you can enjoy the view from both restaurants, and of course during the ride. If the weather is good one can see a large portion of Lake Geneva. Also many peaks can be seen from here.

One of the two restaurants is in the rocks and offers a panoramic view of Lake Geneva. It can be reached through a pedestrian tunnel. The other restaurant, next to the train station, offers a view of the Swiss and French Alps.

In summer, there is a Marmot Paradise where different kinds of mountain marmots can be viewed up close. In the alpine garden "Rambertia", there are many flowers to be admired, again during the summer season. If you like to hike, Rochers-de-Naye is an excellent start or end point of several beautiful routes, e.g. from Les Cases.

Preparation

Always check the weather forecast before going up into the mountains. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. Take along sun glasses. Solid shoes help if you plan to walk around a bit or combine your visit with a hike.

The excursion takes at least 3 hours from Montreux.

The Rigi

The Rigi area offers great opportunities for several scenic trips by cogwheel train, cable car and boat.

What to expect at the Rigi

The Rigi is a mountainous area near Lucerne, between Küssnacht am Rigi, Goldau and Gersau. It's a typical Swiss green landscape with meadows, forests and grazing cows. Since 1871, it is well connected by cogwheel train. Rigi Kulm is the highest point (1798 m) and offers great views of Lake Lucerne, the Alps in the south and the plains in the north, all the way to Germany. Also there is a restaurant.

'Majestic Round Trip'

Take the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau. Change to the cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm and enjoy the view on the top. Then take the cogwheel train down to Arth-Goldau and change to the regular train to Lucerne.

'Classic Round Trip'

Take the boat from Lucerne to Vitznau. Change to the cogwheel train to Rigi Kulm. Then take the cogwheel train down to Rigi Kaltbad and change to the cable car down to Weggis. Walk over to the boat (15 minutes) to return to Lucerne.

Klein Matterhorn - Glacier Paradise

Klein Matterhorn

Enjoy a cable car ride to the highest easily accessible location in the Swiss Alps, to enter a world of glaciers and peaks over 4000 m high.

A visit to Klein Matterhorn

Let's start by explaining that the famous Matterhorn itself is only accessible to mountaineers. There is no cable car "to" the Matterhorn. But there are several great viewing points around Zermatt, where one can see the Matterhorn very well. One of them is Klein Matterhorn, which means 'Little Matterhorn'. It is a ridge at an altitude of 3883 m, in between the Matterhorn and the Monte Rosa massif. The official name of this location is Klein Matterhorn, but in tourism it is often referred to as the 'Matterhorn Glacier Paradise'.

The view from the North-East is how most people know the Matterhorn because that's how it is displayed in most brochures and on postcards. If you like to see the mountain like that, you'd better go to a viewing point such as the Gornergrat or Sunnegga. From Klein Matterhorn, you will see the mountain from the South-East, which is quite a different perspective. Nevertheless, a visit to this remarkable place is well worth it! Just the ride up there is impressive.

Activities on Klein Matterhorn

This is what to you can see and do:

• There is an outdoor viewing platform, as well as indoor panoramic windows to view the many peaks in the Swiss and Italian Alps;
• You can also enjoy the views from the restaurant with panoramic windows;
• The Glacier Palace is an ice grotto inside the glacier, with ice sculptures. The entrance fee is not included in the cable car ticket;
• The Cinema Lounge shows movies about the Alps, mountaineering and more;
• You can ski all year round, even in Summer. If you're not into skiing or snowboarding: there's the option of snow tubing too.
   

  Activities around mid station Trockener Steg

  The last cable car station before Klein Matterhorn is Trockener Steg, which is well worth a stop. This is what to you can do there:
• In Winter there are lots of ski slopes to enjoy;
• In Summer there are several hikes that start from here. You can walk to the Gandegg hut, which has small restaurant and offers basic lodging;
• You can have lunch in the restaurant;
• Of course the views here are beautiful as well, and actually you're slightly closer to the Matterhorn here than at Klein Matterhorn.

  Snowpark

  This is where people go to for snowboarding and freestyle skiing. In Winter it is located near the top station of the Furggsattel chairlift, which can be accessed from mid station Trockener Steg. In Summer, the park is in a different location: on the Plateau Rosa, to be reached via the top station Klein Matterhorn.

  Preparation

  Carefully check the weather forecast as there's no point in going up if there are too many clouds blocking the view. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. Take along gloves, sun glasses and a hat. We advise solid shoes as well.
  Allow at least one hour to enjoy the views from Klein Matterhorn. If you'd like to do more activities, two hours is a more realistic minimum. Including the trip from Zermatt, you should allocate half a day at least to fully enjoy this excursion.
  Klein Matterhorn is located at an altitude of 3883 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while. Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health: before visiting areas over 2500 m, you'd better consult your doctor. In most cases though, staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem.
  
  
  
  
  
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The Eggishorn

What exactly is the Eggishorn?

The Eggishorn is a wonderful location to view the Grosser Aletsch Glacier, which is the largest glacier in the Alps. The location you reach by cable car is a ridge at an altitude of 2869 m. The actual summit of the Eggishorn is located 500 m up north at an altitude of 2926 m.

The Eggishorn is located on the edge of the UNESCO Natural World Heritage property "Jungfrau - Aletsch - Bietschhorn": an extraordinary high-alpine region which includes the Bettmerhorn and the famous Jungfraujoch too.

What to see and do on the Eggishorn

This is what to expect:

• A beautiful high-alpine world with views of the glacier and the peaks of the Bernese Oberland and the Valais;
• A small restaurant, about 50 m from cable car station;
• In Summer: many hiking options, especially from Fiescheralp, the mid-way cable car station. But there are also trails from the Eggishorn down. One of the easy hikes is to walk to Bettmeralp and Riederalp;
• Fiescheralp is one of the many locations where paragliders launch for their flight;
• In Winter: the whole area is a Winter sports paradise with many ski slopes around Bettmeralp, Riederalp, Fiescheralp and even one down from the Eggishorn.

  The Grosser Aletsch Glacier

  The Grosser ('Big') Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier of the Alps. It's about 23 km (14 miles) long and 1 km (3300 ft) wide on average. It originates from the Konkordiaplatz, which can be viewed from the Jungfraujoch. The Jungfraujoch can be seen from the Eggishorn. The weight of the fresh snow in that area causes snow to be pressed to ice. This is an all year round process. The ice is 900 m (2950 ft) thick here. This massive layer of ice moves down with a speed of up to 50 cm per day.
  Global warming is causing the glacier to shrink: about 50 m in length per year, and it is also getting narrower. The glacier is still impressive, but it's sad to see how CO2 emission caused by humanity is tearing down this natural landmark. 
  

  How to choose between the Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn?

  The Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn have some similarities, so you may wonder which one to visit. Both mountains are located south of the Aletsch Glacier and offer magnificent views of the glacier and a 360° view of the Alps. If you're staying in the region, it's absolutely worth visiting them both.
  If you want to visit one of them, this may help: we like the view from the Eggishorn slightly better, because the location allows to look "around the corner" of the curved glacier. So you'll see a bit more of it. On the other hand, visiting the Bettmerhorn is more varied: there's more to do on the top, and the short walk across the village of Bettmeralp, half way up the mountain, is really enjoyable.

  Preparation

  Be sure to check the weather forecast as there's no point in going up if the glacier and the Eggishorn are covered in clouds or mist. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. Take along gloves, sun glasses and perhaps a winter sports hat. Solid shoes help to walk around a bit.
  Allow at least an hour on the top to enjoy the view. If you take your time, count on 3 to 4 hours for the entire excursion from Fiesch in the valley and back.
  The Eggishorn cable car station is located at an altitude of 2869 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while. Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health: before visiting areas over 2500 m, you'd better consult your doctor. In most cases though, staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem.
  
  

Corvatsch

A trip up to Mount Corvatsch, near St. Moritz, will be rewarded with an extraordinary view of the Upper Engadine lakes, Piz Bernina and lots of other mountains.

What to do and see on the Corvatsch

The cable car will take you up the mountain in about 20 minutes, with one change in the mid station Murtèl. The top station is located about 1000 m north of and 150 m beneath the actual peak of the Corvatsch. From the observation platform at 3303 m, you will have a great view of snow capped peaks. The nearby Corvatsch is very prominent, and Piz Bernina is the highest (4049 m) mountain in sight. In the North-East you can see the lakes of the Upper Engadine deep down in the valley, and the many mountains of the canton of Graubünden. The terrace is a pleasant place to sit down and enjoy the sun and the views.

There are restaurants at the top and the mid station. In Winter, you will find lots of Winter sports facilities around both stations, with ski runs all the way to the valley floor. In Summer, the mid station is excellent for hikers, with trails to Pontresina via the Roseg valley and the panoramic trail to Furtschellas, for example. But even without such activities, a trip to the Corvatsch is worth it just for the views.

 Preparation

Always check the weather forecast before going up into the mountains. The trip is not worth it if the Corvatsch is covered in clouds. There can be snow on the top, even in Summer. But even without snow it will be much colder than in the valley. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. Take along sun glasses, sunscreen and a hat.

You need about an hour on the top to enjoy the views. If you go straight to the top and skip the mid station, the entire excursion takes at least 3 hours from St. Moritz.

The station at the Corvatsch is located at an altitude of 3303 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while. Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health: before visiting areas over 2500 m, you'd better consult your doctor. In most cases though, staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem.

Steam train to the Brienzer Rothorn

Must knows about the Brienzer Rothorn

• Authentic alpine traveling by steam train since 1891;
• You can visit the Rothorn while doing a scenic round trip by train, bus, cable car, steam train and boat;
• The steam train only operates from early Summer to Fall.
   
  
  
  
  

  Up and down to the Brienzer Rothorn by steam train

  It's a real pleasure to board the train in Brienz, and travel to the top the same way that people do since 1891: a steam locomotive pushing the carriages up the mountain on a cogwheel railway. It takes an hour to reach the station on the top of the Brienzer Rothorn, at an altitude of 2244 m. The scenery along the way is extraordinary: the train winds its way up the mountain, crossing meadows and forests. Once the mid station of Planalp has been reached, the forests make place for alpine meadows, rocks and sharp ridges.
  There are diesel locomotives available too, which will be used if there are lots of travelers or technical issues.
  On the top, there is a tremendous view of Lake Brienz deep down in the valley, the Bernese Oberland in the south, and Central Switzerland in the north. There's a restaurant and a mountain lodge to spend the night.

  Round trip by bus, cable car, steam train, train and boat

  Instead of going up and down the mountain by the cogwheel train, you can also make a beautiful round trip and use 5 different modes of transport!
• From Interlaken, you first take a train along the Golden Pass route, via Brienz and Meiringen, to Giswil;
• There you change to the postbus that takes you along the Glaubenbielen Pass to the valley station of the cable car, just before the village of Sörenberg. Be sure to check the timetable as this bus does not run frequently;
• Next, take the cable car up to the Brienzer Rothorn;
• Take the cogwheel train down to Brienz;
• Walk over to the boat dock and take a boat to Interlaken. Alternatively, you can take a train.
   

  Preparation

  Check the weather forecast to make sure that the top of the mountain isn't in the clouds, and that the skies are clear enough to enjoy the wide views. The Brienzer Rothorn is not exceptionally high for Swiss standards. There will normally be no snow on the top in late Spring, Summer and early Fall. Still it can be chilly as the top is fully exposed to the wind. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to whatever circumstances you will encounter. Take along sun glasses.
  Allow at least an hour on the top to fully enjoy the views, and at least 3 hours for the full trip from Brienz. The round trip will take at least 6 hours. The steam train operates from early June to late October. Usually there are limited trips until the mid station Planalp about a month before and after full operation.

  Did you like your trip to the Brienzer Rothorn?

  If you liked the train ride to Brienzer Rothorn you may also want to consider the cogwheel train to Schynige Platte.
  
  
  
  

Lake Zurich cruises

A cruise on Lake Zurich is a perfect way to escape from the busy city and see Zurich and the region from the water.

Different kind of cruises

Zurich is located in the North-Western corner of the 42 km long lake. Many different cruises can be made, varying from short river cruises to full day cruises to the opposite end of the lake and back.

The lake cruise boats depart from the 'Bürkliplatz', and the river cruises depart from 'Zürich Landesmuseum'. There are several types of cruises. These are the main ones:

• Limmat River cruises: these 50 to 60 minute canal boat tours start and end from Zürich Landesmuseum and take you on the river Limmat, along the Old Town, and onto the lake. The 'Zürichhorn Casino' dock is where it turns around and goes back to the town center. Round trips from the docks along the way are possible as well;
• Short round trips of about 90 minutes;
• Medium round trips which take 2 to 3 hours;
• Long round trips of 4 hours;
• Upper Lake round trips: these cruises cover the entire lake from Zurich to Schmerikon and back. It takes a full day (7.5 hours), including a short break in Schmerikon.

Tips to make most of your day

• Making a round trip is not required. You can take a boat to one of the towns along the lake, get off there, and go back to Zurich by train, or vice versa. In many towns, the rail station is just a few minutes on foot from the boat dock. Examples are Zollikon, Küsnacht, Thalwil, Herrliberg, Horgen, Uetikon, Wädenswil, Richterswil, Rapperswil and Schmerikon;
• If you want to see most of the lake but don't want to spend an entire day on the water, you can take a boat from Zurich to Rapperswil (less than 2 hours), and a train back to Zurich (about 40 minutes);
• Apart from the cruises starting in Zurich, there are also cruises in the so-called Obersee (Upper Lake) area, starting from Rapperswil;
• In Winter (mid October to early April), there are less cruises, so be sure to check the timetable.
  

Preparation

Sunny clear weather is best for a boat trip, but it's still worth it if it's cloudy or drizzling. Take along sun glasses and sunscreen. Check the timetable to see which cruise suits you best.

Most boats have 2nd and 1st class areas, where 1st class is usually at the upper deck. Many boats have either a restaurant or a bistro on board.

Lake Thun boat trip

A boat trip at the lake is a great way to explore the area at a pleasant pace. It can easily be combined with a visit to other attractions.

Lake Thun cruises

Lake Thun is situated west of Interlaken, and is a bit larger than Lake Brienz east of Interlaken. There are different boat trips to be made. The main one is from Interlaken to Thun and takes about 2 hours. Whatever you choose, a boat trip is a great way to enjoy the beautiful region at a slow pace. The boats have first and second class sections. First class is usually at the upper deck. Also there's either a restaurant or a bistro on board.

Watching the lake from the peaks

For a panoramic view of the lake you can combine your boat trip with a visit to a mountain:

• Take a boat to Beatenbucht and combine your cruise with a trip up the Niederhorn;
• Take a boat to Spiez and a short train ride to Mülenen for a trip up to Mount Niesen.

  Boat trip and St. Beatus caves combined

  There is a boat dock called 'Beatushöhlen-Sundlauenen'. From there, you can walk to the caves in about 20 minutes.
  
  
  

  Boat and train or bus combined

  A nice round trip is to travel from Interlaken to Thun by boat, and back by bus via the North side of the lake or by train via the South side.

  Boat trip via Spiez

  A shorter trip is a boat trip to the nice little town of Spiez. From there you can walk to the train station in about 20 minutes and take the train back.

  Preparation

  Although sunny clear weather is great for a boat trip, it's still worth it if it's cloudy or drizzling.
  
  
  
  

The Rhine Falls

A visit to the Rhine Falls

The 150 m wide and 23 m high waterfall is located near the village of Neuhausen in Northern Switzerland. The nearby city of Schaffhausen is commonly associated with the falls too. Even though the Rhine Fall is a form of mass tourism, the natural beauty is overwhelming and for sure worth your time. May/June is the best time to visit because the amount of water peaks then.

Round trip on foot and by boat

The map shows our suggested route, which starts and ends at the rail station 'Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall'. You can just as easily start from the rail station at the other side of the river: 'Neuhausen Rheinfall'. The route takes 45 minutes, but that doesn't include any stops to enjoy the view, take pictures, do activities along the way, or additional boat trips apart from the one crossing the Rhine included in the route. To fully enjoy the fall and activities, you need 2 to 6 hours.

The route, assuming you'll start from 'Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall':

1. You'll first walk from the rail station to the 1000 year old Schloss Laufen (Laufen Castle). There's a restaurant, playground and a 'Historama' here. The Historama is an exhibition about the castle and the Rhine Falls. One of the things one can learn here, is that there have been plans to 'remove' the falls (blasting away the rocks), because it was considered an obstacle to shipping traffic. We're glad those plans were never realized! Today, it is still not possible for ships to pass the Rhine Falls.
2. Next, you go down to the observation platform, either on foot via the Belvedere Trail, or by the glass Panoramic Lift.
3. Take the boat across the Rhine to Schlössli Wörth. This castle is hundreds of years old and located on a tiny island. There is a very good restaurant inside the castle.
4. Cross the pedestrian bridge to the bank and turn right. Walk along the river promenade. There are again good views of the falls. Further on, the river bank is forested for about 200 m so the views are now blocked for a short while. Take the pedestrian path on the railway bridge that leads back to Schloss Laufen and the rail station.
   
   
   

Boat tours

If you want to experience the falls even closer, then you can take several boat tours on the Rhine. There's a boat trip to the rock in the middle of the falls, for example. The tours take 10 to 30 minutes, depending on which one you choose.

The scheduled boat services are available from April to October. This also goes for the boat crossing the Rhine, which you will need for the suggested route. However, you can visit the Rhine Fall all year round if you don't need the boats.