Hey, What’s up?

This is a continuation of my previous Germany Uncovered post. I promise this one will be shorter (okay, that’s a lie), mainly because we only spent three days in Switzerland—and half of day one was spent on buses and trains. From Munich, we hopped on a bus to Zurich, which took about three hours. Zurich exploration? Not yet! We saved that for our last day in Switzerland. Fun fact: the bus station in Zurich is literally right next to their train station. Convenient, right? So, we walked over, bought our train tickets, and headed to Interlaken. It wasn’t a direct route; we had to change trains once, but the whole journey from Zurich to Interlaken took around two hours.

Now, let’s talk about trains. In Switzerland (and Germany), most trains are double-decker—because why not cram in more people and let them argue over the better view? But here’s the funny (and mildly annoying) part: there’s this unofficial rule in Switzerland where, if someone puts their bag or luggage on the seat next to them, it basically means “Don’t even think about sitting here.” Swiss trains sell tickets for all the seats, but passengers? Nah, they reserve seats for their bags. We even saw one family of three taking over eight seats. EIGHT. And they weren’t even locals! The audacity!

By the time we reached Interlaken, it was already noon. And as we all know, winter days are shorter—so we only had about four hours of daylight left before darkness swooped in. After storing our luggage in a locker, we made our way to Harder Kulm, the highest peak in Interlaken.

There are two ways to reach the top: you can hike (great for the adventurous and well-layered) or take the funicular. The funicular is like the one at Penang Hill, except way pricier—which probably explains why the queue wasn’t as intense as the one back in Malaysia. We might have hiked, but with such limited daylight and freezing temperatures, we decided to treat ourselves to the funicular. Pro tip: Interlaken is cold. Like really cold. When we arrived, the remnants of a recent snowfall were still around, giving everything a frosty vibe. Also, if you’re planning to take the funicular, buy your tickets online—you’ll skip the queue and feel like a VIP.

At the top of Harder Kulm, you’re rewarded with stunning views of the entire Interlaken area. Lucky for us, the funicular had just reopened that day after maintenance (talk about perfect timing!). The city itself is nestled between two massive lakes—Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Both lakes are known for their striking blue reflections, but on the day we visited, clouds were already creeping in. Lake Thun was fully hidden by the time we got there, and about 5–10 minutes later, Lake Brienz decided to disappear too. Clearly, the universe wants me to come back for a proper photo op next time.

That said, even with the lakes playing hide-and-seek, we got a stunning view of three snow-covered mountains standing tall above the clouds. They were breathtaking—like something straight out of a winter postcard. Honestly, being above the clouds and surrounded by such beauty made up for the lack of lake views.

They even have a restaurant up there, so Qays and I decided to treat ourselves to a light meal while soaking in the jaw-dropping scenery. Nothing beats munching on overpriced snacks while feeling like you’re on top of the world. There’s also a bridge platform where you can snap photos with the two lakes as your backdrop—assuming the clouds cooperate, which they didn’t entirely for us.

Our original plan was to stay for the sunset, but honestly, we were exhausted by then. Plus, it was getting more crowded, and we’re not about that life. So, we called it a day and took the funicular back down.

For the night, we checked into Linda Lodge, a hotel in Interlaken with private rooms but shared bathrooms. It wasn’t bad at all! Decent place, shared kitchen, and all that jazz. Oh, and let me warn you—hotels in Switzerland? Pricey. One of my friends swears the only affordable ones are in Zurich, which isn’t exactly helpful when you’re miles away in Interlaken.

That night was pretty chill. We wandered through a cozy Christmas market, grabbed some dinner, and then knocked out early. After all, nothing recharges you for more Swiss adventures like a solid sleep in a budget-friendly (but clean!) lodge.

The next day, we hopped on a train to Grindelwald, followed by a gondola ride to Grindelwald First. Fun fact: the gondola ride cost around 90 Swiss Francs (painful, I know), but it was also the first day it reopened after maintenance—double lucky for us! The mountain is incredibly tall (though not the tallest), and the cable car ride took about 20–30 minutes with three stops along the way before reaching the top.

When we got to the summit, the mountain was blanketed in snow—so deep it reached halfway up my calves. Walking was a bit of a challenge since, spoiler alert, I wasn’t wearing boots. Rookie mistake. There are a few fun activities to try up here, though! First, we went to the spot where the K-drama Crash Landing on You (CLOY) was filmed. I haven’t watched it, but apparently, it’s a must-see if you’re into K-dramas. After that, we did the Tissot Cliff Walk, which is a mix of terrifying and exhilarating. But hey, I’ll do anything for a good view! At the end of the walk, there’s the First View Vantage Platform, and let me tell you—it’s absolutely worth the mild heart palpitations.

Next, we embarked on a one-hour hike through the snow to Lake Bachalpsee. When we finally arrived, we discovered that the lake was completely covered in snow. It’s supposed to reflect the surrounding mountains like a mirror, but I guess that’s more of a summer thing—or maybe just a day when the snow isn’t trying to take over the world. The hike itself was brutal because we were definitely not dressed for winter hiking. Lesson learned.

There were other activities available, like skiing and flying fox (a zipline), but neither of those is really my thing. I did see some people paragliding, and while it looked incredible, I’m pretty sure I’d turn into an icicle mid-flight. Apparently, there’s even more to do in summer, like tobogganing and mountain carting, which I might have to come back for—preferably with better gear and warmer toes.

By the time we got back, it was already getting dark. We made a quick trip to the two lakes, but with night falling fast, there wasn’t much to do. I read that they offer cruises and guided kayaking on both lakes, but let’s be real—kayaking in winter sounds like an express ticket to frostbite. Hard pass.

We did, however, stumble upon a shop that customizes Toblerone chocolate boxes. Naturally, I couldn’t resist! I got two as souvenirs for my mum (she better love them). After that, we headed back to the hotel to call it a night.

On our last day, we took the train back to Zurich for some final exploring. First stop? Sprüngli chocolate, of course—because what’s a trip to Switzerland without chocolate souvenirs? Afterward, we wandered through some museums and historic buildings. To be honest, by this point, I was running on fumes. All I could think about was going home, collapsing in my bed, and recharging.

That night, we took a flight back to London, landing around 10 PM. From there, we caught a midnight bus to Derby. By the time I finally got home, it was 4 AM—and guess what? I had a twilight shift that same day. Safe to say, it was one of the most exhausting days of my life. The biggest lesson learned? Always, always spare at least one day to rest before diving back into work. Trust me, your body will thank you.

There are still so many places in Switzerland I’d love to explore, like the Top of Europe and some of those epic summer hiking trails. Swiss hiking is definitely on my bucket list—preferably when the snow isn’t plotting to swallow my feet whole.

Alright, that’s all from me for now. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and tagging along on my Swiss adventure. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you in my next post!