Switzerland: Mountains, Waterfalls, and a Change of Pace
- wanderer
- 18 hours ago
- 9 min read
If France was about sunshine, cafés, and the Mediterranean, Switzerland was about slowing down and looking up.
After the Riviera’s sunshine and easy pace, the mountains brought a quieter, more dramatic energy to the trip. It was one of those chapters that felt less like a change of scenery and more like stepping into a different rhythm altogether — one built around trains, waterfalls, alpine views, and long but rewarding days outdoors.
Part 2 of Our Europe Journey
This is the Switzerland chapter of our two-week journey through France, Switzerland, and Italy. If you haven't read the full story behind the trip, start with From Paris to Rome: A Dreamy European Escape, where I share how this journey came together, the route we took, and the practical tips that helped make the trip easier.
After five days in France, we were ready for a completely different pace — and Switzerland delivered exactly that.
Getting to Switzerland
Looking back, I’m really glad we chose to do Switzerland by train rather than fly. Once we factored in the flight to Zurich, the onward train journey, and the extra luggage fees, the cost difference was barely there. More importantly, the train journey itself became part of the experience. We got to spend a proper scenic day traveling through Switzerland rather than simply getting from one place to another.
With a long journey and multiple connections, I’d definitely recommend carrying enough snacks and water with you. The trains do have food available to buy, but having your own snacks and water makes a long travel day much easier.
Day 1: Nice to Interlaken
We left Nice at around 10:30 a.m. and made our way first to Marseille, then continued by train to Basel and Spiez before finally reaching Interlaken in the evening.
It was a long travel day, but the route itself was scenic enough that it never felt wasted. Watching the landscape gradually change from the French coast to the Swiss countryside made the journey feel like part of the adventure rather than just a travel day.
We reached Interlaken West at around 8 p.m. and checked into Hotel Rosalli. The location was incredibly convenient — about a 10-minute walk from the station — but what stood out even more was the warmth of the people running it.
The owner was incredibly friendly and sweet, and you could immediately tell that this was a family-run hotel where the guests genuinely mattered. There was a personal touch to the place that made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. He even gave us and the other guests a CD and pen drive filled with beautiful Interlaken scenery, which was such a thoughtful gesture and something we definitely didn’t expect.
It’s those small touches that stay with you. Hotel Rosalli wasn’t just a convenient place to stay; it felt like one of those places where the people running it genuinely cared about their guests.
Right nearby, we found a really cool roadside food stall, which became our first meal in Switzerland and, surprisingly, a very good one. After such a long day of travelling, it was exactly what we needed — easy, casual, and close to the hotel.
Day 2: Valley of 72 Waterfalls
The next day, we headed to Lauterbrunnen, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.
We took the train from Interlaken Ost and used the local travel pass provided by our hotel, along with the SBB app for anything outside the pass’s coverage. That combination worked well, although it’s important to remember that the hotel pass only covers certain zones. Once you travel beyond those boundaries, you’ll still need to purchase a ticket.
Lauterbrunnen was every bit as picture-perfect as people say it is. The valley looked almost unreal, with enormous cliffs rising on either side and waterfalls dropping straight through the landscape.
We visited Staubbach Falls first. The waterfall is beautiful from the valley, but the short hike up makes the experience even more special. The path can be a little steep in places, and the final section becomes quite narrow, so sturdy shoes are definitely your friends.
The reward is reaching the viewpoint directly behind the waterfall, where the spray, cliffs, and valley views all come together beautifully. It was the perfect spot for photos; one of those places where you naturally stop and take everything in.
From there, we took the bus to Trümmelbach Falls, which ended up being one of the absolute highlights of the entire trip.
Unlike a waterfall you simply admire from a distance, Trümmelbach takes you inside the mountain itself. A tunnel lift, narrow passages, platforms, and stairways lead you through the rock alongside ten powerful glacier-fed waterfalls, with the sound of rushing water echoing all around you.
At times, it felt less like visiting a waterfall and more like standing inside the force of one — dark, loud, misty, and genuinely unforgettable.
For me, these were the most impressive waterfalls of the entire trip, and absolutely worth the entry fee. The paths are secure, but there are stairs, uneven surfaces, and plenty of spray, so sturdy shoes are a very good idea.
Practical note: Check the official Trümmelbach Falls website for current seasonal opening dates, ticket details, and visitor guidance before you go.
After Trümmelbach, we continued toward Mürren, taking the route up through Stechelberg and into the mountains.
Mürren felt like a true storybook village — peaceful, scenic, and surrounded by enormous mountain views. We stopped for hot chocolate, wandered through the village, and explored part of the Mürren–Allmendhubel Mountain View Trail.
The path led through alpine meadows and past traditional wooden chalets, with dramatic, glacier-covered mountains across the Lauterbrunnen Valley filling the horizon. It was the kind of scenery that makes you want to slow down and stay a little longer.
On the way back down, we stopped in Gimmelwald, a tiny, car-free farming village that felt wonderfully peaceful and almost untouched. It was quiet, charming, and full of traditional chalet scenery — the sort of place that feels like a small pause from the rest of the world.
From there, we continued down to Stechelberg and took the bus back through the valley toward Lauterbrunnen, completing a beautiful loop through the region.
Of course, the day had one small detour.
We realized we had left our water bottle at Trümmelbach. We got off there again to look for it, but although we never found it, the mistake led to one of the most memorable walks of the day.
Rather than waiting for another bus, we decided to walk the roughly 30 minutes from Trümmelbach back to Lauterbrunnen station. The path was beautiful, and thunder rolled through the mountains around us like distant cannon fire — slightly unnerving, but also completely dramatic in the most Swiss way possible.
If you have the time and the weather is cooperating, I would absolutely recommend that walk.
Back in Interlaken, we returned to our now-familiar food stall near Interlaken West for takeaway. It was easy, friendly, and a great option for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food after such a full day outdoors.
Day 3: Grindelwald and First
Day 3 took us to Grindelwald, another place that completely delivered.
From there, we took the gondola up to First, where the mountain scenery immediately felt bigger, sharper, and more dramatic than anything we had seen so far.
The First Cliff Walk was the perfect introduction. The metal walkway clings to the mountainside before extending 45 metres out over the edge, with nothing but open air below and an incredible sweep of valleys, meadows, and alpine peaks in every direction.
It’s short, but it has that rare combination of a little thrill and enormous beauty — the kind of place that makes you pause, even if you’re not usually afraid of heights.
The views toward the north face of the Eiger were especially striking, and the whole experience made First feel appropriately majestic from the very beginning.
From there, we continued on to the Bachalpsee hike, which was beautiful and one of the nicest walks of the trip. The alpine lake, framed by mountains and wide-open sky, was everything we had hoped for.
If I could have changed anything, I would have loved to spend more time there.
Back in town by around 6 p.m., we considered visiting Glacier Canyon Grindelwald, a dramatic gorge walk through narrow rock passages, tunnels, and glacial streams. It looked like a great experience, especially for anyone who enjoys a little adventure. The suspended Spiderweb net across the canyon is one of its signature features.
But after the powerful waterfall experience at Trümmelbach the day before, we decided to skip it and head back to Interlaken instead.
If you have extra time in Grindelwald, though, it is definitely worth adding to the list.
And, being true Indians, we couldn’t resist making one more stop — the Yash Chopra statue in Interlaken.
For anyone who grew up watching Bollywood, Switzerland feels strangely familiar. So many iconic songs and romantic scenes were filmed against these mountains and lakes, and Yash Chopra played a huge role in making Switzerland synonymous with Bollywood romance. Seeing his statue felt like a little connection between the Switzerland we grew up watching on screen and the one we were finally experiencing ourselves. Of course, we had to stop for a photo!
We finished the day with dinner at Madras Jungle, which ended up being one of the best meals we had in Interlaken.
Day 4: Brienz and Giessbach
The next day, we headed to Brienz, although we missed the Brienz Rothorn Railway because it was fully booked. If that’s on your list, definitely reserve in advance.
Brienz was especially charming in its own quiet way, with beautiful wooden sculptures and carvings throughout town that gave it a very distinctive character.
After all the bigger mountain drama elsewhere in the region, Brienz felt softer and more traditional — pretty, but a little more understated by comparison.
From Brienz, we took the boat to Giessbach Falls.
You can hike up to the falls, and it really isn’t a difficult walk. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice the hiking directions to the left when we exited the boat and ended up following the crowd toward the Giessbach Funicular instead.
The funicular is a historic little railway that takes you from the Giessbach See boat landing up toward the Grandhotel Giessbach, which sits right beside the waterfalls. It was a fun experience, but honestly, it wasn’t really necessary for us. If you’re short on time, the funicular can save you some walking, but otherwise I’d suggest hiking up and coming back down on foot so you can enjoy more of the trails and views along the way.
The falls themselves were nice, but after Trümmelbach, they felt a little underwhelming. Giessbach is beautiful in a different way, with the waterfalls cascading in multiple tiers beside the historic hotel and down toward Lake Brienz, but for us, Trümmelbach remained the clear favourite.
We took the boat back, walked around Brienz for a little while, and found it fairly quiet since it was Sunday and most of the shops were closed. The famous flower street was pleasant enough, but Brienz didn’t quite match the grandeur of Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald for us.
It’s still beautiful, just a little less dramatic.
We returned to Interlaken earlier than planned, finished some souvenir shopping, and went for Indian comfort food at Chotiwala, which was exactly what we needed by that point in the trip.
In hindsight, Schynige Platte might have been a strong alternative to Brienz, while Harder Kulm never quite made the cut since we had already done First.
For our itinerary, though, the choices we made felt right. We compared the Jungfrau Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass, and Half Fare Card, but individual tickets ended up being both cheaper and more flexible for what we actually did.
Switzerland at a Glance:
Time spent: 4 days
Favourite destination: Lauterbrunnen
Best views: Grindelwald First
Best waterfall: Trümmelbach Falls
Best base: Interlaken Ost, if you want easier access
Best tip: Book popular mountain trains and boats in advance, and arrive early for long train journeys so you have space for your luggage.
Would we do it again? Absolutely.
Switzerland ended up being such a beautiful contrast to France. After the sunshine, coastal towns, and relaxed evenings of the Riviera, we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, alpine villages, and some of the most dramatic scenery of the entire trip.
But what I loved most was that Switzerland wasn’t just about the views. It was the little things too — the scenic train journeys, the unexpected walks, the roadside food stops, the kindness of the people at our hotel, and even the small mishaps that somehow turned into memorable moments.
It felt like the quiet middle chapter of our European adventure. France had been energetic and sun-filled; Switzerland slowed everything down and gave us space to be outdoors.
Continue the Journey
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Next stop: Italy →
After four very full days of mountains, waterfalls, trains, and alpine villages, we were ready for the next chapter — the wedding, the food, the art, and the Italian charm waiting for us in Venice, Florence, and Rome.
