Switzerland is a country where pretty much everything is arranged incredibly well. They are independent, stable, and have a strong economy. At the same time, the land itself contains breathtaking nature. It is a beautiful country filled with lakes, hills, and mountains. Therefore, this is the perfect country for hikes, skiing, and for enjoying wellness centers up in the mountains. But, Switzerland has two sides. Is it worth it to travel to Switzerland?
I have visited Switzerland two times now. My two experiences were entirely different. The first time, I visited Western Switzerland for two weeks in August. Lausanne, a city near the French border, was the home base, and from there, my friend who I visited and I explored Switzerland. The weather was good, and the places we visited in nature were incredible. The second time I visited Zug for two weeks in June.
My recommendations in and around Lausanne
1. Plage de Vidy
One of the places with the most fantastic atmospheres in Switzerland to me was the Plage de Vidy. This is a beach at Lake Léman where most expats and foreigners go when they are looking for a great place to relax, have fun, and go for a swim. When you enter the beach, you’ll notice many people having small family parties and groups of friends who barbecue together. That’s one of the cool things about the beaches and parks of Switzerland. They have barbecue stands existing out of rocks and grills. All you need to do is bring your charcoal, matches, and food, and you are ready to create your own smokey dinner right at the lake.
2. Leukerbad
Leukerbad is a small town about two hours from Lausanne, which many people visit for skiing trips. However, also in summer, this is a place worth visiting. It is surrounded by high mountains and contains small ski chalets and little bars and restaurants. Leukerbad in summer means going for a walk, having a drink in small lovely cafeterias, and relaxing in a wellness center. The wellness centers in Leukerbad are mainly special because they are situated in such a beautiful environment. After visiting the sauna and jumping under a cold shower, you easily continue to relax in the outside pools. As you are surrounded by mountains and peacefulness, it is not difficult to quiet your mind at this place.
3. Lac de Taney
Lac de Taney is a perfect place to visit if you want to combine a little hike with a cold swim. The hike is pretty steep, so especially for the way down, shoes with a good profile are essential. But, once you are up there, you will be amazed by the incredibly emerald-colored lake. There is a small public toilet there, and there are about two tiny cafeteria’s/restaurants, and also near this lake, you will find barbecue stands. Therefore, the coolest thing would be to camp at this lake. If you do so, make sure to bring some warm clothes though, because it might get cold at night, even during summertime.
Also, despite not talking from personal experience here, I would like to recommend one other places, of which I have heard from locals that it is an indisputable highlight of Switzerland.
4. Interlaken
Interlaken is an area in the middle of Switzerland that lies between two lakes, which explains its name. The place is known as the perfect location to hike, ski and skydive. Are you a blogger, and have you visited Interlaken? Or are you not a blogger, but are you eager to share your experience of Interlaken, then make sure to contact me so I can share your experience here.
The other side of Switzerland
Now, as I said there are two sides of Switzerland. Switzerland is incredible, but the places I mentioned have nothing to do with mingling with locals and exploring the main cities. Let me tell you why they weren’t part of the highlights.
Quietness
When I visited the country, as soon as my friend and I went for a drink somewhere, I noticed something strange. Quietness. Complete quietness. Swiss restaurants and cafeterias don’t often play music and the people there also don’t talk in, what for me is a normal volume. They rather whisper. I mainly noticed this in the Northern side of the Country and in the posh places. This leads to an up-tight atmosphere and might influence you once you are there.
Connection
Also, Swiss people are not known for being particularly sociable with strangers. Instead, they are known as wanting to keep their circle small and mainly interact with other locals. This might have to do with the fact that they choose consciously who they connect with, as they prioritize connections on a deeper level over superficial interactions. They say that once a Swiss opens his or her heart to you, the friendship lasts a lifetime. However, since they aren’t really interested in short-term connections, as an expat, tourist, or just as a foreigner, it might be more challenging to connect here to the locals than in other places. I wouldn’t say that they are rude or unkind; they are just difficult to connect with for people who are only there for a shorter amount of time. This might explain why foreigners rather seek to connect with each other because it is easier to succeed in that.
Prices
Another significant characteristic element of Switzerland is the price of… well… pretty much everything. The prices in Switzerland are extremely high. Groceries, restaurants, and trips are all expensive. A cinema ticket is 20 euros.
To recommend or not to recommend
Because Switzerland has two sides, I would personally only recommend Switzerland if you are into hiking and want to explore the nature side of the country. I would neither recommend this country as a destination for a city trip nor as a place you would like to spend a longer amount of time in. Still, for exploring nature, this is a beautiful country!
Of course, I am writing this article from personal experience. I also spoke with foreign friends who have lived in this country for years, and I did some research. Still, this article gives you a subjective view on Switzerland. The best way to find out what you think about this country is by visiting it yourself. I hope this article helps you plan your trip to Switzerland, so you will be able to maximize your experience there.
Thank you for reading this article about the two sides of Switzerland. Are there any recommendations you have for this area? Share it with us!
Would you like to read more about travel opportunities? Let me take you to the travel page.
