Google 'Gstaad' and you will understand what do I mean by 'Swiss Rich Land'. Many famous celebrities have their ski retreat houses lined up over here with high end brands having stores in a village setting.
Normally Indians visiting Switzerland are on a tight schedule with maybe spending more time on wheels or trains then in nature or in the rooms , thanks to the compressed itineraries meted out by travel tour companies.
Normally people choose such tours because of their apprehensions of alien country and vegetarian food options. Switzerland is a very tourist friendly country and one should travel on their own to experience this beautiful nation.
The most frequented tourist destinations in Switzerland are Luzern, Interlaken, Jungfrauoch, Bern and Zurich. I have been to all of these cities, but felt like writing about Gstaad as it really stands out. Its a very popular destination among the Europeans and Western Nations but Asians, and especially Indians are unaware about it.
We started off our journey by taking a train directly from Zurich airport to Luzern. Stayed overnight in a hotel nearby the station to catch an early morning train to Gstaad. In the evening, just strolled around in Luzern to see the famous water bridge & tower, lake and dine out.
Normally Indians visiting Switzerland are on a tight schedule with maybe spending more time on wheels or trains then in nature or in the rooms , thanks to the compressed itineraries meted out by travel tour companies.
Normally people choose such tours because of their apprehensions of alien country and vegetarian food options. Switzerland is a very tourist friendly country and one should travel on their own to experience this beautiful nation.
The most frequented tourist destinations in Switzerland are Luzern, Interlaken, Jungfrauoch, Bern and Zurich. I have been to all of these cities, but felt like writing about Gstaad as it really stands out. Its a very popular destination among the Europeans and Western Nations but Asians, and especially Indians are unaware about it.
We started off our journey by taking a train directly from Zurich airport to Luzern. Stayed overnight in a hotel nearby the station to catch an early morning train to Gstaad. In the evening, just strolled around in Luzern to see the famous water bridge & tower, lake and dine out.
One of the best services offered by Swiss rail is storage & handling of your bags. Since going to Gstaad involves a change of train twice, so its advisable to travel light. You can always ask the Swiss rail to store your luggage or even ask them to give it to you after specified days at a specific destination in Switzerland.
We gave our big suitcases to them, and asked them to give us after 2 days in Basel - our next destination.
The train journey through the mountains is scenic and enchanting. The Gstaad station in right in the city center. It consists of a small cobbled street with many restaurants, many high end brands of jewelry and apparel, all in a village setting. But ,trust me its one of the richest village!
Gstaaderhoff Hotel
We stayed 2 nights in this hotel which was approximately 10 mins walk from the train station through the main cobbled street. Its a small reasonable hotel in Gstaad, with prices not burning a hole through your pocket.
Its just 10 mins walk to the ski slopes. Has a small but filling breakfast.
Ski Slopes
I do not know how to ski, but the cable car to the top was good enough ride for me. The view from the top was also beautiful with snow covered hills and houses.
I finally did the sledge along with my wife and it took us 90 mins to come all the way down. We enjoyed thoroughly but it was scary in some parts.
But at the end of the day, we were too tired with snow all in our clothes and shoes.
But a nice coffee back in the hotel was the best part of the whole day.
We gave our big suitcases to them, and asked them to give us after 2 days in Basel - our next destination.
The train journey through the mountains is scenic and enchanting. The Gstaad station in right in the city center. It consists of a small cobbled street with many restaurants, many high end brands of jewelry and apparel, all in a village setting. But ,trust me its one of the richest village!
Gstaaderhoff Hotel
We stayed 2 nights in this hotel which was approximately 10 mins walk from the train station through the main cobbled street. Its a small reasonable hotel in Gstaad, with prices not burning a hole through your pocket.
Its just 10 mins walk to the ski slopes. Has a small but filling breakfast.
Ski Slopes
I do not know how to ski, but the cable car to the top was good enough ride for me. The view from the top was also beautiful with snow covered hills and houses.
I finally did the sledge along with my wife and it took us 90 mins to come all the way down. We enjoyed thoroughly but it was scary in some parts.
But at the end of the day, we were too tired with snow all in our clothes and shoes.
But a nice coffee back in the hotel was the best part of the whole day.
Montreux
Montreux is a town on the border of Switzerland and France downhill from Gstaad. Its a direct train from Gstaad taking around 90 mins. Since we had some time to kill, we thought of exploring a new city.
The train ride is a scenic one, with changing landscape since you are constantly losing height to come down to Montreux.
Montreux has a wide lake, where you can see France on the opposite side. If time permits, you can visit Evian town on the French side by a ferry.
We went and saw the famous Chateau de Chillon in Montreux . Its a medieval period built castle, and its a nice piece of European heritage.
Right opposite to the Chateau , there is a restaurant serving Swiss fondue. As a vegetarian, we did not had much options, but it was great to have fondue to Switzerland.
In general, there is nothing much to see in Gstaad except the main street and ski slopes, but the feeling in this city is very rich. It needs to be experienced to understand. The city had a similar flavor as Monaco which I visited long time ago.
Montreux is a town on the border of Switzerland and France downhill from Gstaad. Its a direct train from Gstaad taking around 90 mins. Since we had some time to kill, we thought of exploring a new city.
The train ride is a scenic one, with changing landscape since you are constantly losing height to come down to Montreux.
Montreux has a wide lake, where you can see France on the opposite side. If time permits, you can visit Evian town on the French side by a ferry.
We went and saw the famous Chateau de Chillon in Montreux . Its a medieval period built castle, and its a nice piece of European heritage.
Right opposite to the Chateau , there is a restaurant serving Swiss fondue. As a vegetarian, we did not had much options, but it was great to have fondue to Switzerland.
In general, there is nothing much to see in Gstaad except the main street and ski slopes, but the feeling in this city is very rich. It needs to be experienced to understand. The city had a similar flavor as Monaco which I visited long time ago.
