Blonde woman wearing cream knit hat and orange scarf smiling in front of the Matterhorn peak — View of the Matterhorn in Zermatt. Click on my photos to pin on Pinterest!

What’s more magical than a trip to Switzerland, a winter wonderland, over the holidays? Start planning and make it happen! This blog will be all about my time in Switzerland in the winter. My guide includes everything we did in Switzerland and all the cities we visited, including: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Wilderswil, Grindelwald, Zermatt, and Bern. I’ll go over what we all did, best places to eat, my favorite photography spots, and where to stay on your adventure in Switzerland.

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Man and woman couple with arms around each other wearing winter coats smiling in front of mountains in the Swiss Alps — In the Swiss Alps!

Switzerland in the Winter

Switzerland in the winter is so beautiful, especially around the Holidays. We traveled to Switzerland to celebrate New Year’s Eve, so everything was still decorated for Christmas and set up to celebrate the new year. The weather varies, depending on where you’re traveling around Switzerland. It was chilly everywhere we traveled, around 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit, but not everywhere had snow. Zurich was more rainy and Interlaken had a little snow, but not much. You can expect Zermatt to have snow, since it’s located in the Swiss Alps and snow falls all year round. Zermatt ski resort is the only European ski resort that is open 365 days a year. If you really want to get the winter wonderland experience, make sure to spend some time in Zermatt!

What to Pack

You’ll definitely want to pack a good winter coat, hat, mittens, and even a scarf for your Switzerland winter adventure. My big scarf really came in handy, because I could wrap it around my face to protect it from the wind. Another important thing to pack is good waterproof boots. I wore these Sorel Boots everywhere we went, because they were not only perfect for all types of terrain, but they were also easy to walk in, comfortable, and so cute! In addition to those items, I also packed warm socks, jeans, and sweaters.

Besides clothing, you should also pack a universal travel adapter, Swiss Francs, and a travel credit card like the SavorOne credit card. This comes in handy while traveling abroad, because there are no foreign transaction fees. Not only are there no transaction fees, but you get cash back on all purchases and there is no annual fee. Travel tip: make sure to choose Swiss Francs vs US when paying with a card to get the best conversion rate. I love this card, and if you’re looking for a great starter card for your international travel, here’s my link to sign up.

Nighttime in Zermatt with Christmas lights everyone and blonde woman in cream knit hat smiling — Zermatt in the evening

Navigating the Trains & Metros

Switzerland has great public transportation. Their trains are clean, fast, and very useful to get all around the country. If you’re planning on exploring a few different cities, I recommend purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass. Instead of having to buy a train ticket every time you use a train or metro, your Swiss Travel Pass will have you covered right on your phone. You get unlimited travel in Switzerland by train, bus, or even boat. We purchased a Swiss Travel Pass for 8 days and it wasn’t cheap, around $400. However, just one train ride from Interlaken to Zermatt is going to cost you around $100. With the amount of traveling we wanted to do around Switzerland, we did the math and saved money with the Swiss Travel Pass. Also, you’ll get free entry to over 500 Swiss museums with this pass. We took advantage of this and made a visit to some awesome museums during our time in Switzerland. In general, when you travel to Switzerland, be prepared to spend some money.

eSIM Cards

I highly recommend getting an eSIM for navigating the trains and metros. We needed to look up train schedules and transfers, and having internet on the go was super beneficial. Airalo has cheap eSIMs for Switzerland. You can download the Airalo app for quick eSIM delivery. Everything is easier when you’re able to google when you’re out and about.

Wood Swiss chalet apartment building with mountains in the background — Our apartment rental in Wilderswil

Where to Stay in Switzerland

During our time in Switzerland, we stayed in two cities. We flew into Zurich, took the train to Interlaken, and hiked (literally) to Wilderswil, where we spent a few days. Good to know: the trains and buses do not run late in Interlaken, so if you arrive late, you’ll need to call a cab or walk like we did. lol. In general, wherever you stay in Switzerland, make sure to follow the quiet hour rules. This information will likely be given to you in your hotel or rental. Overall, these two locations offered us a great home base, and allowed us to explore so much of Switzerland in just a little over a week.

Where to Stay in Wilderswil

Here is the vacation rental we booked during our stay in Wilderswil, pictured above. It was clean, cute, comfortable, had beautiful mountain views, and was incredibly close to the train and market while still being quiet. The hosts were friendly and helpful, and I’d definitely recommend it!

Swiss roles cut on white plate outside — Eating swiss rolls on our apartment rental balcony

Where to Stay in Zurich

After our time spent in the Swiss Alps and traveling to Zermatt, we spent the rest of our time in Northern Switzerland. We stayed in this rental for a few nights in Zurich. It was very spacious and close to public transportation. It was also just a short metro ride and even walkable to the main areas we wanted to explore, like Lake Zurich and the Grossmünster Cathedral. Overall, this apartment rental was pretty affordable, which is surprising for Switzerland. If staying on a budget is important to you, I’d definitely recommend checking out this apartment rental.

Now, let’s go over each city we explored during our Switzerland adventure and what to do in each spot!

Interlaken

Interlaken is the gateway to the Swiss Alps. It’s located in central Switzerland between two beautiful lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. This area is called the Jungfrau Region. Interlaken had a good balance of nature and city life. Plus, it’s close to the many ski resorts around the area!

Paragliding in Interlaken

Interlaken is full of adventure. In fact, it’s a very well-known city for paragliding. If you’re up for an adventure, I definitely recommend trying this thrilling experience through the mountains. You can book your tandem paragliding experience in Interlaken here.

Colorful Swiss houses with mountains in the background — View of Wilderswil from our apartment rental

Wilderswil

Less than 10 minutes away from Interlaken is the quiet little village of Wilderswil. This is the village where we rented a home and spent a few nights. It’s such a picturesque Swiss mountain village, with farms throughout and people on horseback strolling the streets. If you’re looking for a quiet place to stay that’s still close to fun and entertainment, Wilderswil is great. Not to mention, the views were incredible.

Grindelwald

About 30 minutes away from Interlaken is the gorgeous resort town of Grindelwald. There is plenty to do here for adventure seekers, like ski, sled, sightsee, paraglide, and so much more. There are also an abundance of shops and restaurants if you’re looking to stay more low key. Below are some things I recommend doing.

First Cliff Walk by Tissot

We spent a lovely day in Grindelwald taking the gondola up to the First Cliff Walk by Tissot. We bought our tickets from the Grindlewald lift station in the village, located at the base of the mountain. The gondola ride was relaxing and full of beautiful views on the way up. Once we arrived to the top, we walked the First Cliff Walk by Tissot, which is a metal walkway lookout with breathtaking views of Grindelwald First. Afterwards, we took the gondola back down the mountain. However, if you have time, I recommend renting a sled and sledding down the mountain. To best plan for this trip, make sure to give yourself enough time to get up the mountain and enjoy the views. The gondola ride takes about 25 minutes up and 25 minutes down. The last rides are at sunset, which comes quick in the winter.

Metal walkway with two regular sized people who look small compared to the large cliff edge and mountains — First Cliff Walk by Tissot

Sledding in Grindelwald

We watched so many people sled down the snowy mountains in Grindelwald and it looked like so much fun! I would have loved to do this, but we ran out of daylight. Plan ahead and make your sledding adventure happen. Grindelwald is home to the largest toboggan run in the world called Big Pintenfritz. Check that out here!

Street vendor wearing plaid shirt handing over a fried donut to customer — Trying a Berliner in Grindelwald

Try A Berliner or Fastnachtsküchle

While out and about shopping, you’ll find street vendors selling treats. In Grindelwald, we tried a Berliner or Fastnachtsküchle, which is a jam filled donut with powered sugar. It was, of course, delicious!

Zermatt

One of my favorite stops while traveling around Switzerland was visiting Zermatt for the day. We traveled from Wilderswil to Zermatt using our Swiss Travel Passes. You’ll need to use the train to get to Zermatt, because there are no cars allowed in the city. Once we arrived in the city, we were swept away by how picturesque everything was. Everyone was walking around in their ski gear, the chalets were all covered in snow, and to top it off, the gorgeous Matterhorn peak overlooked the whole city. The streets were filled with cute shops, chocolate stores, and bakeries. It was all lit up for the holidays and when the sun set behind the Matterhorn, it felt like we were in a Christmas movie.

Gornergrat Train to the Matterhorn

To get a closer view of the Matterhorn, we took the Gornergrat train further up the mountain. This is an additional train ticket you’ll need to purchase, but if you’ve already come all this way, it’s definitely worth it. At the top, we ate lunch at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise restaurant and explored the viewpoints. When we first arrived, the Matterhorn was covered by clouds. We stayed patient and were pleasantly surprised. After we ate our lunch and visited ZOOOM the Matterhorn museum, the clouds parted and we had a perfect clear view of the stunning peak.

The Matterhorn peak overlooking a chair lift with skiers riding up the mountain — The Matterhorn overlooking chair lifts and ski runs in Zermatt

Sledding and Skiing in Zermatt

You’ll see people everywhere skiing and sledding down the numerous runs around Zermatt. I would have loved to sled while we were visiting, however, the conditions were a bit too icy during our time there. If you get the chance to ski or sled, go for it. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity in such a picturesque landscape. Rent your sledding equipment here and skiing equipment here.

The Matterhorn Muesuem

Back down in the village, we explored The Matterhorn Museum, which was free to enter with our Swiss Travel Pass. Score! We learned all about the history of Zermatt and the hikers who traversed The Matterhorn.

The Matterhorn at sunset with a pink ski and Christmas lights lit up in Zermatt — Sunset in Zermatt

Where to Eat in Zermatt

Zermatt has a lot of lovely restaurants to try. Make sure to try some fondue, even if just a little, during your time in Switzerland. Here are a few that can appeal to a variety of vacationers at different price points and that offer fondue!

Swiss flags hang from snow covered buildings in Zermatt — Swiss flags in Zermatt

Swiss Chalet

We ate dinner at the Swiss Chalet, a traditional Swiss restaurant known for their fondue. It was cute and rustic with a great atmosphere and yummy food. We really wanted to try their chocolate fondue dessert, but ended up filling up too much during dinner. We couldn’t help ourselves! If you go try the chocolate fondue from the Swiss Chalet, please tell me how it was! I’m sad I didn’t have more room to try it. lol.

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

As stated above, I recommend grabbing a bite to eat or simply grabbing some coffee at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise restaurant, purely for the majestic views of the Matterhorn. This restaurant is very low-key and buffet style. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world up there!

Chez Vrony

Finally, if you’re looking to have a luxurious, Michelin star rated meal, Chez Vrony is very highly recommended and has gorgeous views of the Matterhorn. Book in advance, because it’s one of the most popular restaurants.

Bern

Once our adventures around the Swiss Alps were complete, we took the train back to Zurich. On our way, we stopped through Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

Waisenhausplatz Christmas Market in Bern

Our main objective of stopping in Bern was to catch the Waisenhausplatz Christmas Market before the end of the season. It was fun to visit a true European Christmas market and shop small for the Holiday season. I went home with a hand carved ornament and we filled up on cappuccinos and bratwurts.

A large teal and gray clock tower in Bern, Switzerland — Zytglogge clock tower

Other Sights in Bern

Some other fun things to see while in Bern are the Zytglogge clock tower and the Einstein House, where Einstein lived. These two sights are right by each other and just a quick walk from the Christmas market.

Luggage Storage in Bern

If you’re like us and traveling with luggage, we found a good luggage storage in Bern at the SBB travel centre near the buses. This was inexpensive and allowed us to travel freely without lugging our bags everywhere we went.

Zurich

Zurich is such a cool city and I loved the time I spent there. Here’s all about where we stayed, ate, and what we did during our time in Zurich.

Red and gold firework show over a lake with silhouettes of people taking photos — Zurich firework show over Lake Zurich on New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve in Zurich

While visiting, we were lucky enough to spend New Year’s Eve out and about, seeing all the beautiful sights, eating delicious food, and watching an amazing firework show. We walked around Lake Zurich and grabbed food and wine from the food trucks that were out and about for the New Year’s Eve celebration. It was so fun to share a bottle of bubbly and walk around the city with my loved ones. All the prominent buildings were lit up with Swiss artists’ displays and live music played at various venues.

As it grew closer to midnight, fireworks started flying all around the city. The locals were lighting fireworks in the street everywhere I looked. It was the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced. lol. I thought the U.S. loved their fireworks, but the Swiss had the most fireworks I’ve ever seen. At midnight, a gigantic firework show started over the lake. This show was put on by the city and it was so beautiful. This was definitely a New Year’s Eve to remember! We had a blast!

My Favorite Photography Spots around Zurich

While exploring new cities, I love to take photos. Here are some of my favorite spots I recommend checking out around Zurich!

Grossmünster Cathedral

I definitely recommend checking out the Grossmünster Cathedral while in Zurich. This is a sight you shouldn’t miss while visiting. The view from across the Limmat River is very picturesque and allows you to capture the two towers on the Romanesque style church. Above, you can see The Grossmünster Cathedral dressed up with Swiss art for New Year’s Eve.

Blonde woman wearing a cream winter coat and sunglasses smiling in front of a cathedral and river — Grossmünster Cathedral

Photoautomat

We also had fun finding a little vintage photo booth. Although the photo booth was old, run down, and hidden away, it was one of my favorite things we did while exploring around Switzerland. There was even a sign out front that stated “sometimes I’m sick”, so be aware, it’s not always in working condition. It was just so much fun to stumble upon this hidden gem and walk away with treasured memories.

Umbrella Alley

We stumbled upon Umbrella Alley while walking around the same area, which turned into another cute photo opt. It’s right near the Hardbrücke railway station, so it’s a quick pit stop if you’re just passing through.

Colorful umbrellas hanging between two building with a blonde woman looking up at them — Umbrella Alley

Lindt Chocolate Museum Tour

Finally, one of the most popular things to do while visiting Zurich is taking a Lindt Chocolate Museum tour. We did the interactive chocolate tour with an audio guide, and we got to sample SO MUCH chocolate. lol. We tried every flavor Lindt made. It was a chocolate lover’s dream! It was a really fun, hands-on tour and a great activity to do with a group. Sign up for your chocolate tour here.

Giant gold whisk hanging from ceiling pouring a chocolate fountain into a giant Lindt Chocolate truffle — Lindt Chocolate Museum Tour

Where to Eat in Zurich

We had a great time trying different delicious dishes while in Switzerland. Here are a few restaurants in Zurich that I recommend.

A white plate with brunch foods, including an omlette, yogurt, apple slices, a pancake, and jam — Brunch at Viadukt

Viadukt

One of our favorite restaurants we tried in Zurich was Viadukt, a cute restaurant built into an old railroad viaduct. The atmosphere was so cool! We went here for brunch and had a wonderful meal. Afterwards, we strolled around the other trendy shops in the area that were also built into the viaduct arches. There are a variety of shops from boutiques, art galleries, and a Market Hall full of farm fresh food.

Two hot chocolates with whipped cream in white mugs — Hot chocolate from Café & Conditorei 1842

Café & Conditorei 1842

If you’re looking for pastries, cakes, and some delicious hot chocolate, head to Café & Conditorei 1842. The entrance may be small, but once you’re inside, you’ll see a century-old cafe with with 3 stories. We ate lunch here and drank some very rich and creamy hot chocolate. The whipped cream was much less sweet than what we are used to in the U.S., but still tasty. Don’t be surprised if there is a line to get in. This place is popular!

Sternen Grill

A quick spot to eat with some delicious schnitzel and currywursts is the Sternen Grill. We had a take away meal here one night and it was SO GOOD! I definitely recommend this casual spot.

Lucerne

The last city we visited before heading home was Lucerne. This city was so magical and filled with medieval architecture. It’s only an hour away from Zurich by train and definitely worth the stop!

My Favorite Photography Spots Around Lucerne

I loved taking photos here. One of the most picturesque spots is The Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge. It’s a wooden foot bridge that crosses the river Reuss. How cool! Also make sure to check out the views of the mountains from Lake Lucerne. It’s absolutely gorgeous during sunset with the icy blue lake, purple sky, and white mountain tops. I loved watching the swans. They were the perfect subject for my photos.

Lake Lucerne

You can enjoy the gorgeous views of Lake Lucerne from the shore, or you can also hop on a sightseeing cruise to get a better view of the Swiss Alps and Lucerne. Just bundle up if you’re going in the winter! Book your cruise here.

Glacier Garden of Lucerne

Another fun thing we did while in Lucerne was visit Glacier Garden of Lucerne. We were looking for some activities to do on New Year’s Day, and lucky for us, this museum was open and also free with our Swiss Travel Pass. The Glacier Garden of Lucerne included ice age glaciers, a mirror maze, labyrinth, a lookout tower, and so much more. It was really a great museum to explore and had a lot of fun interactive exhibits. They also had a bistro where we ordered some delicious hot chocolates and hot dogs. Our visit to Lucerne was wonderful.

Crying lion monument carved into stone wall in Lucerne — Lion of Lucerne Monument

Lion of Lucerne Monument

Don’t miss the Lion of Lucerne Monument that’s right by the Glacier Garden of Lucerne. This monument was built in 1820 and commemorates the Swiss Guards who were killed in 1792 during the French Revolution.

Swan swimming alone on a icy, blue lake with mountains in the background and pink and purple clouds — Lake Lucerne at sunset

Overall Thoughts on Switzerland

Overall, Switzerland is gorgeous and such a magical country to visit! However, be prepared to spend money, because nothing is cheap in Switzerland. There is plenty to do, no matter what time of year, but being in the Swiss Alps in the winter is extra picturesque. If you’re looking for a sign, here it is. Make your winter wonderland dream come true!

Good to Knows

Currency: Swiss Francs

Swiss German Phrases:

grüezi or hallo - hello

merci or danke - thank you

Camera used to document my travels: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 35mm lens, Olympus Om-1 35mm film, and iPhone