Switzerland: First Impressions

Welcome to Switzerland, where the beauty is just so stunning, you won’t notice that your wallet has slowly but steadily emptied.

But really, what else did you expect? What are the two main things all people know/have heard about Switzerland? One, it’s expensive. Two, it’s utterly stunning. So really, you knew what you were getting into.

These are the things we know about Switzerland (and will go into more detail about), but what about a few things you didn’t know? Keep in mind – I only visited the German side of Switzerland, so these observations may not be applicable to the French side.

Below, are my first impressions of Switzerland.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles? More like Trains, Cable Cars, and Gondolas!

One question plagued me before I visited Switzerland, should I rent a car?

The answer is, no, you really don’t need it since it’s not likely to save on cost or help with convenience. Switzerland is very well-connected, and it’s not too hard to figure out the timetables. Also, unless you’re used to driving in Europe, driving in Switzerland can be a very stressful experience if you’re trying to get through the towns/cities (think narrow roads, bikes hugging your side, and German street signs that you can’t even come close to pronouncing).

Swiss trains run like clockwork (see what I did there?), they’re always on time, if not early, and leave exactly on the dot. Worried about missing a connection? No problem, there’s likely to be another in maybe 10-20 minutes. The longest wait might have you set back an hour at most.

Always have your train ticket ready, but know that there will be many times that it doesn’t get checked. This is also the also the case for buses. Cable cars, gondolas, and ferries are more likely to punch your ticket. Some trains also have 1st class sections, so make sure not to sit in those areas unless you have a ticket.

Although the Swiss think that their public transport is relatively affordable, others (especially American travelers) will tend to disagree. BUT, at times, the convenience can make up for the cost.

A Note – If you have large bags or multiple bags, there will often not be space for them. Most trains do have small racks and overhead areas but they’re VERY small and get taken quickly. This means you will have to get creative, and likely be ready to be squished in with your bags.

Food, Glorious Food

Really this segment could be called, they put cheese on WHAT?

Swiss cuisine has been heavily influenced by its neighbors (mostly Germany and France, with a smidge of Italy thrown in for flair), but the connecting theme across all of Swiss cuisine is CHEESE.

Now, as someone who is allergic to dairy products, I couldn’t indulge, but I was curious WHY cheese in Switzerland was so renowned. The answer is actually multifaceted.

1. Much of the land in Switzerland isn’t useable for “normal” farming, so farmers have traditionally filled that space with farm animals – both to keep the grass down and the area habitable, but also for income. This income mainly came from a surplus of dairy – half of which is turned into cheese. Even today, Switzerland’s cheese industry is primarily run by small businesses that have to follow strict protocols for production (they can’t use additives, etc). This is said to lead to a “purer” taste in the cheeses.
2. Most cheese in Switzerland actually contains very little lactose, as it’s broken down in the production process. This means that the cheese is much easier to digest.
3. Cheese can vary greatly from region to region because of the difference in mountain pastures that the cows roam in and differences in the ripening process. As a result, there are over 700 different kinds of cheese in Switzerland.

But (luckily for me) Switzerland has more than cheese.

There’s also chocolate! And meat!

Switzerland isn’t really the land of fruits and veggies. If you’re a fan of sausages, potatoes, and veal, Switzerland will treat you well. Plus, rounding any meal off with some Swiss chocolate is *chef’s kiss*.

Swiss milk chocolate contains a higher level of milk than other chocolates around the world, and (as seen above in the cheese section), both the milk and the process of creating chocolate are heavily controlled. The Swiss also use a process called “conching,” where a machine evenly distributes the ingredients through an intense mixing process.

But, just because milk chocolate is the favorite, doesn’t mean there isn’t any dark chocolate – or even chocolate for the vegans!

A Note – even if you say that you have an allergy or want a substitution on your food, they’re very likely to say ok but bring you the original food without any changes. They’ll fix it on the second time around though, so don’t feel shy to speak up!

Strike A Pose

Europeans are known to be a fashionable bunch, and the Swiss are no different.

Polished is the best word to describe Swiss fashion. There’s a wide variety of looks, just like you’d see in any city across the world – colored hair, trendy clothes, conservative clothes, etc. But, all of these looks just seem a bit more polished than you’d see in the United States. Things fit better (are tailored), hair and beards are more styled and trimmed, and everything has a purpose. By this, I mean that the shoes are stylish, but are ready for the miles and miles of walking that all Europeans seem to go through every day. The bags seem trendy, but can also fit a few purchases from a local market.

Also, I’m convinced that the Swiss just don’t notice the heat, as everyone seemed to be in long sleeves and long pants even when it was 80 degrees F.

Is Switzerland Just A Bit… Performative?

Yes, Switzerland is beautiful and at times it seems like you’re walking through a fairytale. But do they play into that just a bit too much?

Before you come at me with pitchforks and torches, let me say that, again, I went to some very popular tourist destinations and that’s definitely a HUGE part of why I came out of Switzerland feeling like this.

When we went to Interlaken, we had a tour guide take us to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Murren Alpine Village. The expansion (and to some extent, the existence) of both can be credited to tourism. British tourists, as our guide told us, were the first to come to the valley and fall in love with it. So the Swiss decided to capitalize on that and create more for them to love. Those wooden houses with carved balconies and overflowing flowers LOOK amazing, but is there really anything more to them than that? But then again, does there need to be?

I will say, I did go to Zurich too and even then there were a few comments made by the Swiss that fed into this thought. For instance, we were told by our concierge that Switzerland is not a good country for shopping. He went to Germany for that, and most other things.

The Little Things (Small Impressions)

• The Swiss don’t use Euros, they use Francs.
• Bikers will not beep at you or tell you to get out of the way unless it’s speak now or forever crash into someone.
• There are a surprisingly large number of Indian and Korean restaurants in Switzerland. I think it’s because of the multiple Bollywood and Korean dramas that are filmed there.
• The Swiss bring their dogs EVERYWHERE. But they don’t really want you to pet them, nor are the dogs that interested in others.
• Most of the Swiss understand English very well.
• Switzerland is in Europe. Europeans smoke. You’ll just have to get used to it or get used to moving tables.
• Hotels in Switzerland are a bit small and basic for their price point, but everyone is very kind and willing to help.

Any questions? Comment below or contact me!