I still remember the summer of 2012. I was planning my annual trip from New York City to Istanbul, my little pilgrimage home to see my parents and spend some time in the city I grew up in. While hunting for a cheap ticket, I came across a great deal with Swiss Air Lines: a flight from JFK to Istanbul with a layover in Zurich. I was thrilled, not only was the fare reasonable, but I’d also get to fly with Swiss Air and, for the first time, set foot on European soil.

The journey itself was pleasant and comfortable; back then, Swiss Air still offered a touch of old-fashioned quality. When I landed in Zurich, I was genuinely happy. It felt like stepping into a postcard. Switzerland, after all, has a kind of timeless charm that captivates everyone.

I recall taking the train inside the airport to get from one terminal to another. As it passed through the tunnel, animated scenes of cows waving and greeting travelers played along the walls, a whimsical welcome to Switzerland. I smiled, even though part of me felt a little wistful. As a Turkish passport holder, I couldn’t leave the terminal without a visa. So, I wandered around the airport, bought a tiny cowbell keychain for 10 francs, and waited for my flight to Istanbul. A bit tragic, I know.

But now, thirteen years later, Switzerland, it’s finally time for us to meet properly. This summer, I’m not just passing through your airport or gazing at the tarmac from behind glass. This time, I’m here to savor every moment… To explore your medieval towns, your libraries, your alpine peaks, your lush valleys, and maybe even chase a little adrenaline. And yes, to raise a toast to James Bond.

Shall we?

Our journey began at Zurich Airport, though we decided to leave exploring Zurich itself for the end of the trip. After a pleasant conversation with a friendly lady from Sixt Rent-a-Car, I was lucky enough to get an upgrade on our car. With that small victory, we set off toward our first destination in Switzerland, St. Gallen.

To make the drive easier, we spent the night in Wil, a small town about 40 minutes from Zurich and conveniently close to St. Gallen. There was one main reason I wanted to visit St. Gallen: the Abbey Library of Saint Gall.

As someone who loves old libraries, this one had been on my list for years. Often described as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, and rightfully so, it is an absolute masterpiece. The library hall, built in the 18th century in elegant Rococo style, is breathtaking. To help preserve the centuries-old floors, visitors must remove their shoes and wear oversized slippers. It felt like a small and meaningful ritual before stepping into such a remarkable space.

A few logistical notes for anyone visiting St. Gallen: finding street parking can be a bit tricky. Most parking is managed online, and you’ll need to sign up and enter several details to pay. To save time, I recommend parking at Einstein Parking (Wildegg Immo) on Wassergasse 7, 9000 St. Gallen. It is very close to the Abbey and reasonably priced.

And if you have some extra time, take a walk around St. Gallen itself. It is one of Switzerland’s most charming and intellectually rich cities, where history, culture, and quiet elegance come together beautifully.

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries to drive through. After a half-day stop in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, continue on Highway 13 toward Splügen Pass, which marks the border between Switzerland and Italy. You will most likely arrive around sunset, when the light softens over the mountains and the scenery becomes absolutely breathtaking.

This is a mesmerizing place where you can take in the full splendor of the Swiss Alps, a true feast for the eyes. Standing there, you find yourself between two countries at once. It was also the first time I crossed into Italy, a country I had long felt a little embarrassed not to have visited until then.

We continued our journey toward Locarno, located in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. Along the way, it’s worth mentioning The Grand Tour of Switzerland, a scenic road trip route that highlights the very best of the country, from snow-capped mountains and crystal-clear lakes to medieval towns and modern cities. Be sure not to miss the Grand Tour photo spots marked along the route, each with a red photo frame that perfectly captures an iconic Swiss view.

Our original plan had been to spend the night on the Italian side, around San Fedele Intelvi near Como. But that would have meant a long drive from Splügenpass, and we needed to be back in Locarno by 3 o’clock. Locarno, perched on Lake Maggiore at the foot of the Alps, is a truly charming Italian-speaking town.

The next morning, waking up for breakfast felt like stepping into an old Italian movie. Of course, in those movies, people rarely speak English, and I ended up with a funny story to tell. While filling my plate and enjoying the stunning view of Lake Maggiore, I wanted to ask the lady whether the meat was beef or pork. My Italian was obviously not good enough, and she didn’t understand English, so I pointed at the meat and made some sounds: “Möö, oink?” Everyone burst out laughing, either they understood, or they thought, “What a crazy person.” Well, it was beef.

After breakfast, we still had time for a quick visit to Lugano, just about 40 minutes from Locarno. But soon we needed to head back to Diga Verzasca for a dose of adrenaline.

Oh boy, here we are at Diga Verzasca. Have you seen the iconic James Bond film GoldenEye? The opening scene shows James Bond, played by Pierce Brosnan, sprinting along the top of a dam and diving off, performing an incredible bungee jump down the face of the dam. In reality, the scene was filmed at Diga di Verzasca in Switzerland, and this daring jump remains one of the most memorable and adrenaline-filled openings in the entire Bond series.

Well, you can probably guess where I am going with this. As someone who loves challenges, I wasn’t going to simply admire the views from the dam. The night before, I booked a bungee jumping experience with Golden Eye Bungee Jump. Even though I am a skydiver, a static fall from this height is incredibly thrilling. You feel your body accelerate and experience an immense rush of pleasure. This jump from 220 meters (720 feet) was truly the highlight of my trip. You can check out the full video on my Instagram, @huseyinkaradeniz.

After this thrilling bungee jumping adventure, it was time to keep driving because we had many more places to see. We were now heading toward Täsch. Take the highway north and, before reaching the Gotthard Strassentunnel, make sure to take a detour to visit a charming coffee spot called Chiosco Panorama, located in the heart of the Swiss Alps at Gotthard Pass. A word of advice, do not miss the exit before the tunnel because once you enter, there is no turning back since the tunnel is very long. Nearby, you will also find another Grand Tour of Switzerland photo spot called Tremola.

In our experience, we unfortunately missed the exit and continued driving in the tunnel for 10 to 15 miles. However, there was a severe car accident in the tunnel which forced us to turn back. After that, we were able to find the correct exit and take this beautiful detour.

While taking pictures at the Grand Tour of Switzerland Photo Spot at the Tower of Hospental, I had a chance to chat with a young local man walking his dog. He told me that he had moved to this beautiful town a few years ago and called it the best decision of his life. After taking in the charming view around us, it was easy to understand why he felt that way.

We have finally reached Furka Pass in the Swiss Alps, a must-visit for any James Bond fan because of the Goldfinger chase where Sean Connery drove the iconic Aston Martin DB5. Driving along the winding roads with cliffs on one side and stunning views all around felt like stepping into the movie. It was the perfect spot to breathe the crisp mountain air, take in the scenery, and celebrate 007’s legacy.

A toast to 007! May our lives be full of unexplored journeys and the excitement of conquering new horizons.

And here we are, at the legendary Belvédère Hotel on Furka Pass. I remember pinning this spot on my map years ago, dreaming of the day I could see it with my own eyes. I had always hoped to spend even a single night here. With sweeping panoramic views of jagged peaks and glaciers, the hotel feels like a solitary lookout over some of Switzerland’s most breathtaking landscapes. I can only imagine the magic of this place in winter, cloaked in snow and ice.

Sadly, the hotel closed in 2015. Its high-altitude location allowed it to operate for only a few months each year, and the nearby Rhône Glacier had retreated so dramatically that the hotel’s famed was diminished drastically.

I had expected the area to be quiet, but the hotel had been featured on Top Gear, and a stream of car enthusiasts had come to photograph their vehicles against its iconic façade. Even so, standing here in person, seeing the Belvédère live, made every twist and turn of the alpine road entirely worth it.

We are not far from Täsch, and of course, every breathtaking landscape needs a guardian.

I usually avoid recommending hotels, but if you are in Täsch, Hotel Mountime is worth considering. It is a cozy place, conveniently located near the train station and a river. Spending the night in a room where you could hear the gentle sound of the river was truly lovely. Täsch itself is a charming town and serves as the gateway to Zermatt, where we planned to spend the entire day. In the morning, we took the train from Täsch to Zermatt, a ride of about 15 minutes. This train is necessary because Zermatt is a car-free village, and private cars are not allowed within the town.

Zermatt may appear to be a modern and elegant ski town, but it has a much deeper history than it seems. Take Hinterdorfstrasse, for example, a historic street lined with wooden buildings dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. Many of these houses are raised on stone plates or stilts, a practical design originally intended to protect against rodents, moisture, and floods.

The main reason many people visit Zermatt is to see the Matterhorn, the iconic peak that inspired the logo of the famous chocolate brand Toblerone. There are numerous viewpoints from which to admire the mountain, and it can even be seen from Zermatt itself on a clear day. However, in my opinion, the best spot is Gornergrat. To reach it, you can take the Gornergrat Bahn from Zermatt, which costs 96 francs as of July 2025. While the ticket is pricey, the train ride is well worth it for the stunning alpine scenery. If you prefer, you can also hike up, which may take around four hours. The train has multiple stops along the way, allowing you to hop on and off to explore different areas. When we visited, the Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon was taking place, and the area was quite lively and crowded.

Once you reach the top, you can take a short hike toward Hohtälli Peak, which offers a breathtaking view of the Gorner Glacier.

If you want to extend your stay at the summit, you can stay at 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat, which might cost around 1000 dollars a night. I am sure it would be an unforgettable experience, especially in winter when the Alps are blanketed in snow.

You might be wondering if any animals live at this altitude. Well, you are in for a treat. Every summer, from July to August, around 125 Valais Blacknose sheep, perfectly adapted to life in the high Alps, graze on the alpine meadows near the Alpine Garden, high above Zermatt with a stunning view of the Matterhorn. They can be a bit hard to spot, but there is a website that tracks their movements.

We continued our journey west to Lausanne, a city in the French-speaking region of Vaud and home to the International Olympic Committee headquarters. We spent a few hours exploring the city and found it to be vibrant and full of life.

The primary reason I wanted to stop in Lausanne was to visit the Beau-Rivage Palace, where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed. This treaty formally ended the conflict between the Allied Powers and Türkiye after World War I and established the boundaries of the modern Republic of Türkiye. Visitors can still see the room where the treaty was signed, provided no events are taking place. Unfortunately, when we visited, there was an event in progress, so we spent our time enjoying the beautiful backyard and the interior of the hotel instead.

Switzerland is often associated with rules, nature, watches, quality of life, cows, and chocolate, but it is also home to one of the world’s greatest scientific institutions, CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, located in Geneva. Although it might seem like just a few ordinary buildings on the surface, beneath lies the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, a 27-kilometer circular tunnel where scientists collide particles at near-light speed to recreate the conditions that existed just after the Big Bang.

We joined a guided tour at CERN, but to be honest, it felt a bit underwhelming. I expected something more interactive rather than just listening to a 90-minute talk that I could have easily read about online. There are some interactive exhibits that might be more fun for kids. If you have the time, the tour is still worth doing, but if you are short on time, you could visit Tavel House in downtown Geneva instead. It displays the Guillotine of Geneva, which was reportedly used for 36 executions between 1798 and 1814.

On our way back to Zurich, we stopped in Gruyères to visit the HR Giger Museum. Hans Ruedi Giger was a Swiss surrealist artist best known for designing the eerie, biomechanical world of Alien in Ridley Scott’s 1979 film. His work fuses human and mechanical forms, creating art that is both haunting and captivating. If you don’t feel like touring the museum, you can still enjoy the atmosphere at the HR Giger Bar, located right next door. It truly feels like stepping into the world of the movie.

Inside Giger’s mind, having an Americano…

Last but not least, we’ve arrived in Zurich. Outside, the rain was pouring down in steady sheets, drumming against the station roof. There’s hardly a better place to begin your journey on a day like this than the Zürich Hauptbahnhof, warm, lively, and full of the comforting hum of travelers finding their way through the storm.

With the rain pouring nonstop, we chose to spend some time at the Salesforce Zurich office, enjoying warm drinks and sampling the snacks.

We spent two days in Zurich, which was just enough to get a feel for the city but not enough to truly know it. Walking through its cobbled streets on a rainy day, you can sense Zurich’s rhythm as trams hum by, café windows glow softly, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifts through the air.

Zurich is an incredibly walkable city, so I’d suggest parking your car, grabbing a cup of tea, and exploring on foot. Unlike many other European cities, Zurich has a distinct atmosphere. It feels modern and polished while still carrying an old-world charm that makes it truly unique.

I guess I’m not the only one who feels Zurich has a special charm. Near Bellevueplatz stands the historic Café Bar Odeon, a beloved landmark since 1911. More than just a local gathering spot, it was once a haven for writers, poets, and exiled intellectuals. Legendary figures like James Joyce, Lenin, Albert Einstein, Stefan Zweig, and Thomas Mann all spent time here, and it’s said that Joyce even worked on Ulysses within its walls.

As in much of medieval Europe, Zurich had no formal waste management system. At that time, sewage, trash, and other unwanted materials were disposed of in narrow alleys called ehgraben. Some remnants of these old ehgraben can still be seen today.

To visit the ehgraben remnants, you will need to request a key at the Stadthaus (Stadthausquai 17, 8001 Zürich), open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You will need to leave a valid ID with the clerk, which will be returned when you hand the key back. Along with the key, you will receive a map showing the locations of open ehgrabens and some hidden chambers, making the experience feel like an Easter egg hunt through the city. While at the Stadthaus, be sure to take the elevator to the top floor to admire the impressive art piece displayed above.

How many of us have heard of the famous thought experiment, Schrödinger’s cat? Yes, the poor cat, alive or dead, remains a mystery until the box is opened. While we may never know the answer to the thought experiment, you can see a life-size figure of the cat in the garden of Schrödinger’s former house at Huttenstrasse 9 in Zurich. And don’t worry, although I am a carnivore, I don’t grill cats. In the picture, I was just doing my own little thought experiment.

We have been exploring Switzerland, but have you noticed we’ve missed something important? Yes, I hear you asking, when are we going to taste some delicious Swiss chocolate? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. On a rainy day, there is no better place than Läderach on the famous Bahnhofstrasse. Just steps from Zurich Hauptbahnhof, you can visit the shop to sample and purchase some of Switzerland’s finest chocolate.

It has been a long journey, and we are finally approaching the end. Switzerland had been on my travel list for a long time, but planning the trip was challenging due to time constraints and the sheer number of must-see destinations. Still, we managed to see and experience a great deal in ten days, even if some iconic places like Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen had to be left for another time. Truly, you can never run out of things to see or do in Switzerland. It is a mesmerizing country full of adventure, a paradise for thrill-seekers. For now, I don’t know when I will return, but until then, I will keep it as a happy place in my mind.