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We are back from our postponed Switzerland honeymoon, and I’m so excited to share all the details with you. It’s been about three weeks since we returned and I still think about Switzerland every single day. It may sound a bit cliche, but I truly think a piece of my heart was left over there. I’ve been to a lot of places, but Switzerland lives at the top of my list. This blog post is going to recap our full Switzerland honeymoon, including where we stayed, what cities we visited, our full itinerary and so much more. We spent most of our time in the Jungfrau Region, and then spent the last two days in Lucerne. So, let’s dive in!

Our Switzerland Honeymoon

The Jungfrau Region

The first half of our trip was spent in the Jungfrau Region. The map below will give you a better idea of how the region is laid out. If you’re planning a trip, I highly recommend visiting this area. It was truly a dream. Our full itinerary will be linked at the bottom of this post with exact details, but I’ll break this region down into a couple sections to explain.

HOW TO GET THERE + HOW TO GET AROUND

We flew into the Zurich Airport and from there, we took the train to Grindelwald, via Interlaken Ost. The train station is inside the airport so it’s very easy to go straight from your flight to the trains. Everything is very straightforward. We didn’t rent a car and we definitely didn’t need to. Switzerland has a very complex train system that can get you everywhere. I highly recommend downloading the SBB App before you arrive. We used it to book everything. You can get all tickets for public transportation on the app. It’s way easier than waiting in lines. You can even purchase the ticket after you’ve already boarded the train.

WHERE WE STAYED

If you go to Grindelwald, you must stay at the Boutique Hotel Glacier. It was phenomenal. Both Eddie and I agreed it was our favorite hotel that we have ever stayed at. It was one of the most memorable parts of the trip. From the moment we arrived, the service was incredible. The staff became our friends and it immediately felt like a second home. It’s nestled in the mountains and the views are incredible. Breakfast was included and it was incredible. Everything from the lobby, to the cozy rooms, to the gorgeous spa, was impeccable. It’s a couple minute walk from the hotel into town and we were able to walk to restaurants and the grocery store without any problems. The train station is also about a 10 minute walk.

I recommend getting a room with Eiger View, and get a balcony. We drank our coffee and wine there, as well as had a couple of meals there. The view was unbeatable.

WHERE WE ATE

As I mentioned before, breakfast was included in our hotel so we ate there every morning. the options were endless and they surprised us with a new smoothie every morning. Switzerland is on the pricier side, so we actually opted to grab lunch at the grocery store a couple of times. The whole grocery experience was really fun. We ate on our balcony as much as we could, so grabbing cheese, crackers, a sandwich and salads were our go-to for lunches.

In terms of dinner in Grindelwald, our top two recommendations would be to eat at The Hotel Glacier and The Central Hotel Wolter. Those were our two favorites. There are plenty of options though! I’d recommend making reservations as it was hard to get a table without one. The first night, we ate at the The Hotel Glacier and it was absolutely fantastic. The menu was a surprise menu and you chose how many courses you wanted and decided between vegan or meat/seafood. We aren’t picky eaters so we loved it. Heads up though, it’s very expensive.

WHAT WE DID

We did so much during our short stay in the Jungfrau Region, but here are our favorites. All activities we did will be listed on the downloadable itinerary at the end of the blog post.

Grindewald First

The first day of our trip was a total washout. It was freezing, rainy and super foggy, which made it pretty difficult to go on any of the excursions we had planned. However, First (pronounced Feerst) was the first time on our trip that we got a clear glimpse of the mountains and the stunning views. To get there (by bus), get off at Firstbahn and take the cable car from there to First. The ride is about 25 minutes and it makes two stops on the way up.

When you get to the top, there’s plenty of activities to do. There’s a lake you can hike to, a cliff walk, zip lining and so much more. From there, you can rent scooters and ride them back down the mountain or you can hike. We opted to hike so that we could stop for photos along the way. The views were absolutely unreal. Not to mention, you’ll encounter plenty of cows that are pretty friendly on thew way down.

Jungfraujoch Top of Europe

This is a must-do if you are heading to the Jungfrau Region. It’s a bit of a trip, and that’s because it’s the highest railway station in all of Europe. To get there, you’ll take the Eiger Express to Eigergletscher and from there you will take the cogwheel train up to the top of Europe. I could write a whole post on just this experience, but I’ll spare the details so you can experience it for yourself. When you get to the top, you’ll want to spend a couple of hours there. There’s an overlook, zip lining, a hiking trail, restaurant, shopping, a bar and more. It’s truly breathtaking.

Pfingstegg

Pfingstegg is another short cable car ride from Grindewald and can be done in a couple of hours. The cable car ride takes about 10 minutes and at the top, you’ll find zip lining through the forest, a restaurant and a toboggan ride. The toboggan ride was a highlight of our trip. You have to do it! If you go to my Instagram and watch my Switzerland 2 Highlight, you’ll see a video of it there.

Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen was the originally where we were going to stay, but everyone we talked to during the planning process recommended that we stay in Grindewald, and travel to visit Lauterbrunnen. After visiting, I’m glad we decided to listen to their advice. Lauterbrunnen is breathtaking, but it is more of a quiet village with less restaurants, etc. However, it’s a must visit. Eddie and I both agreed it was one of the most beautiful parts of our trip. There’s something magical about it. Once we got off the train, we walked through town to an iconic spot for a photo. I saved a photo in this exact location on my Pinterest years ago. It was so surreal to be there and see it in person.

After that, we checked out Staubbach Falls, but unfortunately the hike was closed that day. It’s still worth seeing and the hike is very short. From there, we hiked for 45 minutes to Trummelbach Falls, which is super cool! It’s a very steep hike up the side of the mountain. It’s definitely not an activity if you’re afraid of heights, but worth visiting if you can handle it!

Interlaken

We ended up only stopping in Interlaken for lunch but I wish we had spent more time there. It’s absolutely stunning and it’s a bigger city, with lots to do. It’s located right in the center of two lakes and the views are unbelievable. We grabbed lunch and ate in a little park on the water. There’s lots of opportunity for that there and it’s really romantic.

Männlichen Panoramic Trail

We actually did this hike twice. The first time we went up to do this trail, we hiked through intense fog and snow and we didn’t really see any views. So, we ended up going back up to do it again the next day and it was significantly better. To get there, we took a cable car from Grindelwald. The ride takes about 20-25 minutes and it’s a really pretty ride. Once you get to the top, there’s a smaller hike called “The Royal Trail” that we had planned to do, but it was covered in fog so we opted out.

The panoramic trail takes you from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg and you’re able (on a good day) to see all of the mountain peaks. It’s absolutely beautiful and it takes about 1.5 hours. This hike is really high, so on cloudy days, you’re above the clouds and the cloud coverage has potential to block the views.

I recommend planning to do this hike on a good weather day. Once you get to Kleine Scheidegg, you can either take the train back to Grindelwald or catch a train to Eigergletscher, where you can then take the cogwheel up to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe. Every train ride and cable car ride is breathtaking, so you can’t go wrong.

Glacier Canyon

The first day of our trip was very poor weather. If that’s the case on your trip or if you’re looking to do something not as intense, visit Glacier Canyon! It’s very close to Grindelwald. We actually walked from our hotel, through a beautiful forest and it was about 25 minutes. The walk was gorgeous and I highly recommend it, even if you aren’t going to Glacier Canyon.

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Lucerne

HOW TO GET THERE FROM GRINDELWALD

After a couple of days in Grindelwald, we made our way to Lucerne to spend the last two days there. The train ride from Grindelwald to Lucerne took about 2.5 hours and it was so beautiful. Trains are very luxurious in Switzerland, with food and beverage service, outlets, comfortable seating and more. Everything is really well taken care of and it’s pleasant to ride the trains. In my opinion, it’s the best way to see the country.

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Hotel Des Alpes Luzern and it was perfect. The first point of note is that it’s walking distance from the train station and it’s located right next to the Chapel Bridge. The views were incredible, but location, to me, was the number one selling point. The staff was very friendly and for an older hotel, it’s very clean and kept up with. We had a room with a balcony view (which I highly recommend) that overlooked the river and the bridge. We enjoyed sitting out on the balcony with a bottle of wine, taking in the views.

WHERE WE ATE

We were only in Lucerne for a short time, but we had a wonderful experience everywhere we ate. It’s more of a city, and there’s basically anything you would ever want or need. You’ll find a variety of cuisines and dining options and reservations weren’t as big of a necessity here. Lucerne is a very romantic city and it’s charming everywhere you look. I was totally in awe of how clean it was and just how much beauty was everywhere you looked.

Restaurant Schiff

We celebrated Eddie’s birthday on our first evening so I made a balcony reservation at the Schiff. It was lovely and intimate and romantic. The food was traditional Swiss food and it was very good. I would recommend this restaurant if you’re looking to try Swiss cuisine with a good view.

La Terrazza

The second night we ate at an Italian restaurant and it was probably our favorite meal of the whole trip. The food was incredible and the views were too! It’s situated right on the river and it’s an intimate setting. We loved our experience there and would highly recommend.

WHAT WE DID

The first night in Lucerne, we just walked around and explored the town. We walked across the Chapel Bridge and through little side streets. I immediately fell in love with the city. I don’t know how to put into words just how beautiful it was, but it’s a charming city I would recommend adding to your travel list. Here are some snippets of the city views.

Trail Along Lake Lucerne

We really wanted to check out Lake Lucerne, so we found a local trail that is easy and has great lake views. I don’t know if the trail had a name but you can access it right by the train/bus station. Just follow along the river and it will lead to a beautiful trail that goes along the lake. We saw luscious greenery, secluded beaches, swans, and so much more natural beauty. I highly recommend taking a walk along the lake if you get the chance.

Lion Monument

We walked to the Lion Monument, a rock relief designed in 1820-21. It commemorates the Swiss Guards that were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. It was really beautiful to see. If you walk from town, you’ll pass this beautiful view of the river leading out to Lake Lucerne with the mountains in the background.

Parks Along Reuss River

There are some beautiful parks along the river that are very pleasant to walk through, people watch, hangout or even have a picnic. You’ll see people playing games, catching up with friends and just spending time in a beautiful outdoor area. The scenery is breathtaking.

Chapel Bridge

This is an iconic spot in Lucerne and it’s gorgeous. It’s a beautiful bridge in the heart of the city that takes you across the Reuss River. It’s lined with flowers and it’s a must-see if you’re visiting the city. We stayed in a hotel right next to it so we walked across it quite a bit.

Our Overall Thoughts

We absolutely fell in love with the country of Switzerland. We only visited two areas, and there’s so much more to explore. The Swiss lifestyle was very impressive. The public transportation system was incredibly efficient, reliable and timely. Everything from the city streets to the trains was impeccably clean. People were very friendly and welcoming and the views were unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The one point to note is that Switzerland is a very expensive country, and one of the most expensive in Europe. Traveling and dining throughout Switzerland can be done in budget-friendly ways, but before you travel, I recommend doing your research. If you’re thinking about traveling to Switzerland, do it. It was one of the best trips of our lives. We miss it so much already and plan to go back one day.

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THE ITINERARY

You can download our itinerary below. I recommend making an itinerary before you go, but keep a flexible plan (especially for hiking in the Jungfrau Region), due to the unpredictable weather. As always, if you have any questions, leave a commend down below or send me an email (hello@livelovesophia.com). Follow me on Instagram for more travel content!

Thank you for following along on our Switzerland Honeymoon. We are so happy we chose Switzerland and hope that you find this post very helpful to plan your upcoming trip. Follow along on my Instagram for more travel adventures!

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