Our recommendations

- trip to Jungfrau and Furka Pass

- Montreux and Chillon Castle

- Bern (old town)

- Neuchatel (exhibition of historical automata)

- Lucerne (old town, transport museum, and ride to Klewenalp)

- Schaffhausen (waterfalls on the Rhine)

- St. Gallen (monastic library)

- Appenzell (mountain Santis and visit to a cheese factory)

- Bellinzona (defensive walls)

- Lugano (miniature park).

What is worth eating?

- Fondue (can be cheese, meat, or chocolate - as a dessert) mainly served in the autumn-winter months. In cheese fondue, we can dip pieces of baguette, but also slices of zucchini. The meat version is made in hot oil where we dip pieces of chicken, beef, or pork.

- Raclette (vegetables, meats, cheese, roasted on a heated stone slab), served as above.

- Rösti (the equivalent of our potato pancakes).

- Zürcher Geschnetzeltes (lamb stew in mushroom sauce).

- Älplermagronen (the equivalent of the French Tartiflette, which consists of finely sliced potatoes with pasta, hard cheese, onions, and pieces of meat in béchamel sauce).

- Nusstorte (tart with caramelized nuts).

Located closer to Interlaken, Meiringen is a small resort town. It is known for Arthur Conan Doyle, who spent a significant part of his life here writing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. You can take a historic cogwheel train to the Reichenbach Falls and visit the museum of the famous writer.

As befits a very orderly country, the hiking trails are excellently marked. You will also find detailed information about foraging for forest fruits. For example, mushrooms can only be picked on Saturdays and Mondays, while the other days are reserved for locals. If you find a nice porcini mushroom, you need to quickly hide it in your backpack.

Returning to mushrooms - the collected ones must be inspected by a designated specialist. They will review them, discard any suspicious ones, pack the rest in a plastic bag, and stamp it. If you get poisoned by mushrooms and do not have the inspector's stamp, you will bear all medical costs yourself despite having insurance.

Trekking around Zurich

Since shops are closed on Sundays, it can be used for day trips in the mountains. This way we visited small towns scattered around Zurich. We often discovered lesser-known ski resorts such as: Elm, Flumserberg, Hoch Ybrig, Engelberg - we returned to them in winter. Despite the limited infrastructure (usually around 20 km of trails), you can ski without crowds. I mention this in the "Skiing" section.

Among the more interesting places, I recommend Bristen and Meiringen. The drive up the narrow mountain road to Bristen requires considerable skill. In the rock face, niches have been carved where you can hide when someone is coming down. Typically, vehicles going downhill honk to give us a chance to escape. We were shocked when a full-size intercity bus appeared around the corner. We leave the car in the parking lot and head through the mountains to the Maderanertal hotel. Built in the "middle of nowhere" in 1864, it was visited by many distinguished guests as well as fascist hierarchs of Germany before World War II. A guestbook with archival entries was available at the reception. If you get there, it's worth taking a look at it.

Furka Pass

The road through the Furka Pass was built in 1867 for the army. It leads from the northern cantons towards Zermatt. It was the longest road in Switzerland in the 19th century. The highest point is at an altitude of 2429 meters, which causes the route to be closed during the winter months. To allow vehicle traffic southwards, a car-carrying railway tunnel was opened in 1982.

Along the narrow road, many viewpoints with small parking areas have been constructed to allow for iconic photos. At the Belvedere Hotel, we can enter the cave inside the Rhone Glacier. Due to the shifting tongue of ice, the cave is built every year from the beginning. Entry to the cave is free.

Jungfrau

Rising above Interlaken and Thun, the Jungfrau massif has a height of 4158 meters. It can be accessed from two towns: Grindelwald and Wengen. The most attractive route is the traditional railway to the highest railway station in Europe (3454 meters). This is only possible in the summer. The railway lines run along the surface and connect at the station Kleine Scheideggat an altitude of 2065 meters. Here we transfer to the train going through the tunnel to the Jungfrau glacier and reach the underground railway station beneath the Sphinx peak. The 9-kilometer tunnel is carved inside the Eiger and Mönch. A ticket from Grindelwald costs 250 CHF.

The construction of the tunnel began in 1896, reaching the intermediate station on the Eiger slope two years later. There is a viewpoint there, through the windows we can admire the glacier and one of the most challenging climbing walls in Europe. After a short break, the train continues to the next intermediate station Rotstock, which was opened in 1899. During the construction of this section, 8 miners died in an explosion. This caused a strike and significant delays in the work. The next section to the Eigerwand station was completed only in 1903, and the next to the Eismeer station in 1905. Ultimately, the line was finished under the Jungfrau in 1912 and the first trains started operating. It is a narrow-gauge line with a track gauge of 1 meter. An additional cog rail is mounted in the middle on steep inclines. The train consists of two passenger cars powered by electric motors. It is one of four railway lines in the world with three-phase power supply. The cars therefore have two parallel pantographs, and the third phase is supplied on isolated tracks. During the train's descent, about 50% of the electrical energy is recovered as the motors operate as generators.

During the transfer at the stationKleine Scheidegg, you can take a break and sit in one of the many restaurants. Trains depart every 30 minutes, so there is no need to rush. If we are lucky, we might witness chunks of the Eiger glacier tongue breaking off and crashing down the cliff with a loud roar.

An alternative is to take the Eiger Express cable car from Grindelwald directly to the Eiger glacier. The travel time over a distance of almost 6.5 km is only 15 minutes, and a round trip ticket costs 75 CHF.

Thun

The name of the city comes from the Celtic "Dunum," meaning fortified town. A Roman fortress was established in 58 BC and became a significant administrative center. In the 12th century, a castle was built on a hill, and since 1819, the main military school in Switzerland has been located here.

Visiting the castle and exhibitions is possible with prior online reservation. The number of guests is limited to 150 people per day, and the ticket costs 15 CHF.

The old town is closed to traffic, so we need to find parking outside and hike to the castle on foot.

Thun is located at the mouth of the Aare River from Lake Thun. Thanks to maintained navigation, it is possible to sail to Interlaken in a two-hour cruise. Ticket prices are around 30 CHF.

Interlaken

The town is located between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun at the foot of the high Alps with the famous peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. It serves as an excellent base for mountaineering and paragliding enthusiasts. The river Aare flows between the lakes.

The Abbey of St. Augustine was built around 1133, but over the following centuries, it began to decline and was completely dissolved in 1484. The buildings were handed over to the city and converted into an administrative part and a hospital. The mill by the Aare river from 1365 gave the town its original name Aarmühle ("mill on the Aare"), which lasted until 1891 when it was changed to Interlaken.

Since the early 19th century, the magnificent views of the mountain ranges have led to a rapid development of tourism. Many luxury hotels were built, and navigation on the lakes was initiated. Two world wars halted further development and forced the city to change its operating model. Since 1955, it has become a conference and business center.

Montreux

Since the beginning of the 19th century, Montreux has become a tourist haven due to its mild climate resulting from its location on the shores of Lake Geneva (Leman). The promenades along the shore are lined with numerous hotels, casinos, and "Belle Epoque" palaces.

It is known for many cultural initiatives: the Montreux Jazz Festival, which has been held since 1967, the Golden Rose of Montreux showcasing cabarets and comedy films, and the Freddy Celebration Days. The latter is dedicated to Freddie Mercury of the band Queen, who spent his last years in a private villa by the lake (overnight stay in the house is possible for just 1200 Euros). His statue attracts many fans each year who leave flowers in tribute to the artist.

Mountain Studios - the recording studios hosted the greatest rock powers. The band Deep Purple, during a cigarette break in a recording session in 1971, witnessed a fire on the lakeshore. They quickly composed the famous hit "Smoke on the Water". The lyrics and notes to the song adorn a section of the promenade. It turned out that the casino caught fire due to a flare shot by a fan of Frank Zappa's band. The "Mountain" studio was purchased in 1978 by Queen, where they recorded the last album "Made in Heaven" before Freddie's death in 1991.

Among the famous musicians who lived here were also: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), David Bowie, and Rick Wakeman.

Fribourg

The city is beautifully situated along the deep bends of the Sarine River. It was founded in 1157, and in the 13th and 14th centuries, it became a European center for clothing and leather goods production, leading to its rapid development. It joined the Swiss Confederation in 1481.

Dominating the old town is the tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral, where entry after climbing 365 steps costs 5 CHF, and the view from 76 meters high is worth the effort of the climb. The stained glass windows in the cathedral were designed by the Pole - Józef Mehoffer.

Most of the buildings in the old town date back to the 16th century. There is also an almost 2-kilometer stretch of defensive walls with many towers. The covered wooden Bernese bridge was built in 1653, and in the 19th century, the surface and roof were replaced.

Neuchatel

The city is the capital of the French-speaking canton that stretches along the shores of Lake Neuchatel. The name comes from "New Castle" built in the 11th century by the King of Burgundy - Rudolph III. In 1707, due to succession, the city became the private property of the King of Prussia - Frederick I. It only joined the Swiss Confederation after the Congress of Vienna in 1815.

The old town is located on the slope of a hill rising above the lake. You can take one of the 3 funiculars - Boine, Cote, and Plan to reach the top, and then descend along a series of picturesque stairs. A one-way ticket costs 4.40 CHF. Unfortunately, the view of the castle below is spoiled by the passing railway line.

On the lakeside promenade, there is the Museum of History of the Automaton, which features three automata built by the Jaquet-Droz family between 1768 and 1774.They were displayed at many royal courts, attracting great interest at the time. The writer, drawer, and pianist are still operational, and we can admire their functioning during the show. The ticket costs 12 CHF, but I don't seeany available sessions on the museum's website for the upcoming months - maybe they are no longer organizing them?

Basel

The city is located on the Rhine at the junction of Switzerland, France, and Germany. It is a major industrial and transshipment center. River transport on the Rhine reaches as far as the North Sea, which is why many railway lines converge here. The airport is located in France and is connected to the city by an extraterritorial road, while the customs border runs within the airport itself. The pharmaceutical and chemical industries dominate here, with major players such as Novartis, Roche, Bayer, and Syngenta having their headquarters.

The old town, which is closed to traffic and lies on both sides of the Rhine, is connected by the Middle Bridge. Among the oldest monuments is the cathedral consecrated in 1019. Traditionally, we can climb the tower. The entrance ticket costs 6 CHF, and we have to climb 250 steps. In addition to the cathedral, the main tourist attraction is the market along with the 14th-century town hall and the side streets.

Bern

The capital of Switzerland is located in a bend of the Aare River, which surrounds the old town on three sides. The cathedral, situated in the center, was built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries and offers a perfect viewpoint. The tallest tower in Switzerland, standing at 100 meters, is open for visitors. We reach the first platform via a spiral staircase with 254 steps. After climbing another 90 steps, we arrive at the upper terrace. The ticket costs 5 CHF.

The city was founded by Duke Bertold V in 1191 at the site where, according to legend, he killed a bear while hunting. This is where the name Bern comes from, and the animal has become a symbol of the capital. It appears on the city’s coat of arms and flag. By the moat, there is an enclosure where bears are still kept.

The old town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The main streets, Marktgasse and Kramgasse, run parallel and are closed to traffic. In addition to the aforementioned cathedral, arcades with shops and restaurants stretch along the streets. Every 150 meters, there are 11 16th-century fountains adorned with figures. The most famous is the Fountain of the Ogre devouring small children. Near Kramgasse, there is also a clock tower from 1530. Four minutes before each hour, the clock figures move and perform a show. On the way, we pass the house of Albert Einstein, where the theory of relativity was developed in 1905.

SWITZERLAND

2005 - 2007

Next to the left is the castle and the seat of the Polish museum in Rapperswil.

10 km from the center, the village begins and we can buy vegetables and flowers directly from the farmers by the road. Prices are posted on cards, and there is a box on the cart where we drop in the money. No one steals, so the farmers have complete trust in the buyers.

In Lucerne, there is also a must-visit Transport Museum. The entrance ticket costs 62 CHF. We can view and enter all kinds of means of transport. I also recommend trying the head-on collision simulator at a speed of 30 km/h.

If you continue further south, make sure to stop at the Bettmeralp train station. You can leave your car here and take the Aletsch Bahnen cable car network to the best viewpoint of the Aletsch glacier - Bettmerhorn. The round-trip ticket costs 52 CHF.

The Jungfrau region was the setting for the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" shot in 1969. During our visit, stills from the film adorned the interiors of the Sphinx complex. Iconic scenes from the previous film "Goldfinger" from 1964 were filmed on the legendary road through the Furka Pass.

In 1978, the Aletsch Glacier had an area of 128 square kilometers. By 2002, its area had shrunk to 117 square kilometers, yet it still measured nearly 24 kilometers in length and had depths reaching up to 800 meters in some places. By 2022, its area had decreased to only 80 square kilometers. It is estimated that the glacier is retreating by about 50 meters each year.

We can take the elevator to halfway up the Sphinx and exit onto the tourist and gastronomic trail. There are restaurants and shops here, a small exhibition of sculptures inside the glacier, and an exit to the plateau outside. A two-kilometer path through the snow will lead us to the highest hut in Switzerland, Mönchsjochhütte (3650 meters, accommodation for 90 people).

From the upper station of the cable car, there is about a 150-meter pedestrian tunnel leading to the foot of Mount Sphinx, where an elevator operates inside. You can take it to the very top to the observatory built in 1937. From its platform, there is an incredible view of the surrounding peaks and the Aletsch glacier descending to the south. We need to dress appropriately because it was 25 degrees at the transfer station, and at the top, in the middle of summer, it's at best 10 degrees in sunny weather. The relatively quick ascent to nearly 3500 meters is felt due to the lack of oxygen, so it’s better not to rush.

Chillon Castle, located on Lake Geneva south of Montreux, is one of the most visited medieval castles in Europe. It controlled the route from Germany and France south to Italy and had significant military and economic strategic importance. It allowed for tolls to be collected on goods transported through the St. Bernard Pass.

The first defensive fragments were built in the 11th century, and further expansions continued until 1267. In addition to the previously mentioned functions, the dungeons housed a prison, and one of its most famous inhabitants was the Genevan monk and historian François de Bonivard. He was imprisoned in 1530 and held captive for the next 6 years.

Since the early 18th century, the castle began to be visited by tourists and became an inspiration for many people in the cultural world. It was visited byJean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Gustave Flaubert, Mary Shelley and Lord Byron. The latter wrote the poem "The Prisoner of Chillon" dedicated to the monk Bonivard after his visit in 1816. The artist's signature is carved on one of the pillars in the castle's dungeons.

Today, the castle is visited by over 400,000 tourists annually. The entrance ticket costs 13.5 CHF. At the entrance, a guide in Polish is available.

Located by the lake of the same name, Lugano is the largest Italian-speaking city outside of Italy. The main tourist attraction is the Swissminiatur park. Established in 1959, it features over 130 of the most interesting landmarks in Switzerland, created at a scale of 1:25. These include not only buildings but also highways, airports, mountain ranges, cable cars, boats navigating the lakes, and railway lines.

The exhibits are numbered, and with the guide, we can learn what each object is and where it is located. If you are planning a longer stay in Switzerland, you have excellent inspiration on how to plan your trip. The entry ticket costs 22 CHF. On-site, there is a souvenir shop and a restaurant. A miniature train is also waiting for the youngest visitors to circle around the park.

Ascona is a small town with a charming old town located right by the lake and the marina. Its several alleys mainly feature restaurants and souvenir shops. Towering over the houses is the bell tower of the Church of Peter and Paul, built in the 16th century.

As you enter the pass, you will come across an interesting monument described in Cyrillic. It is a monument built in 1899 commemorating the battle of the Russian army under Suvorov against the French at the 'Devil's Bridge.' The battle took place in 1799, and the Russians broke through to the south. Even then, they had ambitions of conquering all of Europe.

The Gotthard road tunnel, nearly 17 km long, was opened in 1980. Its construction took 10 years and at that time it was the longest road tunnel in the world. On October 24, 2001, two trucks collided a kilometer from the southern entrance. Due to the fire, temperatures reached 1500 degrees. Over 100 vehicles were completely burned, fortunately only 11 people lost their lives. The tunnel renovation lasted two months and cost 14 million CHF.

In 2016, the base railway tunnel, 57 km long, was opened. It is currently the longest tunnel in the world. In addition to typical rail transport, it is also intended to handle the transportation of trucks on special platforms.

Crossing the Gotthard Pass is also possible via a winding road over the summit, but only in the summer months. It is worth taking a drive as the views are magnificent. We happened to stumble upon a rescue operation for a crashed small tourist plane, which apparently failed to gain enough altitude to clear the pass. The forced landing on the slope seems to have ended happily for the crew.

Lake Four Cantons has mostly very steep shores, but despite this, it is often visited by windsurfing enthusiasts. It is surrounded by several mountain peaks, which we can access by cable cars. On Rigi, which is 1798 meters high, we can take the oldest cogwheel train in Europe, built in 1871. The closest to Lucerne is Pilatus at 2128 meters, which we can reach by both a cogwheel train and a cable car. Right by the lake's edge, we find the starting station of the longest cable car in Switzerland to Mount Klewenalp (height 1593 meters). Here begins a ski resort with 40 km of slopes and 15 lifts (the round-trip ticket costs 46 CHF). Paragliders also eagerly use the slopes of Klewenalp, launching towards the lake. Marmots don’t wrap anything in foil, but the presence of people doesn’t bother them.

Locarno, Ascona, Lugano

In this part of the canton of Ticino, you can already feel a typical Italian atmosphere. No one is in a hurry, on the highway everyone drives a little faster, and what can be done today, let's postpone until tomorrow.

Locarno and Ascona are located close to each other by Lake Maggiore. The border with Italy runs through the lake, and many private yachts and cruise ships operate on it.

The streets and promenades are filled with Mediterranean vegetation, and the temperatures are significantly higher than to the north of the Gotthard Pass. This region used to belong to the Duchy of Milan and was only incorporated into the Swiss Confederation in 1512. There are few historical monuments in Locarno, and the main attraction is strolling along the promenades around the lake. They have a picnic atmosphere, and you can enjoy excellent Italian ice cream. The price for a serving with 3 generous scoops is about 5 CHF.

Bellinzona

Traveling south on the A2 highway along Lake Lucerne, we will come across the St. Gotthard tunnel, and just beyond it, the defensive walls of the Bellinzona fortress. This is also the capital of the Italian canton of Ticino.

Built in the 13th and 15th centuries, the three castles Castelgrande, Castello Montebello, and Castello Sasso Corbaro, connected by defensive walls, guarded the passage through the mountains and controlled the flow of goods.

The oldest, Castelgrande, stands on the ruins of a Roman fortress, which housed over 1000 soldiers in the 5th century AD, controlling the St. Gotthard pass. In the late 13th century, the ruling Rusca family from Como built Castello Montebello to defend against the ambitions of the Duchy of Milan. Ultimately, in 1340, the Milanese captured Bellinzona and began reinforcing the walls to defend against the Swiss Confederation. In 1479, they added the Sasso Corbaro castle.

The fortifications, which had fallen into disrepair over the centuries, were purchased by various private owners in the 20th century and thoroughly renovated by the mid-century. The entrance ticket costs 28 CHF.

Lucerne

The history of the city dates back to the 9th century when a Benedictine monastery was built here. However, city rights were granted only in 1178 after it freed itself from ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

In addition to the old town and wooden bridges over the Reuss River, the main attraction is cruises on the old steamers on Lake Four Cantons. The name of the lake is linked to the history of the formation of the Swiss Confederation. The agreement between the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden was signed on August 1, 1291. In 1332, Lucerne joined the confederation, and all four cantons lie on the same lake.

The oldest wooden bridge in Europe, the "Chapel Bridge," dating from 1333, partially burned down in 1993. The reconstruction cost 3.4 million CHF, but thanks to it, the bridge was reopened in 1994. Its route is not straight but bends due to the marshy ground. It is adjacent to a water gate - a remnant of the defensive walls. The second wooden bridge, the "Spreuer Bridge," was built nearby in 1408. Under its roof are paintings of the figure of death along with the people surrounding it.

Interesting Facts

If you plan to travel around Switzerland in the winter, familiarize yourself with the road report. Some mountain roads (excluding highways) are completely closed from November to April. Only special vehicles are allowed to pass, and you will be forced to change your route. It's an unpleasant surprise when you have planned to visit an interesting place that can only be accessed in the summer months.

The Swiss army mainly relies on the citizen militia. Every man is called up for military service between the ages of 20 and 30. He undergoes three weeks of training and receives a service weapon, which he keeps at home. Mobilization of the militia lasts 72 hours. After training, a recruit can go to the shooting range at any time to practice shooting. However, ammunition purchased on-site cannot leave the range. After completing reserve duty, a soldier may keep his weapon and equipment. Full-time soldiers serve in the air force, flying F-15 and F-5 Tiger jets, whose displays can be seen in the mountain valleys. Switzerland also has a navy - 7 ships operate on Lake Constance.

Swiss watches are a brand in their own right. The prices of basic models start at 250 Euro. Handcrafted mechanical marvels made to order are another story, and we are talking about prices around 250,000 Euro. Among the top brands, we cannot forget our compatriot. Antoni Norbert Patek founded Patek Philippe & Co. in 1845 and quickly became a supplier of watches for the most demanding clientele. Among the users were: Queen Victoria, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Joseph Stalin, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Walt Disney, Duke Ellington, Pius IX, and Leo XIII.

Another Pole - engineer Stefan Kudelski constructed the Nagra reporter tape recorder in 1951, which became one of the most popular devices of its kind in the world. It was also used on film and television sets, as well as by U.S. special services until the end of the 20th century. The company was located near Lausanne.

The monastery library is one of the oldest and richest in the world. It houses over 150,000 collections, of which 2,000 are manuscripts, and more than 400 of them date back to before the year 1000. Photography is prohibited in the library, and the entrance fee is 18 CHF. Interior photographs are from postcards that can be purchased at the souvenir shop.

Appenzell

To the south of St. Gallen lies one of the smallest towns, or rather a village that is the capital of the canton - Appenzell. The population is just under 6,000. The name comes from a combination of the words abbot (appen) and cell, meaning "father's cell." It refers to the abbot of the monastery in St. Gallen, who likely established a farm in the already existing village in 1223.

A walk through the center will take no more than 2-3 hours, but you can drive to the foot of Mount Santis. If we happen to be there on market day, it will also be an opportunity to buy souvenirs and local delicacies at the stalls.

St. Gallen

The most important city in eastern Switzerland, founded in the 7th century on the site of a hermitage of the Irish monk Gall. The church and abbey named after him are the biggest tourist attraction, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage. The impressive library of the monastery and the richly decorated interior of the cathedral make a huge impression, but the old town also has many beautiful historic tenements. Like in most Swiss cities, one day is enough to see the most interesting places.

Founded in 1898, the university is considered one of the best business schools in the world. FC St. Gallen is the oldest football club in continental Europe, operating since 1879.

Chur

The capital of the canton of Graubünden is the oldest city in Switzerland. In 15 BC, a Roman fortress called Curia Raetorum was established here, and in AD 451, a bishopric was founded, making the city a church fief. It wasn't until 1465 that it gained independence and achieved the status of a free city.

Hans Rudolf Giger was born here - the creator of the characters and set design for the film "Alien - the Eighth Passenger of Nostromo". It's worth visiting Giger Bar, whose interior is inspired by the film.

In the old town, remnants of defensive walls, the town hall, arsenal, defensive gates, and churches have been preserved.

Liechtenstein

The principality was established in 1719 as a result of the merger of feudal estates and has been ruled by the Liechtenstein family ever since. It is a constitutional monarchy connected to Switzerland through a monetary, postal, and customs union. Covering an area of 160 square kilometers, it has a population of about 40,000. Due to very liberal regulations, it is the only tax haven in Europe and the richest country in the world. It is enough to say that on such a small territory, there are over 80,000 companies and financial institutions. Since its inception, it has maintained neutrality. The capital, Vaduz, is a small village dominated by the princely castle.

Mount Santis, standing at 2502 meters, is the last major peak of the Alps extending northward. It offers a beautiful panorama of the valleys below. On a clear day, Lake Constance can be seen. A cable car operates to the summit - a round-trip ticket costs 58 CHF. There is also a hotel with a conference center, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop.

Near the lower station of the cable car is an old cheese factory,where the famous Appenzeller cheese is produced. It is open for tours - the ticket costs 13 CHF.

During the trip, it's worth stopping by the waterfalls (Rheinfall). We can use two parking lots located on opposite sides. On the hill by the left bank, there is Laufen Castle, where we can descend to the observation platforms right next to the waterfall. The ticket costs 5 CHF. On the opposite bank, you can purchase a 30-minute boat trip, which also docks at a small steep island in the middle of the waterfall. We can climb ladders to reach the very top. The price of the trip is 22.5 CHF.

On the way from Schaffhausen to Zurich, it's worth detouring to Winterthur to visit Technorama. It is the equivalent of the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, but much larger and built several years earlier. You should reserve a whole day for the visit, although I doubt you will last longer than 8 hours. The building has 4 floors divided into sections: mechanics, electricity and magnetism, sound effects, water and nature, mathematics, light and optical effects, toys, laboratories. We can conduct experiments ourselves. There are also shows and organized activities in the laboratories. Of course, there is a dining and relaxation center. A ticket for adults costs 34 CHF, while youth get a discount and pay 21 CHF.

Schaffhausen (Szafuza)

Since 1005, the city-state has minted its own currency. The name likely derives from the word skiff (scapha), meaning a small boat used to navigate the waterfalls on the Rhine and transport goods from Constance. The canton is the northernmost part of Switzerland, protruding into German territory.

In April 1944, it was mistakenly bombed by American aircraft, resulting in about 40 casualties. This was not the only accidental bombing of Swiss territory during World War II. President Roosevelt offered $1 million as compensation for the damages.

In 1869, an American Florentine Ariosto Jones established the IWC (International Watch Company) watch factory here. The gold "Schaffhausen" watches were also known and appreciated in Poland, especially in the post-war period.

A stroll through the old town will only take a few hours. During this time, you can see most of the 35 buildings listed as part of Switzerland's national heritage. For such a small city, this is an impressive result.

Zurich

Located by the Limmat River, the city has an age-old tradition. At the turn of the modern era, the Romans established a customs post here. This place is now called Lindenhof and serves as the geographical center of the city. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Switzerland declared itself a neutral state, a status it maintains to this day. The establishment of the stock exchange in 1877 and the guaranteed safety of neutrality led to the development of financial services. In particular, banks attract significant interest from businessmen around the world, ensuring the inviolability and confidentiality of deposits. Zurich Airport is one of three international airports in Switzerland.

The development of liberal thought in the 16th century attracted many personalities, starting from Wolfgang von Goethe, Richard Wagner, Thomas Mann,  Albert Einstein and James Joyce, ending with Lenin and Trotsky.The Federal Polytechnic is considered one of the best technical universities in the world.

During World War II, it was the operational center for intelligence from both the Axis powers and the Allies.

The oldest part of the city is concentrated in a rectangle bounded by the Limmat River, Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, and the train station. One day is more than enough to see it all. It’s good to start with a visit to the cathedral and climb the tower, which has 187 steps. You can see the entire city, which is not too large. Admission costs 5 CHF. In front of the cathedral stands an equestrian statue of Ulrich Zwingli - a preacher and the main representative of the Swiss Reformation, active in the early 16th century.

The main street of the city, Bahnhofstrasse, leads from the lake towards the train station. Here you will find the most expensive shops selling jewelry, watches, and clothing.

The Limmat River originates from Lake Zurich, at the opposite end of which there is a road bridge and a dam connecting Rapperswil and Pfäffikon. I mention this because Rapperswil is home to the Polish museum and library.

A bit of practical information

Switzerland is part of the Schengen area, so we can enter the country for tourism without a visa, just with an ID card. There are highway vignettes that can be purchased electronically for about 50 Euro or as a sticker to be placed on the windshield at gas stations for 40 CHF. It is best to do this before crossing the border.

We strictly adhere to speed limits because the radar tolerance in cities is 1 km/h, and on highways, it is about 3 km/h. The police are relentless, and every Swiss feels obliged to immediately call the emergency number upon seeing a reckless driver. This has its advantages because when driving on the highway, we can use cruise control and everyone drives uniformly. Unfortunately, after an hour, we start to feel sleepy because nothing is happening.

The traffic organization is efficient enough that in case of a predicted smog alarm, the speed limit signs on the highway are changed within a few hours, and from a maximum speed of 120, we are surprised to see a reduction to 90 km/h.

You can recognize a native Swiss by the fact that when approaching an intersection at a green light, they slow down just in case the light turns yellow and a camera takes a picture for a fine. The amount of the fine is calculated relative to the offender's income. Costs are therefore very high - I don't know how this applies to foreigners.

Fuel prices are slightly higher than in Poland. It's best to exit the highway into a town along the way and look for a gas station, for example, from the Migros supermarkets chain. It may turn out that we find fuel cheaper than at home.

At border crossings and in interactions with the police, we avoid comments in Polish. There are quite a few Poles working in the "services," and you can be unpleasantly surprised.

In the Italian and French cantons, there is a bit more leniency, but in the German ones, all regulations are followed very strictly, and foreigners cannot count on "preferential treatment." If we stop at a hotel, guesthouse, or apartment, pay attention to the quiet hours. After the first warning, neighbors call the police. This applies even to taking a shower or running the dishwasher.

Shops close on Saturdays around 1:00 PM and are closed on Sundays. In emergencies, shopping at gas stations remains an option. You cannot buy medications (even aspirin) in any store. We also won't find a pharmacy. In case of illness, a visit to a doctor is necessary; after examination, they will prescribe the appropriate medications, which we will buy from them in their office (clinic). It is therefore advisable to have insurance and bring a first aid kit with basic medications.