Hello Schweiz!

Since I love Cinque Terre albeit the merciless Italian summer heat, and I have a soft spot for Italy, I shall fast forward to the time when we were there (all the other cities lain kali eh hehe).

Cinque Terre (pronounced as Chin-kueh Tehr-reh. To apply Italian accent please) which means Five (cinque) lands (Terre is the plural form of Terra which means earth or land). It lies along the Italian Riviera, on the northern side of Italy, somewhere between Pisa and Genoa. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are the five breathtaking coastal towns making up the Cinque Terre.

We were there in summer, so it was really really hot. Contrary to popular belief, we still perspired buckets even though the air is dry, just like in humid Singapore. I would suggest spring as the best season for an Italian road trip. The Italian spring is just nice, akin to Switzerland's summer. You can walk around in your t-shirts and you won't feel cold (at least for me, when I was there in spring. I suppose it depends on tolerance level too so do check the weather forecast when you're there).



How to get there?

We drove to Cinque Terre from Florence through Lucca. However, since cars are strictly not allowed in Cinque Terre even for the residents, you have to park far far away. Also, since so many people are heading to the beach especially during the weekends, you're mostly left with no parking. Also note that there are tolls on Italian Autostrada so please provision extra funds for this, depending on where you're travelling from.

So best option is to take the trains. Trains run from major cities like Milan, Florence, Rome and usually require a change at La Spezia. However when buying tickets, you can just buy direct to the Cinque Terre town you would like to stop at and they'll give you a suggested itinerary for where to stop and which trains to take. For a more comprehensive guide on train travel to Cinque Terre, click here.

Important note: When travelling on Italian trains, remember to VALIDATE YOUR TICKETS at the green machines usually on the head of the train berth before you get on the train, or risk getting fined. Ticket checks are frequent so don't risk it.

How to get around?

To get from one town to another, you have 3 choices:
1) By foot
2) By train
3) By boat

Option 1- By foot

We walked, rather, hiked, from Monterosso to Vernazza. It took us about 2 hours and it wasn't an easy route I would say. Alot of steps, uneven ground, and extremely draining, even for us who have been walking alot the entire time we've been staying in Switzerland. And in the merciless summer heat, ohboy, we were so thirsty and completely drenched in sweat. So if you're hiking, remember to prepare bottles of water for the many water breaks (We had to resort to climbing down rocks to get to a precariously-located stream because we needed to refill our bottles even though we brought two 1.5l bottles. Yes, we are camels). However, I would say that hiking is the best way, though not the easiest, to get around because the aerial views are breathtaking and completely worth the torture. And you get to meet so many people from all over the world enroute! Totally worth it. I heard that hiking through all 5 towns will take about 7.5 hours, and that Monterosso to Vernazza is the toughest route. So start at Monterosso so the rest will be a breeze.



Option 2 - By train

Getting around by train is the fastest option. All five towns have their own train stations which will connect you to the other towns. A single ticket costs EUR1.50 to EUR 3 depending on your departure and arrival stations.

Option 3 - By boat

Getting around by boat is a lovely way to see picturesque coastal towns from afar while you feel the seabreeze on your face. Though it is not the cheapest nor fastest way to get around, you shouldn't miss out on the experience. Boats run from all towns except for Corniglia. Tickets are from EUR4.



How many days should we spend at Cinque Terre?

Sadly we didn't manage to cover all 5 towns as we were pressed for time. I think you would require about 2-3 days to cover all 5 towns at a comfortable pace. That way, you'll have time to treat yourself to a dip in the extremely inviting and cold seawaters. Don't forget to bring your bathing suits if you're coming in summer!

Where to eat?

There are many pasta and pizza restaurants. Jangan haraplah nak dapat makanan halal kat sini eh. Nonetheless I would recommend San Martino Gastronomia at Via San Martino, 3 at Monterosso. They serve really good seafood salads and seafood pastas at surprisingly cheap prices (our seafood pasta was about EUR 10 and the portion was really generous!). Ask them which ones have alcohol in it and which ones don't so you get a better peace of mind. The owners are extremely friendly too so don't be afraid to ask!
Here's how much you need for this trip:

Return train tickets from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Monterosso - about EUR 40 depending on which train you're taking
Single trip train tickets in Cinque Terre - about EUR 1.50 to EUR 3
Single trip ferry tickets in Cinque Terre - about EUR 4 onwards
Parking in the Cinque Terre - about EUR 25/day

Schloss Laufen

Ohyes, don't forget to bring your windbreakers/jackets as the winds are pretty strong so it might get chilly. See, it was even snowing when we went there in spring when it was forecasted to rain.

Insider's tip: Visit the souvenir shop at the Rhine Falls. The souvenirs (magnets, keychains etc) are surprisingly cheaper than those in Zurich and they have a better range of Switzerland t-shirts

Here's how much you need for this trip:

Return train tickets from Zurich HB - CHF 16.80 (with valid half-fare travelcard)
Entrance fee for Rhine Falls - CHF 5
Boat trip - approx CHF 10

Here's how much you need for this trip: (Prices based on half-fare concessions)

Return train tickets from Zurich HB to Lucerne HB - CHF 25
Mount Pilatus
Return bus tickets from Lucerne HB to Kriens, Linde Pilatus - CHF 6
Round trip cableway tickets from Kriens to Pilatus Kulm - CHF 36
Golden Round Trip tickets - CHF 54
Mount Titlis
Return Zentralbahn tickets from Lucerne HB to Engelberg - CHF 17.80
Round trip tickets from Engelberg to Titlis - CHF 44.50
Ice flyer tickets - CHF 12

I haven't found a pattern to the cheapest deals but what I know is that the prices just go up up and away with each passing day if you're booking within 3 weeks from the date of travel. From the many articles I've read, 92 days in advance seems to be the golden rule. But since, we're kinda last minute, this doesn't help. Also, if you're booking flights, try changing the country of residence. You might get a better deal if you enter from the UK website as opposed to the SG website. However, some airlines are smart enough to redirect you to the country of departure to cover this loophole. No harm experimenting though!



So anyway, our travelling boots brought us to the home of Mercedes Benz and Porsche, that is, Stuttgart, Germany. See, even the train station has the famous Mercedes Benz logo. A direct train from Zurich to Stuttgart would take you 3 hours 5 minutes. But if you're adventurous (and cheapskate) like us, you'll opt for the the one with changes. We had to change trains 4 times so we felt like we were on the amazing race because the gaps are about 3-10 minutes each and the platforms are on different ends of the train station!

If your have several connections during your journey, here are some tips to help you catch the next train on time:

1. Have your train schedules on the home screen of your phone so you can check the timings, platforms easily
2. Check (if possible, know by heart) what platforms you'll arrive and depart at 
3. Calculate the gaps between your arrival and departure so that you know you don't have time to waste
4. Google the layout of the train stations you're disembarking at so that you know where to run to catch your next train on a different platform
5. Most importantly, please be on your train 2 minutes before the train leaves (or you'll risk getting depressed over seeing the train leave right before your eyes and waiting 30 minutes or more for the next connection. NOOOOOOO!)
6. Pray that your the train you're on doesn't get delayed (so you have enough time to catch the next one)
7. May the odds be ever in your favour!

Things to do in Stuttgart

1) Mercedes-Benz Museum

A trip to Stuttgart wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Musuem. The museum documents 125 years of automobile history and showcases some of the world's coolest cars! The museum is HUGE so you'd need to dedicate half a day to see all the exhibits. There's a showroom connected to the museum so you can swoon over and sit in the uber cool cars and wish you were staying in Europe. The E220 CDI Cabriolet (my favourite of the lot) is only 77,000 euros! Sighhhh.

Museum information
The musuem is opened on Tuesdays-Sundays from 9am to 6pm. The entrance fee for an adult is 8 euros and children up to the age of 14 enter free. They also provide factory tours on certain days. More information here.

How to get there
From Stuttgart HB, take the S-bahn of the S1 line in the direction of Kirccheim (Teck) to NeckarPark (Mercedes-Benz) (about 7 minutes away). From the NeckarPark station, follow the signs to the museum.

2) Porsche museum

The Porsche museum is home to more than 80 vehicles and showcases the iconic 356, 550, 911 and 917 amongst others. The museum takes you through the Porsche history since its 1948 history.

Museum information
Opening hours: 9am to 6 pm , Tuesdays to Sundays
Entrance fee: Adult/concession 8/4 Euros

How to get there
From Stuttgart HB, take the S-Bahn S6 line towards Leonberg/Weil der Stadt and drop at Neuwirtshaus. The museum is located next to the train station


3) Metzingen Outlet City

A shopping paradise with more than 70 luxury brands. Metzingen also happens to be the hometown of Hugo Boss. So expect bargains!

Opening hours
Monday to Friday 10 am to 8 pm
Saturday 9 am to 8 pm
Other info here 

How to get there
Take the DB train from Stuttgart HB to Metzingen (Wurtt). Train leaves every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 40 minutes. From Metzingen (Wurtt) follow the signs to the Outletcity at Lindenplatz (10 minutes away by foot)

Sadly, I didn't get to smell the Metzingen air because I totally forgot that shops are closed on Sundays! Nangis tak berlagu you know! I will make a comeback Metzingen, watch me!

4) Take a stroll along the Stuttgart city and grab the city map from the tourist office opposite the train station. Afterwhich, discover all of Stuttgart's iconic attractions like the Schlossplatz, the Schlossgarten and many more!


Where to eat?

We found Arslan's Kebap, a Halal Turkish restaurant in the city and what's special about it is they serve chicken! Do you know how rare it is to find chicken meat at a kebab shop. So needless to say, I was a very happy girl with a warm and filled stomach on a cold windy day. It's really amazing how the Turkish kebap is the epitome of halal food all over the world. And how food can be a form of dakwah. So amazing masya Allah

It's located at Marienstraße 28, just 10 to 15 minutes from the train station. The kebabs are reasonably priced (much cheaper than in Switzerland).


Where to pray?

There's a mosque at Fangelsbachstraße 11, near the roundabout in Stuttgart City. It took us about 25 minutes on foot from the station. You really need to read the street signs and be observant, or else you'll miss it.

You can visit this website for the list of mosques in Stuttgart.


Where to stay?

I highly recommend Arcotel Camino, located about 5-10 minutes uphill from Stuttgart HB. Though not located right in the middle of action, its location near the train station is very ideal for getaways. Besides, the city centre is located across the train station so the city is a mere 7 minutes away. The hotel is rather majestic and rooms are lovely and we only paid 89euros a night! Trust me, this is a steal because everywhere else is north of 100 euros a night. Here's their website for more information.

Incase your checkout time is earlier than your train timing (which is most likely the case), you can deposit your bags at the lockers provided at the train station so that you can explore the city without having to lug your luggages around! Small lockers are for 3 euros and big ones are for 5.
Here's how much you need for this trip:

Return train tickets from Zurich HB to Stuttgart HB - CHF 119
Return train tickets from Stuttgart HB to NeckarPark - EUR 6.60
Return train tickets from Stuttgart HB to Metzingen(Wurtt) - EUR 20
Entrance fee for Mercedes Benz museum - EUR 8
Entrance fee for Porsche museum - EUR 8
Hotel stay - depends on where you're staying, the better the location, the more expensive
Shopping - Please increase your credit card limit just incase you go crazy at Metzingen

(NOTE: If your train schedule says 9:21, it really means that the train will DEPART at 09:21. They're often on time so don't expect to catch the train if you arrive in the nick of time at 09:21 cos it would have departed. So do get on the train 5 minutes earlier to be safe.)

The cold winds will greet you upon your arrival at Appenzell AB so be sure to bring along a nice warm jacket and gloves. Follow the signboards to the Tourist Office and grab the Appenzell info book. The book is handy as it guides you through a tour of the village. There's also a brief write-up on the history of each site. The fun part is you can be Dora the explorer for the day and navigate with the map to find the different historical sites haha.






Apart from the walking tour, one of the things to do in Appenzell is to see the cheese making demonstration. We chose to see the demonstration at Hotel Hof Weissbad. Weissbad is about 5 minutes and 2 stops away by train. The return train tickets are at a hefty CHF 9.60 for 2 stops but it definitely is worth the trip as Weissbad is such an untouched beauty. Do however plan your train connections properly as you wouldn't want to miss the train back to St Gallen if you're on a day trip. Also, the trains have a frequency of about 30 mins to 1 hour depending on the time of the day so check the train schedules beforehand.

I've got a soft spot for untouched beauties and for roads less travelled. So naturally, I fell in love with Weissbad in an instant. Weissbad seemed closer to the Alps. As compared to Appenzell's town, this one has less buildings and more open spaces which means unblocked views of the mountains and the flowing rivers. Ahhh love at first sight, really.

The view as soon as you get off the train. I certainly love the open concept of the train station but it does get coldddd

As you walk out of the train station, walk down past the river and you'll see Hotel Hof Weissbad. When you meet the hotel, walk further down along the carpark and you'll see a park on your left. The cheese demonstration is in the wooden house beside the river (Photos in sequence above). Just knock on the door and you'll find this cute little man who is all smiles. You can witness the demonstration on Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun afternoons anytime between 2pm to 5pm. Also, I would have loved to stay in Hotel Hof if I could stay the night because it really exudes grandeur. Check out their website here. Rooms start from CHF 220.

Boys and toys

Time to go home ):

So on the train back to Winterthur, we met this really cute lady here. She's 88 but she's still so strong and very much healthy. Masya Allah. She was on a trip back home from a visit to her daughter's to see her lovely grandchildren. She's really adorable and kind, and even offered to pay for my coffee because she thought we were looking for change. When I got off my seat to have my coffee to-go, she told Mr D that he was a lucky man with a beautiful wife (heheheh member ni kembang lah sekejap when I found out). Before she got off, she gave us her contact details incase we needed anything. Sighhh I feel so blessed for all the beautiful people around me. May she stay healthy to see her grandchildren grow up because she was really happy speaking about them.



In summary, here's how much you need:
Return train tickets from Zurich to St Gallen - CHF 60
Return train tickets from St Gallen to Appenzell - CHF 18.80
Return train tickets from Appenzell to Weissbad - CHF 9.60

And that concludes our trip to the less travelled roads of Appenzell and Weissbad. Till our next trip!