Hello Schweiz!: May 2015

Rhine Falls

23:02

Rhine Falls, standing at 23 metres high and flowing at about 600,000 litres per second, is the largest waterfall in Europe. Though it is not as massive as the likes of Niagara Falls, the sheer power of the water flowing is enough to keep your feet firmly rooted to the ground lest you lose your footing and fall over the edge (It had that effect on me at least. I shudder at the thought of getting swept away by the powerful currents).

If you happen to be in Zurich and have half a day to kill, Rhine Falls is the perfect destination for you. It is conveniently located in Schaffhausen, about 50 minutes from Zurich HB. Trains travel via Winterthur on the S33 line to Schaffhausen.

How to get there

Buy a ticket to 'Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall' via Winterthur. The stop is right next to the the Falls, so don't be surprised at how conveniently located it is (I would have expected to take a bus or walk a great deal but I was pleasantly surprised). Once you've reached your destination, go up to the ticket counter at the side of the souvenir shop and purchase your tickets for CHF 5 per person.

Things to do

Immerse yourself in the beauty of your surroundings, let the sound of water crashing the rocks fill your ears. Take some pictures here and there, but a camera doesn't do justice to its magnificence, really. So just live in the moment and capture the magnificence with your eyes, so that you can lock it away in your heart and mind forever.

Visit the Schloss Laufen (Laufen Castle) and get to know the castle and the Rhine Falls.

You could also take a boat tour which will bring you to the rock in the middle of the falls. Boat tours run from April to October and prices and durations vary.

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

Switzerland

Lucerne

23:21

Lucerne, most popular for its iconic Harry Potter-like 14th century Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), is the gateway to Central Switzerland. It is sited on Lake Lucerne and is surrounded by breathtaking snow-covered Alps. It is the ideal starting point for destinations like Interlaken, Mount Pilatus and Mount Titlis. The beautiful ensemble of the lake, the charming bridge and the glorious mountains makes this city one of my favourites in Switzerland and is definitely a must-visit for honeymooners and for those who are perpetually on a honeymoon (one can dream).

A ticket from Zurich HB to Lucerne costs CHF 25 with the half-fare travelcard and takes about 50 minutes. (TIP: If you're planning a trip to the Alps ie. Titlis, Jungfraujoch etc, you should definitely get the half fare travelcard as you'll definitely break even. More on the costs to these places later)

Places to visit in/from Lucerne

1) Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge)

Take pictures at this iconic bridge. Afterall, no trip to Lucerne is complete without this photo. You could also sit by the lake and feed the swans and ducks.

2) Mount Pilatus

Standing at 2,132 metres, Mount Pilatus is the northernmost branch of the Alps and is the easiest mountain to get to from Lucerne. However, it is only snow-covered in winter. So if you're coming after March, chances of catching a snow-covered Pilatus is rather slim as the snow melts away by April. However, it is home to the world's steepest cogwheel railway so you should still give it a go even from spring onwards.

How to get there

From the bus stop outside Lucerne HB, take bus no. 1 (Kriens) to the 'Linde Pilatus' stop (approx 15 minutes). Then cross the road and follow the signs which will lead you to the Kriens base terminus (as pictured below). At the terminus, you can buy round-trip tickets from Kriens to Pilatus Kulm which costs CHF 36 on half fare and CHF 72 on a normal fare. (You save CHF 36 here with the half fare card!)

From May to October, you can purchase the Golden trip tickets which will take you from Lucerne to Alpnachstad by boat on Lake Lucerne, then on the world's steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm. And on the way back, take the panorama gondola and the aerial cableway back down to Kriens. Details can be found here. The Golden Round Trip costs CHF 54 at half-fare and CHF 106 (That's CHF 52 savings with the half fare!). The Pilatus price list can be found here.

3) Mount Titlis

Mount Titlis is the to-go to mountain if you want to experience the snow-covered Alps all year round. Remember to bring your jackets and dress appropriately as temperatures are sub zero even in summer. And please wear a good pair of covered shoes as you'll need alot of support and traction to scale the snow-covered trails.

How to get there

Take the Zentralbahn from Lucerne to Engelberg. Trains run every hour so be sure to check the train timings on sbb.ch so that you can plan your journey. The journey takes about 45 minutes. From Engelberg, follow the signs from the train station to the cableway station. Breathe in the fresh air and take in the beauty of the stream and the mountains around you. It's a really beautiful 10 minutes walk to the cableway station.

Round trip cable car tickets from Engelberg to Titlis costs CHF 89 (full fare) and CHF 44.50 (half fare) respectively. The Ice Flyer is for an additional CHF 12 (no reduction for half-fare travelcard holders).

Activities on Titlis

i) Skiing (the ski slopes were slated to close around mid May when we were there)

ii) Ice flyer (ski lift)

iii) Titlis Cliff Walk (also Europe's highest suspension bridge)

iv) Glacier Cave

v) Snowtubing down the Glacier Park

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

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Rhine Falls

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