[UPDATED 11th March 2022]
Rolling green pastures, towering Swiss mountains and serene streams weaving through valleys dotted with traditional Swiss houses - that's probably what first comes to mind when we think of Switzerland. As dreamy as those mental images of Switzerland may be, though, they definitely pale in comparison with seeing Switzerland's breathtaking sights first-hand ?
Switzerland itself is a vast country, so if you're planning to visit now that the Singapore-Switzerland VTL opened in November last year, but you haven't got a clue where to go to catch the most stunning alpine views or have the best experiences of Swiss culture, we've got you covered!
Switzerland's Most Beautiful Spots
Interlaken
1. Grindelwald & Lauterbrunnen
Credit: Julian Villella on Unsplash
Nestled between sweeping valleys and framed against the breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss Alps, the quaint little Swiss villages of Grindelwald & Lauterbrunnen near Interlaken are the very definition of Switzerland that you've always pictured. In fact, exploring these villages will feel as though you've stepped right into a postcard of Switzerland because of the otherworldly beauty of the majestic mountains flanking the town!
Credit: Jose Llamas on Unsplash
Situated on the circular route from Interlaken up to the Jungfraujoch mountains nearby, most travellers visit both villages on their way up or down from Jungfraujoch but be sure to take your time wandering around here to really soak in the awe-inspiring scenery.
If you'd rather not squeeze all that stunning natural scenery into one day, you can always stay overnight here at one of the affordable accommodations scattered across both villages. After all, it's not every day you get to open your door and be greeted by mile-high waterfalls and picturesque Swiss houses right outside!
#HHWT Tip: If you're visiting in the summer, Lauterbrunnen offers more picturesque sights thanks to the towering Staubbach Falls in it. In winter, though, it's Grindelwald that's the more gorgeous of the two since it transforms into a veritable winter wonderland that proves popular with skiers from all over the country!
Nearby halal food
Layaly Beirut
Cuisine: Lebanese
Halal status: All meats are sourced from halal-certified suppliers
Opening hours: 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm daily
Address: Centralstrasse 26, 3800 Interlaken
Contact: +41 78 667 16 91 / +41 33 822 40 40
Website | Facebook | Instagram
2. Jungfraujoch: The Top Of Europe
No visit to Interlaken will be complete without going up to Jungfraujoch and seeing for yourself the magnificent 360 views of the surrounding glaciers you'll find here. Affectionately known as the Top of Europe, it boasts the highest railway station in all of Europe, one of the highest observatories in the world (the Sphinx Observatory) AND the highest Lindt chocolate shop in the world ?
You'll find the best views (with subzero temperatures as low as -20 degrees, to boot!) at the Sphinx Observatory, and the Jungfraujoch Plateau. Walking on the Plateau itself is a particularly unforgettable experience: the views of the Aletsch Glacier spreading out beneath you will leave you speechless with their otherworldliness. It almost feels as though you're on a completely different planet!
Needless to say, the classic "been there, done that" shot at the Jungfraujoch Plateau is a definite must-do. How else can you proudly show your loved ones that you've conquered the top of Europe? ?
Nearby halal food
Restaurant Aletsch
Halal status: The only halal meal available is the chicken curry meal with rice, and do note that this is a self-serve restaurant
Opening hours: Mon-Fri; 10AM-6.30PM, Sat-Sun; 10AM-1.15PM, 2.15PM-6.30PM
Address: 3823 Eigergletscher, Jungfrau, Hoheweg 35, 3800 Interlaken
Contact: +41338287888
3. Lake Brienz
Being a town whose name translates into "between lakes", Interlaken doesn't just make the perfect base from which to explore the Swiss Alps--the twin lakes of Brienz and Thun are also some of Switzerland's most beautiful all year round. If we really had to choose, Lake Brienz wins our vote for the most gorgeous lake in Switzerland. Even to the naked eye, the gleaming crystal-clear water here astounded us with its remarkably bright shade of emerald turquoise. It was love at first sight with this one ?
In the summer, popular cruise boats trundle along the lakes, taking passengers from one end of the town of Brienz to another for some unforgettably awesome lake views right from the top deck. In winter, astonishingly enough, the water retains its distinct azure hues and provides the perfect setting for a quiet lakeside stroll to admire the flawless scenery all around!
#HHWT Tip: Brienz is also famed for its wooden sculptures, so you'll find several amusing life-size wooden figures scattered across the lakeside promenade, making for some pretty good photo opportunities!
Nearby halal food
Bruno's Pizza
Cuisine: Turkish, Mediterranean, and Western
Halal status: All meats are sourced from halal-certified suppliers
Opening hours: 10am-10.30pm daily; closed on Mondays
Address: Rugenparkstrasse 6, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland
Contact: +41 33 823 78 78
#HHWT Tip: Bruno's Pizza is located within the Interlaken West station itself, which is super convenient for travellers! Right across the street from the station, you'll also find a Kashmiri restaurant, another Turkish eatery, as well as a couple more Indian Muslim eateries right next to one another - all of which offer steaming hot plates of delicious halal meat at affordable prices.
4. Harder Kulm
Credit: Kosala Bandara on Flickr
Few things can steal a person's heart as uninterrupted panoramic views can, but when you're at the Harder Kulm viewpoint overlooking Interlaken, it's a whole different ball game altogether ? Interlaken's spectacular mountain peaks (Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau) and lakes (Lake Brienz to the left, Lake Thun to the right) come together for some truly spectacular and unbeatable surrounding views from the Two Lakes Bridge.
Credit: lin Judy on Flickr
For the thrill-seekers amongst you, there's a small strip of glass on the floor here if you're curious about what it would feel like to be suspended more than 1.3 kilometres above sea level ?
#HHWT Tip: Harder Kulm is closed during the winter, so if you're planning to visit around that time, be sure to check in advance before you head over!
Nearby halal food
Unfortunately, Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant is temporarily closed until further notice. You can find halal food around Interlaken instead such as Layaly Beirut.
Lucerne
5. Lake Lucerne
Credit: llee_wu on Flickr
Not only is the sprawling Lake Lucerne the fourth largest lake in Switzerland--what makes it particularly unique is that it lies just across the street from the Lucerne Main Train Station and Lucerne's quaint Altstadt (Old Town). Summer days in Lucerne are best spent on the popular cruiseboats that sail regularly across the lake, offering commanding views of the many surrounding mountains, including Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi.
#HHWT Tip: For the classic Swiss cruise boat experience, be sure to hop onto the vintage paddle-wheel steamer cruises that operate here! Do check boat schedules in advance, especially if you're visiting in winter.
Nearby Muslim-friendly food
The Tandoori Luzern
Cuisine: North Indian
Halal status: All of their food is halal-certified according to their website, however they do serve alcohol on their premises. Do dine in with discretion.
Opening hours: 11.30am-10pm (Mon-Thurs); 11.30-10.30pm (Fri-Sat); 5.30pm-10pm (Sun)
Address: luzernerstrasse 6 Ebikon, 6030 Lucerne, Switzerland
Contact: +41 41 410 63 03
6. Kappelbrucke & Spreuerbrucke
While the exact date on which the city of Lucerne was founded is still hotly contested today, the fact remains that the city's centuries-old charm is perhaps one of the most endearing aspects of the city itself to travellers. That said, even if you're not a history buff, the iconic historic wooden bridges of Kapellbrucke and Spreuerbrucke are still worth checking out, especially since they're so conveniently located just 5 minutes from the Lucerne Main Train Station.
Both bridges are characterized by the unique, triangular 16th and 17th-century paintings in their roofs which were initially installed in order to tell the history and culture of Lucerne.
Today, many of the paintings have unfortunately been removed because of old age or freak accidents that destroyed them, but the paintings that are still intact will still give you a pretty good idea of the bridges' original condition when they were first built all those years ago!
Nearby halal food
Little Istanbul
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Halal status: All meats are sourced from halal-certified suppliers
Opening hours: 9AM-8.45PM daily
Address: Basement floor, Lucerne Main Train Station, Rathausquai 10, 6003 Luzern, Switzerland
Contact: +41 41 500 59 88
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Mount Titlis
Lucerne has no shortage of local mountain excursions to choose from to put the cherry on top of your Swiss adventures, but you really CAN'T miss out on Mount Titlis while you're here. Home to the first revolving cable car ride in the world AND the highest suspension footbridge in Europe, the astounding 360 views of the alpine glaciers around you will certainly take your breath away ?
For the more lion-hearted travellers out there, crossing the Titlis Cliff Walk is an absolute must, especially since the views that await you at the end of the walk are so breathtaking they're worth crossing ten entire cliff-walk bridges!
Nearby halal food
TITLIS Panorama Restaurant
Cuisine: Western
Halal status: While the restaurant uses meats from halal-certified suppliers for the Special Halal Dishes, do note that non-halal meals are alcohol is served on the premises. We checked with the kitchen staff and was informed that non-halal and halal meats are cooked in the same kitchen. We recommend that you dine at your discretion. They also serve vegan- and vegetarian-friendly meals.
Opening hours: 11AM-3PM daily
Address: TITLIS cableways, hotels & restaurants, Poststrasse 3, 6391 Engelberg
Contact: +41 (0)41 639 50 80
Website | Facebook | Instagram
#HHWT Tip: You can also bring your own meal to the picnic room at TITLIS Mountain Station (Level 4). There's also a multi-faith prayer room and do bring your prayer mat and garment.
8. Old Town of Lucerne
One of the most fascinating things about Switzerland's towns is the fact that for every Old Town you'll encounter, you'll find a distinctly different character captured in the architecture and colours of the old buildings. Lucerne's Old Town, for instance, is marked by vibrant multi-coloured murals that adorn the facade of most buildings in the Old Town, making it one of Switzerland's more photogenic Old Towns.
There are also a few local attractions that are within walking distance from the Old Town of Lucerne including the famous Chapel Bridge, 17th-century Jesuit Church, the iconic Lion Monument, and the Old City Walls.
If you're thirsty, the town is peppered with water fountains and the refreshing water is safe to drink! Be sure to take the water straight from the tap because the locals would use the pool to bathe their pets. It's also a good budget tip if you're planning to save money on beverages.
Nearby halal food
Kanchi Restaurant
Cuisine: Indian
Halal status: While the restaurant uses meats from halal-certified suppliers, do note that alcohol is served on the premises.
Opening hours: Open daily; 11AM-2PM, 5PM-11PM
Address: Zürichstrasse 4, 6004 Luzern, Switzerland
Zurich
9. Old Town of Zurich
Zurich's Old Town, in contrast to the Old Town of Lucerne, is characterised by calmer pastel-coloured facades. Wander around and spot heritage buildings, town squares and scenic rivers, which will be wonderful subjects for your holiday snapshots. Be sure to look out for the Limmat River that runs from Lake Zurich, situated on the southern side of the city.
Besides its scenic views, the Old Town of Zurich is also known for its abundance of shopping spots and cultural offerings, as well as their famous residents of Zurich: Albert Einstein and James Joyce.
Nearby halal food
Le Cedre Bellevue
Cuisine: Lebanese
Halal status: While the restaurant uses meats from halal-certified suppliers, do note that alcoholic beverages are served on the premise.
Opening hours: 11.30AM-3PM, 6PM-12AM (Mon-Fri); 11.30AM-4PM, 6PM-12AM (Sat & Sun)
Address: Schifflände 5, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Contact: +41 44 252 83 70
10. Lindenhof
A former Roman fort in the 4th century, Lindenhof quickly became a beautiful historical park complete with the best vantage point of Old Town of Zurich. Many locals and travellers make their way to Lindenhof Square to capture a landscape of heritage houses and boats cruising across the Limmat River.
Credit: Lukas Schlagenhauf on Flickr
It's also a wonderful spot for people-watching as you see the locals taking a stroll and relaxing at Lindenhof Square on a sunny weekend. While walking towards the square, don't forget to check out the replica of a Roman tombstone on the Pflazgasse wall to appreciate the historical side of this public square.
Nearby Muslim-friendly food
Hiltl
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Halal status: While the restaurant serves an all-vegetarian menu, do note that a few dishes are cooked with wine and we encourage you to ask the staff for more detailed information about the dishes served. The restaurant also shared that most of the buffet dishes are vegan and prepared without any cheese. We recommend that you dine at your discretion.
Opening hours: 8AM-10PM (Mon-Thurs); 8AM-11PM (Fri); 9AM-11PM (Sat); 10AM-10PM (Sun)
Address: Sihlstrasse 28, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Contact: +41 44 227 70 00
Website | Facebook | Instagram
11. Münsterbrücke Bridge
Credit: Lukas Schlagenhauf on Flickr
It's easy to spot the Münsterbrücke Bridge (meaning 'Minster bridge' in German) when you explore the Old Town of Zurich. A pedestrian bridge that stands over the famous Limmat River, it connects two cathedrals that are located on the opposite ends of the bridge: Fraumünster church and Grossmünster church. Established in the late 15th century, the bridge also holds great historical value and was part of the Swiss inventory of the cultural property of national and regional significance.
Nearby halal food
Central Geylan Kebap Haus
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Halal status: All meats are sourced from halal-certified suppliers
Opening hours: 10.30AM-10PM
Address: Niederdorfstrasse 71, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
There you have it, the list of must-visit attractions in Switzerland is never-ending thanks to the sheer surreal beauty of Switzerland's natural scenery, panoramic viewpoints, idyllic towns and more. You won't even have to worry about finding halal food while you're at it! There's no time to waste, start planning your future trip to Switzerland right now!