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Switzerland: the ultimate‘ bleisure’ destination in Europe
WITH SOME OF THE BEST SCENIC TRAIN RIDES AND SKIING RESORTS IN EUROPE, SWITZERLAND IS A COMPELLING DESTINATION FOR BLEISURE. WE BREAK DOWN WHAT THE SMALL, MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER
T here are a lot of destinations that claim to be great for‘ bleisure’( that nowubiquitous blend of business and leisure travel). Some places have the infrastructure, some have the scenery and others have the cultural pull. In Europe, however, you’ d be hard-pressed to beat Switzerland in any of those three categories. For scenery and rail infrastructure alone, Switzerland sets itself up as one of the best bleisure destinations on the continent.
The pull of Switzerland is that the transition from boardroom to holiday experience is faster and more varied than almost any other destination. You can finish a morning keynote in Zurich and, in under two hours, be hiking in the Alps, skiing in Engelberg or soaking in a thermal spa at Baden with mountain views. At just over 40,000sqkm, Switzerland is a small country with a huge density of attractions.
Here’ s why Switzerland ranks as one of the most naturally suited countries in Europe for bleisure travel:
Speed and connectivity: the backbone of bleisure Most European business hubs – London, Paris, Berlin – have world-class infrastructure, but extending a work trip in those cities often involves longer transfers and rental cars. Switzerland, by contrast, has arguably the most efficient and accessible public transport network on the continent.
• Zurich Airport is consistently ranked among Europe’ s best for efficiency. In 2023, Skytrax rated it Best Airport in Europe for
Left: Bernina Express, highest railway pass in the Alps passenger satisfaction and it takes 12 minutes to get from the terminal to the city centre by train. Compare that to a 45-minute transit from Heathrow into London or Charles de Gaulle to Paris.
• The Swiss Travel Pass is one of the best investments a business traveller can make in the country. For a fixed price( starting at CHF 244 – US $ 268 – for three days), it offers unlimited access to trains, buses and boats across Switzerland. Also, the pass gives you free access to over 500 museums.
• Distances are short, but scenery is dramatic. Zurich to Interlaken( one of the most famous adventure destinations in Europe) is just 1 hour 50 minutes by train. Geneva to Montreux – where the Alps meet Lake Geneva – 1 hour 15 minutes.
In short, you don’ t need to plan out every detail. You just decide to go somewhere after your meetings, make a reservation, and in less than two hours, you’ re there.
Outdoor experiences: the Swiss USP Switzerland’ s outdoor offerings are some of the best in Europe. Here’ s what’ s on offer: 1. Scenic rail journeys: the best of Switzerland If you only have a day and want to see Switzerland without hiking gear or physical exertion, one of the country’ s many legendary train routes is the best way to do it.
• The Glacier Express – Arguably Europe’ s most scenic train ride, running from Zermatt to St Moritz in 8 hours. Yes, it’ s long, but you’ ll see a cross-section of Switzerland’ s most dramatic landscapes – glacial valleys, mountain passes and wooden villages – all in one journey.
• The Bernina Express – A UNESCO World Heritage route from Chur to Tirano( Italy), taking in the highest railway pass in the Alps. In winter, it looks like something out of a Christmas postcard.
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