Glacier Express train on Landwasser Viaduct |
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• GoldenPass Express – If you only have a few hours, the Montreuxto-Interlaken journey is ideal: vineyard-covered hills, lakes and mountain scenery all in one trip.
• Gotthard Panorama Express – A boat and train combination from Lucerne to Lugano, this journey starts with a cruise across Lake Lucerne, followed by a rail ride through the Gotthard Pass, one of Switzerland’ s most historic railway routes – travelling through the famous Gotthard Tunnel( built in 1882).
• Lucerne-Interlaken Express – A 2-hour journey through the heart of the Swiss Alps, connecting Lake Lucerne and Interlaken. It offers views of turquoise-blue Lake Brienz, traditional Swiss villages, and the towering Eiger mountains.
Switzerland is one of the few places where you can do nothing but sit on a train for a day and still have a travel experience.
2. Skiing: a non-negotiable If you’ re visiting between December and April, consider a ski day. It’ s what Switzerland does better than anywhere else.
• Engelberg-Titlis – Just 1 hour 45 minutes from Zurich, the Titlis
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Glacier has a long ski season, with slopes reaching 3,020m. While the resort has a quieter après-ski scene than others, it’ s known for challenging terrain and deep powder, making it a favourite among experienced skiers.
• Jungfrau – Easily accessible from Zurich, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks create an incredible backdrop for winter sports. Even if you don’ t ski, the Jungfraujoch railway( Europe’ s highest railway station at 3,454m) is an unforgettable experience.
• Zermatt – Home of the Matterhorn and consistently ranked as one of the top ski resorts in the world. If you don’ t ski, take the Gornergrat Railway to an altitude of 3,089m for some of the best mountain views in Europe. At the higher-end of the luxury skiing resort selection.
Switzerland is also home to some of the best night skiing in the world – so even if you only have evenings free, you can still get your skis on. It’ s not for nothing that Switzerland has earned the second-most Olympic medals of any country in alpine skiing( 75 in total, bested only by Austria’ s 121).
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Above: Skiers in Jungfrau, Bernese Alps |
3. Thermal spas & wellness: decompression If the idea of skiing or hiking sounds strenuous after a long conference, Switzerland offers a pure decompression option at its thermal spas.
• Baden – A historic spa town just 15 minutes from Zurich, known for its 47 ° C mineral-rich thermal waters and Roman-era bathing traditions.
• Bad Ragaz – Home to the famous Tamina Gorge hot springs, this resort town is known for its 36.5 ° C healing waters and luxury wellness hotels, including the renowned Grand Resort Bad Ragaz.
• Leukerbad – The largest spa resort in the Alps, with 65 ° C natural thermal springs that have been used for over 500 years.
These spas offer the chance to soak in 40 ° C mineral-rich water with snowcapped peaks in the background. Event organisers constantly see destinations that promise bleisure experiences. Often, however, they require extensive planning and long transit times. Switzerland is an exception to this. It’ s a country where logistics are incredibly good, allowing travellers to end a conference and begin a holiday almost seamlessly. Add to that some of best scenery on the continent, and Switzerland is a strong contender for the gold standard of bleisure in Europe. n
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