SWITZERLAND IS ALWAYS A GREAT DESTINATION

Through Mountains and Valleys

So far, we’ve returned from every trip to Switzerland brimming with inspiration. Sometimes it’s been the art that has captivated us, other times a city, or a getaway at a spa, on the slopes, or by a lake. Today, we’re focusing on mountain passes.

A Plan for Years to Come

Switzerland has a lot to offer in every season: whether it’s the Christmas market in Zurich, Art Basel in June, or hiking in the fall followed by a culinary treat.

Between June and October, Switzerland’s Alpine passes are generally free of snow and easy to drive through. We usually start thinking about which Alpine trip we might take during the coming warm season as early as the quiet period between Christmas and New Year’s.

Despite all the digital information available, we still enjoy consulting good old-fashioned road maps. Topography changes only very slowly, and mountain pass routes look very promising on a well-designed map that shows all the details. The anticipation can begin.

Albula Pass • Bernina Pass • Furka Pass • Gotthard Pass • Grimsel Pass • Great St. Bernard Pass • Julier Pass • Maloja Pass

We look back on some wonderful trips across the Swiss mountain passes in recent years—trips we’d all love to take again—and we hope they’ll serve as a starting point for inspiration:

Basel -> Gotthard Pass -> Bellinzona -> Lugano

Piedmont -> Aosta Valley -> Little St. Bernard -> Geneva

Albula Pass -> Pontresina -> Bernina Pass -> Tirano

On these trips, the journey is the destination. It’s not about getting there as quickly as possible, but about enjoying the ride—the view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, the changing vegetation as you climb higher and higher, and the joy of reaching the top of the pass and lingering there for a while.

Forcola di Livigno, with a pass elevation of 2,315 meters © GloriousMe

Then the drive down into the valley, with another change in the vegetation and, in most cases, in the weather and temperature as well.

This summer, we took the following route:

Julier Pass -> St. Moritz -> Majola Pass -> Chiavenna -> Splügen -> Thusis

A Plan for Different Modes of Transportation

Yes, they still exist: enthusiastic car enthusiasts. Whether with or without a convertible top, they love their personal freedom of movement.

Thanks to Switzerland’s excellent rail network—including its punctual and very comfortable trains—you can also enjoy some of these routes in the comfort of a train compartment and stop by the dining car along the way.

Rhaetian Railway, UNESCO World Heritage Site © GloriousMe

However, in these cases, you should book your trip well in advance, because seating is limited and the views are absolutely stunning. Word of this has spread as far as Asia and America.

Don’t overlook the Swiss PostBus. It takes you comfortably and safely through the mountains and valleys. The nostalgic charm of the PostBus—familiar to many from their childhood—is now combined with an online reservation system, since, understandably, there are no standing room seats on trips over the mountain passes.

A great app from the Postbus organization provides information about the areas you’re driving through, since the driver needs to focus on the roads and the less-experienced or overconfident private vehicles coming toward him.

If you’d like to start planning your PostBus trip right away, you can take a look here at the Swiss PostBus organization’s suggested Central Alps mountain pass tours, such as the 3.5-hour ride on the Palm Express from St. Moritz to Lake Lugano.

Extensive appetizer spread

In Switzerland, an aperitif is called an “Apéro rich,” which is served not only with olives or chips but also with a whole array of savory bites that, paired with a fine Swiss wine, are sure to make your mouth water.

Apéro Rich in Maienfeld, Andermatt, and Morgex (Aosta) © GloriousMe

Here are a few highlights from our summer trip through the Swiss Passes:

Where Swiss Wine Began

Salenegg Castle in Maienfeld is considered Switzerland’s oldest winery. It is located in the region known as the Bündner Herrschaft. Wine connoisseurs always speak these two words with particular reverence, as the wines are among the finest to come out of Swiss cellars and therefore remain largely within the country itself.

BREAD – ONLY THE BEST QUALITY

At Salenegg Castle, you can taste them and, of course, purchase them—and then you’ll be among the select few. We tried them, and the wines really won us over.

The Smallest City in Switzerland

We’d heard of Casa Caminada in Fürstenau for quite some time. That’s because we’d already seen quite a few fantastic recipes created in their kitchen on Instagram, which inspired us to make a resolution to further improve our own culinary skills.

This historic hotel, complete with a restaurant and a bakery, is an ideal stopover on the way through the mountains, and Switzerland’s smallest town is just what you need—because after all that mountain air and the tranquility of the valleys, you usually don’t feel much like visiting a big city in the evening.

The Most Beautiful Spa

Architecture enthusiasts love Peter Zumthor, and some are familiar with the Columba Museum in Cologne, which he designed, or had the chance to visit his pavilion for the Serpentine Gallery in London in 2011.

One of his designs is world-famous: the Vals Thermal Baths. Here, the gray-greenish Vals quartzite natural stone takes center stage—no colorful tiles, mosaics, or fun slides. The entire spa is defined by the stone, and even the towel hooks are installed so discreetly that you have to look closely to notice them.

Admittedly, the thermal baths have become quite well-known by now, but everyone should take a dip there at least once in their lifetime—and if you’re lucky enough to visit during a lull, the crowds aren’t too bad. The serene architecture also helps put (most) bathers at ease.

Everywhere

We’re certain that wherever you travel, you’ll encounter breathtaking landscapes and high-quality culinary delights. These memories will stay with you for years to come, and if the weather isn’t quite cooperating, you’ll find lovely places to stay along the way—both to the right and to the left—for a longer stopover and a leisurely lunch or dinner.