Switzerland Archives - Focused Travels

Limmatblick Hotel Zurich: so promising but ultimately disappointing

After our excursion to Jungfrau, we boarded the train to go back to Zurich. We were flying back to Madrid the next day. We arrived in Zurich just before sunset, but fortunately, our hotel, the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich, was located near the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (central station) in Zurich.

Location of the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich

One of the best features of the Limmatblick Hotel is its location. It is located opposite the Limmat River in Zurich and within walking distance from the main shopping area and the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main station).

When I booked this hotel, I was excited. The location meant not having to take a tram anywhere, but that we could explore the old historic buildings in central Zurich on foot. I remembered my walks from my previous trip to Zurich and was looking forward to repeating the experience.

The reception area of the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich

The reception area of the Limmatblick Hotel is located in the restaurant area downstairs. We were a bit confused when we first arrived – the sign outside was located on the second floor of the building and indicated that the hotel was there, but the eating area and bar made us feel unsure of how to get to the second floor. We could not see where else the reception area could be and asked at the bar counter.

The outside of Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - the grey building in the middle — The outside of Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – the grey building in the middle

Lucky for us the barman was also the receptionist for the hotel. He was friendly, handed our keys to us and we quickly sorted out the paperwork.

From here we had to use the elevator to get to our floor. There is only one lift for the hotel and it was tiny. The two of us with our luggage (hand luggage only) barely fit.

On the walls of the elevator had newspaper articles and advertisements of events happening in the area. I thought this was a nice touch as it was the perfect place for such advertisements – everyone staying at the hotel would probably use the elevator.

Our room at the Limmatblick Hotel Zurich

Our room was named after Augusto Giacometti, a Swiss painter. I think all the rooms had names of Swiss painters.

We struggled to unlock our room door. Just before we could give up and go back to the receptionist, the door opened. We were not sure what exactly worked, but we were happy to finally be able to rest.

The room was small. It featured a double bed, flatscreen television mounted on the wall and a small round table right at the entrance.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - bedroom from the door — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – bedroom from the door

The room appeared modern and comfortable.

The bathroom was also small and consisted of a shower, toilet, and basin.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - bathroom — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – bathroom

When I booked the website, everyone was recommending the hotel because of its views of the river. We did not have a river view, but a view of the residences and restaurants behind the hotel. I didn’t mind, it made me feel good to know I was in the heart of Zurich.

Our night at the Limmatblick Hotel

We decided to get ready for bed and have a quiet night watching television.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - the view from our room — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – the view from our room

We both showered. The shower stall was small. My travel partner is a very lean guy and he had difficulty getting in the shower and closing the door. I am not as lean as he was and it was even more of a struggle for me. Once inside, the water pressure and temperature were excellent.

Then we wanted to relax and watch television. The television did not work. We thought of complaining but decided to watch Netflix on the iPad instead. At least we had no issues with the wifi, and the speed was good.

It was summer and our room felt stuffy and hot. We looked around for the button to turn the air conditioner on but soon realized there was no air conditioning. We had experienced this before in Switzerland, but in such a compact room airconditioning is essential. There was a fan, but it was noisy and since there was only one plug point, we could not charge our mobile phones and use the fan simultaneously.

We decided to open the window for some fresh air. Once opened, the room cooled down significantly.

The bed was comfortable, but we soon realized that we would not be getting much sleep. Opposite the hotel, there was a restaurant and inside a party was happening. The patrons of the restaurant were having a good time and were singing loudly. It did not look like they would stop too soon.

And they didn’t. Eventually around 23:00 it did become quiet, and we were finally able to sleep. It started raining, so we had to close the window (and the fresh air from it). We had no choice but to use the fan throughout the night.

Breakfast at the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich

We were tired the next morning. The bed had been comfortable, but the fan was not strong enough to cool the room down enough for us to have a good rest.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - Breakfast spread — The breakfast spread at the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich

We went down for our complimentary breakfast. The breakfast did not disappoint. There were cold meats, croissants, cheeses, and yogurt. They also offered coffee and juices.

Hotel Limmatblick Zurich - Interesting decor in the restaurant area — Hotel Limmatblick Zurich – Interesting decor in the restaurant area

The decor in the restaurant area was quirky and unusual. It gave us something to study while eating.

The food was filling and the coffee refreshing.

Our final verdict on the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich

We loved the location of the hotel, but not having air conditioning was a definite negative for us. The television not working was not a serious concern for us, but for other guests, it may be. Also, the lack of more than one plug point was a serious deficiency as travelers usually have so many devices that need to be charged. We think the shower’s size is too small for most people.

We cannot fault the hotel on cleanliness and the neatness of the room. The breakfast was satisfying enough, considering that it was complimentary.

Would we stay a the Hotel Limmatblick Zurich again? Unlikely. The previous time I visited Zurich, I stayed at the Leoneck Hotel, and although the location was not as ideal, it wins by far when it comes to comfort.

Have you been to Zurich? Where did you stay? What do you look for when booking hotel accommodation?

Taking the Jungfrau train to the top of Europe

By Sabs Leave a Comment

When we were planning our trip to Switzerland, we really wanted to see the Bernese Oberland region. This region is located near the middle of Switzerland and we heard that it is one of the most beautiful regions in the country. As we did our research, we came across the Jungfraujoch or the Top of Europe as one of the must-see sights in this region. We immediately decided that taking a trip on the Jungfrau Train would be an excursion we would have to make!

The Jungfrau is one of the main summits of the Bernese Alps. It is high at 4,158 meters above sea-level and is considered an alpine attraction with a viewing point at an altitude of 3,454 meters.

How to get to Jungfrau Interlaken

Getting to Jungfrau is relatively easy. There are two options using the Bernese Oberland Railway system, namely,

taking the Jungfrau train from Interlaken Ost station to Lauterbrunnen or
taking the Jungfrau train from Interlaken Ost station to Grindelwald

jungfrau train - train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg — Train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg

From both of these points, you need to change to the Wengernapl cable car or train to go to Kleine Scheidegg. From Kleine Scheidegg, you can take the Jungfrau cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch or the Top of Europe. This is the only way to get to the Top of Europe.

We were staying in Wengen, which was one of the little towns near Jungfrau. After taking the train from Wengen station, we arrived at Kleine Scheidegg about 30 minutes later. This was a train journey with spectacular views of the mountains.

jungfrau train - On the way to Kleine Scheidegg — Views on the way to Kleine Scheidegg

From Kleine Scheidegg we boarded the Jungfrau train and reached the Jungfraujoch station about 35 minutes later. This journey was in a tunnel most of the way, but there were a few times the train was outside revealing beautiful mountain and cloud views. It was a misty day when we went up with the Jungfrau train which added a mysterious ambiance to our trip.

jungfrau train - headrest — Jungfrau train – headrest

The Jungfrau train is very comfortable and seemed newer than some of the other Swiss trains we had used. Look at the detail on the headrests… no wonder the tickets are so expensive!

We had read somewhere that the Jungfrau train station is the highest train station in the world! This was easy to believe! Our ears felt blocked a few times the higher we went up the mountain!

Activities once we disembarked at Jungfrau train station

jungfrau train - statue of Adolph Guyer Zeller — Statue of Adolph Guyer Zeller

Once we disembarked and entered the main building, there were several things to see and do. The first was a statue of Adolf Guyer-Zeller, the railway entrepreneur responsible for the establishment of the Jungfrau train.

The Sphinx Observatory

jungfrau train - Sphinx Observatory — Sphinx Observatory

From here we took a lift up to the Sphinx Observatory, which means going up another 117 meters. On a clear day, you will have a 360° view from the Spinx Observatory. When we arrived, it was snowing outside and our views were limited. It was the first time both of us experienced falling snow and it was freezing and surprisingly dark! We could not see much at all!

jungfrau train - Spinx observatory view — View from the Spinx observatory

The Alpine Sensation

The Alpine Sensation is a moving walkway with images, lights, and music. It connects the hall below the Sphinx observatory to the Ice Palace.

jungfrau train - Alpine Sensation display in dome — Alpine Sensation display in dome

The Alpine Sensation was amazing. We loved the exhibits on display and the way the colors had been used.

jungfrau train - Alpine Sensation small display — Small display in the Alpine Sensation

There were images and photos depicting the story of the Jungfrau along the walls, highlighted by different color lights. It was a nice way to learn anything!

The Ice Palace

jungfrau train - penguin sculpture — Penguin sculpture in the Ice Palace

The Ice Palace was a hall with ice floors and many ice sculptures to admire. Take note and be careful! When you enter the Ice Palace, the floor is extremely slippery. My partner was too excited and slipped. He landed on his back but fortunately had not sustained any injuries. There were security personnel around to assist if anyone injured themselves on the ice. Just walk slowly and carefully and you will be fine!

jungfrau train - ice age sculpture — Ice age sculpture in the Ice Palace

It was my first time in a place with ice sculptures and I found them done really well. The level of detail of each ice sculpture was exceptional.

The Grosser Aletsch Glacier

From the Ice Palace, we went out into the snow and hoped to view the Grosser Aletsch glacier and the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, it was snowing heavily here and we struggled to see ahead of us. It gave us an idea of what winter in Switzerland will be like (although I am sure it is a hundred times more intense and cold than what we experienced).

jungfrau train - Glacier viewing point — View at the Glacier viewing point

What was interesting was how cold and full of snow the top of the mountain was, but just that morning we had been walking around without jackets and with short sleeved t-shirts! It was a completely different season on the top of Jungfraujoch than in Wengen from where we had traveled that morning!

From here we took the Jungfrau train back to Kleine Scheidegg. The weather seemed to have taken a turn for the worse. So even though the visibility was quite bad for us, it was still better than for the people only going up the Jungfraujoch as we were descending.

Things we didn’t do at the Jungfraujoch

jungfrau train - cloudy view of kleine scheidegg — Cloudy view of Kleine Scheidegg

If we ever get the chance to go back to Jungfraujoch, we would love to try the following:

In Summer, you can go sledding, skiing or snowboarding in the Snow Fun Park at an additional cost. We have never done any of these activities, so any or all would be fun!
There is a Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven at Jungfraujoch, where you can learn about the history of chocolate as well as how it is made. Who does not love Lindt chocolate? We each received a free Lindt ball for just walking past!
You can hike across the glacier to the Mönchsjoch hut in about an hour. This should be quite an adventure!

Tips for visiting Jungfraujoch

From our trip we learned a few lessons:

Dress in layers – this will allow you to add or remove layers as the temperature changes. Inside the building, it was quite warm, but the Ice Palace was cold and when we went out to the see the Glacier, it was freezing!

Dress in layers when visiting the Jungfraujoch - the temperature changes significantly between the inside and outside - layers allows you go be comfortable wherever you go Click To Tweet

Check the weather before you go. This website gives live views of the weather at Jungfraujoch.
We left a bit late as it was a rainy day and we were hoping for the weather to get better. It did not. In my opinion, take the earliest train you can. It should not be as busy as later when everyone has woken up and had breakfast.
The train journey from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg is not covered by any of Swiss rail passes and has to be purchased separately.

Our view on taking the trip with the Jungfrau train

We thoroughly enjoyed the train trip and the activities at the top of the mountain. We definitely recommend visiting the Jungfraujoch if you visit Switzerland. It is a pricey excursion, but there is something for everyone at the top of the mountain. At least, unlike the other mountains in Switzerland, there are other activities to do if the weather is bad and you don’t have spectacular views.

Have you been to Jungfraujoch? Did you enjoy the experience? Have you visited any of the other mountains in Switzerland, such as the one in Zermatt?

Our Switzerland itinerary: 5 days in this beautiful country

By Sabs 12 Comments

I recently went to Switzerland for a work trip, and my partner joined me. Switzerland is expensive, and since my employer paid for my visa and plane ticket, we thought it was a perfect opportunity for us to spend a few days in Switzerland. It was my partner’s first time visiting the country, so we wanted to make sure we see as much as possible in the five days we were there. We found planning our Switzerland itinerary challenging as we simply could not decide on which places to visit and which to leave out.

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Our Switzerland itinerary: Day 1

We started our trip in Basel due to my work obligations. Some people find Basel boring, but I have always thought it is a lovely city for a leisurely walk. It does offer a variety of sightseeing and things to do.

Our favorite things to do in Basel include the following:

Visiting the Dreiländereck, which is the spot where the borders of Switzerland, France, and Germany meet. The Dreiländereck is located in the Rhine river.

I loved the Tinguely Fountain with its mechanical instruments that could fascinate me for hours.

The hammering man on Aeschenplatz is a must-see. It is a huge mechanical man that simulates hammering.

Basel also has beautiful buildings. My favorite was the city hall with its vibrant colors and the gold decorations. No photo can do this building justice; you have to view it yourself to understand how magnificent it is.

Our Switzerland itinerary: Day 2

We spent the second day of our Switzerland itinerary in Lucerne. I love Lucerne; I think it is a stunning city and easy to explore.

Our favorites here included:

Visiting Mount Pilatus. Mount Pilatus was my first introduction to the Swiss mountains, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

The Lion of Lucerne or the Lion Monument was created in a rock formation. It commemorates the massacre of the Swiss Guards during the French Revolution. It is a sad and haunting monument, one of those you have to experience yourself to understand.

And of course, the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower. Most people will immediately recognize Lucerne when they see pictures of this bridge. I enjoyed walking on the bridge and looking at all the paintings on the inside – they were painted well, but depict some scary-looking creatures and scenes.

Our Switzerland itinerary: Day 3

We spent day 3 of our Switzerland itinerary in Zermatt. We arrived in Zermatt late the Friday evening and immediately planned our next day there.

I have written about the many things there are to do in Zermatt, here are the highlights for us:

Using the Gornergrat Going up the mountains to view the Matterhorn. Seeing the Matterhorn is one of those once-in-a-lifetime sights which is heavily dependent on the state of the weather. We were lucky and had clear weather going up the mountain, but unfortunately, the clouds moved in before we arrived at the top. Still, it was an experience I will always remember.

We had our first traditional Swiss meal in Zermatt. We could have had Swiss food anywhere in Switzerland, but Zermatt seemed unusual enough to be the city where we try it. Also, everyone in Zermatt we spoke to, recommended the same Restaurant (Restaurant Stadel). So, we knew they had to be one of the best places to try Swiss fondue.

A place that is unique in Zermatt is the graveyard of those who died trying to conquer the Matterhorn.

Our Switzerland itinerary: Day 4

From Zermatt, we made our way to Wengen. The area around Wengen is one of the most beautiful regions I have ever seen. We were there at the beginning of Summer and everything was lush and green. Our main reason for visiting Wengen was to go to Jungfraujoch. What is nice about Jungfraujoch is that the weather does not affect going up as much as at the Matterhorn, for example. There are many things to do in the Jungfraujoch complex, including the Ice Palace, Alpine Sensation, and Spinx observation deck.

Our Switzerland itinerary: Day 5

From Wengen, our Switzerland itinerary ended in Zurich. We had a day to spend in Zurich. We followed much of the same walking route I walked on my first visit to the city.We enjoyed watching the sun set on the many beautiful churches in the Swiss capital city.

The good, the bad and the ugly

As you can probably see, our 5-day Switzerland itinerary was a busy one. We spent a lot of time on the Swiss trains. On the one hand, we enjoyed the train rides and relaxing while getting to our destinations. On the other hand, Swiss train travel is not cheap. Nevertheless, spending our 5 days in Switzerland in this manner allowed us the opportunity to see which cities and regions we would like to visit on future trips.

Have you ever been to Switzerland? What was your favorite sight or city during your time there? Where in Switzerland would you still like to visit?

The Best Wengen Hotel For Visiting Jungfraujoch

By Sabs 12 Comments

While planning our trip to Switzerland, we wondered what the best hotel for visiting the Jungfraujoch would be. We researched the different cities in the Bernese-Oberland region and eventually decided that we would stay in Wengen, which is one of the closest towns to the Jungfraujoch. Finding the best Wengen Hotel was quite a challenge since Jungfraujoch is very popular, summer was just starting in Europe, with the result that there were only a few hotel rooms available in Wengen. We managed to book a hotel room at a hotel I now consider as the best Wengen hotel.

Getting to the best Wengen hotel

From Zermatt, we took the train to Wengen. It was a long, but scenic trip. We arrived at the Wengen station around 17:00 and we were quite tired and looked forward to a relaxing evening before exploring Jungfraujoch the next day.

I had forgotten to print a map of the hotel location, but we found the Wengen station so convenient – it had a map of all the hotels in Wengen. Our hotel was the Hotel Victoria-Lauberhorn, and it was located less than 10 meters from the station! Such good news!

We quickly crossed the road and saw the hotel for the first time. It was an impressive building featuring the traditional Swiss style. I had always wanted to stay in such a hotel and upon seeing it, I was excited about our night there.

Arriving at the best Wengen Hotel: Hotel & Spa Victoria Lauberhorn

As we entered the foyer, we arrived at the back of a long queue at the reception desk. It looked like many people who were staying at the Victoria Lauberhorn had come on the same train as we did. I wondered if they also considered this the best Wengen hotel.

The queue moved quickly when more reception staff joined the team already at the reception desk. We were about halfway there when one of the staff members offered us complimentary drinks! It lightened the mood of those of us still waiting in the queue.

Complimentary arrival drinks

The drink was champagne with a hibiscus flower inside and it was tasty! Since the flower is edible, we also ate it. We found it delicious and refreshing! The staff informed us that it was the first weekend in June and therefore, the first weekend of summer in Switzerland. At the Hotel & Spa Victoria Lauberhorn, the start of summer is celebrated with the special drink. I thought this was a lovely way to be welcomed.

The rooms at the Hotel & Spa Victoria-Lauberhorn

We checked-in and went upstairs to our room. It was a medium sized room. For the one night we would spend there, we found the size sufficient. It was a standard room decorated in neutral colors. There was a large cupboard, small television, and desk. The windows opened to a small balcony.

The bathroom was small but comfortable with a shower and liquid soap.

We had no problem connecting to the wi-fi; we found it fast.

A relaxing evening at the best Wengen hotel

After unpacking and freshening up, we took a walk around Wengen and bought some food we could enjoy in our hotel room. We did not feel like going out and just wanted to chill a bit. We sat on the balcony and enjoyed the view of the beautiful mountains surrounding Wengen.

As it was still the start of summer, it eventually became a bit chilly outside, and we went inside. We spent the rest of the evening watching movies. There were more than 100 television channels to choose from; we were like kids in a candy store!

No air conditioning?!

When we wanted to go to bed, we realized that apart from the windows that open to the balcony, there were no other windows. It was a bit strange. Closing the windows would make the room too stuffy, but sleeping with the windows open would be too cold. There were wooden shutters we could close and then leave the window open, but they had no way of being secured. It was our impression that these shutters were more decorative than functional. We eventually ended up closing the shutters and leaving the windows open slightly – we knew we would not have slept well without some fresh air.

Breakfast at the best Wengen hotel

After a good night’s rest, we went down for breakfast. It was a buffet breakfast and had everything we could have wished for: croissants, cold meats, bacon, eggs, hot chocolate. The breakfast room was large and brightly decorated. It was raining outside, and through the large windows of the breakfast room, we could watch the mist on the mountain shift from time to time. The staff in the breakfast room were attentive. After our tasty breakfast, we decided to brave the weather.

Other facilities at the Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn

The Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn also has a spa and on-site restaurant, but we did not try these during our stay there. Many other hotel guests going to the spa, so it must be good!

We found the check-out process quick and efficient. We then left our luggage in the hotel’s luggage storage facility before going to explore the Jungfrau region. The luggage storage was a building outside the hotel. It is locked, and you are only given the key to fetch or drop your luggage off.

Our overall opinion

We loved the Hotel & Spa Victoria Lauberhorn! The traditional Swiss appearance is beautiful. It is also a large hotel, which probably explained why we still managed to find a room there despite booking so late. The staff was so friendly and helpful. We thought the breakfast was one of the best we have had in Switzerland. Not having air conditioning was a bit strange, but manageable since it was still the beginning of summer. The reception staff told us that not having air conditioning was normal in Switzerland. They usually close the windows when it is cold and just open it once in a while for fresh air. We have not stayed at any other Wengen hotels, but for us, the Hotel & Spa Victoria Lauberhorn is the best Wengen hotel!

Have you ever been to the Bernese-Oberland or Jungfrau region? In which hotel did you stay?

7 Things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland

By Sabs 10 Comments

We recently had a whirlwind trip to Switzerland and decided to spend a day in Zermatt, Switzerland. If you ever wondered, there are other things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland apart from seeing the Matterhorn. Visiting the Matterhorn is, however, a must-do! Since it was the beginning of summer, skiing did not seem like an option, but there were plenty of other things to do and see.

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Here is our list of 7 things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland:

1. Going up the mountains to see the Matterhorn

Seeing the Matterhorn is almost a given, I am sure everyone who visits the area has this at the top of their list of things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland. There are many ways to go up and see the Matterhorn; we decided on the going up with the Gornergrat, which is the second highest railway in Europe.

2. Riffelsee

Riffelsee is one stop down from the top of the Gornergrat. There are several lakes at this stop. When the lakes are not frozen, you can see a magnificent reflection of the Matterhorn in some of the lakes. Unfortunately, when we were there the lakes were frozen as the region had snow the week before.

3. Enjoying traditional Swiss food

We asked several locals for the best place to have a cheese fondue and they all said the same: Restaurant Stadel not only sold the best cheese fondue but also had the best variety of fondues and also other traditional Swiss meals.

We had a cheese fondue and a Swiss veal sausage and rosti. Both dishes were delicious and filling. We can recommend Restaurant Stadel.

4. The Mountaineer’s Cemetery

We were initially not too keen to visit the Mountaineers’ Cemetery, but I was glad we decided to stop there. It is quite sobering to see so many people who died while climbing the mountains around Zermatt. Some of them were quite young. We even saw the grave of a father and son that died together while trying to conquer one of the peaks.

5. Matterhorn Museum

We did not get to visit the Matterhorn Museum even though we had allocated time to visit it. We were there on a Saturday morning and the museum only opened between 14:00 – 18:00. It was a pity that it was closed. Just like us, so many tourists wanted to visit the museum. Based on our research, the museum tells the history and development of tourism in Zermatt. It also tells about the first ascent of the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper and his friends.

6. St Peter’s English Church

Perhaps not one of the most exciting things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland, but since it is located so close to the Mountaineer’s Cemetery and the Matterhorn Museum, it is an easy stop to make. As with most churches in Europe, St Peter’s English Church is a beautiful church. I loved the stained glass windows, but the ceiling was also quite spectacular.

On the side of St Peter’s and next to the Mountaineers’ Cemetery is the St Peter’s Community Garden. It is a beautiful garden and very relaxing to just sit and chill for a few minutes.

7. Hinterdorfstrasse

The historic area in Hinterdorfstrasse surprised me. The receptionist at our hotel told us about the street with its historic houses when she gave us directions to Stadel Restaurant.

There are several beautifully preserved historic buildings, including grain stores and houses. Definitely, something to see and it takes less than 5 minutes to walk through the street. It is a short detour from the main street, Bahnhofstrasse, in Zermatt.

We loved our time this small town, and as you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Have you been to this pretty little town? Did you visit it to see the Matterhorn or did you go for any of the other things to do in Zermatt, Switzerland? What was your favorite thing to do in Zermatt?