To be in Switzerland is to live inside the pages of a storybook, with every page offering a breathtaking new vista.
– Ernest Hemingway
This trip had been on my wishlist for a long time, and I was incredibly excited to finally make it happen. The journey to Zurich was quite an adventure, taking me on a 14-hour flight to this beautiful Swiss city. I’m not a big fan of long flights – but having a fully charged Nintendo Switch along with a bunch of movies downloaded from Netflix made it feel like a breeze!
When you think of Switzerland, what instantly comes to mind is their world-famous chocolates. So, my day began with a visit to Zurich’s renowned Lindt Home Of Chocolate – The Swiss Chocolate Museum!
You choose the moment, we’ll provide the bliss.
– Lindt Lindor : Founder of Lindt
Skipping breakfast in favor of chocolate seemed like the only logical idea. I signed up for a Chocolate Factory Tour, a journey that started with the intricate process of chocolate-making, from cocoa trees to the role of soil quality. The historical aspect was equally captivating, from Native Americans savoring chocolate to the Spanish adding sugar and inventing new creations (thank you for that).
The tour reached its zenith with an indulgent tasting session. Picture yourself standing beside flowing chocolate fountains and machines conjuring up freshly made chocolates with a simple hand gesture. The flavors were nothing short of divine, leaving me and my taste buds craving for more.
My chocolate odyssey concluded at the world’s largest Lindt chocolate store, a paradise of chocolates perfect for gifting or personal indulgence. Think of the biggest chocolate shop that you’ve ever been to – multiply it by 10 – thats how big the Lindt chocolate store was! I can’t help but admit that this ranks as one of the most extraordinary museum-like experiences in my travels.
After the museum, We decided to have lunch at the iconic Haus Hiltl restaurant, a Guinness World Records-certified ‘oldest’ vegetarian establishment. Their unique buffet system allowed us to pay by the weight of our selections, offering a tantalizing array of international cuisines. With chefs from around the world crafting their specialties, the experience was well worth the price. As a bonus, the restaurant gifted us complimentary postcards.
Hiltl’s location was perfect as it was right next to Bahnhofstrasse. What is Bahnhofstrasse? Its the one of the world’s most expensive shopping street!
The street was nothing short of spectacular, lined with luxury boutiques. Switzerland’s renowned watchmaking industry was on full display, with timepieces ranging from CHF 100 to an astonishing CHF 60,000, a haven for watch enthusiasts.
Continuing our day, I embarked on a picturesque train journey to Uetliberg to witness a captivating sunset. A short hike led me to the Uetliberg lookout tower, offering breathtaking panoramic vistas of the Swiss Alps and the city of Zurich. The 30-minute hike was a rewarding experience, as the views from the summit left me awestruck.
Zurich had been a dream come true, and every moment, from the Lindt Chocolate Museum to the bustling Bahnhofstrasse and the serene hike to Uetliberg, felt authentic and unforgettable. Zurich’s charm wasn’t just in its attractions but in the genuine experiences it offered, leaving me with a heart full of gratitude and a longing to return someday. Little did I know that Zurich was just the start of my Swiss adventure, and that Lucerne and Interlaken were waiting to blow my mind in the coming days.
Leave a Reply