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Planning a visit to Switzerland in winter however unsure if you wish to ski? Don’t fear, there are many enjoyable issues to do in Switzerland in winter for non-skiers and I’ll let you know all about them on this article.Â
When you’re new to this weblog, hello, we’re Liza and Jose, and we commonly spend lengthy weekends exploring totally different cities and areas of Europe whereas working full-time in London. A couple of instances per yr, we additionally take longer journeys outdoors Europe and, in fact, doc all our itineraries on this weblog. We’ve travelled to over 100 counties in whole, and you’ll see all of the locations we’ve lined on this weblog right here.
Must you go to Switzerland in winter when you don’t ski?
Snowboarding is enjoyable, however let’s be sincere – except you’ve been happening yearly ski journeys since childhood or spent weeks studying easy methods to ski correctly, snowboarding on actual slopes might be intimidating. I’ve solely carried out snowboarding a few instances earlier than, and so did Jose, so we had been undoubtedly not prepared for the slopes of Zermatt or Grindelwald but. However there’s extra – not everybody loves snowboarding or snowboarding. Each are excessive sports activities, and plenty of persons are simply not into them. Does that imply that individuals shouldn’t journey to Switzerland in winter? Completely not! Switzerland in winter is enjoyable even with out snowboarding! And there are many issues to do in Switzerland in winter for non-skiers!
From thrilling museums to winter sports activities that aren’t snowboarding, there are many issues to do in Switzerland through the chilly season. Let’s discover them on this article.Â
Enjoyable issues to do in Switzerland in winter that aren’t snowboarding
Go on the world’s longest sledge run
Our absolute favorite factor to do in winter in Switzerland for non-skiers is slegding (sledding or tobogganing, nonetheless you name it). On our final journey to Switzerland, we truly teamed up with Grindelwald First and tried sledging in Switzerland for the primary time. Grindelwald is house to the longest sledge run on this planet – it’s over 15km lengthy and takes round 2.5 hours to finish.
We couldn’t do all 15km, as there was not sufficient snow between Bort and Grindelwald (we had been tobogganing in December), so as an alternative, we did two totally different routes – the one over Wildspitz that included a little bit of mountaineering (the lengthy, steep incline was a little bit of problem firstly, however the views had been nicely price it) and one other, a lot shorter one between Grindelwald First and Bort station.
Earlier than doing the sledging in Grindelwald, I used to be underneath the impression that it was a household exercise and we’d be the one couple there. Nevertheless, I couldn’t be extra mistaken! Some segments of the run had been truly fairly difficult, and we’ve seen only a few children on the sledge run! Most individuals had been {couples} like us or teams of buddies. So, when you had been like us and thought that sledging is just for households – be relaxation assured that it’s not! It’s a enjoyable exercise for everybody.
Tips on how to get there?
To get to the sledge run, you may both take a practice to Grindelwald or drive there after which decide one of many parking heaps subsequent to Grindelwald First cable automobile. You may deliver your individual sledge or lease one in Grindelwald – essentially the most handy rental is situated up Grindelwald First – there’s an enormous Intersport that rents sledges for 18 Swiss Franks per individual and you’ll return them both in Bort or beneath in Grindelwald. You additionally must buy a day move for the cable automobile on-line right here.
The place to remain in Grindelwald:Â
Lodge Bernerhof, Lodge Spinne, Lodge Fiescherblick
Discover Zermatt
Whereas Zermatt is undoubtedly a ski resort, not everybody comes there to ski. Zermatt is a phenomenal city that’s particularly magical in winter. Moreover simply having fun with the city, I like to recommend heading to the panoramic viewpoint to see the postcard-perfect view of the city, visiting the Matterhorn museum and taking the Gornergrat Bahn (Europe’s highest open-air cog railway) to the three,089m excessive panoramic viewpoint.
Zermatt additionally has a really fairly city centre with a busy excessive road stuffed with eating places and outlets. Our best choice for consuming in Zermatt is The Cheese Manufacturing facility situated on the Schweizerhof Lodge – not solely does this restaurant have a comfy inside, however the fondues there are the most effective ones we’ve tried in Switzerland.
The place to remain in Zermatt:
Carina Design & Life-style Lodge, Mountain Paradise, BaseCamp Lodge
Take one of many panoramic trainsÂ
Switzerland is world-famous for its gorgeous panoramic trains. Nevertheless, not everybody is aware of that you could additionally take them in winter, and the views might be much more dramatic. Switzerland has the most effective practice programs on this planet. Furthermore, some trains present actually unforgettable experiences – Glacier Specific, Bernina Specific, Pilatus Practice and lots of others. One of the simplest ways to discover Switzerland by practice is by shopping for the Swiss Move, which provides you free entry to a lot of panoramic trains and 50% off for the remainder of the trains. It additionally offers you free entry to a lot of the museums in Switzerland! Whereas it’s not low cost, when you’re planning to take lots of trains and take public transport inside cities, Swiss Move will present substantial financial savings. You should purchase it on-line right here.
Go to one in every of many nice Christmas Markets in Switzerland
When you’re visiting Switzerland between the beginning of November and Christmas, you’ll have a chance to go to a few of Switzerland’s finest Christmas markets. My private favorite is the Christmas market in Basel. Basel is certainly one in every of my favorite cities in Switzerland, and it’s particularly magical throughout Christmas. You may study extra about Basel Christmas Markets and the most effective issues to do in Basel on this article on our weblog.
Another cities which have nice Christmas Markets embrace, in fact, the capital, Zurich, Lausanne and Lucerne.Â
Go to an outside thermal spaÂ
One among our favorite issues to do in winter is go to thermal spas or thermes, particularly if they’ve out of doors swimming pools. There may be nothing higher than chilling in a scorching out of doors pool with gorgeous mountain views when there’s snow throughout you. The 2 spas that now we have visited and might undoubtedly advocate are Les Bains de Lavey (purchase tickets) and Zurich HĂĽrlimann Unhealthy & Spa (purchase tickets)
The primary one is a brief drive from Lausanne and has loads of totally different swimming pools (indoor and out of doors), saunas, hammams and leisure areas. The second is situated within the coronary heart of Zurich and has a number of flooring, together with an outside terrace swimming pool with gorgeous panoramic views.
After all, Switzerland has greater than 2 spas with out of doors swimming pools! These are simply the 2 now we have visited up to now (we’ll hopefully go to extra sooner or later).Â
Attempt cheese & go to a fortress in GruyereÂ
Swiss are very pleased with their cheese, and the most effective (and most well-known) cheeses in Gruyere is known as after the Gruyeres city. Gruyere cheese is historical – its manufacturing began at first of the twelfth century! You may go to the manufacturing unit & cheese store – La Maison du Gruyère, and go on a tour that may let you know extra in regards to the historical past of the well-known cheese. There may be additionally a pleasant restaurant the place you may eat a hearty fondue in case you don’t really feel like taking a tour.
Moreover La Maison du Gruyère, you will discover a surprising Gruyeres fortress within the city. Gruyeres Citadel is likely one of the most spectacular castles in Switzerland. It was constructed within the thirteenth century and has a powerful artwork assortment that you could see as a part of the tour.Â
Discover one in every of many chocolate factoriesÂ
It feels so good to bask in a chunk (or perhaps even a bit greater than a chunk) of chocolate on a chilly winter day. It’s even higher to go on a chocolate manufacturing unit tour or do a correct chocolate tasting! There are two chocolate locations that undoubtedly stand out in Switzerland – Lindt House of Chocolate Museum in Zurich and Maison Cailler close to Lausanne. Make sure that to guide them prematurely, because the excursions are likely to promote out!Â
Go ice skating
Probably the greatest issues to do in Switzerland in winter in addition to snowboarding is definitely… ice skating! A few of the finest ice skating rinks in Switzerland are the pure ones. You may skate on loads of frozen pure lakes throughout Switzerland. A few of the finest pure rinks embrace Lac de Joux, Alp Raguta in Feldis, Ă–schinensee in Kandersteg and lots of others!Â
Go to Glacier 3000
One other glorious location for winter enjoyable in Switzerland that isn’t simply snowboarding is Glacier 3000. House to the one suspension bridge on this planet that connects two mountain peaks, Glacier 3000 is a must-visit attraction for breathtaking views! Moreover strolling round and having fun with the views, you may also go on a hike (sure, it’s truly enjoyable to hike in winter) and even a dogsled journey.Â
And naturally, you’ll need to go all the way in which as much as 3000m above the ocean degree – in a panoramic cable automobile, in order that’s already an exercise by itself. Â
To purchase a day move, go to the official web site of Glacier 3000.
Bonus: go cross-country snowboarding
I do know, I do know, we promised an article that doesn’t revolve round snowboarding, however cross-country snowboarding may be very totally different from mountain snowboarding. To begin with, it doesn’t require intensive coaching (when you’re planning to ski “working type” or basic type, all you want to do is transfer your legs ahead and again and use the poles in your palms to push your self ahead. Skate type is tougher (I might by no means grasp it, however then once more, I didn’t attempt very exhausting) but additionally achievable. Skate-style cross nation means that you can go up and down small hills, whereas basic type is about snowboarding on a flat floor (which is far simpler).Â
Probably the most spectacular cross-country tracks that I’ve seen was truly in Goms! The surroundings was improbable, and the monitor didn’t look too exhausting! You may study extra about it and one of these snowboarding right here.
Abstract of enjoyable issues to do in Switzerland in winter in addition to snowboarding
As you see now, there are many superb issues to do in Switzerland in winter in addition to snowboarding. From sledging (my private favorite) to chocolate tastings, each non-skier can discover one thing they get pleasure from doing. Even when you don’t really feel like attempting mountain snowboarding in Switzerland (particularly when you haven’t skied earlier than), you may attempt basic cross-country snowboarding on a flat floor that may be very simple to study and means much less injury-prone (and in addition less expensive to do).Â
Disclaimer: we obtained free Swiss journey passes and day passes for Grindelwald First as a part of our collaboration with Go to Switzerland, however this text is just not sponsored, and all opinions are our personal!Â
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