Swiss winters aren't just about snow-covered skies...

Peaceful church

I stayed right in the heart of Zurich's Old Town. While I'm not sure if I managed to explore all of Zurich in just a few short days, I'm certain I could easily navigate the Old Town on my own and still find my way back to the hotel, as the area isn't too large. Just use the bell towers of St. Peter's Basilica and Grossmunster Church as a central point, and you'll never get lost in the Old Town.

My accommodation was a few hundred meters from the church, a stroke of luck on the trip as it held many historical landmarks and preserved some of the most distinctive architecture of the Middle Ages. From a distance, I could see the churches and small neighborhoods standing out beside the peaceful Limmat River.

The city's main church is St. Peter's Basilica, also known as Sankt Peterskirche. In 1538, the church's bell tower was fitted with a clock face measuring 8.7 meters in diameter – considered the largest clock face in Europe. Despite its age, the clock still functions normally today.

Another iconic landmark of Zurich is the Grossmunster Church, a Romanesque structure with two identical towers resembling rockets pointing straight up to the sky. Thanks to its distinctive architecture and the religious history associated with it, this church quickly became a quintessential symbol of the city. Moreover, these are two of the most prominent Protestant churches in Switzerland.

To truly understand a city, you don't just need to listen to its historical stories; you can also explore it firsthand and experience its rhythm, culture, people, and unique atmosphere. One early morning, I wandered alone through the old quarter to experience it for myself. Occasionally, I stopped to count the church bells – the bells that ring three times every half hour, a few infrequent but enough to bring peace to my heart.

In the picturesque city of Lausanne, I visited the Notre Dame Cathedral of Lausanne – a prime example of Gothic architecture. Built in 1170, it is widely regarded as the most beautiful cathedral in Switzerland. Beyond its exquisite exterior design, Lausanne also boasts 12 sculptures depicting the 12 apostles and missionaries of Christianity. Another valuable feature of the Lausanne cathedral is its location beside a river and next to the prestigious University of Lausanne – a perfect synergy between these two magnificent architectural masterpieces.

More specifically, the cathedral is always chosen as the venue for Switzerland's biggest concerts. The time I visited Lausanne Cathedral coincided with the main stage setup for Verdi's opera Nabucco, which was being performed during Christmas 2018.

City tour - Old houses and charming streets

A city tour is never boring when it's done in Switzerland. You'll deeply regret missing the charming, old streets and houses along the riverbanks. Don't overlook the steep slopes leading to a dead-end alley, because you never know that at the end of that alley lies a house covered in beautiful climbing flowers.

Here, the houses are like classic ladies—both cool and charming, sometimes warm and open. In the morning, you'll see a peaceful "lady" because in winter, the city usually wakes up late and people go to work as soon as they get up. At this time, take a leisurely stroll along the small slopes or stand in awe before some of the remaining ancient houses from the 13th and 14th centuries.

On the other hand, you'll only see a cheerful, bustling "lady" at lunchtime because this is when people flock to restaurants to enjoy the most important meal of the day. Especially in winter, lunchtime is the best time to take stunning photos because this is when the sunlight is at its most beautiful.

If you stroll around the city in the evening and at night, you'll encounter a quiet, thoughtful "lady." At night, the temperature often drops, and even if not at home, people will seek shelter in a familiar restaurant or café instead of wandering the streets or shopping. For some reason, shops here usually close very early. If you want to shop or see the streets, you have to go before 5 pm. Because in areas like Zurich's Old Town, Thun, Interlaken, or even the romantic Lausanne, after 7 pm, you won't find a single shop open.

Train journeys: More than just a trip

One of the most memorable experiences Switzerland left on me was my journeys on the trains. In this country, most people travel by public transport. Swiss people are proud to say they have the highest public transport usage in the world. This is partly due to culture, and partly due to the convenience these modes of transport offer.

In Switzerland, you'll find a dense network of trains crisscrossing the city day and night. Furthermore, for longer journeys, they categorize trains into: express, slow, high-speed, and even tourist trains. Tourist trains were the most frequently used during my trip because the time spent on the train is the best time to enjoy the scenery. You can take photos freely without worrying about blurry images because the train travels quite slowly. Especially, the routes for tourist trains often feature stunning scenery on both sides.

Through the window, the scenery along the way unfolds like a slow-motion film. There are endless fields, small houses with pointed roofs nestled on the meadows, and vineyards as straight as those in legendary Tuscany. Some areas are verdant to the horizon, while others are blanketed in white snow. What I love about train travel is the unpredictability of what lies ahead. And that's what makes the journey worthwhile, as everything seems like something out of a fairy tale.

Additional information

Visa:Switzerland uses a Schengen visa. Swiss tourist visas are typically issued for 90 days, and applicants should prepare their documents at least four weeks before their departure date.

Trip:Edelweiss Airlines has launched its first direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Zurich, with a flight time of approximately 13 hours.

Move:Public transport in Switzerland is quite punctual, and you can use the Swiss Travel Pass to travel throughout the country. Remember to consider the length of your stay to purchase the appropriate pass.

Time:Switzerland is beautiful in all four seasons, so choose your favorite time to visit.

Accommodation:Switzerland has a wide variety of hotels to choose from, so find one that fits your budget.

Cuisine:Cheese fondue, raclette, zurcher geschnetzeltes (Zuriro-style veal), and ice cream are some of the signature dishes.

SkinIn winter, you should prepare shoes with good grip soles suitable for walking in snowy weather, warm clothes, scarves, gloves, and wool hats. Additionally, you should also prepare a thermos flask to carry hot water if you need to walk outdoors.

Sightseeing:

- The Swiss National Museum and the FIFA Museum in Zurich;

- Enjoy lunch on a cruise ship and admire the scenery in Interlaken;

- Tour to Jungraujoch - a snow-capped mountain peak reaching 3,466 meters;

- Try your hand at mountain climbing or skiing;

- Visit romantic Geneva and see the Olympic Museum.

Bao Khuyen