Switzerland —
fairytale Bern, polished Zurich and a return to the Rhine in Basel
Our Swiss story started with Interrailing in 2005, when we stayed overnight in both Bern and Zurich — two cities that could not have felt more different. Coming into Switzerland after weeks travelling through other parts of Europe, the first thing that struck us was how unbelievably clean, organised and efficient everything was. The trains ran perfectly, the streets looked spotless and everywhere seemed postcard-perfect — and eye-wateringly expensive on a backpacker budget. Years later we came back to Switzerland for a very different kind of trip, this time to Basel on the Rhine, as the gateway to a few days in Alsace. Two very different eras of Swiss travel, on one page.
Switzerland felt like Europe had suddenly been polished
Switzerland made a huge impression because it felt so different from many of the other places on our Interrail route. Everything seemed clean, calm and efficient. Train stations were spotless, streets looked carefully maintained, and even the rivers and lakes seemed impossibly clear.
It was beautiful, but it was also the point in the trip where we fully realised that not all European countries were equally kind to an Interrail budget. Even basic food felt expensive, so Swiss restaurant dreams were quickly replaced with supermarket picnics, bread, cheese and whatever was cheapest near the station.
We stayed overnight in Bern and Zurich, and what made the Swiss section so interesting was how different those two cities felt. Bern was calm, medieval and storybook-like. Zurich was bigger, wealthier, more polished and much more international. Years later, we came back to Switzerland for a completely different kind of trip — a short break in Basel, on the Rhine, as our gateway to Alsace. More on that below.
Bern — Switzerland's fairytale capital
Bern felt like stepping into a storybook. The old town, built on a bend in the Aare River, was full of medieval buildings, sandstone arcades, fountains and clock towers. It was calm, elegant and peaceful compared with some of the louder backpacker cities we had come from.
The Old City was the heart of our Bern wander: medieval streets, covered arcades, fountains and that quiet fairytale atmosphere that made the city feel completely different from Zurich.
The famous medieval clock tower is one of Bern's signature sights and exactly the sort of landmark you remember from an old European city.
The Swiss parliament building gave Bern a sense of quiet national importance — elegant rather than showy, which felt very Swiss.
Because Bern's symbol is the bear, tourists always went to see them. It was one of those classic city sights that felt very specific to Bern.
Zurich — modern, wealthy and polished Switzerland
Zurich felt completely different from Bern: bigger, wealthier, busier and much more international. It had banks, expensive shops, suited businesspeople and a very sophisticated atmosphere — but also beautiful historic streets around the river and the incredible lakefront.
One of the world's most famous shopping streets — though on an Interrail budget, it was more of a looking street than a buying street.
Walking along the waterfront, watching boats cross the lake and trams glide through the city, was one of the prettiest memories of Zurich.
Zurich's historic churches gave the modern city a much older feel, especially around the river and old town streets.
Even with Zurich's sleek, modern energy, the streets around the river still had plenty of historic charm and beautiful city views.
Basel — a Swiss surprise on the Rhine
Basel was one of those cities that surprised us. We originally chose it as the starting point for our trip to Alsace, but it turned out to be well worth exploring in its own right. Sitting on the banks of the Rhine and right on the borders of France and Germany, Basel is compact, colourful and ridiculously easy to get around.
We spent our time wandering through the Old Town, hopping on and off the trams and discovering just how much history is packed into the city centre. One of the best ways we found to get our bearings was a two-hour historical walking tour of Basel. It brought us through the Old Town and gave us a much better understanding of the city — and some of the buildings and little details we probably would have walked straight past otherwise.
Full of layered history and colourful streets, and small enough to enjoy properly on foot in a day or two.
The best way to get our bearings. Two hours through the Old Town, hearing the stories behind buildings and little details we would otherwise have walked straight past.
Book the Basel walking tour →Basel's tram network makes the whole city feel small. A very handy way to cover more ground without wearing yourself out.
Sitting right where Switzerland, France and Germany meet, Basel has an unusual tri-country energy that gives the city a lot of its personality.
Where we stayed — and where we ate
We stayed in two very different hotels during our Basel trip, and both worked well for what we needed at the time.
Small and fairly simple, but its location right beside Basel SBB train station made it incredibly handy — particularly if you're using Basel as a base for travelling onwards.
On our final night we stayed at Motel One Basel, which was a completely different experience and one we absolutely loved. Stylish, comfortable and right in the heart of the city — a great spot for our last evening in Switzerland.
Our final evening included dinner at Gifthüttli, where we got to enjoy a proper Swiss meal before reluctantly admitting that the trip was coming to an end.
Basel to Colmar — the perfect gateway to Alsace
Basel also worked brilliantly as the gateway to the French part of our trip. We travelled from Basel to Colmar by FlixBus, making it very easy to combine Switzerland and Alsace in the same break without hiring a car.
Would we go back to Basel? Absolutely. It's easy to reach, easy to navigate and ideal for a short city break — but it's also a fantastic starting point if you fancy combining Switzerland with France or Germany.
Easy and affordable — no car needed to combine Switzerland with Alsace.
Small enough to see properly in a couple of days, but with real character.
Right where Switzerland, France and Germany meet — brilliant for combining destinations.
Basel SBB station, EuroAirport and easy tram connections make onward travel simple.
The scenery was almost unreal
One of the biggest memories from Switzerland overall was simply the scenery. Even between cities, Switzerland felt like a postcard: crystal-clear rivers, lakes shining in the sun, mountains in the distance and train journeys that felt like sightseeing without needing to pay for a tour.
The Aare River in Bern was one of those colours that did not look real — clean, turquoise and completely Swiss.
Even in the cities, the mountains never felt far away. Switzerland always had that alpine backdrop somewhere in the distance.
Swiss trains were part of the experience: clean, punctual, scenic and almost suspiciously efficient compared with everywhere else.
Lake Zurich and the rivers looked unbelievably clear and bright, especially after moving through busier European cities.
The country was stunning — the prices were terrifying
As young Interrailers in 2005, Switzerland felt almost impossibly organised and wealthy compared with many of the other countries on our route. But it also felt expensive in a way that genuinely shaped how we travelled there.
Eating out was not really a casual backpacker option. Even simple food felt pricey, so we became very fond of bakeries, supermarkets, station snacks and anything that could be eaten beside a river or on a train platform. Honestly, with Swiss views, even a budget picnic felt fancy.
Bread, cheese, snacks and anything affordable became the Switzerland backpacker meal plan.
Not exactly glamorous, but very useful when restaurants felt far too expensive.
Coming from cheaper parts of Europe, Switzerland felt like someone had doubled the price of everything overnight.
Three Swiss cities, three very different personalities
Medieval arcades, fountains, the Aare River, the Zytglogge and a calmer, almost sleepy atmosphere.
Banks, luxury shops, trams, Lake Zurich, businesspeople and a very polished international energy.
Compact Old Town, trams, the Rhine and that unusual three-country border feel — great for a short break or as a gateway to Alsace.
More relaxed, more charming and easier to wander without feeling like your wallet was under attack every second.
The lakefront gave Zurich its beauty — especially with boats, sunlight and the mountains not far away.
FlixBus straight to Colmar makes Basel one of the easiest Swiss cities for a two-country break.
Book a Switzerland tour through TourRadar
Switzerland is perfect for scenic rail journeys, lakeside cities, alpine routes and organised tours — especially if you want the beauty without having to figure out every expensive detail yourself.
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Book Switzerland activities — GetYourGuide
Rail trips, city tours, lake cruises, mountain excursions and scenic experiences — Switzerland is one of those countries where the journey is part of the attraction. Basel walking tours are also worth a look if you're heading that way.
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Basel walking tours & experiences
Our two-hour Basel walking tour was one of the best things we did — it made the whole Old Town suddenly click. Here's the exact one we did, plus a few other current options below:
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Find Switzerland hotels on Klook
Switzerland is beautiful but pricey, so comparing accommodation carefully is definitely worth doing before you travel. If you're heading to Basel, City Inn Basel is great for train convenience and Motel One Basel is a lovely central pick.
Disclosure: These are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Common questions
Switzerland FAQ
What to pack for Switzerland
Switzerland Interrail packing essentials
For Switzerland, pack for clean city days, scenic train journeys, lake walks, changing alpine weather and the need to keep food and travel costs under control.
Perfect for train days, supermarket picnics, water, layers and wandering around Bern or Zurich without dragging your main bag.
View on Amazon →Essential for train tickets, maps, photos and not being caught with a dead phone in an expensive train station.
View on Amazon →Bern's arcades, Zurich's lakefront, Basel's Old Town, train stations and old town streets all involve lots of walking.
View on Amazon →Swiss weather can shift quickly, especially near lakes and mountains. A light waterproof layer is always useful.
View on Amazon →Switzerland is ideal for refilling water bottles, and anything that saves money there is a good idea.
View on Amazon →Swiss plugs can catch people out, so a universal adaptor is the safest option for charging everything.
View on Amazon →Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More European travel memories
Switzerland fitted beautifully into a wider Interrail route through Central Europe — and Basel opens up France next door, which was the perfect follow-on for our Alsace trip.
Medieval streets, bridges and old backpacker-Europe magic.
Read the Prague guide →Thermal baths, Danube views and another classic Central Europe stop.
Read the Budapest guide →A one-hour bus trip from Vienna into another capital city world.
Read the Slovakia guide →Planning your own Switzerland trip?
Go for the trains, the lakes, Bern's medieval charm, Zurich's polished energy and Basel on the Rhine — where you can wander the Old Town, hop on the trams, and even carry on into Alsace with a straightforward FlixBus. Budget carefully, though: Switzerland does not play around with prices.
Affiliate disclosure: if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend places and experiences that fit our own travel style.