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Autumn in most parts of the world is magical that season before the first set of snowflakes - a time when the air is crisp and cool and just before the leaves fall off - the forests turning into a riot of colors - from a tini bit green to gold or fiery orange to deep red. All such frames leave us wanting! - to experience just once again - the scent of chestnuts roasting in the air, the crunch of leaves carpeting the forest floor and fistful of wistfulness to marvel the mystical ways of nature. The weather is just perfect, not too warm or not too cold.

Autumn months in Switzerland are usually from September to December but it will be wise to recheck from a local travel source.

Review this post from myswitzerland.com for notes on autumn locations in Switzerland - https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/experiences/summer-autumn/autumn/

Horgen has three railway stations and the biggest one is also the most important one that is located next to Zürichsee lake served by lines S2 and S8 of the Zürich S-Bahn.

To reach Bachalpsee from Grindelwald you will need to take a cable ride and than a brisk walk.

The Gondola cableway station is right in the main street of Grindelwald - post the approximate half hour ride up - to take you to 'First Grindelwald' — which is the starting point for many hiking trails - from there walking towards Bachalpsee is simple - with a few uphill stretches and a bit downhill - it does end in panoramically mesmerizing views of snow-capped mountains and the alpine lake.

How to reach Grindelwald by train?
You can get international train connections to Interlaken-Ost - from there you change trains to the BOB (Berner Oberland Bahn) - train which will take you to Grindelwald.

The best time to visit Grindelwald is in the summer (June to August) or during the autumn months (September to November) especially if you like being active or simply walking.

Featured on the cover of National Geographic’s Destinations of a Lifetime - Berggasthaus Aescher is a guesthouse that has existed since 1860 - the oldest mountain guesthouse is also a steep ascent - it sure seems like a good idea to catch breakfast or lunch someday.

How to reach Aescher?
Take the Ebenalp cable car ride from Wasserauen to the mountain station and then it’s a 15 minute walk to the Aescher through the Wildkirch caves.

Directions and reservation details are also available on https://aescher.ch/en/

How to reach Wasserauen in the Appenzell region of Switzerland?
About 5 miles from the city of Appenzell. You could take a train from Zurich to Wasserauen train station. The Ebenalp cable car lift just outside the station.

The Butlasse is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, located near towns or villages - Gimmelwald, Lauterbrunnen or Kiental.

The Castles of Bellinzona perched on the Alpine foothills - this group of three castles - one in the frame is Castelgrande and the other two are Montebello and Sasso Corbaro encircled by their defensive walls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to reach Bellinzona by train?
Take a scenic ride to reach Bellinzona - opt for Gotthard Panorama Express, via Locarno, or choose the Bernina Express via Lugano.

Best time to travel to Bellinzona - Autumn (September to November) in Bellinzona is full of color - where as Summer (June to August) can be really hot with temperatures reaching 30°C.

The Kien Valley chairlift is a spectacular ride, starting from the resort town of Kiental (Kien Valley) going high up to Ramslauenen, delivering striking views of the Bluemlisalp, the Kien Valley and Lake Thun.

In summer Griesalp in the Kien Valley, is the starting point of many mountain hikes and high altitude treks with more than 250 kilometers of hiking trails that take you through colorful flower-decked meadows, shady mountain forests, past rushing mountain streams and thunderous waterfalls.

The famous Château de Chillon - a fascinating 13th century castle and fortress located on an island in the Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) - is a short bus ride away from Montreux.

Chateau Mercier is a heritage site - the castle built on a hill, overlooks the town of Sierre located in the Alps, in the Rhone valley.

Built by Merciers in between 1906 and 1908 and designed in the Valdotain style - was donated to Canton of Valais by the Mercier family in 1991 along with its numerous works of art and has been managed by a foundation since then which oversees all its cultural activities.

Chillon Castle or Chateau de Chillon is an island castle located on Lake Geneva or Lac Léman, south of Veytaux in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.

A trip to Männlichen means stunning natural surroundings or views of the mighty three - Eiger - Monch - Jungfrau declared by many traveller reviews as one of the most breathtaking lookout points...

The walk from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is one of the most popular trails - depending from where you start it is graded as easy to moderate.

Walking uphill from Kleine Scheidegg to Männlichen - to view Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau you will have to keep looking back as you are walking away from the peaks.

Note original image has annotations - do review the many peaks...

How to reach Männlichen?
From either Grindelwald or Wengen take a cableway that drops you to Mannlichen.

The Fronalpstock is a mountain in Switzerland, in the Schwyzer Alps and the canton of Schwyz.

Lucerne to Schwyz or Zurich to Schwyz is a short train journey where the duration ranges from 44 - 80 minutes approximately.

From Schwyz take the funicular to Stoos which is a car free mountain village - a technical wonder as it is supposed to be the steepest ride in the world.

Stoos is a breathtaking mountain village above Lake Lucerne with its stunning landscapes - once you reach Stoos you could - use the comfortable chairlifts to reach up or be active and hike up.

Once you reach the panorama terrace of the Fronalpstock the eye will blissfully meander from one alpine summit to the other or across ten lmountain akes.

Austerely beautiful surrounded by Glarus Alps - it is tough to believe that the graceful town of Glarus was almost destroyed by a fire and the one you are visiting has been built in the 19th century.

To wander around Glarus you may opt for trails just west of Glarus - Klöntal an almost untouched valley - or Klöntaler See a glimmering green-blue lake backed by the Glärnisch mountains - or go in search of majestic waterfalls that open up clefts in the Glärnisch massif.

How to reach Glarus by train?
It takes about 80 minutes to travel from Zurich Hb to Glarus by train, and there are many trains available through the day.

The Grimsel Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, connecting the Haslital, the upper valley of the river Aare, with the upper valley of the Rhône. In this frame one can see the Räterichsbodensee reservoir after several sweeping hairpin bends.

Haslital, Switzerland has about 300 km of area assigned to walking trails as well as mountain biking routes. It is supported by two cableways that lead visitors high up into the walking and biking region.

Take a train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen - than from Wengen hop on to a gondola ride to Maennlichen -  than walk along the Panaroma Trail - where you walk parallel to Eiger's Nordwand, Moench, Jungfrau ending in Kleine Scheidegg. Its graded as an easy walk that is supposedly simple for both young and seniors alike.

The section between Maennlichen Gondola Station and Kleine Scheidegg has the most stunning views in the region.

From Kleine Scheidegg take a train to either Wengen or Lauterbrunnen or to Grindelwald.

You could opt to walk down from Kleine Schiedegg to Wengen - relatively a descent, with some steeper sections toward the end and that walk - is graded as moderate walk.

Opt for either or both - a boat trip cruising Lake Thun or Lake Brienz - as each is unique to be enjoyed at an unhurried pace.

Cruising on the deep blue Lake Thun - offers views of green meadows, forests, nostalgic castles, against the backdrop of the eternal peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and beyond.

You may prefer the colourful sunset cruise over Lake Thun - runs daily from May to October - starts from Interlaken West station at 6:10 p.m. and arrives in Thun two hours later. Do re-check the timings from a local travel booking company

Opt for a passenger ferry on Lake Brienz that will take you past cosy villages, roaring waterfalls and scintillating mountain-scapes.

Once you have arrived in Brienz opt to explore old part of the village, you will discover the picturesque chalet village with its typical wooden houses - surrounded by lush meadows, forests, glades all rounded off by glorious jagged mountainsides.

Iseltwald is easy reach by boat as it is a popular stop on Lake Brienz cruise between Interlaken and Brienz.

The small castle of Iseltwald is located on the tip of its peninsula which has now been turned into a Rehabilitation center.

Iseltwald is am ancient fishing village on the southern shore of Lake Brienz - a perfect place to experience the interplay of the reflected mountains enchanted by the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz

The entire village of Iseltwald is designated as part of the Swiss Heritage Sites - only locals are allowed to drive-in to the village or guests in the local guest-houses.

Iseltwald is easy reach by boat as it is a popular stop on Lake Brienz cruise between Interlaken and Brienz.

Interlaken seems to be a stunning backdrop with its mountain vistas and glacier fed lakes for all kind of experiences that one could wish for in Switzerland.

It is easy to reach Interlaken by train via almost all key cities in Switzerland such as Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Bern and Luzern or Lucerne.

Interlaken has two stations – Interlaken OST East and West and both are well-connected to many cities in Switzerland. Note -Interlaken West is closer to the city centre.

Kleine Scheidegg is the starting point for many scenic hikes with stunning views of the ice massifs of the Eiger Glacier and the famous triple peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Kleine Scheidegg can be reached via Interlaken - and most people start their trip to the Jungfraujoch in Interlaken - but note you can board the train at any station along the way.

If boarding the train from Interlaken - it is smart to opt going via Interlaken >> Lauterbrunnen >> Wengen >> Kleine Scheidegg and for the DESCENT opt for a different route - Kleine Scheidegg >> Grindelwald >> Interlaken - to enjoy both the sides of the stunning alpine area.

Or go the reverse - From Interlaken which is uniquely situated between two lakes, take a train to Grindelwald - and from Grindelwald take a spectacular ride on the cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg that is based directly at the foot of Eiger North Face. And for the DESCENT come down via Wengen to Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken.

Klontalersee is a natural lake surrounded by mountains located in Glarus - it is popular destination for picnics or experiencing forested trails edging the lake.

Takes about 75-80 minutes to reach Klontal, Rhodannenberg from Zurich. There are buses available to take you to Klontalersee - sounds like a 20 minute ride - do review information on the same at https://www.kloental.com/de/gut-zu-wissen/anreise-mit-dem-oeffentlichen-verkehr-oev.html

Good Read - https://swissfamilyfun.com/klontalersee-lake-hike/

Lac de Moiry an emerald-tinted lake is the starting point for many hikes exploring the wild and dramatic views of the sparkling Moiry glacier.

Fed by milk white glacial water - Lago Bianco or the 'White Lake' - where the ice is so clear that you can gaze down into its shimmering depths - be bewitched take the Bernina Express ride...

Bernina Express passes Lago di Poschiavo which is a natural lake in the Poschiavo valley in its second section from Pontresina to Tirano

Lake Arnen framed by the wild woods is a blissfully secluded spot and an idyllic option for hikes and picnics. Lake Arnen is within easy reach by car from Gstaad.

Which is the nearest airport to Gstaad?
Geneva is the nearest airport from Gstaad and is at a distance of about 149 km.

How to get to Gstaad by train?
Geneva to Gstaad by train takes about 3 hours. You will need to take a train to Montreux from Geneva and then switch trains for Gstaad.

Zurich to Gstaad by train - you will need to take an international train connections to Spiez - and there change trains for Zweisimmen - and switch a train for Gstaad.

There is plenty to explore around the many shades of turquoise waters of Lake Brienz - gaze around the imposing mountainscapes or hop off from your boat ride to discover the many picture-book villages surrounding it.

You will find the main boat docks just outside the rail station of Brienz, as well as the rail station of Interlaken Ost.

Lake Cadagno is a meromictic lake in the Piora valley, Switzerland near Lago di Ritom.

Check these articles to explore the region - http://www.familyearthtrek.com/2018/02/19/a-child-friendly-hike-to-the-three-mountain-lakes-ritom-tom-and-cadagno-switzerland/

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/experiences/summer-autumn/summervacations/stories/the-mysterious-lago-cadagno/

Nestled between the Rigi, the Grosser and the Kleiner Mythen mountains lies Lake Lauerz and its island of Schwanau which has fascinating tales as well as history.

Lake Lucerne’s has an unusual shape and the only way to absorb all the drama surrounding it is to take in the scenes from a boat. Sit back and absorb its dramatic backdrop - towering Swiss Alps form a jagged horizon stretching as far as the Eiger and the Jungfrau, with Mount Pilatus and the Stanserhorn in the near distance.

How to reach Lucerne by train?
Lucerne is centrally located or bang in the middle of Switzerland, so you can reach it by rail from hoping in to a direct train from from Zürich airport - it just over an hour from Bern and Basel, and from Lugano in a few hours. Like most train journeys in Switzerland reaching Lucerne by train is amazingly picturesque.

Enjoy the evening light over Lake Lucerne, it’s almost too picture-perfect - frame the the last layer of jagged Alpines intermingled with luminous Chapel Bridge, Water Tower, other monuments from its old town and modern architecture that fill this intriguing city.

How to reach Lucerne by train?
Lucerne is centrally located or bang in the middle of Switzerland, so you can reach it by rail from hoping in to a direct train from from Zürich airport - it just over an hour from Bern and Basel, and from Lugano in a few hours. Like most train journeys in Switzerland reaching Lucerne by train is amazingly picturesque.

A hike amongst orchids and herds of sheep and cows grazing on the mountain slopes attract most to Oeschinen lake - an imposing mountain lake that is reached by gondola rail from Kandersteg. The cable railway ticket is also used as a pass for hikes via Hohtürli in the Kiental valley.

Lake Oeschinen located above Kandersteg, is a large pristine alpine lake, fed by the glacial brooks of the three-thousand-meter peaks of Blüemlisalp, Oeschinenhorn, Fründenhorn and Doldenhorn.

Its a perfect trip for you if you enjoy hiking, swimming, toboggan run or just vanilla gazing...

A gondola ride from Kandersteg plus a 30 odd minutes walk across pastures and pine forests takes you to Oeschinen lake. You could swap the 30 minute walk with an electro-taxi ride.

The Schottensee and the Wildsee lakes are the most eclectic especially with the eminent peaks reflecting in their green-blue shimmering waters. Their colors seem surreal in most pictures - a lot depends when you are traveling and the incidence of light, as the colors dramatically change.

The Wildsee is located in the territory of Mels in the canton of St. Gallen.

To experience the famous 5 lake hike including Wildsee read this blog post - https://swissfamilyfun.com/pizol-5-lake-trail/

The Lötschenlücke is a high mountain pass of the Bernese Alps, connecting the Lötschental to the valley of the Aletsch Glacier in the canton of Valais. (Source Wikipedia)

It is surrounded by 3,000 meter high mountains, including the Bietschhorn, the Hockenhorn, the Wilerhorn and the Petersgrat.

The Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area is the most glaciated area in the Swiss Alps, and was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by decision of UNESCO, along with southern and eastern parts of the Lötschental.

Want to see 72 spectacular waterfalls than you need to head for Lauterbrunnen - seems the Swiss village has literally jumped out of a story book as it is tucked away in lush green valley that is abound with both wild flowers and jagged snow covered cliffs - a mystical land that you need to see for yourself to experience the word 'breathtaking' has Swiss connotations.

How to reach Lauterbrunnen by train?
Easy answer is reach Interlaken and from there take a short train ride (about 20 minutes) to Lauterbrunnen. You could opt to reach Lauterbrunnen by taking train from Wengen.

Lavaux is a UNESCO recognized world heritage site with hectares of terraced vineyards stretching for about 30 km located right on the shores of Lake Léman.

Lavaux can be reached via many train journeys starting from Lausanne, Pully, Vevey, or Montreux.

There are hourly regional train starting from Vevey station to Puidoux-Chexbres - offering an unusual train ride across the terraced vineyards of the Lavaux. From Chexbres-Village station there are many footpaths through the magnificent, steep terraces offering an oppotunity to explore on foot. Other train options are Lavaux Panoramic or Lavaux Express.

The majestic Matterhorn looms over the breathtaking Alpine panorama straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy. It's north side faces Zermatt valley.

How to reach the the car free Zermatt Valley by train?
You could catch a direct train to Zermatt from either Zurich or Geneva airports - it runs every hour.

You could take a train from Zurich city or Geneva city to 'Visp' - from there you need to change to the mountain train that takes your directly to car-free-Zermatt. Its a scenic, journey as the train passes through lakes, vineyards and mountains.

Melchsee-Frutt is a mountain resort village in Switzerland surrounded by mountains and lakes. It is known for alpine skiing, snowboarding, sledding, hiking, rock climbing, fishing...

How to reach Melchsee-Frutt? Check this article for directions.
https://swissfamilyfun.com/melchsee-frutt-mountain-resort/

Montreux is a wealthy Swiss town with an olde-worlde charm. Located on the banks of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) facing the majestic Dents-du-Midi mountains - millions have made most of the scenery by strolling the pedestrian walkway along the lakeside.

How to reach Montreux by train?
Take a train from Lausanne to Montreux - views that take your breath away as you pass the UNESCO listed Lavaux stretch - or the steeply terraced vineyards - and the train continues raceing towards the blue waters bound by the mountains of the Chablais Alps.

Located at the base of the Schilthorn mountain, this small cozy and a car-free village is on a must visit list of many who would like to explore quaint villages of Europe.

How to reach Mürren?
Mürren is car-free village and can be reached by train and cableway only.

From Lauterbrunnen, you can take the cableway to Grütschalp and then change to the narrow gauge train to Mürren BLM.

Once you are in Mürren, you can take a cable car up to the Schilthorn. Alternatively take the funicular to Allmendhubel, gawk at the mighty Alps be it Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, or just go explore few hiking trails.

How to reach Lauterbrunnen by train?
You can reach Lauterbrunnen by train from Wengen or Interlaken - or any other town and city of Switzerland from there.

The Jungfrau Region kind of connects three towns - Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. And the Jungfrau is the tallest of the three iconic peaks - Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau that dominating the skyline;

So where should you stay to explore Jungfrau - opt for Lauterbrunnen if you are looking for peace and serenity; choose Grindelwald if you are looking for easy access to the Eiger or Alpine peaks; Interlaken is a thriving town - though beautiful it means you will need extra travel time to reach the peaks. I would opt for the quaint Murren - which is perched on the west side of Lauterbrunnen Valley, almost like a large panoramic full length window full of the Alps - no matter where you go in Murren the views are of dramatic landscapes. Murren is reachable by either a tram then train ride, or tram direct.

Morcote village undoubtedly the most photographed is located on the shore of Lake Lugano.

The breath taking views - slices of the village centre unfold as you row towards Morcote... As described by many Morcote does promise winding, cobbled laneways housing monuments that have mediaeval origins.

The Morteratsch Glacier is the largest glacier by area in the Bernina Range of the Bundner Alps in Switzerland.

Morteratsch can be reached by train and by car from Pontresina and the Bernina Pass.

The Bernina Express either begins or your scenic train ride ends in Tirano, Italy depending on which way you hop on the express train.

Tirano is just a few kilometers from the Swiss border - the Bernina Express climbs into the Alps, passing mirror-like lakes, quaint villages, snow-covered mountains, and glaciers on its two-hour journey to St. Moritz, Switzerland.

It seems the Bernina line (1910) was conceived to help more tourists explore the Engadine Valley, and that Alpine region includes St. Moritz, Pontresina, the Morteratsch glacier, and the Bernina Pass, the 2,253 meter-passage (7,392 feet) between the towering mountain peaks.

High above Lake Lucerne with stars close enough to touch, and plenty of fresh mountain air – you could experience fairy-tale evenings around mountain Pilatus...

How to reach Mount Pilatus by train?
Mount Pilatus and the valley station in Alpnachstad lie in the heart of Switzerland and are very well connected. Luzern to Alpnachstad is less than 30 minutes train journey. A more slower and scenic way to travel from Lucerne to Alpnachstad is by ferry.

How to reach Oberhofen Castle?
Can be easily reached from Thun and Interlaken - once you reach the Oberhofen village you will need to than take a boat to Oberhofen, Ländte next to the Castle.

Do check the official website for details - https://www.schlossoberhofen.ch/de/information/besucherinfos

Magical Oberhofen castle - having survived more than eight centuries as it was built around 1200 - has a colorful history of ownership. Purchased by the New Prussian family of Counts de Pourtalès in 1844 it was converted into a summer residence and the castle received its current appearance.

The Schlosspark Oberhofen has a museum and offers exhibitions and tours - including the Castle Park tour, Ghost stories in Oberhofen castle, the cold tour in the winter castle...

Oeschinen Lake near Kandersteg is a spectacular alpine lake popular for a un-complicated lake side trails.

How to reach Oeschinen Lake?
You could opt to hike from Kandersteg to Oeschinen Lake which takes about 70+ minutes; or enjoy a gondola ride from Kandersteg plus a 30 odd minutes walk across pastures and pine forests takes you to Oeschinen lake. You could swap the 30 minute walk with an electro-taxi ride.

How to reach Kandersteg?
Kandersteg is about 75+ minutes train ride away from Interlaken.

Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden is a wooden pedestrian bridge between the city of Rapperswil and the village of Hurden crossing the upper Lake Zürich (Obersee) in Switzerland - and if you do reach the same - you would be walking in the footsteps of pilgrims.

In the Middle Ages, the pilgrims of St. James used this wooden footbridge with loosely laid planks to cross lake Zurich - also visiting Rapperswil on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

Neuhausen am Rheinfall is close to the thunderous Rhine Falls in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland.

Supposedly the natural spectacle is best framed from the Laufen Castle a medieval castle perched on a rocky spur high above the largest waterfall in Europe.

How to reach Rhine Falls?
There are two options take a train to Rhine Falls from either the 'Neuhausen Rheinfall Station' or 'Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall Station' - note they are on either side of the river and both the stations are located right next to the falls. Typically takes about 50+ minutes to get there by train from Zurich.

The Sanetsch pass is one of those places that you hardly hear of! Picturesque trails that meander around the Rhone valley right through the vineyards - it's located in the Valais region which is Switzerland’s famous wine-producing region.

How to reach Sanetsch pass by train?
Take the train to Sion then a Postbus which would take you directly to Sanetsch pass - takes about 2 hours. Or you could reach Gsteig via Gsaadt and take the cable car (between June and October) that climbs directly to Sanetsch.

No matter what is the forecast carry warm clothes as in the Rhone valley - temperatures can drop more than 15 degrees during the ascent.

Wondering how often will you reach for your camera if you are actually in St Moritz be it the alpine greens, dark forests, moody reflective lakes and streams or brooding peaks...

Saint Moritz is a high Alpine resort town in the Engadine in Switzerland and its popularity is more to do with its scenic location and that it enjoys about 300+ days of sunshine.

Engadin region with its pristine nature is a place to explore to be inspired if you are in search for tranquility. At the same time it spikes up your adrenaline as it is virtual haven for any one seeking adventure sports.

Before you head to Crap da Sass castle - described as neo-romantic castle on the bank of Lake Silvaplana - do note that the castle is privately owned and is not open to the public.

It was was built in 1906 by the German General Graf von der Lippe and is an important historical monument in Graubünden.

An impressive mountain panorama frames the lake landscape as all be it hikers or skiers or snowboarders enjoy Silvaplana’s local mountain.

It seems night is as romantic in St. Moritz as the day with surrounding mountains cloaked in darkness, - the night skyline is dotted with the colorful lights of the many lounges, cafe's, restaurants and bars that twinkle like stars throughout the Alpine metropolis.

How to reach St. Moritz by train?
The most scenic journey would be to take either the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express to St. Moritz, which travel along a UNESCO World Heritage railway line.

If arriving via Zürich Airport, you will need to change a couple of trains to reach St. Moritz in about four hours. First change would be at Zürich Hauptbahhof (the central station) and the next at Chur, where you transfer to a narrow-gauge Rhaetian Railway line.

St. Gallen, traditionally evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century - now is largely famous across Europe as a university town - home of the University of St. Gallen, one of the best business schools in Europe.

Steckborn is located on the south-western arm of Lake Constance known in German as the Untersee.

Picture-perfect and sublime Grindelwald described by most is an ideal base to enjoy Switzerland.

Note original image has annotations - do review the many peaks...

The Trient Valley is an un-spoilt natural wonder with its alpine glaciers, wild gorges, streams and caves. It's also well-known for its picturesque hike from the Col de la Forclaz to the mighty Trient Glacier.

The Abbey of Saint John at Müstair, Switzerland, is UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. It's an early medieval Benedictine monastery dating to the late 8th century CE that became an abbey in 1163 CE which is renowned for its beautiful, intact medieval design and decor of Carolingian figurative murals, Romanesque frescoes, and ancient stuccoes.

Bern is a medieval Swiss town - and has earned itself the Unesco World Heritage status - with a laid back and friendly demeanor it is possible to walk around its old town literally within 20-30 minutes.

Note - Do find time to sample sorbets at Gelateria di Berna, a Bernese institution, that creates unusual flavours like hibiscus flower, strawberry and balsamic vinegar, and chocolate sorbets...

Lauterbrunnen Valley has tiny villages on both its rims - and one of them is Wengen - which is photogenically poised with dramatic views that seem like 'animated watercolor paintings'.

Explore the dreamy vistas at dusk from the bench in front of the church peering over to the misty Staubbach Falls, down to the chasm of Lauterbrunnen Valley and up to the glacier-capped Jungfrau massif.

Wengen is the biggest of the three rim villages (Murren, Gimmelwald) of Lauterbrunnen Valley and you can reach Wengen village only by train.

Quinten is a hamlet situated on the north shore of the Walensee in Switzerland that is bound at one side by the lake and the other side by steep cliffs of the Churfirsten. One can reach the car free Quinten only by foot from Weesen or Walenstadt and by boat / ship.

Many hiking trails start from Quinten going around Walensee passing through forests, streams, waterfalls and tiny villages.

There are 38 mountains around Zermatt, which are higher than 4000 m. Many that of these 4000 -metre peaks can be climbed from Randa, including the Dom and Weisshorn.

The Weisshorn in German means white peak or white mountain is part of the Pennine Alps and is located between the valleys of Anniviers and Zermatt in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.

Stein am Rhein is unique gem in the midst of beautiful countryside towards the lower end of Lake Constance, where it becomes the Rhine River again.

What would one do in Stein am Rhein? Explore - Old town quarter that has thematic painted timber-framed houses, ornate with oriel windows or stop by the medieval Monastery of St. Georgen, check if the Lindwurm Museum may interest you or visit the island group of Werd.

Zermatt has houses dating back more than 500 years. Everything around this traffic free village is accessible within a walk be it cafés or bars or shops – and most paths lead you directly to the peaceful and yet wild mountain world at the foot of the Matterhorn.

The Sunnegga area is found on the Rothorn mountain, above the town of Zermatt - many reviews mention that it delivers the best views of the Matterhorn especially at sunrise. You get to see how the imposing peak of Matterhorn stretches up to meet the sun rays amongst its alpine pastures.

...much to do in Zurich - opt to take a train ride from the city centre to the summit of Uetliberg mountain - gaze down Zurich soak in the views - the rivers, the lake, snow capped Alps or hundreds of yachts breezing across the lake in summer. Explore Zürich’s historic centre which is on both banks of the river Limmat. The medieval and early modern streets of the Altstadt are usually where much of the Zurich's culture, shopping and nightlife is concentrated...