The oldest cog railway in Europe, the slowest express train in the world, and beautiful views of the Alpine peaks. We invite you for an amazing tour around Switzerland.
All of Switzerland is covered with a dense network of railroads. Traveling by train through alpine valleys and passes, overcoming steep descents and arduous climbing of carriages on rock ledges is an amazing adventure. You can get everywhere by rail in Switzerland. And to the top of Pilatus, where you will take the steepest (up to 48 degrees) roller coaster in the world, and to Mount Rigi, to which leads Europe's oldest cog railway. The Bernina Express, inscribed on the UNESCO list, on its way from St. Moritz climbs to the Italian town of Tirano without cogs to an altitude of 2,253 m above sea level. On the other hand, the Glacier Express, running on the fashionable route between Zerematt and St. Moritz, is the world's slowest express train. It goes through the Alps on a very winding route, overcoming 291 bridges over rivers and chasms and 91 tunnels along the way. Through panoramic windows you can admire the amazing landscapes - snow-capped peaks, menacing tongues of glaciers and green alpine valleys.
Next to the stars and politicians
The magic of titles, family names, royal and princely families who have been spending their holidays here for decades attracts tourists eager for luxury and unusual atmosphere. First impressions after leaving the train at the station in St. Moritz coincides with the high expectations. Tourists actually feel that they are in a world known for romance and soap operas. Porters, livery porters and chauffeurs wearing official headgear with the name of the hotel waiting for guests arriving by train. Mercedes, Rolls Royce and Cadillacs are waiting in front of the station. There are no more than 15 minutes on foot from the station to the luxury hotels. In addition, you do not have to laboriously climb uphill, you will comfortably overcome part of the route with long escalators and you will find yourself on the busy main street from time to time. On its left side there is a five-star hotel overlooking the famous lake. In winter, sports competitions, including horse racing, are held on the ice sheet. On the right there are luxury shops, boutiques of the most expensive brands and a modern art gallery. The very center of St. Moritz disappoints. Tall houses with nondescript architecture, heavy traffic in the streets - nothing like a luxury resort atmosphere. It's during the day.It is different in the evening, when road traffic disappears, tourists return from the trails, and thousands of lights are lit in the premises.
Aristocratic St. Moritz not only for snobs
Two kilometers from St. Moritz is the holiday center of St. Moritz Bad. This is the second face of a luxury resort. Ordinary people who eat bread most often come here. In the fall, lovers of hiking along the alpine routes come. A suit, backpack and trekking poles are classic tourist equipment. On the trail, along with foreign languages, you hear the Swiss greeting "Grüetzi". However, it is most crowded here in the winter season. Winter sports fans from all over Europe come then. Skiing to St. Moritz also attracts movie stars, politicians, bankers and Russian millionaires.
A pearl in the crown of Swiss resorts
From St. Moritz to Interlaken can be reached by the Glacier Express with a change to the postal bus in Andermatt, a town located at the foot of the St. Gotthard. The bus route is a spectacular, breathtaking serpentine on rock shelves. It was built by Polish soldiers interned in Switzerland during the Second World War.
Interlaken is situated between two lakes connected by a mountain river. The center of the town, with the street where luxury shops and hotels are located, resembles our Zakopane. Stylish houses and guesthouses surround a green meadow, like a few football fields, where cows and sheep graze on a daily basis. The undeveloped area in the very center of the resort is the result of a dispute between the owners and the municipality. May it last forever, because Interlaken only benefits from it. Various competitions and festivals take place here. The meadow is also a landing site for paragliders who, for a fee of about 150 francs per person, take passengers to the sky frolics near the alpine four-thousanders.
Not only climbing
The resort, apart from the attractions typical for mountain tourism, offers a lot of entertainment. There is a casino here, where you can play, among others roulette, there is a railway museum and a tourism museum, there are clubs, discos and shops with fashionable clothes. A trip with the cogwheel train from the nearby Wilderswil station to the Alpine hall Schynige Platte is also worthwhile. At the top, nature lovers will find the Alpine botanical garden with beautiful specimens, incl. Edelweiss and gentian and a dense network of trails overlooking Jungfrau, the most famous peak in the area. A bottle of Rivella, a whey drink, is a must for the trip. This is one of the Swiss speci alties, it is a great thirst-quencher, refreshing, no preservatives. It is made from alpine milk, just like the famous Swiss chocolate.