Holidays to Switzerland Travel Podcast - Plan Your Swiss Vacation

Switzerland is known for its snow capped mountain peaks and for every mountain - regardless of how high it is - there’s usually a mountain railway or a cable car to take you to the top.In fact, Switzerland is home to Europe’s oldest mountain railway, the Rigibahn, and in 2021 the railway is celebrating its 150th anniversary.  It’s incredible to think how many tourists must have taken the journey to the top of Mt. Rigi in a century and a half. A lot has changed in 150 years but one thing has remained the same - the breathtaking 360 degree views from the top of Mt. Rigi.In today’s episode I’m joined by Frederich Fussenich, the CEO of Rigi Railways, who tells us about the history of the railway and shares all the reasons a visit to Mt. Rigi should be top of your list when you are in Central Switzerland.For more information about the places mentioned and the full show notes for this episode, visit https://holidaystoswitzerland.com/episode30/Visit our shop for great Switzerland travel resources and trip planning tools.Support the showIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on your favourite podcast app. ❤️

Margo and Eric, members of the Switzerland Travel Planning Facebook group, share their delayed honeymoon trip to Switzerland. They discuss trip preparations, transportation, and their stay at B2 Boutique in Spa Hotel. The podcast covers their experiences exploring Switzerland, including encounters with cows and chocolate-making workshops. They also share tips on navigating the country and enjoying mountain excursions.

Today’s guest is Kristin Reinhard, an Australian who spent her gap year in Switzerland and is still there today, some 20 years later!In this episode, Kristin tells us how her journey to Switzerland began and why she stayed (hint: ❤️), she gives us an insight into life in Switzerland with a family and shares her favourite family-friendly places to visit. Kristin also tells us about the website Swiss Family Travel that she created a few years ago as an outlet for her writing and photography and to provide an insider’s guide to Switzerland.  Kristin and her team have recently rebranded the website and we’ll learn more about the new version - z-Nuni - in this episode.As someone who frequently daydreams about living in Switzerland, I loved hearing all Kristin's nuggets about life in Switzerland and I'm sure you will, too.For more information about the places mentioned and the full show notes for this episode, visit https://holidaystoswitzerland.com/episode28/Support the showIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on your favourite podcast app. ❤️

Although it is one of the smaller cantons of Switzerland, the canton of Schaffhausen is quite well known thanks to the Rhine Falls. Many visitors come to the area on a day trip from Zurich and I too am guilty of doing just that.With so much more to see and do in the canton than just the Rhine Falls, I invited Patricia Seif from Schaffhauserland Tourism to tell me more about this northern part of Switzerland.Patricia not only works at the Tourist Office, she also takes guided tours of Schaffhausen, so she knows the whole area intimately and her passion for her home town is evident.As well as discovering all the highlights of the canton, there are lots of interesting and fun facts that you'll learn in this episode, too.Did you know, for instance, that the canton of Schaffhausen shares 80% of its borders with Germany and only 20% with other Swiss cantons? Or that the city of Schaffhausen is home to 171 oriel windows - the most in any town in Switzerland?These are just some of the interesting facts and tips you'll learn in this episode that will have you adding Schaffhausen to your Swiss itinerary.For more information about the places mentioned and the full show notes for this episode, visit https://holidaystoswitzerland.com/episode27Support the showIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on your favourite podcast app. ❤️

When Australian Jacky and Swiss Bernhard first met in Australia many years ago, they had no idea that they would eventually marry and move to Switzerland to operate a hotel and restaurant. But fate stepped in and they find themselves owning and operating Hotel Gloria in Beatenberg, a small village just 10 kilometres from Interlaken.With the hotel perched on a sunny terrace overlooking Lake Thun and with panoramic views of the Bernese Alps, it's no wonder the couple love welcoming guests to their hotel and restaurant.Bernhard is a chef who has worked in 5 star establishments around the world, and together with Jacky, who has a real passion for making her guests feel like family, they have created a hotel that guests return to again and again.  "Our guests are never just a name and room number," is their mantra.After listening to Jacky and Bernhard's story in this episode, you'll get a real sense of their commitment to offering their guests a homely, welcoming base in the gorgeous village of Beatenberg.And you'll be booking your stay at Hotel Gloria!For more information about the places mentioned and the full show notes for this episode, visit https://holidaystoswitzerland.com/episode26/Support the showIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on your favourite podcast app. ❤️

Join me in this episode of the podcast as I chat to Birgit Weingartner of Switzerland Tourism to get all the latest news from Switzerland.Birgit discusses the re-opening of Switzerland's borders to tourists; the appointment of Roger Federer as an official ambassador for Switzerland Tourism; Swisstainable, Switzerland's approach to sustainable travel; and some of the exciting new developments that have opened in the past year.Also in this episode, Birgit answers some questions submitted by members of our audience.For more information about the places mentioned and the full show notes for this episode, visit https://holidaystoswitzerland.com/episode25/Support the showIf you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review on your favourite podcast app. ❤️

Tanya Deans, an English-speaking American in Switzerland, shares her passion for hiking and her blog dedicated to providing essential information for English-speakers. She highlights the accessibility of hiking in Switzerland and recommends various trails, including Zermatt and the Breanser Roadhorn. She also discusses exploring flower trails in spring and offers tips on hiking gear and clothing choices.

Special guest Dennis Bordkovych shares his top tips for what to see and do in St. Moritz. Topics include the birthplace of winter tourism, must-visit attractions, transportation options, hiking, mountain peaks, lakes, and the convenience of St. Moritz's location.

Lisa Nyffeler, a tourism expert from Fribourg Region, takes us on a tasty journey through Switzerland's Fribourg canton. She highlights the capital city, Fribourg, with its medieval towns and cathedral. They discuss the famous village of Gruyères, renowned for its cheese and chocolate production. The podcast explores the diverse offerings of the canton, including clear lakes, alpine landscapes, and bilingualism. They also delve into customs and traditions, such as 'poja' and 'Dizalpe', and the delicious cuisine, including double cream meringues and indulgent fondue.

Andy Nef, an expert on Swiss mountain excursions, joins the host to chat about ten popular excursions including Mt. Rigi, Mt. Titlis, Jungfraujoch, and Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. They discuss how to choose the right excursion, time management, activities at the summit, and more. Tips for planning a Swiss mountain excursion, benefits of the Swiss travel pass, and unique features of Ticino's peaks are also covered.