My Visit to Switzerland

Hello there! I’m Vlad and today I’d like to share my impressions after my trip to Switzerland.

My trip to Switzerland was full of exciting adventures and new emotions. We traveled for a week, visiting many different cities. I was accompanied by my mum and two of her friends.

Our journey began in Kyiv at 6 a.m. at the train station. First, we traveled to Budapest, a trip that took an entire day. Since we arrived too early to check into our apartment, we left our luggage and went for a walk around the city. Budapest was breathtaking, and I enjoyed exploring it. The place that left the strongest impression on me was the memorial near the Danube River, where Jews were shot during World War II.

The next day, we headed to the airport for our flight to Basel. We spent a day there, walking around and taking in the sights. The following day, we took a train to Zermatt, a journey of about three hours. Upon arrival, I was mesmerized by one of the most stunning landscapes I had ever seen. Surrounded by mountains, Zermatt felt like something out of a fairytale. The Matterhorn, standing at 4,478 meters, was truly a sight to behold. We took a trip up one of the mountains to fully experience the beauty of the Alps. In the evening, we dined at a local restaurant where I tried cheese fondue, a national dish of Switzerland. However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected.

The next stop was Zurich, where we stayed for two days. On the first day, we walked around the city, shopped for souvenirs, and bought food for our return journey. On the second evening, my mum and her friends attended a Teddy Swims concert, while I stayed at the hotel. Later, we took a train back to Basel, then flew to Budapest, where we spent an entire day shopping before boarding our train back to Kyiv.

To sum up, I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday. I gained valuable experience speaking with people from different countries, explored historical monuments, and witnessed incredible views. This trip to Switzerland was truly unforgettable.

Some Interesting Facts About the Cities I Visited

Budapest

  • Originally there were two separate towns, Buda and Pest; they were unified in 1873.
  • Budapest is home to Europe’s largest synagogue, the Dohány Street Synagogue.
  • Beneath the city lies a vast system of caves, many of them wereformed by thermal waters.
  • Budapest is famous for its “ruin bars,” trendy bars set up in abandoned buildings and courtyards.
  • The Budapest Metro, opened in 1896, is the second-oldest underground railway in Europe after London.
  • The Széchenyi Thermal Bath is the largest medicinal bath in Europe, with 18 pools.
  • The Hungarian Parliament Building has 691 rooms and houses the Holy Crown of Hungary.
  • The Chain Bridge, built in 1849, was the first permanent bridge connecting Buda and Pest.

Basel

  • There are nearly 40 museums, including the renowned Art Basel fair.
  • Basel is located at the intersection of Switzerland, Germany, and France; it makes it a multicultural city.
  • The University of Basel, founded in 1460, is Switzerland’s oldest university.
  • Basel hosts Switzerland’s biggest carnival, Basel Fasnacht, a UNESCO-recognized cultural event.
  • The tallest building in Switzerland, the Roche Tower, at 205 meters is situated in Basel.
  • The Kunstmuseum Basel houses the world’s oldest public art collection.
  • Basel is the only Swiss city on the Rhine River, historically an important trade hub.
  • Basel Zoo, founded in 1874, is the oldest and largest zoo in Switzerland.
  • Basel is a global hub for medical research, housing pharmaceutical giants like Roche and Novartis.
  • Basel hosts Switzerland’s biggest and most beautiful Christmas market.

Zermatt

• Zermatt is the home to the iconic Matterhorn, one of the world’s most famous mountains.
• The city is completely car-free; only electric vehicles and horse-drawn carriages are allowed.
• The Klein Matterhorn cable car reaches Europe’s highest cable car station at 3,883 meters.
• The triangular shape of Toblerone chocolate was inspired by the Matterhorn.
• Zermatt offers skiing 365 days a year, thanks to its glacier.
• The ski route from Klein Matterhorn to Zermatt is about 25 km long.
• It is the home to Europe’s highest open-air railway, built in 1898, offering stunning views.
• Due to its small size, Zermatt’s addresses often consist only of the building or hotel name.
• Over 500 climbers have lost their lives attempting to conquer the Matterhorn.
• Zermatt is famous for rich Swiss cheese dishes like Raclette and Fondue.

Zurich

• Zurich is Switzerland’s financial capital and home to one of the world’s largest stock exchanges.
• Here you can see Lindenhof Hill, once a Roman castle and later a medieval fortress.
• Zurich is the birthplace of famous chocolate brands like Sprüngli and Lindt.
• This city ranks among the top cities for quality of life.
• The avant-garde Dada art movement was founded in Zurich’s Cabaret Voltaire in 1916.
• The water from the Limmat River is so clean that it’s drinkable straight from the fountains.
• Zurich is ranked among the top five most expensive cities in the world.
• Zurich has more fountains than any other city, all providing fresh drinking water.
• The Polybahn funicular, built in 1889, connects the lower city to ETH Zurich University.
• The Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s main shopping street, is one of the most luxurious in the world.