-CURIOSITY HAS NO BORDERS-
europe / A Travel Journal
switzerland
“Where alpine beauty meets unforgettable adventure.“
September 3-9, 2022
At a Glance
CAPITAL
Bern
LANGUAGE
German, French, Italian & Romansh
CURRENCY
Swiss Franc (CHF)
BEST TIME
May–September for sightseeing & hiking | December–March for skiing
TIME ZONE
Central European Time (CET) | UTC +1
DRIVING SIDE
Right
DAYS STAYED
7 Days
PLACES VISITED
St. Gallen, Lucerne, Mt. Santis, Mt. Pilatus, Appenzell, Guttannen
Navigate This Journey
Jump to any part of this trip
Our Journey
Forty, Fearless, and Somewhere in the Alps
Our journey through Switzerland began in St. Gallen, a charming little town that turned out to be the perfect home base for everything we had planned. Switzerland had been high on my list for a long time, and once we arrived, it did not take long for me to understand why. The country was absolutely breathtaking and quickly became one of my favorite places we have ever traveled.
I had also learned something from our previous trips. If you are going to Europe, at least make an attempt to look like you belong there.
So I came prepared. I had mustard-yellow pants and a maroon hoodie, an outfit that in my mind had just enough of a European feel to say:Yes, of course I belong here. I probably know where the train station is.
Sarah, apparently, had learned absolutely nothing.
Where Curiosity Took Us
#1 St. Gallen
A charming city in eastern Switzerland known for its colorful old town and magnificent Abbey District. It blends centuries of history with an easygoing, walkable feel and makes a great gateway to the Appenzell region.
#2 Lucerne
Set along Lake Lucerne and surrounded by mountains, Lucerne feels like the classic Switzerland you picture before you arrive. Its historic Old Town, waterfront setting, and famous Chapel Bridge make it one of the country’s most picturesque cities.
#3 Appenzell
Appenzell feels like stepping into a postcard, with brightly painted buildings, rolling green hills, traditional Swiss culture, and mountains rising just beyond town. It is small, colorful, and full of the kind of scenery that makes you want to wander without much of a plan.
#4 Guttannen
Tucked deep into the Bernese Alps, Guttannen is a tiny mountain village surrounded by steep peaks, forests, and dramatic Alpine landscapes. Quiet and wonderfully removed from Switzerland’s busier destinations, it offers a glimpse of everyday life in a traditional mountain community.
#5 Mt. Santis
Rising 2,502 meters above eastern Switzerland, Säntis is the highest mountain in the Alpstein range. A cable car from Schwägalp takes you to sweeping summit views that, on a clear day, stretch across six countries.
#6 Mt. Pilatus
Towering above Lucerne, Mount Pilatus combines dramatic Alpine scenery with one of Switzerland’s most memorable mountain journeys. Visitors can reach the mountain by gondola and cable car or ride the famously steep cogwheel railway toward the summit.
Funny Moments
The Fondue Framed Sarah
Food is always part of the adventure when we travel, but I would never describe myself as the kind of person who arrives in a new country determined to eat absolutely everything placed in front of me.
I like trying local specialties. I also like knowing there is probably a pizza or an order of French fries somewhere within a reasonable distance.
I call that being culturally adventurous with an emergency exit.
Switzerland was no exception.
There were certain things we knew we had to try, and at the very top of the list was Swiss cheese fondue.
An Unexpected Visitor
When I decided to climb Mount Säntis, I knew it was going to be a challenge.
It was steep, long, and more than 8,000 feet high—exactly the kind of thing that sounds exciting when you are planning a trip from the comfort of your couch.
I expected sore legs. I expected to be out of breath. I expected at least a few moments when I would question why I had voluntarily chosen to spend hours walking uphill.
What I did not expect was for my own body to look at an already difficult mountain climb and decide it needed to make things a little more interesting.
Chicken Lady Charades
Our journey to Guttannen to ride the Funicular started the way many of our travel adventures do: Someone casually mentioned something.
Sarah’s friend told her about the Funicular, Sarah showed it to me, and naturally I decided it needed to be added to the Switzerland itinerary.
Because apparently just looking at a mountain is never enough for me.
This was planned for after Lucerne, but there was one small problem: getting there was not exactly convenient.
So we rented a car. Sarah did not want to drive. I had absolutely no problem driving.
This arrangement lasted approximately thirty seconds.
Historical Feature
The Battlefield That Changed The Rules of War
THE BIRTH OF THE RED CROSS | 1859–1864
In 1859, a Swiss businessman named Henry Dunant traveled to northern Italy for what was supposed to be a business meeting.
Instead, he walked into the aftermath of a battle that would change his life—and eventually change the way the world responded to suffering during war.
On June 24, 1859, French and Sardinian forces fought the Austrian army near the small town of Solferino in northern Italy. The Battle of Solferino was enormous, involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers and leaving tens of thousands dead, wounded, or missing by the time the fighting ended.
Dunant arrived in the area shortly afterward. What he saw horrified him.
Thousands of wounded soldiers lay across fields, roads, churches, barns, and nearby villages. Military medical services were completely overwhelmed. There were too few doctors, too few supplies, and far too many wounded men waiting for help.
💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Henry Dunant faced years of financial hardship and was largely forgotten in his lifetime. It wasn’t until 1901 that he was awarded the very first Nobel Peace Prize.
“Tutti fratelli.” All are brothers.
Volunteers cared for every wounded soldier, on every side.
📍 SEE IT TODAY
Visit the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum in Geneva and walk through the powerful story of humanity in action.
Local Food
Food is always part of discovering a new place, and Switzerland gave us a mix of experiences—from one very memorable encounter with fondue to plenty of foods that were much easier for me to appreciate.
I am not the most adventurous eater when we travel. I enjoy trying some of the foods a destination is known for, but I am also perfectly happy knowing that pizza or French fries are somewhere nearby if I need them. Switzerland was no different. There were local specialties we wanted to experience, but there were also a few meals where I happily returned to my familiar favorites.
Must Try
- Cheese Fondue
- Raclette
- Rösti
- Älplermagronen
- Zürcher Geschnetzeltes
- Bündnerfleisch
- Swiss Sausages
- Birchermüesli
- Swiss Chocolate
- Swiss Cheese
- Basler Läckerli
- Zuger Kirschtorte
Through My Lens
The Photo That Tells the Story
Climbing Mt. Santis
Above the Clouds
This photo means more to me than simply standing at the top of Mt. Säntis. At 2,502 meters—about 8,209 feet—above sea level, it tells the story of everything it took to get there: the steep terrain, the changing weather, the tired legs, and those moments along the way when the summit still felt impossibly far above me.
I climbed my way there one step at a time, pushing through the parts that felt difficult and continuing even when I was exhausted. By the time I reached the top, I was tired, windswept, and completely proud of myself. That smile says everything. It is the look of someone who knows she worked for that moment, pushed herself farther than she thought she could, and refused to quit before getting there.
The clouds may have hidden some of the view that day, but they could not take away what reaching the summit meant to me. Standing more than 8,000 feet above sea level, I could look back at how far I had climbed and feel the kind of pride that comes from pushing beyond what feels comfortable, persevering through the difficult parts, and realizing I was capable of more than I had thought.
Sometimes the most meaningful part of reaching the top is not the view at all. It is being able to look back at how far you climbed and realize, I actually did that.
St. Gallen
Lucerne
Mt. Santis
Mt. Pilatus
Appenzell
Guttannen
Videos
Gelmerbahn Funicular
Frakigaudi Summer Toboggan
Climbing Mt. Santis
Handeckfall Suspension Bridge
Plan Your Trip
The little things that make traveling a whole lot easier.
🪢 Local Customs & Etiquette
💬 Useful Local Phrases
💰 Money, Payments & Tipping
📅 Climate & Best Time to Visit
✈️ Getting There & Getting Around
🛏️ Where to Stay
🛡️ Health, Safety & Hydration
🔌 Staying Plugged In
🛂 Visa & Entry Requirements
Packing List
Pack smart. Travel lighter. Leave room for the unexpected.
🎒
Essentials
VIEW LIST ↓
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Lightweight, versatile clothing
- Warm layers for cooler mornings and evenings
- Light waterproof jacket
- Sunglasses
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle
- European plug adaptor
- Portable power bank
- Small crossbody bag or daypack
- Passport, cards, and some Swiss francs
- Personal medications
🧴
Nice to Have
VIEW LIST ↓
- Lightweight scarf or wrap
- Compact umbrella
- Packing cubes
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Small microfiber towel
- Camera gear
- Binoculars for mountain views and wildlife
- Extra room in your luggage for souvenirs
🧥
Seasonal Additions
VIEW LIST ↓
- Summer: breathable clothing, sun hat, light rain layer
- Spring & Fall: sweater or light jacket, waterproof shoes, extra layers
Winter: warm coat, gloves, scarf, hat, insulated waterproof boots - Mountain Areas: warmer layers, sturdy walking shoes, wind-resistant jacket
- Hiking Days: supportive hiking shoes, small daypack, extra water, trekking poles if needed
- Cities & Scenic Rail Trips: comfortable shoes, polished casual layers, light jacket
Travel Lessons
❝
Climb the mountain. Pack the feminine products. Expect the unexpected.”
❝
You can travel all the way to Switzerland for a cattle procession and still somehow miss every cow.”
❝
Just because you’re in Switzerland does not mean you’re going to like the cheese.”
❝
Sometimes the travel lesson is subtle. Sometimes it smacks you directly in the face.”
❝
When in Switzerland, dress like the locals—or prepare to be stared at.”
Our Curiosity Rating
Our completely subjective take on Switzerland — based on what we experienced, loved, photographed, ate, survived, and would happily do again.
Culture
★★★★
Wildlife
★★
Photography
★★★★
Adventure
★★★★★
Food
★★★
Would we go back?
★★★★★
Our Passport Stamps
Every stamp tells a story.
Written by
Ali Kubeck
Curiosity Has No Borders is more than a travel blog—it’s our journey of exploring the world with curiosity, connection, and an open mind. Together, Sarah and I seek authentic experiences, embrace the unexpected, and find meaning in the moments that can’t be planned. We hope our adventures inspire others to step beyond their comfort zones and discover how travel can change the way we see the world.
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