Switzerland: Where Every Train Ride Feels Like a Movie

Switzerland had been on my bucket list for years.

When my family came to visit me while I was studying abroad in Barcelona, we decided to spend a few days exploring one of the most beautiful countries in Europe together. Looking back, it was one of my favorite family trips.

Our journey started with a train ride from Paris to Zurich.

One of the things I love most about Europe is how easy it is to travel between countries. In just a few hours, we went from walking the streets of Paris to arriving in the heart of Switzerland.

Our first stop was the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Zurich.

If you love chocolate, this place is dangerous.

There was an enormous chocolate fountain, stations where you could pump out fresh melted Lindt chocolate, and unlimited chocolate truffles and candies throughout the museum. My family and I definitely ate far more chocolate than we needed to.

My dad was especially excited. He has always loved chocolate, so I think we spent just as much time sampling everything as we did actually learning about how it was made.

After Zurich, we took the train to Lucerne, which became our home base for the rest of the trip.

Lucerne was absolutely charming.

The lake, the old town, the colorful buildings, and the mountains surrounding the city made it feel like something straight out of a postcard.

From Lucerne, we took ferries across the lake and rode cogwheel trains high into the mountains.

Even getting to the hikes was an adventure.

One day we visited Mount Rigi, where we hiked down through snow-covered trails with incredible views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. We had hoped to do longer hikes, but because we visited in early April, there was still quite a bit of snow at higher elevations.

Even though the weather limited us a little, it did not stop the wonder of the views.

Every direction looked unreal.

Snow-covered peaks stretched across the horizon while tiny villages sat quietly below.

It was one of those places where you constantly found yourself saying,

"Wow."

Another unforgettable day was visiting Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Walking through the valley felt like stepping into a fairytale. Massive waterfalls poured down the cliffs on both sides, little Swiss villages sat beneath towering mountains, and colorful wildflowers were just beginning to appear.

One of my favorite things to watch was all of the paragliders floating through the valley.

Every few minutes another colorful parachute would drift silently through the mountains. Watching them made me think, One day, I have to try that.

My favorite part of Switzerland, though, was visiting Grindelwald.

My sister and I took the cable car up into the mountains, and I immediately understood why so many people dream of coming there.

The views were unbelievable.

The little alpine village was surrounded by towering snow-covered peaks, and everything felt incredibly peaceful.

One of my favorite memories was drinking fresh mountain water straight from a public fountain.

It was some of the freshest water I've ever tasted.

There were also little fridges everywhere with local fresh cheese and milk.

And I have to say...

The milk was incredible.

It tasted so much richer and fresher than anything I've had back home.

Sometimes it's the little moments like that which stick with you.

One thing that definitely stood out about Switzerland was the cost.

It is easily one of the most expensive countries I've ever visited.

Restaurants were incredibly pricey, so my family and I often stopped at grocery stores instead to save money. It wasn't the glamorous travel experience you see on social media, but honestly, grabbing simple groceries and eating together became part of the adventure.

And then there were the train rides.

I don't think I will ever get tired of riding trains through Switzerland.

Every time I looked out the window, there were mountains, waterfalls, lakes, forests, or tiny villages tucked into the valleys.

Normally, transportation is just a way to get somewhere.

In Switzerland, the journey itself becomes part of the destination.

I could have sat by that train window all day.

Looking back, Switzerland amazed me in ways I wasn't expecting.

It wasn't just the mountains.

It was the peaceful pace of life.

The tiny villages.

The clean air.

The fresh food.