Olliechinny - Swiss Travel & Lifestyle Expat Blog
paragliding in interlaken, switzerland

Paragliding in Interlaken, Switzerland: All you need to Know

June 13, 2022
montreux switzerland lake promenade

Top 7 Things to Do in Montreux, Switzerland

April 30, 2022

Morges Tulip Festival: What to See and Do in 24 Hours!

April 9, 2022
Wide Streets and parallel Buildings in La Chaux de Fonds

Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland: 7 BEST Things to see and do

April 20, 2021
bernina express train

Is the Bernina Express Worth it? All You Need to Know Before Booking

November 28, 2020
Travels Swiss Travels

SHOULD I GET THE SWISS TRAVEL PASS? ULTIMATE SWISS RAIL PASSES GUIDE

  • July 23, 2022
Swiss Travel Pass Guide

One of the top questions I get asked all the time by travellers visiting Switzerland is this question: WHICH TRAIN PASS SHOULD I GET? Swiss Travel Pass…or the Half-Fare card? 0.0

No thanks to the mega-confusing Swiss transport system and the range of rail passes available out there, I could never provide a clear-cut answer to those of you who asked. Because the truth it, it really depends on your itinerary!

After days of research, I finally decided to pen down my full analysis of the few most popular train passes in Switzerland. This includes the Swiss Travel Pass, the Half-Fare Card, specific regional passes such as the Top of Europe and Bernese Oberland Regional Passes, as well as cost-saving tickets such as the Saver Day Pass and the Super-Saver ticket.

I will conclude with some general travel advice and considerations to help you make the best choice!

Continue Reading
1 Comment
Travels Swiss Travels

Klein Matterhorn (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise) or Gornergrat: Which is Better?

  • July 2, 2022

THAT’S IT! You’ve booked your trip to Switzerland, all set to catch that glimpse of the iconic Matterhorn. The trip up to the Klein Matterhorn and Gornergrat are considered the two most popular, “must-visit” excursions for the Toblerone mountain view…but which one offers the better experience?

Luckily enough, I got the chance to visit both! And in today’s post, it’s going to be a mountain showdown between the two, Where I compare everything from transport, prices, altitude, attractions to outdoor activities!

Be sure to read till to end for my honest recommendation, and daytrip suggestions from Zermatt around the Valais region.

Continue Reading
No Comments
Travels

Paragliding in Interlaken, Switzerland: All you need to Know

  • June 13, 2022
paragliding in interlaken, switzerland

Ever wondered what it’s like to fly? To feel nothing but the air beneath you and the wind taking you on a journey? It’s everyone’s fantasy as a kid, but with paragliding, it’s as close as you can get to the real thing! However, there’s no point in flying in the sky without an incredible view, so where else would be better to try paragliding than in SWITZERLAND?

In this review, I’ll take an in-depth look at what paragliding at Interlaken, Switzerland is like. I’ll share my own personal experience doing it, as well as information and tips you should know when booking the activity!

Continue Reading
No Comments
Travels Swiss Travels

Jungfraujoch Top of Europe: IS IT WORTH IT?

  • May 18, 2022

This iconic image is sprawled over a 40 metre giant billboard and catches every tourist’s attention at Zurich Airport immediately upon arrival: The Sphinx Observatory on a steep rock, towering over a great snow field of Aletsch glacier. “Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe”, it screams.

AKA…The most expensive tourist attraction in Switzerland!

This is one of Switzerland’s most popular travel destinations and many of you are likely planning a visit here this year. In this post, I will share with you my experience visiting the Jungfraujoch, including what to see and do, as well as practical information for planning a daytrip.

Read till the end to find out if this mountain excursion is REALLY worth making a special trip for in Switzerland, and how to get tickets to the Jungfraujoch at cheaper rates!

Continue Reading
No Comments
Swiss Travels Travels

Top 7 Things to Do in Montreux, Switzerland

  • April 30, 2022
montreux switzerland lake promenade

Oh Montreux! This Swiss city on the shorelines of Lac Léman needs no introduction: Being most famous being the home to one of the world’s most celebrated music event: the Montreux Jazz Festival! Every year during the first two weeks of July, the festival spirit drifts over Montreux like a sweet holiday fragrance…a unique ambiance of excitement, lightness and carelessness.

But did you know that aside from jazz, there are tons of other exciting activities, excursions and daytrips to do within Montreux and the Swiss Riveria Region?

In this post, I am sharing my essential Montreux travel guide, with 7 best things you MUST do when you are here. This itinerary is best broken down into 2-3 days, so you can get the most out of your trip!

Continue Reading
No Comments
Travels

Morges Tulip Festival: What to See and Do in 24 Hours!

  • April 9, 2022

Spring! The season of sunshine, green grasses, fresh flowers, and in the case of Morges…TULIPS!

I’ve been meaning to write all about Morges, this cute little Swiss town I’d recently moved to since July last year…And I thought there isn’t any better opportunity than now to share about my beloved neighbourhood: Because spring is primetime for visiting Morges, when it plays host to the Tulip Festival!

If you’re interested in seeing the tulips blooms at their best in Switzerland, here’s my handy guide to seeing spring tulips, along with a useful itinerary on what to see and check out in Morges in 24 hours!

Continue Reading
No Comments
Travels Swiss Expat Life Swiss Travels

Cherry Blossoms in Switzerland: The No. 1 Spots to Find Them in Lausanne!

  • March 23, 2022
girl under cherry blossoms in musee de l'elysee, Lausanne, Switzerland

**UPDATED MARCH 2022**

Oh spring and cherry blossoms…we have been waiting for you since a long time! Here in Switzerland, we went through some pretty crazy weather in January and February, including having our skies turn a bizarre orange with sand particles blowing over from the Sahara desert!

So say goodbye to skiing, snowmen and sub-degree temperatures, it’s finally time for a riot of cheery spring colours!

In the past, I’d always thought that it is only possible to find beautiful cherry blossoms (sakuras) in Japan. But DID YOU KNOW? In Lausanne, there is actually a secret spot at Ouchy area where you can witness the blooming sakuras, with the same amount of splendor (minus the throngs of tourist crowds)? It is now my favourite way to kick off the spring season in Switzerland!

While we’re dreaming of faraway lands, we so often forget the wonders right in front of our doorsteps. In today’s post, let me help keep your wanderlust in check by showing you where to find the prettiest cherry blossoms in Switzerland, right in my city of Lausanne!

UPDATED MARCH 22: It’s been a year on since this blogpost and I have updated it with new places that I’d explored in Lausanne. Happy cherry-blossom chasing!

Continue Reading
10 Comments
Swiss Travels Travels

Saas-Fee, Switzerland – 10 Best Things to do during Winter

  • January 18, 2022
Alpine wooden chalets in Saas-Fee,Switzerland

If there is ONE image of a magnificent winter landscape that has left its mark on pop culture… it would be the one from Wham’s “Last Christmas” music video. However, did you know? that it was in fact filmed in 1984 in Saas-Fee, Switzerland?

In December last month, I went on a winter ski vacation at Saas-fee with my family, who came to visit us in Switzerland over Christmas. In today’s itinerary, I’m super excited to share with you the best things to do in Saas-Fee in winter!

Continue Reading
No Comments
Swiss Travels Travels

Weekend in Zurich, Switzerland – Ideas For a 2-3 Day Itinerary

  • January 2, 2022

Zurich! How can you miss this city when you are in Switzerland? If you are travelling on the VTL from Singapore to Switzerland, it would most likely would be the start/end point of your stay, since Zurich is the largest Swiss city and home to Switzerland’s international airport.

In this post, I’m here to help you navigate Zurich and to share with you some of the must-see/do places and activities! This itinerary is specially designed for a weekend, and can be covered easily in two to three days.

Continue Reading
No Comments
Swiss Travels Travels

Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) to Switzerland: Important COVID-19 Regulations to Know

  • December 6, 2021
Singapore Swiss VTL Covid Certificate

For all those wishing to ski in the snowy Swiss Alps, visit the famous Jungfrau and Matterhorn, wander through the Christmas markets, or enjoy the endless amount of cheese and chocolate this holiday season, such a thing is now possible for Singaporeans.

Since 7 November 2021, travellers from Singapore can travel to Switzerland through the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) without quarantine (ALAS, no dreaded 14 days SHN stuck in a hotel room!)

With growing numbers of people getting vaccinated and even boosted against COVID-19, travel is comparably a lot safer than it was last year. Still, with the emergence of the Omnicron variant, new travel restrictions have set in…and the ever-changing regulations has proven to be confusing for travellers.

If you and your loved ones are planning a trip to Switzerland, this post is written for you. I have consolidated all the important information you need to know to help you travel more safely, from Pre-Departure to Post-Arrival…So that no one brings home any unwelcome holiday presents!

Continue Reading
7 Comments
Older Posts