When I finished my last blog post, I had finally accepted that my original plans for Switzerland simply weren't going to work.

I had chosen my apartment because it sounded like the perfect base for day trips throughout Switzerland. In reality, the location made even simple outings far more time-consuming than I had expected. Rather than continue forcing an itinerary that no longer made sense, I decided it was time to start over.

The inspiration came from an unexpected place.

While my sister and I were wandering through Zurich, I found a small souvenir notebook decorated with some of Switzerland's most recognizable destinations. Looking across the cover, I realized I had already visited many of them—Montreux, Zurich, Lucerne, Rhine Falls, Bern, Zermatt, and Interlaken.

That left just four places.

Basel.

St. Moritz.

Jungfraujoch.

And the Landwasser Viaduct.

They were iconic enough to earn a place on the cover of a Swiss souvenir, and suddenly I had a new goal.

Could I visit every remaining destination before I left Switzerland?

It wasn't part of my original itinerary. It certainly wasn't part of my budget.

Then I remembered something my sister had said before she flew home.

"Some mistakes are just mistakes we pay for."

So instead of trying to salvage my original plans, I decided to invest in new ones.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my trip.

Weekend One: Switzerland by Rail

My first weekend carried me across southeastern Switzerland through Pontresina, St. Moritz, Filisur, and eventually Basel.

The train journey alone was worth the trip.

Swiss trains are famous for their scenery, but the route through the Engadin Valley somehow exceeded my expectations. Snow-covered peaks stretched across the horizon while tiny villages disappeared behind forests and frozen rivers. Even after weeks in Switzerland, I still found myself glued to the window.

Pontresina became one of my favorite quiet stops. The village sits at the edge of the Swiss National Park and is well known for its hiking trails and alpine wildlife. If you have a little time, keep your eyes on the rocky hillsides surrounding town. The area is one of the best places in Switzerland to spot wild Alpine ibex, and I spent a peaceful afternoon hiking the cliffs in hopes of finding them.

Just a short train ride away, St. Moritz offered an entirely different experience. Elegant storefronts, luxury boutiques, grand hotels, and a beautiful lakeside setting have made it one of Switzerland's most famous mountain resorts. Even if high-end shopping isn't your style, the scenery alone makes it worth visiting. Walking along the lake with snow-covered mountains rising in every direction perfectly captures the classic Swiss postcard.

From there, I continued to Filisur to see one of Switzerland's most recognizable engineering landmarks—the Landwasser Viaduct. The six graceful limestone arches curve across a deep valley before disappearing directly into the mountainside through a tunnel. Watching the bright red trains glide across the bridge was every bit as impressive in person as it is in photographs. Whether you admire it from the train itself or hike to one of the viewpoints below, it is a stop that deserves its iconic reputation.

Before returning home, I made one final detour to Basel.

I'll admit, Basel surprised me.

I usually travel for mountains and wildlife, not cities. But Basel quickly became one of my favorite Swiss cities. Its beautifully preserved Old Town, colorful buildings, riverside promenades, and relaxed atmosphere made it the perfect place to spend an afternoon simply wandering without an itinerary.

Basel, Switzerland

Weekend Two: To the Top of Europe

My next outing took me into one of Switzerland's most spectacular mountain regions.

Grindelwald and Interlaken are remarkably easy to explore using Switzerland's extensive rail network. Frequent trains connect the villages, while cable cars, cogwheel railways, and mountain trains make even the highest alpine destinations surprisingly accessible.

Before heading into the mountains, I made a stop at the small wildlife park in Interlaken. Hidden just outside the center of town, the park is home to several Alpine ibex that visitors can observe up close. After spending time searching for them in the wild around Pontresina, it was fun to finally admire these remarkable animals from only a few feet away.

The true highlight, however, was Jungfraujoch.

Known as the Top of Europe, reaching Jungfraujoch is every bit as memorable as the destination itself. My journey began aboard the Eiger Express cable car climbing high above Grindelwald before transferring to the historic Jungfrau Railway, which tunnels through the heart of the Eiger and Mönch mountains to Europe's highest railway station.

When I stepped outside, I was greeted by endless glaciers, towering alpine peaks, and one of the clearest blue-sky days I experienced during my entire stay in Switzerland.

It felt less like reaching a viewpoint and more like standing on top of the Alps themselves.

One Last Bonus Adventure

By the end of those two weekends, I had accomplished something I never expected.

Every destination on the cover of that little souvenir notebook had been crossed off.

On my way to London, however, I decided to add one final adventure.

Although I had already visited Montreux during a previous trip, I extended my stay for a few extra days before boarding the train to Paris and continuing beneath the English Channel to London.

Montreux remains one of my favorite places in Switzerland. Sitting along the shores of Lake Geneva, it's easy to spend hours strolling the lakeside promenade, visiting nearby Chillon Castle, or simply enjoying coffee while watching the mountains reflect across the water.

From Montreux, I made the journey to Glacier 3000.

Although it wasn't featured on the notebook, it easily could have been.

The highlight is the Peak Walk by Tissot, the world's only suspension bridge connecting two mountain peaks. Standing on the bridge with snow-covered summits stretching in every direction was unforgettable. On one side of the mountain, the weather was calm and sunny. On the other, powerful winds whipped across the ridge, making every step across the bridge feel like its own little adventure.

Sometimes the Best Itinerary Is the One You Never Planned

If someone had handed me that souvenir notebook at the beginning of my trip, I probably would have smiled, admired the cover, and put it back on the shelf.

Instead, it became my new itinerary.

What started as an attempt to recover from a disappointing apartment ended with me discovering places that hadn't even been on my original list.

Looking back, I don't remember the apartment nearly as much as I remember watching trains cross the Landwasser Viaduct, standing above the glaciers at Jungfraujoch, wandering the streets of Basel, and crossing the suspension bridge at Glacier 3000.

Sometimes the trip you plan isn't the one you'll remember most.

Sometimes all it takes is a little flexibility—and perhaps a small souvenir notebook—to point you toward an even better adventure.

Continue the Adventure

I invite you to check out my blog post about visiting the other destinations on this notebook here: 

From Zurich to Zermatt, Unveiling Switzerland's Wonders