The Swiss Alps are popular for many reasons, but have you ever considered them as a destination for an information detox?
High in the mountains there are old villages, where life develops at its own pace (there are no cars on the roads) and is more reminiscent of community life.
To get here, you will need to ride several cable cars and walk quite a bit. When you finally get there, forget about the daily hustle and bustle and enjoy the special atmosphere, far from stress.
If you’ve already prepared your suitcase, we’ve put together a selection of the 6 best places to go for the perfect winter.
Braunwald
Braunwald is a real Swiss secret: it is located in the district of Glarus in the eastern part of Switzerland, and is home to only 400 inhabitants.
In winter, the trails start literally at your doorstep. In summer, all routes turn into trails for hiking and trekking – you can walk to Schwyz or Uri and return by bus.
The village has its own bakery, cafe, grocery store, ATM and several restaurants (at hotels).
One of the best places to stay is Ahorn, but there are plenty of equally good options nearby.
The easiest way to get there is from Zurich (it is only 2 hours away),
and then you will need to take one of the longest funiculars and get to your destination at an angle of almost 45 degrees.
The trip will definitely be magical – from the very beginning to the end.
Mürren
Just above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the very one that inspired Tolkien, lies the village of Mürren, which offers amazing views of 3 of the world’s most famous mountains: Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Of course, it will be nice here in the summer, but if you come in winter, you will understand what inspired the British to invent skiing here.
The village has a supermarket, bakery, butcher and several cafes and hotels. The best of the cafes is rightfully considered Stägerstübli with its tables outside, where you can find out all the latest news and gossip over your morning coffee.
You can get to Mürren both by car and by train.
Rigi
This mountain village is the easiest to get to: regular trains run from the city of Weggis, which is located near Lake Lucerne. Once you arrive, escape the crowds and head into the mountains for stunning views of central Switzerland.
If you want to stay here for the night, then stay at the Rigi Kaltbad hotel, which is famous for its mineral baths and spa treatments.
Saas-Fe
Inside a huge old bowl-shaped rock is the ski village of Saas-Fee. It has lost some of its charm due to the constant flow of visitors, but the nature remains just as impressive: the trails here are ideal for trekking and offer magnificent views. If you are not indifferent to the spa, then be sure to check out Ferienart.
It’s also worth going to the highest restaurant in the world – threes!xty — Drehrestaurant & CofFee, not only is the food excellent there and there are magnificent panoramas from there, but it also rotates.
Wengen
Wengen is separated from Mürren by the Lauterbrunnen Valley, but this village arguably offers some of the best long-distance skiing imaginable.
Wengen is a little better developed than other villages, as it is on the route of the train taking tourists from Lauterbrunnen to Klein Scheidegg.
In summer thousands of people come here (per day),
to climb to the top. And there is much more entertainment here than anywhere else. And if you’re looking for the kind of Switzerland you’ve seen in pictures before, then you’re in the right place: there are great walking routes and picturesque mountains.
From here you can also walk to Grindelwald.
Zermatt
Zermatt has long been one of the most popular destinations in Switzerland, and this is not surprising: it has cozy streets, stunning views of the Matterhorn, and excellent skiing slopes. At the same time, the village has managed to maintain its charm and charm, which is enhanced by fashionable shops and restaurants.
One of the best places to stay is the Riffelalp Resort 2222m, a hotel built in the best traditions of the Alps, with beautiful views of the valley.
Be sure to follow the Riffelsee route and to Gornergrat, you can go up there by funicular and walk back down.
Source: travelandleisure.com
