6 SWISS TOURIST TRAPS TO AVOID IN 2024: Don't fall for these overrated Switzerland destinations
Traveling to Switzerland in 2024? Don't fall for these common tourist mistakes! Switzerland is an amazing country, but there are some incredibly popular tourist traps that we want to help you avoid, whether you are being misled by Instagram (the Gelmerbahn is not a roller coaster) or you're visiting an incredibly overpriced destination (looking at you, Jungfraujoch) - these are the top 6 tourist traps to avoid in 2024, and what you can do instead!
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I really appreciate these tips! There are so many places to see with so little time. This makes planning my itinerary a bit easier. Thank-you.
Nice video ; ) Still, I DON'T consider Jungfraujoch a tourist trap. It's expensive but you get some of the things that are unique in the world. The high mountains, the views, the valleys, the gorges, the glacier you can walk on, the ice palace and many more. The quality of the transport cannot be matched: a train tunnel that goes through one of the most famous mountain faces (Eiger's north face) with two train stations built inside the mountain (Eigergletscher & Jungfraujoch) is a master of engineering, the train routes along the way up and down the mountains (Interlaken - Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg), the efficient cable cars, the huge terminal - all facilitate the dispersion of people and a better experience for tourists.
Fully agree especially with the cable car Eiger express . Rather just looking at the crowd aspect as tourist trap . It’s once life’s experience, the engineering , Human Resources, visionary aspect (independently of think if it’s a good thing or not to have ) , all those aspects must be considered and it’s fascinating how and what human been able to achieve in this sense . So if you just ride for going to top without any thought behind - might be considered as tourist trap - but if you think deeper while using this material and rolling stock , it’s an amazing experience and that you don’t go everyday anyway. It’s still an exceptional place to visit and show to kids .
Kleine Scheidegg station have beautiful views
I agree with this. Yes, it cost me a lot of money but to walk on the ice and look down at the meeting of three glaciers at Konkordiaplatz was an experience I'll never forget, as well as the views from Eigerwand and Eismeer stations on the way. And I can understand why it's so expensive - the amount of maintenance needed at those altitudes must be enormous.
You are being very diplomatic in regards to Interlaken. My experience there: it felt like you were in Japan with all the Japanese tourists….all the business signage also including Japanese. It was certainly different to every other place i visited in Switzerland. Apparently the Japanese love this area and why not. It is sensational. Just doesn’t feel like Switzerland. Whilst expensive i do think the trip up to Jungfraujoch is worth the cost. Same as the train trip to Gornergrat at Zermatt. There are some things that seem expensive but they provide incredible memories. If you do go to Junfraujoch to see the top of the Aletsch glacier it is also worth catching the cablecar from Fiesch up to Eggishorn to see the bottom end of the Aletsch glacier. Spectacular. Switzerland is a magnificent country with jaw dropping scenery. Enjoy.
Thank you for your advice. Going in June and appreciate this information.
Awesome tips indeed, thanks a bunch.
Great video and so helpful
I'm so glad I found your channel!
Thank you for the tips, planning to go next year.
Love your videos. Traveling to Switzerland in June and Love all your advices.
I definitely think I’m still going to travel to the Top of Europe. It is expensive and it will probably be extremely busy, but I definitely don’t go to Switzerland every year and it would probably be a once in a lifetime thing and I might as well go since I’ll be in the Lauterbrunnen area anyway. I do love your videos! Ty for all the tips.
Grindelwald First is an excellent alternative. Still kind of touristy but if you go early it's nice. Way more to do there as well.
Good afternoon! I visited Jungfraujoch in 2019 and I loved this place. Greetings.
Thanks for info 👍😉
You two are the best!! My sister and I used your videos last summer to plan our vacation in Switzerland, and we had an incredible time. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge :)
Can you share your itinerary
Great video thank you
You have wonderful advice !
Thanks for the video this was helpful, I am now planning my trip for august
Visiting Switzerland and the Interlaken region, Grindelwald etc. end of August to first week of Sept. Thank you for the info. Very helpful.
Excellent blog
Well explained by you both... I and my husband are there from 6th May to 21st may. Will follow all your tips and suggestions. Great.
Spot on advice.
Thank you for your recommendation, I will reconsider. We will be staying in Grindelwal this June.
I stayed in Interlaken for 3 nights. This town has a lot of access and public facilities. I really love staying there and will recommend to everyone. I got free pass from the hotel for the bus trips, so I visited Iseltwald. The lake is very beautiful but it's not worthy to spend 5CHF just to take a photo on the pier. You still have a lot of choices for the photo spot 😂 I also visited Lake Brienz from the other side (by taking trains), it's much more beautiful.
Excellent video. Gonna do the tourist thing at Junfraujoch in April but I've been forewarned thanks to KZhead :)
Yes - enjoy the Jungfraujoch. The question is not whether you should not go to one of the wonderful high mountain places - there are many of them at a fraction of the price and the number of other visitors - but whether the Jongfraujoch is worth the money and a list of disadvantages.
My girlfriend and I traveled to Switzerland recently and your videos helped a lot when shaping our trip. We had a wonderful time! Thank you.
So glad to hear it!!
The ice palace at Jungfraujoch was really cool and it was fun to go to the top and see all the snow, but I agree it’s really expensive and I went there and couldn’t see anything anyway because of the weather up there! Grindelwald First was absolutely amazing and I’d definitely go there over Jungfraujoch, but I don’t regret going to Jungfraujoch :) and agree Interlaken as a town is nothing compared to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald but it’s a great base!
So relieved…. Made my plans for this October and actually skipped all these places. Making my base in Thun to avoid Interlaken. New subscriber. 🎉
I've been watching you guys for years. It's so rare I disagree with you guys, but I absolutely love Interlaken. It's one of my favorite places. Granted I stay just outside the city on the lake, but I just love it. Thanks for all the great advice.
Hotels on lakes are very beautiful and ship ride from interlaken is amazing
What she meant was the Interlaken city & not Interlaken region. As she rightly said, the city is not "Swiss like" but there are boat rides & sure that there are nooks of beautiful places
You guys have the best tips !!
I appreciated the comments about the watercolor. You are correct. I’ve been to those locations expecting Gatorade blue, and it was not,,
Thanks for the valuable tips as i'm planning to go to Switzerland again soon. Agree that some of the places you mentioned are probably overrated, but they still look beautiful, with or without the video effects. Will avoid the places you said are expensive. I cant imagine the prices as Swiss is already an expensive country
Thanks! Im going in october 👌🏼👍🏼
At 2:52 a good alternative to the Gelmerbahn "instagram trap" is to go to the Pradaschier toboggan near Chur. You get to control your own speed going down, and still with amazing views. Highly recommend!
i do completely agreee with this list. Luzern, Zürich i was missing, the rhine fall in summer days and st. Moritz, Zermatt
I was there in October 2022 and was shocked at the price to take the train to from Interlaken Ost to the top of the Jungfrau. I paid up for the trip because it is absolutely lovely. But as a pensioner, next time I simply cannot afford it. Will have to visit another cheaper ocation instead.
I discovered another way to enjoy Iseltwald during my last trip. There is peaceful lake side walking trail from Schorren to Giessbach.
Excellent list. Most of these places are in the Canton of Bern, which is interesting, and probably at least in part because they are easily accessible by train. I think the hidden gems are in Valais and Graubunden, but it's more "difficult" or time consuming to get there. Like many places in Europe, these villages or tourist spots are just too small to be able to manage huge tourist flows. The internet and social medias have obviously worsened that problem.
Really appreciate the tips you shared. We're visiting Switzerland this coming March for 10 days. We will stay in an AirBnB and rent a car. We plan to take at least one or two train rides. What would you recommend for first time visitors in your country? Many thanks!
Mt Titlis in Engelberg is a great alternative- lovely views and closest to Zürich. 😊❤
headed there in a few months, we are going with a tour group, and some of the places are on the list. PErhaps we'll go back again someday and plan our own route
It's true that Interlaken as such is not Paris or Rome but then AFAICT nobody really goes there just to see the city. It's its _location_ which is the key: a gateway to so many nearby attractions. Even rustic villages do exist nearby, like Gsteigwiler, etc. Your warning about Instagram and "creative" framing and photo processing is very valuable!
I completely agree! In fact we moved here to wonderful Interlaken from the U.S. 4 months ago. Our new home has a magnificent view of Harder Kulm out of one of the bathroom window! It takes me so much longer now to wee because of the striking view out the window 😮
Yes, Jungfraujoch is probably over-rated, over-priced etc but then again, London (and most destinations) have awful expensive tourist traps too. If I ever get to Interlaken, I'll do it, mainly for the view & I've not seen a glacier up close...plus its got an observatory. To come all the way to Interlaken without doing Jungfraujoch is like going to London & missing out Buckingham Palace or Paris without going up the Eiffel Tower.
I agree ! A visit to Jungfraujoch is memorable and the view on the gletcher is amazing. If you get a chance to go and see it. Do it ! It's well worth the costs. The crowd spreads out throughout the complex and yes it is a busy place, but I didn't find it off putting.
@@carolienintveen4236 Thankyou for replying...it was planning it 2 years ago for my 60th but money matters...a retirement trip now!. One way or the other, I'll get there!!.
It's definitely not over-rated - for me it was one the greatest experiences of my life, and I've been up a lot of mountains in Switzerland! I also think the price is justified (although undoubtedly very high) as a railway line that climbs up inside some of the highest mountains in Europe takes an awful lot of maintenance and is barely comparable to anything else. You also have the bonus of being able to look out from a window in the North Face of the Eiger on the way up, which is quite unforgettable. Just make sure that you have good weather before committing yourself to the expense!
Visited No1, 4, 5. Never regret it. Not 1 bit.. Stayed in Interlaken for 7 days as my base, best place…
1 - I haven't been to Jungfraujoch, mostly because the prices are indeed absurd as you've said. It's frankly ridiculous, and the amount of tourists you see even on instagrams kinda put you off. I agree with the Zermatt option, though that's obviously more out of the way and less convenient. 2 - Gelmerbahn - I'd also looked at this - from Interlaken, if you use it as a home base as you suggested, it's about 2 hours by bus and they don't run very often. If you miss the bus, the next one is likely 2 hours later! And you already covered the speeded up videos. 3 - My fiancée is from south east asia so she definitely wanted to go there herself. Went there in summer 2022, and we were in a line. We avoided the entrance fee, thankfully! It's the combination of the pier and the view all from the show that make it so attractive, and the convenient location close to Interlaken. A different place from the show would be Sigriswil bridge. 4 - Visited Interlaken twice now and will do a third next winter. It's the absolute best 'home base' to go to Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen areas and elsewhere. Rothorn train, Thun, Brienz, so many other options. It's a good place for organizing paragliding as well, and as you mentioned before, Funky Chocolate Club is a great little workshop! 5 - Haven't been to Aare gorge. Did go to Grindelwald's though, quite lovely. Also the one in Leukerbad is amazing. You climb up so high! 6 - Blausee - haven't been. I'd found Oeschinensee first and only later realized Blausee is practically next door. Oeschinensee as you said in other videos takes a bit longer to get to, but it's stunningly gorgeous. I proposed there to my fiancée. All in all I agree with all of these! I'd almost want to add Grindelwald First to this list, as it can get extremely busy at times - the scenic platform at the restaurant most of all.
The Jungfraujoch has become the Disneyland of the Alps. The Eiger Express was the dream of the Jungfraubahnen. They needed a solution to make the Joch a 4 hour visit to attract more groups and they did it. I have nothing against tourism, but this is too much. The best advice I can give is to take the first ride up in the morning and get to the terrace asap to look at the surroundings. Then go down, get out and take the leisurely walk to Mönchsjochhütte. With a bit of luck, you’ll experience a bit of the magic of the mountain.
Hi Aleix & Louis, I'm planning to go for Paris and Swiss. Can you both suggest best and budgeted hotel to stay?
Took louis's advice when we were based out of Zurich for two weeks in September. Stayed in Lauterbrunnen but didn't o the Jungrfraujok, instead we did the Manliken hike which was amazing. Did the Pilatus tabogen ride and had a great time, even though I wiped out and scraped the side of my arm. The trams to the tops of mountains in general are over hyped. Yout get to the top and look ovee the side and then you're kind of done in a few minutes. Far better to take one of the trams to a place to hike and enjoy being high up in the mountains.
Thank for precious advice
What a beautiful couple!!!
Well I actually didn’t visit any of these places on my trip to Switzerland. I’m not on social media so haven’t seen some of them before. Literally every place we went was stunning though. I think it’s absolutely crazy that they would charge you to see Blausee! I want to go to the canyons you talked about.
You should also review the magic pass and the ski resorts
We cover the magic pass in our winter train pass video! And have a top ski resorts video as well
We were in Switzerland last September and bought the Half Fare Card and that saved us a lot of money on mountain excursions. You save more money going to the Jungfraujoch with the Half Fare Card than with the Berner Oberland Pass
Is that like the Swiss travel Pass? Because whwn i was there last yr September bi bought it for 5days it costs 500€ and you get discount on Gondola and can travel all boats Tour also..
@@letsgotravel6724 Hi. It's similar and covers the entire country. The difference is some of the trips in the Oberland, like the Jungfraujoch, aren't included in the Swiss Travel Pass, and you can buy other passes with it, like the Berner Oberland Pass and save 50% on that. We were in Grindelwald for a week and saved a ton of money.
It is very courageous of you to put the Jungfraujoch on the "not do do" list. You will get a lot of heat over this decision. However - you are absolutely right. If you want to visit a shopping mall that is packed with vendors who sell "made in Switzerland" items at ridiculous Jongfraujoch prices - feel sick of the altitude - especially for overseas tourists who struggle with jet lag or are prepared to break a leg on an ice patch - the Jungfraujoch is the place for you.
I am traveling with my family next July, we are from Costa Rica and would love to see and play with snow, what other places do you recommend for that instead of “top of Europe”?
You guys just poo-pooed all our summer plans. Thanks a lot.
Stick with your plans. Trust your own intuitions.
In June this year, I am in fact going to a majority of the places that this video suggests not to. It is my decision because perspectives differ. Alexis and Louis are locals so they will have their own perspective as they live there. I have heard lots of good things from my friends who have visited these places. So do not go simply by one Video. You do your own plan.
I think for Blausee, the best is to stay overnight at the hotel. Then you get to enjoy it without the crowds.
Thanks for once again very informative & specific video. My question would be - If not Jungfraujoch then Rigi ,Pilatus & Schilthorn would be worth? Or any 1 of them? Thank you in advance.
Absolutely - all of them.
@@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp yes. I visited Rigi & pilatus & Matterhorn .Amazing mountains. not very crowded too. Matterhorn was breathtaking 😍. Absolutely loved it.
Mt titlis
@@arzoo468 What about it?
Where can i take a boat which you mentioned in third trap.
Is ZVV card 24h available for use any trains from Zurich airport to Zurich HB, all trams in Zurich City, for 2 zones, without validation or check-in? Thanks
Me, my wife and 2 kids (15,11) going to visit Switzerland for 6 nights....what do you recommend how many nights we should stay where ? I was thinking 1 night Zurich, 2 night Lucern and 3 nights Inter laken
I hiked in the Männlichen sadly it Starts to Rain..
Could you please cover Léman - Alpes" Regional Pass.
We cover it in this video : kzhead.info/sun/mc9pmNOci32Xl4E/bejne.htmlsi=vMalOR-lJYMcIKVQ
Interlaken was the perfect base but not the greatest day trip. Agree on that. Jung Frau Joch was amazing though. Touristy yes, but an unreal experience just like the other obvious places in the area.
Mt titlis is much better
These places are expensive because they are really high -maintenance, and you can't pay all the workers who run the place a $5/hour salary, so it's not a trap. The prices are the same for Tourist and locals (locals that don't have a 1/2 fair or a yearly ticket).
Jungfraujoch is just about double Matterhorn glacier paradise, schilthorn, mittelalalin - some of which are higher in altitude and arguably have more extreme maintenance costs. That argument holds for some things, but for Jungfraujoch we feel it's simply price gouging. Blausee another example - charging an entrance fee to a lake is simply unheard of in Switzerland
Jungfraugh is such beautiful its not a trap i know its expensive its because they can maintenance out there.. I never regret going there we enjoyed a lot even though we were sick on high elevation.. But we wont do it again at least we experience
It’s refreshing to get some “real world” assessment of some of these attractions. Most videos, etc seem to simply hype up these places. We get that a lot where I live as well. BUT, it does all depend on what you’re used to. What a local might see as “not worth it” may make a very nice memory for a visitor. I like that you guys seemed to highlight this as well.
I am a Swiss living since a long time abroad..... I'm getting old and I think it's time to share some little secrets: First : I like how you discover and describe CH , but , until now , I saw you only visit the well known . Luckily you already found out how boring Interlaken is 😌 One of the most beautiful places in CH where you will not find Tourists,😏, is the river Doubs. Coming from France it is a long way the border between CH and F , then enters CH , turns 180degrees and goes out again. After the turn is the Town of Saint Urasnne. Soo beautiful.... And thereafter, if you are good in finding ways you can discover the Doubs at his best. Only locals and savants are there ,to enjoy one of the most beautiful places to swim with the fish...... Next we have the only cable car in the Jura Mountains in Reigoldswil , going to Wasserfallen. A paradise for hikers.... Did you go to Rheinfelden ? A City in two Nations , with a german part and a Swiss Town.... Rheinfall and Shaffhausen ? A must away from all the Chinese and other 2 day CH visitors..... Try Langnau snd the Emmental ! Sooo beautiful , with so many side valleys and of course the real Emmental cheese. Back to the north west do not miss the canton of Jura , the youngest canton of switzerland , born out of a bloody fight with Bern not so long ago...... You like watches ? Affordable and first class swiss timepieces come since more than 100years from Höllstein in Baselland , where you can buy direct at the factory. Then La Brevine. The swiss Siberia,the coldest place in CH , beautiful in its valley in the Jura Mountains. And ,of course, I miss Ticino in your descriptions as well as Graubünden ! Both to big and with too many places to see for this time. If you are interestet in more Infos about hidden treasures in CH (Ticino/Graubünden/Wallis and more)you are welcome to contact me.....
Messenger , Urs Baumgartner...
do you all made this video to catch more views to your side. I myself personaly visited these palaces. Sorry guys .totally disagree with you
Agree, just being at this place yesterday, it's beautiful ...no doubt. U just have to choose the right time.
Well, I visited all of these places and I agree with them:) overpriced and overcrowded. Switzerland has many better options
I have been to all these places as well and I would agree that they are all overrated. Iseltwald is a decent place to stay in the off-season when nobody is there. Would definitely avoid during peak season. Inter Lake there is nothing to do and people waste money on the $400 4-star hotels when they can get a room room with views of the alps in grindewald, Mürren, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, or Beatenberg. Stupid.
I’m travelling to Zurich in July with my wife for the Taylor Swift concert.
so if not visit Jungfraujoch, is it worth to stop at Eigergletscher?
Yes!!! You have an AMAZING view of the glaciers from here and it’s included in passes
Great tips!@@TheTravelingSwiss
Thank you. I was iffy about Top of Europe and now I am not going there definitely. 😃
My Papaw went all over the world in the Navy in the early 50's. The only countires he talks about are Switzerland ("the prettiest country on Earth" - Papaw), and Germany ("I got my tattoos while I was drunk in Berlin" -Papaw). My dream is to visit Germany, and every time I mention it he says "save your money and go to Switzerland" 😂 And he says its NOT just bc of the beautiful women! 😅
Am already 7 years in Switzerland and traveling a lot lot on my off work days or vacation, but never been or want to go to Jungfraujoch. Also from 100s of Swiss people and coworkers that got connected so far, only 1 that went to it. 😅 Said nothing special, only best internet in whole of Switzerland that he exp..
Anyone who goes to a place and complains about crowds of people is completely self-unaware.
Hello travel teacher I like this video I love Switzerland I love nature . I love couple I love this work. ❤❤❤❤❤ 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭 🌟👌🌟👌🌟 Thank you so much make this beautiful video God bless you wish you all the best🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌺🌹🌻🌹 take care goodbye👋👋 Lahore Pakistan. 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰 Syeda Sumera. 👋👋
I was just watching her, she is beautiful.
i went there to all these places last march. i disagree with you. yes they are expensive but worth it
Thank God I found your channel. I'm Korean-American and want to visit Isterwald/Interlaken, but dismayingly found out its now infamous due to that K drama. I avoid Koreans at all costs cos they are rude and gawk, cut you off, crowd you out and barge into you. So I try to steer way clear of them, especially since rather than apologizing, they get belligerent and mocking if you call them out for being rude. Now my dilemma is solved thanks to your tips. I will simply take the boat trip past Isterwald and avoid setting foot there and Interlaken.
Shincha?
Completely disagree! No to Interlaken and Jungfraujoch?! Are you kidding me?
I lived in Switzerland for 3 years and never went to Interlaken .
People travel for social media nowadays LoL.
When I was at the Aareschlucht the water was indeed turquoise
Wow what a downer. Can’t wait to get to shitty Switzerland later this year
Great value. Very surprised by the high quality of yr advises….confirms many of the choices i rightfully made. Just a word on interlaken which i also used as a low cost sleep base, and found great hiking trails with low turists density and controlled prices ! Last point: tips should be optional and aligned on courtesy of the serving staff !!!! But this wont happen!
Aare Gorge looks very pretty even without filter😍
Love these videos! We’ll be leaving soon with our train loving kids. 🤍 how do we hire you to be our tour guides 😅
Hey guys, as a Swiss I can guarantee your kids‘ll like our trains! 😊