How I Explored Switzerland Without Breaking The Bank
Here are all our best tips for making the most of Switzerland during the peak tourist season.
Featured Image: Zermatt by Switzerland Tourism/ Lorenzo Riva
When I found out that the Women’s EURO would be held in Switzerland this summer, I knew I had to go. My girlfriend, Kathy, and I live in Madrid, where July means relentless heat—so any chance to head north is already tempting. But Switzerland isn’t just any destination for us. It was the first trip we ever took together, back when we were still getting to know each other. That early adventure—navigating trains, trying new foods, laughing over language mishaps—helped lay the foundation for the relationship we’ve built since. Returning now felt like the perfect full-circle moment: a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come, while soaking in the country’s timeless beauty once again.
Photo by Alexia.
Of course, Switzerland makes it easy to fall in love—with its glacier-fed lakes, sweeping mountain views, and the kind of crisp, clean air you can only dream of in the city. It’s romantic, outdoorsy, and full of charm. Add to that the fact that one of my best friends from high school lives in Geneva (always happy to host us, air mattress and all), and the trip was a no-brainer.
Traveling in Switzerland, however, is a delicate dance between budget-friendliness and indulgence. It’s the only way to enjoy the country without blowing your entire summer savings. In this piece, I’ll walk you through our 5-day trip, sharing how we balanced alpine adventures with budget-conscious decisions—and all our best tips for making the most of Switzerland during the peak tourist season.
Day 1: Arrival in Geneva
Our trip got off to a rocky start thanks to airline strikes—we ended up missing the one EURO match we actually had tickets for. Disappointing, but not entirely surprising during the summer travel season in Europe. (Pro tip: Europe has much stronger consumer protections for flight delays than the U.S.—make sure to file a claim, as you might be entitled to compensation. A little cash back is one way to make a Swiss vacation more affordable.) We arrived in Geneva much later than expected and headed directly to my friend’s riverside apartment.
Of course, we were disappointed to miss the earlier match, but we salvaged the evening by joining the massive public watch party for the later game along the shores of Lake Geneva. Picture this: a beach towel, a lake breeze, and a giant screen showing France vs. England.
The atmosphere was electric—especially when France beat England, which I didn’t see coming. (For those who don’t know, England won the last Women’s EURO in 2022.) In the French-speaking part of Switzerland, the crowd was definitely rooting for Les Bleues, and the collective energy made for a pretty unforgettable start to our trip.
Day 2: Flea Markets & Lake Dips
We started our first full day with buttery croissants and strong coffee from a cozy French bakery near our friend’s place—simple, perfect, and very Swiss-French. Fueled by carbs and caffeine, we headed to a weekend flea market, where we stumbled upon a beautiful painting of a vase filled with anemones—my girlfriend’s favorite flower.
Since moving in together, we’ve made a vow: no more tacky tourist souvenirs. No keychains, no novelty shot glasses, no destination t-shirts that never see daylight once you’re home (I threw out so many random knick-knacks while moving, so this promise is fresh on my mind). Instead, we’re curating our shared space thoughtfully—and buying art on our travels has become part of that. This painting felt like a step toward making her apartment more our home.
Negotiating with the vendor turned into an unintentional win. Our awkward French gave the impression that we were haggling hard, when really, we were just trying to confirm we understood the price. But hey—she dropped it a bit, and we walked away feeling like seasoned negotiators.
In the afternoon, we packed up some cheese, fresh fruit, and a bottle of wine and made our way to the lake. On our first trip to Geneva, it had been winter—we only glimpsed the lake from the inside of a boat, trying to stay dry as the rain poured down. This time, though, we got to see it in full summer mode.
The atmosphere was relaxed and communal: families took turns swimming while others kept an eye on their belongings, groups of friends lounged on towels, and locals read quietly under the shade of trees. The water was crystal clear and incredibly refreshing, and the weather struck the perfect balance—warm enough to make you want to dive in, but nothing like Madrid’s oppressive heat. It felt like we were exactly where we needed to be. Tanner, our friend and host, brought out a selection of his current favorite Swiss cheeses, and we spent hours snacking, swimming, and soaking it all in.
Day 3: From Geneva to the Alps
After a quick turnaround in Geneva, we packed up and headed east by train toward Zermatt, the iconic Alpine town best known for the Matterhorn. We traveled with a Swiss Travel Pass (first class, which we highly recommend), and it made everything seamless. It’s one of those rare travel tools that actually feels worth the price—it covers trains, buses, trams, and even boats, so once it’s in your hand, the entire country really opens up. No stress about booking individual tickets, no confusion about connections. Just clean, reliable, easy-to-navigate public transport that gets you from lakeside to mountaintop in comfort.
I first met Kathy just before Christmas, so naturally, a lot of our early conversations revolved around New Year’s resolutions. Hers was to “be more elegant”—a charming and slightly mysterious goal that stuck with me. It’s actually what inspired our first trip to Switzerland: to chase a sense of elegance, and more specifically, to travel on elegant trains through breathtaking landscapes. This year, we’ve eased up a bit on the elegance, but the allure of Swiss trains? That never faded. Even the standard commuter trains are more beautiful and cleaner than anything I’ve seen in the States. And the small train to Zermatt had its fair share of breathtaking views.
Arriving in Zermatt felt like stepping into a postcard. The town has a warm, cozy ambiance that makes you want to linger. As soon as we got off the train, we were greeted by the unexpected but incredible sound of alphorn players—those impossibly long wooden horns traditionally played in the Swiss Alps. We ended up chatting with one of them, a Swiss man named Werner Erb, who even let us try playing his alphorn. Spoiler: it’s not easy. If you ever find yourself in need of Alpine horn lessons, Werner Erb is your guy.
Day 4: The Glacier Express
I could say day four was our longest day, but to be honest, every day on this trip felt long, in the best way. Still, this one was an extensive journey. We woke up early in Zermatt to catch the famed Glacier Express, boarding the first-class car for the scenic eight-hour ride to St. Moritz. The Glacier Express is a panoramic train that connects Zermatt to St. Moritz, crossing through the heart of the Swiss Alps. Thanks to our trusty Swiss Travel Pass, the journey itself was covered—though you do have to pay a bit extra for a seat reservation.
What a journey it was! In summer, the landscapes are lush and green, with dramatic cliffs, tiny Alpine villages, winding rivers, and endless postcard views rolling past your window. We were lucky to share the car with Fernando de León, the kind manager of the onboard food service team. Originally from the Canary Islands, Fernando became our unofficial host—serving us drinks and quietly indulging our questions in Spanish whenever we didn’t want other passengers to eavesdrop.
In our usual low-budget-but-make-it-chic travel style, we had picked up a bottle of champagne at Madrid’s airport Duty Free. While we later realized it’s not much cheaper than buying bubbly at a Swiss supermarket, we still loved the little hustle. Fernando was all in on the plan—he brought us a bucket of ice, champagne flutes, and treated us like VIPs, elevating our experience without breaking the bank.
Lunch on board was another highlight: a flavorful vegetarian dal with rice, a crisp salad, and a sweet dessert, all topped off with a perfectly pulled espresso. Easily one of the best meals we had in Switzerland. With the scenery, the champagne, and Fernando’s five-star hospitality, the Glacier Express lived up to the hype.
Day 5: St. Moritz to Zurich
By day five, the travel fatigue was real—but the excitement hadn’t worn off. We woke up in St. Moritz to snow-covered mountains (it snowed in July; we were unprepared for this!). We were pleasantly surprised to hear Italian being spoken. (Fun fact: Switzerland has four national languages—German, French, Italian, and Romansh—and by this point in the trip, we’d heard all four of them.) After a fairly underwhelming hotel breakfast, we hit the road again, this time heading to Zurich for one last stop before flying back to Madrid.
Photo by Alexia.
Zurich immediately impressed us with its international vibe and cooler-than-expected energy. Tired of anything even hinting at (or rather smelling like) fondue, we made a beeline for a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch, then followed it up with iced coffees at a sleek Greek-owned café called Hype. It was exactly the reset we needed.
We learned Zurich is home to the biggest Pride celebration in Switzerland and has the most queer bars in the country—a detail we filed away for next time. This visit was more of a sneak peek than a deep dive, but it definitely left us wanting more.
In all, Switzerland is a breathtaking travel destination—one where natural beauty and cultural richness meet with quiet charm. With a bit of planning and a smart financial strategy, it’s possible to enjoy all the country has to offer without dreading your next bank statement.
The Women’s EURO was off to a fantastic start, and it was heartening to see how enthusiastically fans embraced women’s soccer across the country. Switzerland did an excellent job promoting the tournament locally, and we loved spotting rainbow captain’s armbands on players—a powerful nod to the queerness that’s long been part of women’s football culture.
Traveling across the country gave us the chance to experience Switzerland’s linguistic and cultural diversity—from French-speaking Geneva to German and Romansh-speaking Zermatt to Italian-infused St. Moritz. And doing it all aboard the panoramic trains made the journey just as memorable as the destinations.
In many ways, it felt like Kathy and I had come full circle—revisiting the place where we took our first trip together, now with a deeper understanding of each other. Back then, we were young and freshly in love; now, we’re still young and in love, but with a wiser sense of one another—our anxieties, preferences, travel quirks, and quiet frustrations. There’s a new comfort to returning to the same places, a deeper ease layered over the same sense of wonder. And yet, Switzerland still managed to surprise us. Its trains, mountains, lakes, and alphorns will always hold a special place in our hearts.
