Switzerland June 15th - June 19th, 2025

It’s been a while since I’ve wanted to take a trip with my family. My family lives in Germany, and for the past five years, I’ve been visiting them almost once a year. However, we usually stay in Germany and rarely travel to other countries, except for a quick same-day trip to the Netherlands last year.

This year felt like the right time to do something different. After some discussion, we agreed to plan a trip to Switzerland, one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. We finally settled on an itinerary and started preparing for the journey.

My flight was on June 13^th, 2025, at 11 a.m. from Lincoln, Nebraska, with a layover in Chicago (as usual) for a few hours. I arrived in Frankfurt the next day, June 14th, around 10 a.m. My brother picked me up at the airport, even though I would’ve preferred taking the train, but he insisted on doing so. (A family thing.)

Part of my family lives in Siegen, Germany, and the rest live in Dortmund. I also have uncles, aunts, and cousins spread throughout the North Rhine region; I will never get lost there.

Driving to Switzerland – June 15^th, 2025

I woke up around 8 a.m. and went for a quick 4-mile run around the block. The breeze in Germany seems to stay the same year-round—cool and refreshing, even in the summer. It was cloudy with a light drizzle, typical German weather.

By 11 a.m., we were ready to hit the road. My brother did the driving, which gave me time to catch up with family and even work on my blog about my last trip. We stopped twice for breaks. A fun fact (or maybe not-so-fun): In Germany, using a restroom on the road costs one euro. I spent 3 euros that day, one for each bathroom break!

We arrived at the Airbnb around 6 p.m., located in the small mountain village of Innertkirchen. The village had only about 30 houses, nestled in the mountains. The road to get there was quite narrow, just a single lane for both directions, with several switchbacks. The host recommended honking every few minutes so oncoming cars would know you’re approaching. Fortunately, that stretch was only about 6 miles long, and there were occasional pull-off areas in case of oncoming traffic.

According to our itinerary, we had planned to visit Mount Pilatus the next day. However, the weather forecast called for clouds and possible rain, so we adjusted our plans and decided to explore some of the beautiful nearby areas instead.

June 16, 2025 - Innertkirchen & Bernese area
Woke up in the village of Innertkirchen, nestled in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. The view was absolutely stunning, and the silence was broken only by the peaceful sounds of nature. A run in this crisp mountain air felt like a necessity, so I laced up and ran two miles up the mountain and two miles back down. These mountains are excellent for building endurance for high-altitude and uphill running.

After a hearty breakfast with family, we packed up and left our Airbnb to begin exploring the area.

Our first stop was Lake Brienz, a gem in the charming town of Brienz. On the way there, we passed a massive waterfall and decided to turn around and check it out. It was the Oltschibachfall waterfall near Meiringen, formed by melting snow from the surrounding mountains. The breeze and view were breathtaking.

Next, we headed to the Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht), a natural wonder near Meiringen. The gorge is incredibly narrow (at some points, only about one meter wide), so people often had to wait for others to pass. Formed about 10,000 years ago by the runoff from melting glaciers, the hike through the gorge took us around three hours (about 4 miles round trip). Tickets were only 12 CHF; definitely worth it.

By the end of it, we were starving. We found a place to eat, refueled, and soaked in the beauty surrounding us, which is everywhere in this region.

We returned to the Airbnb around 6 PM. I took a much-needed nap, and when I woke up, my brother had started a barbecue. The table was full of food and drinks, and the view around us felt like something out of a dream. Before bed, we discussed our plan for tomorrow, Mount Pilatus, one of the most popular destinations in Switzerland.

June 17, 2025
Day 3 in Switzerland. Woke up early again for another 4-mile run; 2 miles downhill and then 2 miles uphill back to the Airbnb. The route was steep and challenging, but I didn’t stop or walk. It felt amazing to push through. Ran past cow farms with cowbells ringing and noticed the widespread use of electric fencing. Also spotted a trained farm dog managing a herd; impressive!

By 10 AM, we hit the road toward Mount Pilatus, about an hour away. Even short drives in Switzerland feel longer due to narrow roads and all the tunnels.

We arrived in Alpnach around noon. It’s one of three routes to reach Mount Pilatus. We took the cogwheel train both ways; tickets were priced at 80 CHF per person (400 total), but that’s Switzerland for you. Other options include gondolas and cable cars.

We waited about 30 minutes in line; it’s peak tourist season, and the train was packed. Switzerland’s mountain transport system is incredibly advanced. Even remote peaks are accessible thanks to cable cars, gondolas, and cogwheel trains, all built to support tourism.

The top of Mount Pilatus was surreal, like a small town in the sky. There were gift shops, a visitor center, restaurants, coffee shops, even hotels and wedding venues. I did some hikes with the family, then ventured solo to reach Tomlishorn, a popular viewpoint. After taking tons of photos and soaking it all in, we caught the second-to-last train down the mountain.

We stopped at a nearby restaurant afterward, but it was disappointing; they added way too much sauce to our food without asking. I left them a bad review. Tomorrow, I get to pick the restaurant (not my brother 😅). Returned to the Airbnb around 7 PM; tired but thankful for another unforgettable day.

June 18th, 2025
In August 2022, my dad visited Switzerland with one of his best friends. He sent me a photo of himself sitting on a bench, facing a beautiful lake. After he passed away on December 22, 2022, I often thought he may have been thinking of me when he took that photo.

Last night, the idea of visiting that same spot and taking a photo there came to mind. I contacted his friend, who thankfully was able to send me the exact location. It turned out to be just 35 minutes away from our Airbnb. I went there with my family and took a photo in the exact spot my dad had three years ago. If this means anything, it means that life always continues. This was our first stop of the day.

Next, we visited the village of Iseltwald on the southern shore of Lake Brienz. We found a small local spot that offered kayaking and paddle boats. After some discussion, I chose a kayak while my family took a paddle boat. The weather was amazing—blue skies, clear water, and a refreshing breeze. We spent about two hours on the lake before heading back around 4 PM.

Later, we drove to the city of Interlaken, a beautiful and lively place full of tourists. I couldn’t help but wonder how much money Switzerland makes from tourism alone. By that time, we were ready for lunch. This time, we all agreed on a Lebanese restaurant—and finally, the food was actually good. After lunch, we took a stroll through town before heading back to the airbnb. 

June 19th, 2025
Our final morning in the mountains. We checked out before 11 AM and began our drive to Siegen, Germany, where my family lives. The drive took about six hours, with three stops along the way. It was a hot day in Germany.