Walking tour of Zurich? How about a free 2 hour walking tour of Zurich? Now you're talking…read more Met at 11am on a Monday when all the museums were closed, at the Credit Suisse in the Paradeplatz, one of the world's most expensive and exclusive shopping areas. Must have been at least 100 people there. Fortunately about 20 peeled off for the Spanish speaking tour. Julian was our guide, a great story teller with an abundance of jokes. At the Fraumünster church, we discovered tiny hieroglyphics carved into the stones. This was to keep track of which artisan packed which stones into the structure, for pay purposes. We stop by a statue of a burgermeister, condemned to death not for killing dogs, but for raising taxes! We wander through St Peter Church - one of the four main churches in Zurich whose clock face is the largest in all of Europe; We check out the restaurant where famous painters as Picasso, Chagall, Giacometti paid for their food with their own paintings. The restaurant owners sold the paintings right away, instead of keeping them until they appreciated in value. Next, we check out the house where Lenin was living before returning to Russia, leading the 1917 revolution. We go along the Limmatquai with many buildings dating from the days of the rich Guilds that governed Zurich. We wander through the Lindenhof and Roman Baths - the historical site of a Roman castle situated on a hillside, with great views of Old Town. Did you know that Albert Einstein and 20 Nobel Prize winners were students at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology? At the end of the 2 hour free tour Julian poses with a group for Facebook picture under "Free walk Zurich", passes out postcards with the logo, and collects tips, once again at the Paradeplatz. With 100 people, and an average of CHF3 per tip per person, Julian is a walking piggy bank, and takes no chances with his travel bag, now heavy with CHF bills. He walks only a few steps to make an in person deposit at the nearest bank! Or does he keep part of the stash hidden from the authorities?

This was our first experience with a walking tour and we loved it! It was such a great way to see…read moreand learn about the city. We only had 1 full day in Zurich so we wanted to get the most out of it. We actually ended up doing 2 Free Walking Tours Zurich. The old Zurich tour and the Zurich West tour. We had such a blast getting to know more about such a beautiful city. The Old Zurich tour was much more crowded. Our guide was amazing. Explained a lot and told us great stories about the city. She even recommended a place for lunch which was delicious. The Zurich West tour was good, but not as great as the morning tour. Our guide was knowledgeable but we didn't feel like we learned as much. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone traveling to Zurich

Went to Mount Titlis this time. It was cloudy that day so couldn't see much at the summit…read more At the interim stop there is a trail that you can walk around. It was about a mile or so long. It was groomed. That was fun. There is also skiing and lessons here. I would come back again.

Very cold of course. Worth the chill. Boots available to rent. Titlis cliff walk, ice flyer chair…read morelift, glacier park, and onsite restaurant all good.

After taking the Lake Maggiore Express from Arona, Italy to Locarno, Switzerland, we immediately…read morehopped on the Tourist Train that was waiting by the dock. We have taken these little tourist trains in many cities and find them to be a quick way to learn a little information about the town, and where things are located - making it easier to navigate the city on foot. Our driver was a bit heavy on the peddle, and we would often 'slide to the side' while turning corners, but we saw lots of sights and had a good time. It's really a quick, inexpensive way to orient yourself to the city. Notes: First train leaves at 11:00am and are only available from March through October.

PROS: very informative tour. The tour guide, Philip, shared very interesting historical and…read morerelevant information. We went on a mini hike, saw some ibex, great views! He even had chocolates for the kiddos. I liked how he had everyone state what country they were from-we met a lot of people this way. CONS: huge group of 25-30 people!

From the owner: We want to show our guests the REAL Interlaken. Because we only have local guides, it's guaranteed…read morethat we are able to get you to great hide-aways off the beaten path, that we can tell you about what to do in town and to tell you the history and legends of this magical spot in a fun and insightful way. Come and join us young locals and experience the REAL Interlaken...

Second time doing river cruises with Ama. First time on Danube during Xmas market starting from…read morePrague. This cruise is on the Rhine River beginning in Basel, Switzerland, ending up in Amsterdam. Why do I like Ama Kristina? *they provide you with 2 bottles of water per person daily; one in your cabin & 1 to take ashore on excursions .*wifi works great; not like on ocean cruises *make your own specialty coffee all day *food is varied, delicious, omelette station *you may choose from a menu for all meals or do breakfast and lunch buffet style or light lunch. * the main dining room staff become your home away from home; the immediate recognition is uncanny. This ship we have met workers from Bulgaria, Romania and Indonesia. *there is afternoon tea as well as late evening excursions.

I'm not quite sure why AmaWaterways shows up under Building Supplies, as we took a Danube River…read morecruise on their Ama Sonata, and that is the subject of this review. While this was our first river cruise (after several ocean cruises), we were very pleasantly surprised, and are extremely likely to not only take more river cruises, but in all likelihood, will do so on one of AmaWaterways' ships. Our particular cruise began in Budapest, with a night in port in that lovely city, which included a sailing up and down the Danube to view the city by night--it is simply magnificent, with all the buildings lit up. We then sailed up the Danube, with stops in Bratislava, Vienna (overnight there), Durnstein and Melk in one day, Linz, Passau, and ending in Vilshofen. From that city, most passengers went on by bus (included in price) to Prague, with a stop in Regensburg. A smaller number of passengers took a bus (also included in price) to Munich. There were capacity-controlled tours included in every city, with each passenger getting a receiver enabling all passengers to hear the tour guide easily, even from 50' or more away. Bicycle tours were offered in three cities, and there were only two optional tours that had additional costs (we attended one, a concert in Vienna at a cost of roughly $125-$130/person, and well worth it). Food on the ship was very good, with an emphasis on local cuisine at each stop. Beer and wine were complementary with all meals, although upgraded wines, along with mixed drinks, were at the passenger's expense. (Prices were reasonable.) With only roughly 160 passengers on board, it's econically infeasible to have big entertainment, but we did enjoy some local folklore dancers, along with a classical music trio, and a June Oktoberfest (on a 90-degree evening) in Regensburg. Other nights we were treated to a keyboard player with a wide range of selections. Considering that the average passenger's age was probably somewhere near the age of dirt, there wasn't much dancing. The entire crew was very friendly, extremely service-oriented and eager to please. We enjoyed getting to know most of the staff and learning a little Romanian, Hungarian, Slovakian, German and a couple of other languages. We truly loved the cities and towns where we stopped, and highly recommend this line, particularly if you don't mind being with an older group, most of whom are very sharp.

We had been told by our guide the Fraumünster was free, which was inaccurate - it's $5 for adults…read moreand ended up dropping in before we left Zurich. Is the space pretty? Yes. Is it worth a special trip? No. There are about 4-5 different stained glass windows and while it's very relaxing and unique to a degree, there just isn't much to see and the air quality really isn't great. All in all, if you're in the area, have 10 minutes to spare, and don't mind the fee I'd say go for it, but otherwise (especially if you have allergies) you're not missing much by skipping it.

Another instance of stark, gorgeous architecture; this time made more impressive with the inclusion…read moreof the famous Chagall stained glass windows that serve as the claim to fame here. The area surrounding the munster is also quite lovely and it is conveniently located in the heart of the classic/old town area with lots of other sights to take in. Certainly a must-visit when in Zurich!

If you're in Lucerne and looking for an unforgettable day trip, Mount Pilatus offers an experience…read morethat's hard to beat. From stunning views to exciting transportation options, this Swiss gem has it all. We were part of a guided tour group and started with a bus ride ( gathered as a group in a parking lot where a tour bus took us further from there) to the cable cars base station at Kriens. For a scenic journey up the mountain, we got into the aerial cable cars ( small ones to begin with and then the big one towards the end of the ride closer to the summit). The ride itself was a highlight, offering sweeping views of Lucerne, Lake Lucerne, and the surrounding Swiss Alps. As we ascended, we could see the landscape transform from lush green meadows to rocky, snow-dusted peaks. The ride was smooth, relaxing, and gave us plenty of opportunities to look at those breathtaking vistas. Reaching the top of Mount Pilatus at 2,132 meters was a moment of pure awe. The panoramic views are jaw-dropping and on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Jura Mountains and the Black Forest in Germany. The alpine landscape was absolutely stunning, and we found ourselves just standing there, taking it all in.The clouds were moving fast in and out though for our initial part of the trip it was pretty cloudy all the way. There are several hiking trails at the summit, ranging from easy walks to more challenging routes. We chose to stroll along some of the easier paths, which were well-maintained and offered even more incredible views of the surrounding peaks. The summit also features the "Dragon Path," which was a cool, slightly daring way to experience the mountain, with its narrow walkways and dramatic cliffside views. Few of us chose to venture in there but it definitely was worth the effort. After exploring the summit, we took a break at one of the restaurants at the top. We ate at Restaurant Bellevue where by you essentially pick a plate size and fill it up and pay by the plate and not by the weight of the contents. Costly for sure though at that height that's something that is to be expected. The view from the restaurant can be good to great depending on the moving clouds and your seating as well. There happens to be Pilatus Kulm Hotel as well that offers a cozy atmosphere and place to stay for those that choose to stay up atop the summit. For the descent, the tour package had the iconic Pilatus cogwheel train down from the summit. The journey was thrilling, with the train descending at a steep incline almost like we were riding into a postcard. The views kept changing as we moved down the mountain, from lush forests to alpine meadows and finally back to the picturesque lakeside. Once we reached the bottom, we capped off the adventure with a relaxing ferry ride back to Lucerne. Cruising across Lake Lucerne was the perfect way to wind down after a day full of adventure, with the sun reflecting off the water and the mountain peaks in the distance. It was peaceful, serene, and the perfect conclusion to an incredible day. Our trip to Mount Pilatus was nothing short of amazing. Whether you're seeking thrilling outdoor activities or simply want to take in some of the most stunning views in Switzerland, this mountain has something for everyone. The combination of cable cars, the cogwheel train, and the ferry ride made for an unforgettable experience that I highly recommend to anyone visiting Lucerne

We rode the cable car to the top then the cogwheel train (the steepest in the world) going down…read morewhile in Lucerne. The journey was incredibly scenic. At the top, Mt. Pilatus felt like something out of a postcard. There are plenty of viewing platforms, short hikes, and photo spots, all with clear signage. We enjoyed the snow at the summit. Everything was clean, safe, and very Swiss-level efficient. Going down toward Alpnachstad was quite long that my sister fell asleep, but incredible. It's not cheap, but the experience fully lives up to the price. Pro tip: go early on a clear day to avoid crowds and get the best views.