Author's Note
Note

PART 1: A Preview of Our Swiss Trip
Scenes that make you fall in love with Switzerland
Switzerland in Numbers
Swiss cities at a glance
Switzerland Travel at a Glance
Basic information for traveling in Switzerland
Swiss Travel Calendar
Major historical figures in Switzerland
Recommended travel itineraries in Switzerland

PART 2 How to Travel Switzerland in Style
hiking
Panoramic Express Train
Swiss spa
Alps Panorama Stay
Regional food map
Introducing representative Swiss dishes
Top 10 Swiss Chocolates Recognized Worldwide
Swiss Wine & Cheese
Shopping for Made in Switzerland souvenirs
Swiss Pharmacy Recommended Products
Swiss supermarket shopping

PART 3: Time to meet the real Switzerland
How to get to Switzerland
Transportation available within Switzerland

Bernese Oberland region (German-speaking region)
AREA 1 Interlaken
REAL PLUS 1 Lake Brienz & Lake Thun
AREA 2 Grindelwald
AREA 3 Jungfraujoch
REAL PLUS 2 Villages around Schilthorn
Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Mürren, Allmendhubel, Schilthorn

Real Guide
7 Best Interlaken Activities
Day trips from Interlaken to Lake Oeschinen and Lake Blau
Schinige Platte, where wildflower-filled meadows and snow-capped mountains unfold before your eyes
Activities to enjoy while traveling between First and Grindelwald
Jungfraujoch Hiking: An Alpine Hiking Experience You'll Remember for a Lifetime

German-speaking area
AREA 1 Zermatt
AREA 2 Lucerne
AREA 3 Zurich
AREA 4 Bern
AREA 5 Basel

Real Guide
No need to go far: Zermatt's top 3 viewpoints within the village.
Discover the world's most beloved Alps: The Matterhorn's three major viewing platforms
Hiking enthusiasts can't miss this hike in Gil Sunega.
A 40-minute round trip hike, but a 99% satisfaction guarantee. Gourmet Beg, a gourmet restaurant in Sunega.
Lucerne's 4 must-see museums, filled with fun to see, hear, and experience.
Enjoy a music festival in Lucerne, Switzerland's capital of music, full of music festivals all year round.
How to Make the Most of Your Swiss Travel Pass: 4 Top Mountains Accessible from Lucerne
Enjoy the surroundings of Zurich, with plenty to do, weather permitting.
Escher Hut and Appenzell Day Trip from Zurich
A stroll through Bern's colorful fountains, each with its own unique meaning.
If you want to see the pink peaks of the Alps, go to Guertenkulm
Bern's art galleries and museums embody the elegance of the Swiss capital.
Exploring the Basel Museums: The City of Museums
Summer in Basel with drinks and snacks at the Buvette

French-speaking region
AREA 1 Geneva
AREA 2 Lausanne
AREA 3 Montreux
REAL PLUS 1 BV

Real Guide
Top 3 art museums in Lausanne, showcasing high-quality Swiss and French art.
Spend a day in Evian, the French water capital
Glacier 3000 in the Swiss Alps, close to Geneva and Montreux
Laveau Terrace, where golden vineyards meet three suns

Italian-speaking region
AREA 1 Lugano

Real Guide
Montagnola, the peaceful village where Hermann Hesse was healed
Lugano Cruise: A Hidden Village Walk by Boat

PART 4: Practical Travel Preparation
Switzerland Travel FAQs
Travel Preparation at a Glance
Types of Swiss accommodation and how to book them
Tips for finding accommodations by region
Budgeting Your Trip to Switzerland
Swiss Travel Pass
Using a rental car
Useful Apps & Websites
Information needed in case of emergency

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Preview a dreamy vacation in the Alps

Switzerland is considered one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
It is a romantic travel destination where you can enjoy the Alps' famous 4,000-meter-high peaks that stretch across the country, over 1,500 lakes, medieval cityscapes, modern landscapes, and even art and fine arts.
Not only can you enjoy the eternal snow all year round, but you can also enjoy breathtaking views from the gondola ride. In the summer, you can enjoy hiking trails that embrace the mountains, lakes, and wildflowers, and in the winter, you can enjoy activities on the paths that transform into ski courses. This is truly the most natural travel destination.
Spending a night in a picturesque traditional Swiss chalet dotted across a green meadow brings a sense of ecstasy that makes it hard to tell if this is a dream or reality.
《Real Switzerland》 contains all of that picturesque scenery and romance.


Easy for anyone to understand, super simple base camp-oriented structure

Switzerland is a federal state comprised of 26 cantons, and mountain ranges form across many of the cantons, making it difficult to understand the concept of regions and their locations.
Especially for beginner travelers, it is a big worry to decide where to base camp and whether to move accommodations.
Accordingly, Real Switzerland is divided into major regions based on the four official languages ​​used in Switzerland, and adopts an easy-to-understand structure that introduces major cities and attractions.
In particular, well-known travel destinations such as Jungfraujoch, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and Rigi Kulm, but whose locations are often difficult to grasp, are introduced based on the most important base cities, and detailed instructions on how to get there are provided, making it incredibly easy.
It is no exaggeration to call it the "world's easiest Swiss guidebook" as it even provides train and gondola schedules for popular destinations among Korean travelers, such as Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat.

How to properly enjoy and remember Switzerland's nature

In addition to fondue and raclette, which you must try at least once in Switzerland, the country of cheese, there are many regional dishes such as rösti, a Swiss potato pancake; bratwurst, a favorite dish since it is located next to Germany, the "country of sausages"; and polenta, an Italian corn porridge.
The restaurant information in "Real Switzerland" is a curated selection of restaurants compiled by the author, who has lived in Switzerland for 10 years, so you don't have to worry about whether you're up for a big challenge when dining out.
This is especially good news for those who want to fully enjoy the flavors and aromas of Switzerland, as we introduce a local sommelier's recommended pairings with Swiss wines that are rarely found outside of Switzerland, including cheeses that pair perfectly with them.
This shopping list to commemorate your trip to Switzerland is a selection of the most popular and most satisfying items among customers during my time as a guide.
This information is especially valuable because it focuses on items that can only be found in that region and store, rather than the common souvenirs sold in general souvenir shops.

Tips available from a friendly and attentive local guide
Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe.
This book is full of hidden ways to cut costs and increase satisfaction.
We recommend booking transportation passes, which vary in price depending on the time of reservation, 180 days in advance, and we are also serious about saving money on food, such as using simple menus or lunch menus, and buying and cooking your own ingredients.
It contains the author's own tips and advice that he personally suggests and advises to clients while working as a guide, such as showing the most efficient transportation passes and discounts for Koreans, as well as things to keep in mind when managing time and things to consider when booking accommodations.
This information comes from the author, a true local and active guide! With "Real Switzerland," you'll experience the meticulous care of a private guide, as if you were right there with them.

The ultimate course that includes seasonal travel destinations and transportation passes.

The travel itinerary is what truly makes "Real Switzerland" stand out! It's the culmination of 10 years of experience in the travel industry, directly interacting with Korean travelers and travelers from around the world, and the experience and expertise behind Swiss travel.
The 3-night, 4-day to 9-night, 10-day itineraries covering all of Switzerland are ideal for a solo trip to Switzerland or touring other European countries.
The author's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the fact that he considers not only the itinerary but also the theme of the trip, such as hiking, express trains, museums and art galleries, and skiing and snowboarding, and suggests different things to enjoy depending on the season even within the same course.
In particular, the author has put the most effort into answering the question, "How to use which transportation pass?" It provides options for those with an imminent trip and those with a lot of time left before the trip, making it a truly perfect course.
We also offer separate courses for each city that you can spend a day or two exploring, so it's easy to customize the course to your own taste.

From using Swiss public transportation to its cost, this one book is all you need!

If you're already scared of Switzerland's murderous cost of living and transportation costs, which you've only heard about through rumors, this book is the answer.
Depending on the number of days you are traveling, the cities you are traveling to, the observatories, art galleries, museums you plan to visit, and activities like skiing, we will tell you the most suitable travel pass, the cheapest time to buy it, and how to use it more efficiently by bundling it with other passes or coupons, so you can minimize costs and maximize satisfaction.
Each transit pass even provides specific examples of recommended uses, so worry about transportation costs is truly over! The guide also provides detailed explanations of complex discount cards for children and youth, such as the Family Card and Junior Card, so families traveling with children can rest easy.
Anyone worried about buying the wrong ticket can scan the QR code in the book to access the author's blog post for more detailed step-by-step information.


A digitally friendly guidebook that saves you time searching.

Weather is an important factor when traveling in Switzerland.
Especially, if you are planning a trip to Switzerland, which may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and have spent a lot of time and money on transportation, it would be even more regrettable if the weather is cloudy and you cannot enjoy the scenery properly on the mountain you climbed.
Before heading to the observatory on the day of your trip, check the local weather and conditions directly with the live cam.
Although the website address is provided in the book, if you scan the QR code created by Real Switzerland, you can check the real-time weather conditions at the observatory and even access the link to purchase complex transportation passes.
In addition, if you scan the QR code provided on each regional map, you will be connected to a Google map where you can see all the spots introduced in the book at a glance, and you can save it and look at it at any time.
This is possible because it is a friendly guidebook that saves readers a lot of typing time, called “Real Switzerland.”