Switzerland Vol 1

8 minute read

I’m beyond lucky to be spending Christmas 2025 in Tuia’s stunning motherland, Switzerland! With big goals for 2025—most of which involve spending money—we decided it was time to get creative about saving without sacrificing our lifestyle. Cutting down on rent felt like the easiest way forward, so, naturally, we chose the five days leading up to this trip to move house (because why not add a little chaos?).

Instead of doing it post-trip while suffering from jetlag, we decided to get it done before we left. We moved in the after-hours, pilling everything into our car, and sold almost everything in the house to Britt and Amy, our old housemates. We kept only the essentials—our bedroom furniture and a few must-haves—and pulled an all-nighter to unpack before heading straight to the airport at dawn. Talk about a whirlwind!

Basel 

We flew straight into Zurich with a two hour stop-over in Dubai, then hopped on a train to Basel to meet up with Tuia’s family. We had two nights in Basel, though with travel time, it really felt more like one full day and evening. Waking up on my first morning in Switzerland, we kicked things off with a coffee yogurt—one of Tuia’s childhood favorites. It was an odd but surprisingly delicious combo of bitter and sweet yogurt, I was into it to start with, but found there were other staple flavours that had my heart. 

The day was all about exploring Basel and grabbing those last ski essentials before hitting the slopes (where I would ski properly for the first time). We strolled through the city center, where we passed Tuia’s great-grandmother’s old house, nestled in a lively area filled with street artists, bubble blowers, and an incredible church. For lunch, I tried a Swiss Cheese Tart (Käsewähe)—think cheesy quiche meets fondue pie. It was delicious and I highly recommend. 

In the afternoon, we wandered through cafes and went to a grocery store which is always one of my favourite things to do in a new place. I discovered the Swiss are serious about their boiled eggs. Pre-boiled eggs, sold individually in colorful shells, are a common breakfast item. I also learned that one of Switzerland’s biggest exports? Pharmaceuticals (and medical goods), thanks to the massive Roche Tower, which looms over Basel and marks the economic heart of the city.

As the sun set early, we caught the view along the river, with the Roche Tower glowing in the golden light. Then we wrapped up the day at the beautiful Basel Christmas Markets, now sparkling with fairy lights. I sipped on Glühwein (a delicious mulled wine) while browsing the artisanal stalls full of handmade gifts and snacks. After a cozy Christmas celebration with Tuia’s aunt and cousins, I was ready to crash—jetlag had officially caught up with me.

Engadine Region

Our next mission: making our way to Engadine to kick off the ski leg of our trip. The group split into car and train travelers, and today, Tuia and I were on the train—honestly, the best way to travel in Switzerland (especially in winter, for both the stunning views and, let’s be real, safety on those winding frozen mountain roads!).

The first leg of our journey took us through lush green farmlands and quintessential Swiss homes, stretching for miles as we edged closer to the Italian border. But the real showstopper came when we hit the second leg of the route—this is actually a UNESCO World Heritage train journey, and for good reason. The landscape changed dramatically as we climbed into the snow-covered mountains, with views that were absolutely unparalleled. 

Once we reached Celerina, part of the Engadine region, everything was blanketed in white, and it was game time—check-in, food run, ski rentals, and back to the accommodation to unpack. Of course, there were some hiccups along the way, like a true Cinderella meets Goldilocks moment trying to find the right ski boots for Tuia’s mom, who apparently had a half-size foot. But she made it work!

After the admin-heavy travel and check-in day, it was time for my first ski attempt! I had private lessons booked for days two and three, so day one was just about getting comfortable on the magic carpet (the little beginner ski lift). Over the next few days, I had a fantastic instructor from Suvretta Ski School, who took me all around Corviglia and St. Moritz. By the end of it, I was doing green runs, albeit very slowly. Jury’s still out on whether I’m a skiing enthusiast, but I can definitely say I enjoyed it and can’t wait to give it another shot.

One thing I’m definitely in love with, though, is the views. Whether on gondolas, ski lifts, or gliding down the mountain, the scenery was jaw-dropping—every snowy moment felt like pure Christmas magic.

In Switzerland, and much of Europe, Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve, and that’s when we had our festive dinner. We feasted on Fondue Chinoise, essentially a European hot pot where you cook meat in a broth instead of cheese. It was delicious, though I’ll admit, I’m a bigger fan of the richer flavors found in traditional raclette or cheese fondue.

On Christmas Day, we went sledding (or, as Tuia’s parents called it, “slay-ing!”). And let me tell you, this was one of the most thrilling things I’ve ever done. Racing down 5 km runs through the snowy mountains at speeds of around 30 km/h with zero safety measures—other than a helmet, of course—was pure adrenaline. The scenery was unreal: we zipped under European bridges and saw the iconic red UNESCO trains winding through the valley around us. It was pure magic.

Tuia and I did a solo run during the day, then joined the family for a twilight run in the evening. To keep warm, we sipped on more Glühwein, plus coffee and prune schnapps (weird but yum). For Christmas dinner, we enjoyed raclette, the classic Swiss cheese dish where you melt cheese over potatoes and meats—but with a modern twist! Instead of melting it over a fire, we used these nifty raclette hot plates that sped up the process.

Before we left the region, we couldn’t resist one last sledding adventure. This time, we took the sledding lift up Pros da Darlux, which takes you 10 km up the mountain. I didn’t think Christmas Day sledding could be topped, but this final run was insane—even more stunning views, faster speeds, and laughter echoing around the hills.

After our epic sledding finale, we piled into the car and headed to the next leg of our journey—Urnach!