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Christchurch, New Zealand
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Prague, Czechia
PID pass 3 days for $15 access to all trams, busses, metro, ferries
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Munich, Germany
Join the Emerald Cruise from Munich Airport
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Regensburg, Germany
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Passau, Germany
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Krems an der Donau, Austria
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Vienna, Austria
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Bratislava, Slovakia
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Budapest, Hungary
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Innsbruck, Austria
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Chur, Switzerland
Day trip to St Moritz
Collect stamps to get Lindt chocolate tin
🌅 Morning — Arrival & Snowy Views
Arrive early
If you’re coming by train, try to get the Bernina Express — it’s one of the most scenic winter routes in the world.
If driving, go early to catch sunrise light over the Engadin Valley.
Coffee & breakfast stop
☕ Café Hanselmann – traditional, warm, and famous for Engadine nut tart.
🥐 Or Hauser – relaxed vibe, perfect for a hearty breakfast before exploring.
Quick stroll
Take a short walk along frozen Lake St. Moritz — often used for polo and horse races on snow later in winter.
Great photo spot: the view back toward the town and mountains.
🎿 Late Morning — Mountain Adventure
Option 1: Corviglia ski area (easy access)
Take the funicular from St. Moritz Dorf to Corviglia.
Rent skis/snowboard, or just take the cable car for the panoramic views.
Non-skiers can enjoy mountain restaurants and short winter hikes.
Try White Marmot Restaurant & Bar or El Paradiso for lunch with a view.
Option 2: Muottas Muragl
Ride the funicular for stunning Engadin valley vistas.
Perfect for tobogganing or snowshoeing, and the panoramic restaurant terrace is spectacular in winter sunshine.
🕓 Afternoon — Relax & Explore Town
Explore St. Moritz Dorf
Walk Via Serlas (designer shops, boutiques).
Check out the Leaning Tower of St. Moritz and Engadine Museum for local history.
Warm up with hot chocolate at Badrutt’s Palace bar or Café Buchmann.
Or: Spa time
Head to Ovaverva Spa – indoor/outdoor pools with mountain views, saunas, and relaxation lounges.
A great way to unwind after the cold.
🌙 Evening — Lights & Dinner
Sunset walk
Around Lake St. Moritz as lights come on in town — very photogenic with reflections on the ice/snow.
Or catch the funicular up to Muottas Muragl for a romantic sunset panorama over the frozen lakes.
Dinner ideas
Hauser Restaurant – warm and casual, good local dishes.
Dal Mulin – fine dining with alpine flair.
Chesa Veglia – historic farmhouse restaurant with cozy wood interiors and classic Swiss menu (book ahead).
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Brig, Switzerland
🇨🇭 Zermatt Day Trip (December)
Route: Brig → Zermatt (morning) → Montreux (evening)
Travel time:
Brig → Zermatt: ~1 hr by train (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn)
Zermatt → Montreux: ~2.5–3 hrs by train via Visp
🌄 Morning — Travel & Arrival in Zermatt
Depart Brig: around 8:00 AM
Take the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn narrow-gauge train — it winds up through beautiful snowy valleys.
Arrive Zermatt ~9:00 AM. Zermatt is car-free, so everything is by foot or electric taxi.
Breakfast stop:
🥐 Bäckerei Fuchs or Petit Royal Café (in the main street, Bahnhofstrasse) — great for coffee and pastries before heading up the mountain.
🏔️ Late Morning — Gornergrat or Sunnegga for Matterhorn Views
Option 1: Gornergrat Bahn (Top Pick)
Take the cogwheel train from Zermatt station to Gornergrat (3,089 m) — about 30 minutes.
The Matterhorn view from the top is world-famous, especially with winter snow.
There’s a panoramic terrace, small chapel, and restaurant (3100 Kulmhotel).
Optional short winter walk along the ridge if you’re dressed warmly.
Option 2: Sunnegga Funicular (Quicker)
Faster, cheaper, and also beautiful.
Great for photos of the Matterhorn over the valley.
You can walk a short snow trail to Findeln for lunch with a view.
🍝 Lunch — Alpine Style
If on Gornergrat:
Eat at 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat or Restaurant Alphitta (on the way back down — cozy, family-run).
If at Sunnegga/Findeln:
Try Chez Vrony or Adler Hitta — both famous for sunny terraces and great mountain food.
🕓 Afternoon — Explore Zermatt Village
Return to town by ~2:30–3:00 PM
Stroll through Bahnhofstrasse — boutiques, chocolate shops, and cozy chalets.
Visit the Matterhorn Museum (Zermatlantis) for quick insight into mountaineering history.
Stop for a hot chocolate at Elsie’s Bar or Läderach Chocolatier.
If you have an hour to spare:
Walk toward the Kirchbrücke (Church Bridge) — the classic Matterhorn photo spot, especially in winter light.
🚆 Evening — To Montreux via Visp
Depart Zermatt: around 4:30–5:00 PM
Train back to Visp, then connect to a GoldenPass or InterRegio train to Montreux.
Arrive ~7:30–8:00 PM.
🌙 Evening in Montreux — Lake Views & Dinner
Stroll:
Walk along the Montreux lakeside promenade — lit up beautifully in December, especially during the Montreux Noël Christmas Market (one of Switzerland’s best).
Great views across Lake Geneva with snowy French Alps opposite.
Dinner suggestions:
🍷 Restaurant Le Museum – Swiss chalet-style, excellent raclette/fondue.
🍽️ Montreux Jazz Café – lively atmosphere and classic local dishes.
🌮 Or casual lakeside dining at Chez Gaston or La Rouvenaz (Italian).
💡 Tips
Layer up! Zermatt can be very cold in December (often -5°C to -10°C at Gornergrat).
Book mountain transport early (especially Gornergrat Bahn).
If it’s cloudy, Sunnegga often sits below the clouds — you might get clearer Matterhorn views there.
Montreux Christmas Market runs from late November to Christmas Eve — worth timing your trip around it.
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Montreux, Switzerland
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Interlaken, Switzerland
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Zurich, Switzerland
not staying,
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Oslo, Norway
Start Norway in a Nutshell trip from today
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Flåm, Norway
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Bergen, Norway
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Bergen, Norway
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London, United Kingdom
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Christchurch, New Zealand