Switzerland Solo: From Nervous Newbie to Mountain Adventurer

This was my first solo destination, and I was still reeling from the chaos of Amsterdam. After my friends had patiently coached me through public transport, foreign currency, and how to avoid looking like a complete American, I was nervous but excited to test my newfound knowledge.

I landed in Zurich, found my hostel, and met an Australian girl who would become my travel buddy. We compared itineraries, figured out what we both wanted to explore, and set off on a whirlwind adventure. We chased waterfalls, climbed to mountaintops, and dipped into glacier lakes.

At our hostel, we made another friend who had a car (SCORE!), and we managed to convince her to drive us to Mt. Pilatus. Our plan? Take the train up the mountain for epic views (check them out below!). But our new friend was a hardcore solo hiking traveler, and when she realized we weren't hiking the 8-hour trek up the mountain, she was visibly disappointed. I mean, I felt a little bad, but there was no way I was about to tackle that climb in my out-of-shape state. In the end, we all had an amazing time soaking in the breathtaking scenery and capping off the day with a swim in a warm lake at the mountain’s base.

Midway through my time in Switzerland, I decided to swap my hostel in Zurich for a cozy bed and breakfast in Stechelberg. Best. Decision. Ever. This little B&B was nestled right in the mountains, and getting there involved a train ride and a gondola (a pretty wild leap for a girl who had been scared to travel solo). The setting was like something out of a fairytale.

One day, I ventured to the picturesque town of Mürren, which clings to the side of a mountain. I even convinced my Aussie friend to come join me, and we had a blast exploring together. We grabbed coffee, hiked higher into the mountains, and even chatted with a local farmer who told us that cows have best friends (so you always have to buy them in pairs).

But then came the real adventure: realizing the gondola was about to close, and we had to scramble down the mountain to catch the last train. Picture us running—more like rolling—down the trail in full-on panic mode. Thankfully, we made it, laughing at the absurdity of it all.

The rest of our time in Switzerland was spent meeting up for little day trips, like swimming in a glacier lake in Grindelwald. I’d seen a gorgeous spot on Instagram and just had to check it out. We took a train to Grindelwald (an absolutely STUNNING place) and then a gondola halfway up the mountain, followed by an hour-long hike to the lakes. When we got there, no one else was brave enough to swim, so obviously, we had to try.

The water was so freezing that I genuinely thought I needed rescuing. Diving in felt like my soul left my body. But the experience was unforgettable, and the sheer craziness of it all made the moment even better.

Meeting my Aussie friend changed my whole outlook on solo travel. She made the experience so much more vibrant and exciting, and I still love following her globe-trotting adventures to this day. Love her!