Heading into my month-long European adventure, taking the train through the Swiss Alps was right at the top of my must-do list.
I hopped on in Munich on day one of three and made my way to the stunning mountainside town of Chur. I scored a hostel that used to be the town jail—steel doors everywhere, and I couldn’t help but wonder what stories those walls would tell. Mostly, I imagined about that one or maybe two times I spent in the slammer AKA the drunk tank! 😆
Day two was pure magic as I boarded the Bernina Express in Chur. The train snaked through the Swiss Alps like a caffeinated serpent, eventually dropping me off in Milan, Italy. From there, I hopped on a quick train to Venice for the next two nights—more on that in another blog.
Behold—the most famous leg of the trip: the Bernina Express! Stunning views, dizzying mountains, and just enough adrenaline to make you question why you didn’t just stay home with Netflix.
Day two was pure magic as I boarded the Bernina Express in Chur. The train snaked through the Swiss Alps like a caffeinated serpent, eventually dropping me off in Milan, Italy. From there, I hopped on a quick train to Venice for the next two nights—more on that in another blog.
Behold—the most famous leg of the trip: the Bernina Express! Stunning views, dizzying mountains, and just enough adrenaline to make you question why you didn’t just stay home with Netflix.www.youtube.com/@NorthAmericanDarrell
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Some of the train tables had maps of the train routes in Switzerland. It was enjoyable to follow instead of constantly looking at my phone, which I probably would have done anyway. Here are some more videos, keeping in mind there are a lot more on my YouTube channel.
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I only stayed one night in Switzerland between train days. There were many small towns along the way that were beautiful, but Chur was highly recommended. The Hostel was an old jail that I read about, and really neat to experience. All the doors were metal with heavy locks, and I wish those walls could talk.
Here is a walk around the amazing city of Chur, Switzerland, where I spent the night in jail. 😆
Swiss Railways: Trains, Mountains, and Obsessive Precision
Switzerland decided in the mid-1800s that it wasn’t going to let a few Alps get in the way of progress. The first line opened in 1847 between Zürich and Baden, and soon engineers were drilling tunnels, building bridges, and basically showing the mountains who was boss.
By the early 20th century, Swiss trains were punctual, efficient, and amazingly scenic, carrying passengers and freight across the country with clockwork precision. Today, the railways aren’t just transportation—they’re a national flex: ride a train, admire a glacier, and know that the Swiss probably have a spreadsheet tracking your exact arrival time. 
