A Quiet Swiss Summer: 6 Days of Art, Mountain Trails, Lakeside Calm & Alpine Wellness

Our trip began in Basel, birthplace of the world-famous Art Basel fair and a city brimming with museums, galleries, and creative energy—a perfect soft landing before heading deeper into Switzerland.

One of my first stops was the Goetheanum, the world center of the anthroposophical movement. Founded in the early 20th century by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, it was his response to what he saw as a cultural and spiritual crisis—war, materialism, and the mechanization of human life.

About halfway through exploring, my partner and I found ourselves deep in conversation: Is it a cult? Is it controversial? Is it expanding like Scientology? Whether or not you’re drawn to anthroposophy, the architecture alone is worth the trip—flowing concrete curves unlike anything else in Switzerland.

Cross the border into Germany to visit the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein—a pilgrimage for design lovers and one of the world’s leading museums of industrial furniture design and architecture. I was in a constant state of awe, wandering from sleek space‑age chairs to playful modernist classics, each piece telling its own story of form and function.

The museum’s exhibitions dive deep into design philosophy, while the surrounding campus is an architectural playground. You’ll find buildings by Frank Gehry, Herzog & de Meuron, and Zaha Hadid—her dramatic Vitra Fire Station was her first completed building and still feels strikingly contemporary.

It’s the kind of place you can easily spend an entire day, breaking it up with lunch or coffee at the on‑site café.

Zürich might be Switzerland’s financial hub, but it’s also one of the best launchpads for day trips that feel worlds away from the city. Within hours, you can be swimming in turquoise water, wandering a storybook village, or having lunch on a cliff with the Alps spread out before you.

One of my favorite escapes is Lake Caumasee in Flims. Tucked into a ring of pine forest at 3,271 feet above sea level, the lake shimmers in shades of turquoise thanks to underground springs that feed it. In summer, the water warms to a swim-ready 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can walk the gentle 45‑minute loop trail or settle into the lakeside café, as we did, and watch the light shift across the water. On a sunny day, it’s easy to see why it’s called The Jewel of Flims.

From Zürich, we took a two‑hour train to Wasserauen, with a worthwhile stop in Appenzell village, famous for its hand‑painted façades. We had lunch at Café‑Hotel Appenzell, where oatmeal soup with Appenzeller cheese and veal sausage with crispy rösti became the standout traditional Swiss meal of our trip. Before continuing, we stocked up on handmade chocolate from Chocolat Manufacture Appenzell.

From Wasserauen, the Ebenalp cable car climbs to 5,217 feet, where a short trail through the Wildkirchli caves leads to the Aescher cliff restaurant, built dramatically into the rock face and easily one of Switzerland’s most photographed spots.

Instead of riding back down, follow the two‑hour downhill trail to Seealpsee, an emerald‑green alpine lake surrounded by jagged peaks—a fitting finale to the day.

From Zürich, we continued to Lucerne, our gateway to the Bürgenstock Resort and its legendary Alpine Spa. The arrival feels cinematic—a boat gliding across Lake Lucerne, mountains ahead, and a private funicular carrying you straight into the hotel grounds. Once a favorite of Hollywood icons and European royalty, the resort has been transformed into a sleek alpine retreat without losing its old‑world glamour.

We spent the day in the Alpine Spa, moving between an infinity pool suspended over the lake, panoramic saunas, steam rooms, and quiet lounges stocked with books and snacks. It’s the best spa I’ve ever experienced.

After days of exploring, it gave us exactly what we needed—a pause, a reset, and a reminder that some of the best travel moments come from slowing down.