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Swiss bliss
Do you love sports and sightseeing?
A tournament like the UEFA EURO is a once in a lifetime chance to cheer on your team from beyond your television screen, but also get a glimpse of a country beyond the stadiums.
Jess flew out to Switzerland ahead of the Women’s EURO 2025 group stage to watch two England games and Spain vs Italy. Staying in hotels at Zurich, Bern and St. Gallen, she was able to soak in the local culture between matches – the perfect pause to a football-fuelled itinerary.
Each city gave a different flavour of Switzerland from Zurich’s lakeside elegance to Bern’s medieval charm to the calmness of St. Gallen’s streets.
A free day between fixtures found Jess on a spontaneous day trip to Thun, another EURO match hosting city, known for its historic castle and turquoise lake.
Zurich
Switzerland’s largest city offers a seamless blend of modernity, history and vibrant culture for you to explore. The FIFA Museum is an absolute must-do if you’re a football fan. It costs 25 Swiss francs if you pay online and you can expect to see lots of authentic memorabilia and merchandise, including the FIFA World Cup Trophy!
“All the stadiums we went to were close to the city centres, with regular buses and trains running, giving us generous time for sightseeing during the day. You were never far from anywhere and the bus stops and stations were always opposite our hotels, which also made us feel more comfortable staying out later to make the most of our time.”
Bern
Switzerland’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bern is the place where medieval beauty meets captivating atmosphere. From finding the Zytglogge 13th-century clock tower to bear spotting and dipping your feet in the river at BärenPark, Bern is a testament to its own popularity.
“The transport around and within the different cities was super easy to navigate but each had its own way to pay for tickets, so it’s worth looking into. When we booked into our hotel in Bern, they gave us a travel pass that allowed us to travel for free within the city. We booked tickets using the SBB Mobile app when travelling to the different cities. If you book up until the day before, you also get a saver offer which helped us save a lot of money.”
Thun
Just a short train ride from Bern, Thun is the perfect destination for a day trip to discover more of the country. For just 15 Swiss francs, you can indulge in history with a tour of Thun Castle, providing picturesque panoramic views of the city and the Bernese Alps borders. After a day of exploring, grab a sandwich from a shop and sit by one of the tranquil rivers.
“The food was gorgeous everywhere we went, and there was plenty to choose from for different tastes. Restaurants didn’t have many meals below 20 Swiss francs, so we’d buy breakfast pastries and sandwiches for lunch from the local convenience stores. In Thun we found a food store that you could sit in at, so we ate lunch inside while watching the river.”
St. Gallen
Located in north-eastern Switzerland, this quiet city is embraced with charm and heritage. The Abbey of Saint Gall is home to one of the oldest monastic libraries in the world with volumes dating back to the 8th century. For a further taste of Swiss life, the city is known for its St. Galler Bratwurst veal sausage and Biberli, a spiced honey and almost pastry.
“All the locals could speak great English despite the population speaking different languages. In Zurich, we heard a lot of German and as soon as we stepped off the train in Bern all we could hear was French. All the waiters and shop assistants were very friendly and helpful."
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