It was a brief summer vacation in 2017! The European Wonder trip for selected Malaysian travel agents was organised by Europamundo.

Day 1: Prague, a charming city

Because Prague is one of Europe’s best-preserved cities, you may find yourself meandering cobblestone streets to beautiful cathedrals, the commanding Charles Bridge, or simply spending the night in Old Town for a good beer.

We were here to make the most of our time. We walked up the hill to Prague Castle after leaving our luggage at our hotel. This is the world’s largest castle complex. Our 1.5-hour walking tour included the entrances to St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Wenceslas Chapel, St. George’s Basilica, and the Golden Lane. Be astounded by the palace’s beautiful stained-glass windows and the spire that reaches for the sky.

St Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral is without a doubt Prague’s best attraction. The intricate stained glass includes a rosette depicting the Last Judgement. It’s simply amazing.

Don’t miss out on the tiniest streets and doorways in the Golden Lane. The lane was built in the 15th century for the castle guards.

Walk down the hill to Lesser Town after exploring the castle area. Stroll the streets to see old buildings and affordable restaurants. Continue walking until you reach the tourist-heavy Charles Bridge. Take your time to admire the 30 statues on the stone bridge and the Vltava River. The legend says that Charles IV, King of Bohemia, carefully planned how the bridge would be built.

Hike over to Old Town Square to see the stunning Astronomical Clock Tower, the Church of Our Lady before Týn and St. Nicholas Church. Stop to admire the Baroque architecture as you walk.

The world’s third-oldest astronomical clock, installed in 1410, still chimes every hour. You watch the small wooden figures move every hour.

As night falls, watch the warm lights glaze over the Prague Castle and Lesser Town from Čech bridge.

Day 2: Explore Munich

Munich, the southern capital of Bavaria, is well-known for Oktoberfest (the largest festival in the world). There’s more to see than beer.

Visit Munich’s Marienplatz before noon. You can see the Glockenspiel in action at the Neues Rathaus. Munich’s oldest clock would play Bavarian characters for 15 minutes.

The equestrian statue of Prince Regent Luitpold stands atop the Neues Rathaus (Town Hall)‘s guardhouse. The first four Bavarian kings stood in the bay of the tower.

For a few euros, climb to the top of St Peter’s Church, Munich’s oldest church, for the best view of Marienplatz and beyond. On a clear day, you can even see the Alps from the 56-metre-high viewing platform. However, the stairs can be quite intimate.

There are some excellent food markets in Munich. The Viktualienmarkt, located near Marienplatz and adjacent to Schrannenhalle, is the largest, with 140 stalls selling fresh produce such as bread, fruit, and vegetables. It’s a good place to eat lunch. We had a plate of traditional grilled German pork with three side dishes for only 7 euros.

Munich has a plethora of beer-drinking establishments. The Hofbräuhaus in Old Town is touristy and expensive, but local places are cheaper. The Duke of Bavaria founded the hall in 1589.

Olympiapark, located just outside the city centre, is a large green space ideal for a summer picnic. The park was built in 1972 for the Olympic Games.

BMW has its headquarters in Munich. If you’re a BMW fan, you won’t want to miss a visit to BMW Welt & Museum, which is just a short walk from Olympiapark. The BMW Welt is free to enter and has a huge car showroom with classic, modern, and concept cars on display.

Munich is a great place for a half-day city break.

Day 3: Innsbruck, an Alpine town

Innsbruck, the Alps’ capital, is ideal for year-round visitors. The town, nestled between mountain peaks and alpine forest slopes, is picturesque from every angle.

The historic Old Town is small but packed with attractions and traditional eateries. During our visit, the place was quite crowded. Wandering around the main street is like going back in time. The mediaeval houses, some of which are painted in vibrant pastel colours, are ideal for those looking to get a sense of the city.

The Hofburg Imperial Palace is located in the heart of Old Town. The gleaming Golden Roof, which was decorated with 2,738 gold-plated copper tiles by Emperor Maximilian I to commemorate his second marriage, is a popular tourist attraction.

Helbling Haus is one of the most beautiful Gothic and baroque buildings in the old town of Innsbruck.

The beautiful watchtower is part of the old Town Hall and is close to the Golden Roof. Fire guards watch from the viewing deck for fires and other dangers. Now serves as an information service office.

A police orchestra was performing in the courtyard in front of the Golden Roof and Stadturm while we were there.

Follow the trail to the Inn River. Capture the pristine image of these stunningly beautiful, colourful houses along the Inn River with mountains in the background. The best time is in the morning. We arrived just as the sun set.

Crystal Worlds of Swarovski on Day 4

Swarovski Crystal Worlds, a fairy tale world of shimmering crystal in the mountains of Tirol, is less than a half-hour drive from Innsbruck. This crystal visit is a good value for family weekend fun, especially during the summer.

In its Chambers of Wonder, which include a Crystal Dome, Swarovski shows off its sparkling work.

The brand also goes above and beyond the typical model of a showroom by putting family-friendly outdoor games like a magical maze and a sparkling crystal tree garden.

Day 4: Zurich The Financial Capital

Anyone who’s been to Zürich (Zurich) knows it’s not a dull modern financial capital. Clean, beautiful, but expensive.

We covered the majority of the city in just six hours. Started on Bahnhofstrasse, a street with many high-end branded shops; if you’re on a budget, window shop. This shopping boulevard leads straight to Lake Zurich and the Main Railway Station.

You can explore the historical part of Zurich from Lake Zurich. Beautiful mediaeval houses line Old Town’s cobblestoned lanes. Wandering around the city reveals its Renaissance past. Some of the most interesting things to see are the two towers of the Grossmünster (Great Minster), a Protestant church in Zürich; the Peterskirche (Peter’s Church), which has Europe’s biggest clock face; and the Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady), which is known for its stained glass windows.

You can walk uphill to Lindenhof Square for a breathtaking view of Zurich. This area is a gathering spot for locals, foreign students, and chess players.

Arrived at the weekend food market in front of Fraumünster Abbey. We enjoyed local beer and homemade Swiss pies while chatting with an elderly man about the Swiss way of life. We discovered that the market is only held on Saturdays during the summer.

The Limmat River runs through the city and joins Lake Zurich. As we headed back to Lake Zurich from Münster Bridge, we saw Grossmünster Church and the Hans Waldmann monument (photo above).

We finished our Zurich day by wandering around the lake. The view of Lake Zurich with the snow-capped Swiss Alps in the distance is simply breathtaking. This city is perfect for walking, no matter why you’re here.

Grindelwald on Day 5

Grindelwald is a typical ski and alpine hiking town surrounded by the majestic Swiss Alps. Summer brings emerald-green valleys, Alpine cows, and thousands of blooming dandelions, but snow.

I took the gondola to the top of First. Grindelwald First (2168m) of many hiking trails, including the trail to Lake Bachalpsee, an easier trail with views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, and the shortest FIRST CLIFF WALK BY TISSOT.

FIRST CLIFF WALK BY TISSOT

It was breezy up there, but the air was clean and fresh. Due to time constraints, we chose the First Cliff Walk trail. The trail concludes with an exhilarating view of the Swiss Alps from the restaurant.

The terrace rises 45m out into the void

Adventure tourists can choose to glide freely through the air or ride the Trottibike scooters downhill. Grindelwald is, without a doubt, the best great outdoors with trendy activities.

Day 5: Beautiful Lucern

Lucerne, which sits on one side of Lake Lucerne, is one of my favourite European cities. Despite the influx of tourists throughout the year, the fairy tale city of Lucerne never fails to enchant its visitors with its glistening Lake Lucerne and its mediaeval old town, which is covered in vibrant murals. And, best of all, it’s a pedestrian-friendly city.

Walk west from the railway station along the river Reuss to reach the 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge. The paintings on the roof depict scenes from Swiss mythology and history, including the biographies of St. Leodegar and St. Maurice.

After crossing the bridge, stroll down Rathausquai and Schweizerhofquai to the historical Old Town. The Old Town provides fascinating insights into the city’s history. As you wander down cobblestone lanes, you’ll discover the city’s past in its architecture, artwork, fountains, and squares.

I adore the beautifully preserved Old Town, which features a plethora of colourful murals on every building. You certainly will!

We visited the Lion Monument after our historical wandering. The monument is one of the most photographed in Lucerne. The 10-meter-long statue of a dying lion made of natural rock is a tribute to the brave Swiss mercenaries who died defending Louis XVI at the Tuileries in 1792, during the French Revolution.

Of course, visiting Lucerne without stopping for quality shopping is a mistake. Bucherer, the flagship store of Switzerland’s best-known watch and high-end jewellery dealer, is strategically located in central Lucerne.

Day 6: Bern, Switzerland’s Capital

How many of you are familiar with Switzerland’s capital? Many people thought it was Zurich. Bern, for sure, is a capital city ideal for a single daybreak. All the major sights are in Old Town, which is accessible by foot. You can get a free tourist map from the Tourist Information Office at Bear Park.

Since we were only here for a day, I focused my attention on the streets, the best buildings, and, of course, the weekend market.

Since 1983, the mediaeval old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A stroll through the cobblestone streets while admiring the old buildings and facades is simply fantastic. In the 15th-century covered shopping arcades, you’ll find boutique shops, restaurants, and luxury brands.

Aarbergasse is a street where trams and buses run up and down. Flags hung from windows down to the street demonstrate a notable sense of pride among the locals. Definitely Swiss!

The famous Clock Tower – Zytglogge – stands in the heart of the Old Town.
Built between 1191 and 1256 as a western fortification gate, it was later converted into a women’s prison around 1344. Following a fire in 1405, the tower was fitted with a bell. The clock performs admirably every hour.

It is now a symbol of Bern. The tower has many interesting features, aside from the attractive clocks on the east and west facades. The astronomical clock is truly a work of art!

Bern has more than a hundred fountains. Bernese people adore their street fountains. More than art, they’re great for refilling water bottles in the city. The majority of them date from the 16th century and are topped with a statue.

The most significant to me are: Kindlifresserbrunnen (German for Child Eater Fountain), a fountain sculpture of a sitting ogre devouring a naked child; and Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice).

When you’re done exploring Old Town, visit Bern Münster Cathedral and climb its 222 steps. The cathedral is free to enter, but photography is not permitted. For a few francs, the tower’s top offers views of the city and Alps.

The west entrance shows the Last Judgement, with the righteous separated from the wicked, who end up in Hell. It’s a lovely piece of artwork.

Einstein au Jardin is an open space behind the cathedral that juts out towards the spectacular River Aare. Relax on a chair in the sun and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or ice cream while admiring the view. We didn’t have time to watch the sunset.

To see more of the River Aare, cross over Kirchenfeldbrucke to the south of Bern. Standing on the bridge, you will be astounded by how turquoise the water is, with the parliament and the Münster in the background. There is also the Marzili funicular, Europe’s shortest railcar.

Another path led us to the Federal Palace of Switzerland. The Palace is home to Switzerland’s Federal Assembly and Federal Council. When there is no debate, there are free guided tours available daily (except Sundays) in a few languages.

I just love spending weekends in Switzerland. It’s so nice to see fresh produce and flea markets lining the streets. Street vendors sell Swiss souvenirs to tourists, while locals shop for fresh produce from farmers, and street performances add to the fun. You can play chess with locals on the street.

Walking down Nydeggbrucke street will take you to Bear Park, where you will discover how Bern got its name.

Bern’s emblem is a bear. This is the only city where bears roam freely in the park along the Aare River. They even have a designated swimming area in the river.

From there, take the path up the hill to the Rose Garden. Beautiful views of the horseshoe river bend and Old Town will amaze you. Swimming is a way of life for many locals during the summer.

Needless to say, Bern has a lot in store for her visitors. One day was barely enough. A few attractions that escaped my notice included the Einstein Museum and the Town Hall. I’ll return to delve deeper.

Day 7: Paris, City of Lights with Romance

Paris, the city of lights and love, has many beautiful buildings and monuments, like the Eiffel Tower and Luxembourg Palace, and visiting them isn’t expensive. You can also browse bookstalls along the Seine’s banks and take a free tour of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Discover Walks provides free guided walking tours. In 90 minutes, the tours visit many world-famous attractions in Central Paris. Off-season groups are fewer in number. The city has many parks and gardens, including the lovely Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre.

Paris is a walkable city, with most tourist attractions located along the Seine, but it also has an easy-to-use metro system. A single ride costs 1.70 euros, but you can save money if you buy 10 rides at once or if you take the subway.

Seine River Cruises are extremely popular and highly recommended. At this point, exhaustion was beginning to catch up with us. We tried not to over-stress ourselves because we had a long flight home the next day. The river cruise was a great way to see the old buildings and beautiful bridges along the banks.

Musée d’Orsay displays all Western artistic creations from 1848 to 1914.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is beautiful and incredibly mesmerizing.

Assemblée Nationale (Palais Bourbon) completed in 1728. Today houses the French Parliament.

Pont Bir-Hakeim and the Eiffel Tower in the background

It’s the most incredible river crossing you’ll experience!

Then we went to the Champs Élysées, which is a great place for window shopping. The famous Arc de Triomphe is located at the western end. Napoleon ordered the construction in 1806 but lost the battle before it was completed. You may cross the street to take a close-up photograph. Just keep an eye out for vehicles on both sides of the road!

Place de la Concorde

We took a short walk to the Place de la Concorde. During the French Revolution, the square was built in 1772 as an execution site. Continue on our way to the Place de la Bastille.

The famous Génie de la Liberté (Spirit of Freedom) in the square commemorates the 1789 revolution. We then took the metro to Les Invalides.

King Louis XIV established Les Invalides in 1670 for retired or injured soldiers. Today, the complex of buildings houses several museums, a church, a hospital, and a home for retired soldiers.

From a few viewpoints in Paris, you can get a spectacular view of the city. We walked for about 15 minutes to the iconic Eiffel Tower. It was built in 1889 for the World Expo of 1900. Take a delicious coffee break at the tower.

It took me 30 minutes to get to the second floor. The view from the second floor is breathtaking! The picturesque Jardins du Trocadéro is on the other side.

When the sky darkens, the best place to watch the sunset over Paris is from the top of the Montparnasse Tower. It has a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower and the city, especially at night when it is lit up and sparkles.

We walked along the Seine River to the Louvre courtyard before nightfall. It was close to sunset, so the sky was a lovely shade of orange.

The Arc de Triomphe & Tuileries Garden at dusk (view from the Louvre)

The Louvre Museum is known for its well-preserved artworks from ancient cultures such as the Romans and Greeks, and it houses Leonardo Da Vinci’s most inspiring painting, the Mona Lisa.

I spent the evening (window) shopping at Galleries Lafayette. We spent about an hour walking around the three malls.

You can’t leave Paris without seeing the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower. We watched the light show from our room.

B E A U T I F U L.

This city’s monumental architecture and history will undoubtedly capture your heart. You can’t possibly do everything in a single day. My only regret is that the Palace of Versailles is closed on Monday. Hopefully, I’ll be able to visit the palace on my next trip.