5 Things to Do on Your First Weekend in Switzerland

Immerse yourself in a world-class destination while earning a world-class education at Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAAS), the best culinary school in Switzerland and 8th best in the world.  Switzerland, with its stunning natural attractions, rich cultural heritage, and sumptuous dining, will provide a wealth of memorable experiences during your schooling. 

For your first weekend in Switzerland, we have outlined some great ways to get acquainted with your host country, including famous Switzerland tourist spots, winter wonderlands, and other must-see Swiss attractions. 

Our first hot tip is simple: get settled, breathe in the cool, refreshing Swiss mountain air, and explore the campus you’ll be calling home during your education with CAAS. When you first arrive, take some time to get familiar with where you will be living and studying during this exciting chapter of your life. 

Explore charming Le Bouveret, your campus in years 1 and 2

• In Le Bouveret, you’ll be living at a lakeside resort on the shores of serene Lake Geneva, with beautiful vistas across the waters to Lausanne, Montreux, and Evian-les-Bains in neighboring France. Take some time to explore your campus, sip an espresso at The Ritz Lounge, enjoy an international meal at The Lakeview Restaurant, or savor culinary delights at The César Ritz Fine Dining restaurant—where our culinary school students learn and practice their skills—just as you will being doing very soon!
   
• Your campus in Le Bouveret is home to the one-of-kind Mosimann Collection, a must-see Swiss attraction for culinary school students. A museum open to the public, the Mosimann Collection is an absolute treasure containing thousands of precious items from the private collection of Master Chef Anton Mosimann, OBE. Marvel at the display of historical cookbooks, royal cooking accessories, original recipes, photos and artwork, and a menu collection from some of the world’s great restaurants. What a wonderful way to begin your studies in culinary arts—without even leaving the campus!
   
• Once you’ve got your feet under you, get on your warm boots and jacket and explore some of your beautiful wintry surroundings in Le Bouveret. There is a lovely year-round trail (4.9 mile loop) that starts at the train station, with easy terrain for walking and peacefully sight-seeing along the shores Lake Geneva, the Rhône River, and the small lake of Vieux Rhône. To see the sights from the water, rent or charter a boat year-round and tour the charming shoreline.
   
• Having explored your new surroundings, it’s time to indulge your passion! As a CAAS student, you will surely want to savor dining experiences at some of Switzerland’s best restaurants. Nothing says winter comfort food in Switzerland quite like our world-famous cheese fondues and raclette dishes. In nearby Leysin, La Fromagerie is a decadent cheese-lovers paradise, with traditional Swiss fondues and raclettes, nightly cheese-making demonstrations, a museum and a gift shop, all in the comforts of a rustic 17^th century chalet. 
   
• For a fine dining experience, just ten minutes by car from Le Bouveret is the Michelin-starred Restaurant de l’Etoile in Noville. One of the most famous restaurants in the region, Benoît and Caroline Roch carry on the culinary tradition begun by Benoît’s grandparents in 1949. Treat yourself to an exquisite meal and warm hospitality at this historic Swiss establishment – but reserve a table early to avoid disappointment!
   
• There are countless inspiring Swiss attractions you simply must see in Switzerland during your time in the country.  In Le Bouveret, the Swiss Vapeur Parc offers a unique experience that promises to transport you back to your childhood. Ride around on miniature steam and electric locomotives as you pass Swiss landmarks, bridges, and villages in this one-of-a-kind attraction for adults and young people alike on the shores of Lake Geneva.
   
• If you are interested in a traditional Swiss mountain adventure, travel to Les Diablarets in less than an hour from Le Bouveret. Dress warmly because you’ll find yourself at an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet, with opportunities to ski year-round, visit glaciers, snowshoe, go sledding, and dozens of other exhilarating activities in the mountains.  A Glacier 3000 ticket, for example, offers unforgettable vistas on a cable car ride followed by traversing a suspension bridge strung between two glacial summits. Experience the wonder of Switzerland’s many mountain ranges, no matter what activities you may choose to do; it is essential to experiencing Swiss culture, attractions, and hospitality.

Explore Brig, your campus in year 3

• For our year 3 culinary school students who are living on campus in Brig, you will experience a different but equally tantalizing flavor of Swiss life. Just two hours by car from Le Bouveret, Brig sits at the foot of the Alps in the Rhône Valley. A lovely Swiss-German town with a charming old quarter and cobble-stoned streets, your campus lies in the center of Brig, situated in two buildings about five minutes apart. Explore the campus when you first arrive – you can visit the modern fitness center, the library, or savor a coffee at Cosmos lounge. 
   
• For a special treat on-campus at Brig, reserve a table at Alpina Restaurant, where students in the final term of the Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland bachelor's program have the invaluable opportunity to run their own restaurant and demonstrate their creativity and culinary skills to customers and teachers alike. Take notes between each mouth-watering bite—imagine what you will serve when you get the chance to run the restaurant for a night! 
   
• The town of Brig is a charming city with old and new sections you’ll delight to explore. Stroll around and take in the sights yourself, or take a guided walking tour on a weekend in Switzerland, highlighting the patrician townhouses, the famous lifting bridge, and the rich history of Brig. 
   
• After a winter walk, you’ll be ready to warm up and sample some rich local cuisine. Walliserstuba restaurant, located right in Brig, is a fine choice for savoring traditional Swiss dishes such as fondue and raclette. Or treat yourself to a dining experience at Restaurant ZerMili, a charming house where over 90 percent of the food comes from the immediate area. ZerMili offers guests simple dishes, prepared to perfection by Chef Gottstein and his team: “Eating is more than just taking in food. Eating means dining, experiencing, communicating, and relaxing. Eating at ZerMili should make you happy!” What could be better for a culinary school student to experience on your first weekend in Switzerland!
   
• The Brig campus is nestled at the foot of the Simplon Pass, where you have access to a bountiful menu of some of the world’s best hiking and ski regions. On a weekend in Switzerland in the winter, a short trip by public transit (7 min) takes you to Ried-Brig, a gondola lift station, where you can board a cable car that will carry you up and away (2,500 feet) to picturesque Rosswald. Relax on the Rosswald’s sunny mountain terrace and enjoy 15 miles of ski slopes. You can even rent a toboggan for the downhill dash back to Brig at the end of your visit.
   
• Brig is perhaps best known to tourists for its open-air thermal baths, available as a year-round oasis. The Brigerbad thermal baths have 16 different pools in indoor and outdoor areas, including the warm thermal pool, the grotto swimming pool, a sports pool for diving off rocks, a turbulent river pool, and the longest alpine water slide in Europe (199 yards). Unwind, relax, and savor the experience at the largest outdoor thermal swimming pools in Switzerland—because every cool winter adventure should end with a dip in hot springs. 
   

As a student attending CAAS, these kinds of weekend experiences will not only deepen your understanding of the cultural and natural treasures of Switzerland but also introduce you to Swiss cuisine and hospitality. 

Make the most of your first winter weekend in the heart of Europe, and let it set the tone for a semester filled with delicious discoveries and memorable moments. Remember, Switzerland has so much more to offer you, so use your weekends wisely to explore this beautiful country and immerse yourself in its rich culinary and cultural heritage.