Zürich: Beauty, Budgeting, and That Bus Situation

I visited Switzerland right after spending time in Paris and getting there was, in short, a journey. We traveled by both train and bus, but our connection into Zürich turned into one of the worst travel experiences I’ve ever had.

The plan was simple: take a train from Paris to Strasbourg, then catch a bus from Strasbourg to Zürich. Easy enough. When we arrived at the Strasbourg train station, we needed to get to a different station for our bus, so we tried to catch a local bus to get there. We had purchased the Île-de-France transportation pass in Paris. The name made it sound like it worked throughout the country, but we weren’t totally sure.

To double-check, we hopped on a bus and immediately asked one of the attendants if it was the correct route. He told us it wasn’t. That was fine. No problem. We were ready to hop off and find the right one. Instead, he blocked the door and informed us that since we didn’t have a valid ticket, we’d each be charged a €60 fine.

At first, we thought he was joking. The doors were still open. We had literally just stepped on. But before we could fully react, several more bus attendants surrounded us and refused to let us off. They had the bus driver start driving.

It was one of the most surreal things I’ve ever experienced. We were being held on a bus we weren’t trying to ride, by people refusing to let us leave, insisting we pay a fine for something we hadn’t even done. We explained ourselves. Other passengers tried to step in and help. One girl even told us she didn’t understand why this was happening. But the attendants weren’t listening.

They started threatening to call the police. One of them started swearing at my travel partner for no reason at all. At that point, it felt like it wasn’t just about a ticket. It felt like we were being targeted. Whether it was because we were women, because we were Black, because we were tourists, or maybe all three, it was clear something wasn’t right.

We were on a time crunch. Our bus to Zürich was leaving soon, and we weren’t even headed in the right direction. The longer we were stuck on that bus, the more likely we were to miss it.

Eventually, in a full panic and out of options, I paid the fine for both of us just to get us off. Once we were finally allowed to leave, the attendants followed us off the bus and then just walked away. No police. No explanation. Nothing.

It felt like a scam. It was a scam. And in the rush and confusion, all we could do was move forward. I called an Uber and somehow, we made it to the bus station just in time to catch our ride to Zürich.

That moment definitely left a mark. It was easily the worst experience of my Euro summer and left a sour taste in my mouth. Not just for Strasbourg, but also for what was supposed to be the beginning of our time in Switzerland.

First Impressions 

Upon arriving in Zürich, our nerves had definitely calmed. The bus ride gave us more than enough time to decompress and process everything that had just happened. Once we got into the city, we headed straight to our hotel to check in and finally relax.

That night was a bit rough. The hotel didn’t have air conditioning which definitely put a damper on things. No pun intended. Still, we were too tired to go far, so we decided to have dinner at the hotel. I thought it was pretty good, but it was also our first real introduction to Switzerland prices.

Switzerland is expensive. Like really expensive. After that first hotel dinner, we quickly realized we needed to be smart about where we spent our money. Right across the street from our hotel was a Co-op grocery store and that became our saving grace. I was basically living off rotisserie chicken legs which honestly might be the best rotisserie chicken legs I’ve ever had. Sometimes being frugal just tastes better.

Day Trip to Lucerne

The next day, we took a day trip to Lucerne to visit Mount Pilatus. Our original plan was to ride the famous toboggan, but it was closed due to an incoming storm. Even without it, I still really enjoyed the mountain. If you’re afraid of heights, though, this might not be the spot for you.

After coming down from Pilatus, we spent the rest of our time exploring the town of Lucerne. It is absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth adding to your itinerary if you’re spending any time in Zürich.

Discovering Zürich: Quiet, Clean, and Beautiful

Back in Zürich, I feel like most of my time was spent just being in awe. The city is so quiet, so clean, so peaceful and friendly. It’s also stunning. It honestly felt like the kind of place you would choose to retire, to live out your years in complete bliss.

Being by Lake Zürich, watching a live ensemble play on the street, seeing an outdoor salsa class in motion — I don’t know, man. It just seems like the people of Zürich have this life thing figured out.

Sweet Moments

On our last full day, we stayed close to the water. We took a ferry as close as you can get to the Lindt Chocolate Museum, which was an experience all on its own. We ate as much chocolate as our bodies could handle and walked through the museum, which I highly recommend. If you’re planning to visit, definitely book your tickets well in advance. They sell out quickly.

After our visit, we took the ferry back and met up with a very close friend of mine who lives in Zürich for school. We had a lakeside sunset picnic, and it was such a perfect way to end the trip — just catching up with my girl and spending time with two people very close to my heart.

It was peaceful, simple, beautiful. The best kind of goodbye.

All In All

Zürich felt like a place where life moves at its own calm pace, full of beauty and genuine kindness. From a frustrating start to peaceful days by the lake and breathtaking mountain views, it reminded me that travel isn’t always perfect but those imperfect moments often make the best stories.