JIKOOK IN AYS SWITZERLAND : COMPLETE TRAVEL GUIDE
I tried to compile all the locations jikook traveled to in AYS 2 Switzerland. The goal is that you would be able to follow in their footsteps and recreate the same trip if you ever come to Switzerland. I will try to be thorough with the information, but I'm sorry in advance if any information is inaccurate or missing. I'm using my knowledge of Switzerland and my own detective skills on this. If you find any inaccuracies please let me know and I will correct the guide! I hope you will know everything you need to prepare your trip here. Obviously depending on how long you stay in Switzerland, you don't have to follow exactly the same itinerary. But I hope my info will allow you to include some of the stops jikook made. Enjoy the guide!
Landing in Zürich Airport ✈️
Zürich Airport -> Flims, LAAX
By car : 1h45
By train: 2h16 (Zürich Flughafen -> Zürich HB -> Chur -> Bus 81 Flims Dorf)
Price: 60CHF one way / 30CHF half price card
1. Flims 📍
🍽️ Restaurant Grandis Ustria da Vin
Price range: 80CHF-100CHF+
🏠 Rocks Resort
They picked the 4 bedrooms appartment (photos found on website)
Price for one night: 380CHF
They took breakfeast/coffee in the other building of the rock resort's complex. So if you don't have the same hotel you most likely won't be able to have breakfast in the same spot.
Flims -> Caumasee
By car: 5 minutes
By bus: 24 minutes (Laax GR, Bergbahnen -> Flims Waldhaus, Caumasee and then walk) Local Price apply (buy ticket inside the bus or look at information at bus stop for buying ticket. If you have a doubt you can ask the driver.)
Caumasee
🍽️ Restaurant Ustria La Cauma
(It's written it's temporarly closed but openings must depend on the time of year, please check before coming and if they are closed prepare food and drinks in advance, there are no other restaurants around the lake)
Caumasee -> Bargers Kebab, Chur
By car: 24 minutes
By bus: 30 minutes (Bus 81 Flims Waldhaus, Caumasee -> Chur, Malteser) Local price apply
🍽️ Bargers Kebab
Price range: 10CHF-25CHF
Flims -> Furka Pass -> Brig Station
By car: 3 hours (Furka Pass on the way)
By transportation: HELL! 5 hours! Do not recommend! But if you insist (Bus 441 Flims Dorf -> Ilanz, Train Ilanz -> Disentis, Disentis -> Andermatt, Andermatt -> Brig Station, but there are different routes. Check CFF/SBB app.)
Price: Hell as well. 134CHF one way / 67CHF half price card
Brig Station
🍽️ Döner Egga (Closest kebab from the station, most likely where the staff bought them for the train.) (Personal note: Why do they keep eating junk food this is killing me lmaoo)
Brig station -> Zermatt
Train: 1h35 (direct)
Price: 40CHF / 20CHF half price card one way
2. Zermatt📍
(There are no cars in Zermatt. Please get around by foot or mini cars like jikook did)
🏠 La Vue, Zermatt, room 302
Appartement Panorama for 10 people
Price: 1413CHF per night (Ouch! But it's Zermatt!)
🍽️ Bodega Bacchus
Price range: 35CHF-80CHF
🚴 Kickbike from Sunnega
This activity seems to not be available at this time. Please check if it is when you come.
🍽️ Chalet Ried Restaurant (for the drink and view)
Zermatt Station -> Gornergrat Station
Train: 38 minutes
Price: 66CHF one way / 33CHF half price
🪂 FlyZermatt Paragliding
Most likely price: 240CHF (take off location vary upon seasons, please check with them if you can also do it from the same spot as jikook)
🍺Hexenbar Zermatt
Ski:
You can rent ski gears in the village, there must be several shops for it, it won't be difficult to find.
They started in Zermatt and took the cable car in the direction of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. You can find a map with different starting points and overall more information about skiing HERE.
Stargazing:
I could not find anything that indicated what their stargazing spot was. I don't think they took any train or anything and it must not have been far from city center since they took the mini-car. It's maybe an empty field the staff picked for this. There are plenty of viewpoints to watch the stars in Zermatt you can find more info online if you wanna book something specific.
Zermatt -> Visp
By train: 1h10 (direct)
Price: 38CHF one way / 19CHF half price
Visp -> Spiez
By train: 27 minutes
Price: 40CHF one way / 20 CHF half price
Of course you'll combine the two trains when you'll buy the tickets so the price will add up
Spiez
You can find info to take the same ferry HERE. Just go down at the pier.
🍽️ Dolce Vita Spiez (the hot dogs)
Price: 8CHF
You can find the bench where they sat right in front!
The ferry stop to get off is Interlaken.
Interlaken -> Brienz
By car: 20 minutes
By train: 20 minutes
Price: 8.60CHF one way / 4.30 half price card
3. Brienz📍
First place they stayed in (short time):
🏠 Brienz appartement (Booking Link)
Price: 478CHF per night (ouch again!)
They walked until:
🛥️ The Boats
More info on how to rent a hot tub boat HERE.
Price: from 255CHF for 1h30
Second long term house they moved to:
🏠 Art residence (Booking Link)
Price: 320CHF per night
(They could have stayed in the first one if you ask me but both are amazing)
Brienz -> Interlaken
By car: 20 minutes
By train: 20 minutes
🍽️ Asllanis Corner (burgers)
Price 20CHF-30CHF
Don't forget to take the berliner as dessert!
The parc where they fed the ducks is right in front of this restaurant, you cannot miss it.
Interlaken -> Canyon Swing
By car: 30 minutes
By transports: 53 minutes
🤸 Canyon Swing Grindelwald
Price: 125CHF-149CHF
More info on the activity HERE.
-> Back to Brienz
🍦 Brienz Gelati & Food
The bench is right next to this!
🏊 Swimming in the Lake (EXACT COORDINATES)
Brienz Station -> Zürich
By car: 1h37
By train: 2h26 (Brienz -> Luzern / Luzern -> Zürich)
Price: 50CHF one way / 25CHF half price card
4. Zürich📍
They took the tram from the station and then sat HERE to find their restaurant.
🍽️ Zeughauskeller
Price: 30CHF - 50CHF
🏠 The Dolder Grand
They have so many rooms it's hard to tell which one was theirs. But I'm thinking it may be a double room deluxe. And the price starts at 940CHF for one night. The prices in this hotel are hella expensive. But it's an hotel I've always dreamed of going to. If you can afford it, go for it, even for a basic bedroom.
They obviously ate at the hotel's restaurant.
Zürich at night
They went out at night in the city and took photos on the bridge HERE.
Then they climbed and took a look at the beautiful view HERE.
-> Back to Zürich Aiport ✈️
END OF THE TRIP
Now let me give you some useful tips!
When to come
Honestly any season is good to come in Switzerland. But from May to October might be best. Our winters aren't that cold nowadays, but it's still more grey and less lively. If you come in the middle of summer please don't make the same mistake as jikook to wear long sleeves (you will die) and dress appropriately. Always check your levels of hydration and sodium. Switzerland doesn't use AC very much (like the rest of Europe) so maybe you'll be lucky to get a fan in your accommodation. Be careful of your skin too. I find that the middle seasons are more comfortable to do activities outside. In doubt, bring a jacket in case it gets chilly. And if you really wanna experience the Switzerland's winters, you will be fine. Just keep in mind that if you go to Flims or Zermatt, there might be snow and you will need to dress accordingly. Please always check if your activity is available at the time of year you will be coming.
Transportation
As you saw I put both the car and public transports options. I do think you can do everything in transports, it takes only a little bit more planning, more time, and a few odd connections. Renting a car like jikook did for the first part of the trip was a good idea I think. But from Zermatt I don't think you would need it at all. Our public transports are very good. You may have noticed but I put 2 prices each time. If you envision taking the transports it might be relevant to buy the half fare card. It's for a year, and it's around 160CHF. But if you use it enough during your trip it might be worth it. If you plan on taking the car, swiss people are safe drivers. Just be mindful to not go too fast in the mountains.
To buy tickets you can install the SBB/CFF train app and also check itinerary on there. If you have any doubt you can go to a station and ask a clerk for information or to buy tickets. There are also machines everywhere to buy tickets directly.
Food & Drinks
If you wanna buy some food, you can go to Migros or Coop. Migros is usually cheaper than Coop. You'll find everything you need in there. But for the love of god don't buy those ready-to-make plate jikook bought. It's horrendous and we would not buy this. And don't make the same mistake as them to not try our Ice tea from Migros. Lemon or peach, it's your choice, but you should definitely try it! It's national pride! lol
If you wanna go to cheap restaurants (and not all the jikook ones) you can always go to döner kebab, burgers, bakeries (why did jikook eat like poor people XD). You can also find full meals for cheap in Migros restaurants, Migros take-away, and Coop restaurants. If you wanna go to something fancier (but still cheap, around 25CHF a meal) you can try Manor restaurant. You'll find this one most probably in Zürich.
For the water, you don't actually need to buy big packs of mineral water. Our tap water is very very good so if you need water you can always fill your existing bottle with water from a tap. It's good pretty much everywhere. Only be careful if you see a fountain to check if there's a sign that says if it's drinkable or not. If nothing is written I would not try it.
In the restaurants, it's customary to order a drink (any), and then you can also ask for a pitcher of water on the side (they usually don't make you pay this, but they might depending if the restaurant is fancy). Bread is usually free.
If it's a weekend you may wanna try to make reservation depending on the restaurant.
It's also customary to leave a tip (few franks, you can round it up sometimes). But not at cheap places, only in real restaurants.
Language
We have four languages. French, Swiss german, Italian, and Romansch.
But most of this itinerary takes place where people speak swiss german.
Everybody knows english so you'll be fine whenever you go probably. And in doubt, use google translate and google lense!
Currency
Swiss Franks. You can make some change at the airport and you'll have changes and ATMs wherever you go. You don't actually need to carry a lot of cash. Everywhere accepts card. I usually never hold cash around there's no need. But you might take some just in case your card gets blocked.
SIM card
You can either buy a sim card at the airport, or you can directly use an e-sim from a provider before you leave. Second option might be easier. I used Holafly in the past and was satisfied with them.
Safety
Switzerland is very safe. It's safe also to travel alone. You don't need to be scared either to come home late at night. Of course in busier places (Like Interlaken & Zürich) be mindful of your belongings, like you would anywhere. And if someone talks to you on the street, except if it's to ask for direction, it's usually suspicious. Swiss people do not really talk to each other LOL If someone talks to you, they probably want something. Be careful!
________
We have reached the end of this guide. If you have more questions, feel free to send them in the comments, and if some are relevant, I might add them to the guide. I think I successfully managed to find all the spots jikook went to. And I hope that if you decide to include some of their destinations to your trip, that you will have a lovely time! Of course there are many more things to see in Switzerland, you can always adjust this to your needs.
It made me happy that Jungkook said he could see himself coming here when he gets old, and I'm so glad they both enjoyed, it probably means they will come back at some point! Yaye!
Thank you for reading 💜
Thanks @slaaverin for this Complete Guide to AYS? Season 2
