10.The Purist Alpine Bucketlist
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ThePurist’s A tour of the greatest Alpine must-sees in the Alps. Nothing more, nothing less. Bucket List Lucerne - The city. The lake. The mountains. Germany 9 ROTHENBURG 8 MUNICH 7 SALZBURG 6 HALLSTATT 5 GARMISCH ZURICH 4 INNSBRUCK 3 LUCERNE Austria Switzerland 1ZERMATT 2 LUGANO 1Zermatt At the foot of the iconic Matterhorn sits the cozy village of Zermatt. With its car-free cobblestone streets and romantic alleyways, this vacation destination has done a remarkable job preserving its original character. Life here revolves in one way or another around the majestic mountain towering above. For the traveler, unforgettable excursions await. STAY EAT DO Romantik Hotel Julen offers chalet Visionary architect Heinz Julen Gorner Gorge, an easy walk charm and spruce-paneled rooms. put his unique stamp on from Zermatt, is a natural High above Zermatt, the Omnia Restaurant 1818. wonder of towering cliffs, and Mountain Lodge presents At Cervo Mountain Boutique thundering waterfalls. unforgettable views and fireplaces Resort, innovation enlivens Alpine The Five Lakes Hike boasts warm the library, lounge, and design. Its Cervo-Puro Restaurant more crystal-clear water. restaurant. boasts 14 GaultMillau points. myswitzerland.com/romantik-hotel-julen myswitzerland.com/restaurant-1818. myswitzerland.com/gorner-gorge myswitzerland.com/lake-stelli-riffelalp myswitzerland.com/the-omnia-mountain-lodge myswitzerland.com/hotel-cervo See the famed Blacknose sheep On Wednesdays travelers can visit these beloved sheep, in the stable of the Julen family. Learn about these fascinating animals and local TopTip agriculture while enjoying some local cheese, meat, and a glass of wine. myswitzerland.com/holiday-destinations-in-switzerland 2Lugano Some regard Lugano, in the holiday region of Ticino, as one of Switzerland’s most important financial and business centers, while others see a town of parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. With Mediterranean flair, Lugano offers all the advantages of a world-class city, combined with the cachet of a small town. STAY EAT DO Spectacular vistas and luxury Ristorante Grand Café Al Porto, in Olives in Switzerland? Yes! Learn service distinguish the View Lugano’s old town, has been a more along the two-mile "Sentiero Lugano Hotel & Spa. local favorite for two centuries. dell'olivo" or Olive Tree Trail. Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola, built Restaurant Seven offers great San Grato Park, above Lake by Russian aristocrats in 1880, is views and a memorable taste of Lugano, offers a panoramic view of one of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the Ticino. the bay and majestic Alps. the World.” myswitzerland.com/the-view-hotel-spa myswitzerland.com/gran-cafe-al-porto myswitzerland.com/olive-trail myswitzerland.com/villa-castagnola myswitzerland.com/seven myswitzerland.com/parco-san-grato Hiking with Hermann Hesse Hermann Hesse, Nobel Prize-winning 20th-century author, spent 43 years in the Ticino region. Join Regina Bucher, director of the TopTip Museo Herman Hesse Montagnola, on a walking tour through the town and hills he loved. myswitzerland.com/adventureoffer 3Lucerne Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, is blessed with medieval walls and towers, a vibrant culture, and unstoppable mountain vistas. Thanks to its many attractions, the beautiful lakeside setting, and easy excursions to the lofty peaks of the Rigi, Pilatus, and Stanserhorn, the town is a world-class tourist destination. STAY EAT DO Art Deco Hotel Montana Luzern Zunftrestaurant Pfistern’s Immerse yourself in art at the offers distinctive ambiance and riverside locale and scenic terrace Kunstmuseum Luzern, atop the Culture superb views of Lucerne, its lake, delight diners. and Convention Center Lucerne. and Mt. Pilatus. The Seehotel Sternen poses Travel by boat to Flüelen, then by The Boutique Hotel Schlüssel three dining options: the traditional Gotthard Panorama Express to brings modern comfort to a tranquil Country Inn, lakeside Neptune, Bellinzona for a shopping adventure. country setting. and stylish Venus. myswitzerland.com/art-deco-hotel-montana-luzern myswitzerland.com/zunftrestaurant-pfistern myswitzerland.com/museum-of-art myswitzerland.com/boutique-hotel-schluessel myswitzerland.com/seehotel-sternen myswitzerland.com/gotthard-panorama-express Explore cuisines with Nenad Mlinarevic Explore Switzerland’s culinary richness with Nenad Minarevic, head chef at the gourmet restaurant focus. Awarded "Cook of the Year“ by TopTip Gault Millau in 2016, Minarevic values quality Swiss and regional products. parkhotel-vitznau.ch/wine-dine 4Innsbruck A medieval gem tucked within a mountain paradise, Innsbruck first became a cultural and economic epicenter as the Emperor's seat in the 15th century. Centuries of rule – first feudal then under the Habsburgs – forged the Old Town into an Alpine icon. Its prosperity left the city awash in landmarks such as the Imperial Court, the Imperial Court Church, and the gorgeous Golden Roof. STAY EAT DO Nala Boutique Hotel has a At restaurant Die Wilderin, every See the dazzling, Zaha Hadid-designed stunning garden and a quirky, ingredient has a story and every Bergisel ski jump tower, which has a artistic vibe. Hotel Weisses dish a glimpse into life in Tirol. restaurant at the top. Head to the Rössl in the city center goes At Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Golden Roof and Ambras Castle, the traditional route with restaurant Daniel is making waves romantic constructions synonymous Tirolean charm. with its gourmet Austrian menu. with the city itself. nala-hotel.at diewilderin.at bergisel.info roessl.at kirstallwelten.swarovski.com innsbruck.info Tirolean Speck Don't leave Innsbruck without trying some Tirolean cured bacon from Handl Tyrol, which can be enjoyed in dumplings or or inside the TopTip local Vinschgerl flatbread. Check out the Tiroler Speckeria, offering traditional speck. speckeria.at handltyrol.at 5Garmisch Set off dramatically by the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, and the majestic Alps, this picturesque town still lives by and celebrates its local traditions. Only an hour south of Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen provides the perfect Alpine vacation. Travelers find no shortage of arts, culture, history, sports, wellness, and nature. STAY EAT DO The only English country house Indulge in innovative German Visit the Atelier Alpeninterieur in Bavaria, Das Kranzbach cuisine at Koch’s restaurant and Bernhard Ludwig Rieger – a invites relaxation. VAUN, celebrated for their designer who brings modernity to Schloss Elmau boasts a storied sustainable and organic cuisine. traditional alpine style. past and a sumptuous present Take a cable car to For contrast, tour lavish Linderhof as a luxury spa retreat. Glaciergarden, the highest Castle, built in 1867 by Ludwig II. restaurant in Germany. daskranzbach.de/en/ zugspitze.de alpenterieur schloss-elmau.de/.at kochs-garmisch.de schlosslinderhof.de/palace Incredible AlpspiX Hike to this thrilling platform and experience endless panoramic views. Two steel beams seem to float 3,200 feet above the Höllental TopTip Valley. To enjoy the view without the hike, the Alpspitzbahn cable car will take you within 165 feet of the platform. http://zugspitze.de/ 6Hallstatt Hallstatt’s lakeside view may be the Alps’ most famous panorama. The steeple of the Evangelical Church reflected in peaceful Hallstättersee lake conjures the stuff of fairy tales. Beyond the picturesque setting, Hallstatt offers all the charms of an Austrian mountain village complete with wood-gabled houses lining the cobblestone square. STAY EAT DO Picturesque Seewirt Zauner Restaurant Höllwirt serves Visit the world’s oldest salt mine at offers quaint rooms and an fresh-caught fish from the lake in the Salzwelten, where humans have excellent restaurant. nearby Obertraun. mined salt for 7,000 years. Not only is every room unique at Restaurant Steegwirt, located on For above-ground adventure, punt Hotel Heritage Hallstatt but one the river Traun in Bad Goisern, like a local on Hallstättersee lake in guesthouse is 500 years old. specializes in hearty Austrian food. a wooden Fuhr boat. seewirt-zauner.at hoellwirt.at salzwelten.at hotel-hallstatt.com im-salzkammergut.at Salt: The White Gold The people of Hallstatt began mining salt around 1500 BC. Take home a piece of ancient history in the form of original Salzkammergut salt. Locals TopTip call it “white gold,” because it once sustained the region’s economy. dachstein.salzkammergut.at 7Salzburg Salzburg shouldn’t be on your Alpine Bucket List - it should be on your Bucket List. The UNESCO World Heritage city has an unforgettable panorama: Fortress Hohensalzburg and the spires of Salzburg’s 50 churches rise up along the river. Thanks to Mozart’s legacy and the acclaimed Salzburg Festival, the city’s cultural life is rich and star-studded, with classical music at the center. STAY EAT DO Cozy Hotel Weisse Taube has Restaurant Fideler Affe serves Visit Fortress Hohensalzburg, the welcomed guests to the same quality Austrian food in a unmistakable landmark that defines historic building since 1365. relaxed atmosphere. the Salzburg skyline. Dating to 1077, Arthotel Blaue Gans was once Legendary coffeehouse it endures as the largest preserved the city’s oldest inn, then was Tomaselli should be at the top castle in central Europe. transformed into a stylish of your go-to list for pastries boutique hotel. and Salzburgian culture. weissetaube.at fideleraffe.at salzburg.info blaue-gans.com tomaselli.at HANDL TYROL Chocolate Mozartkugeln Seeking Salzburg’s most famous confection?