A 7-night European Adventure

Hi everyone! 😊

I've put together all of our Europe trip posts into one blog, with links throughout that take you to more detailed story if you'd like to explore a particular post further.

This was our 7-night Europe trip in mid-January this year, covering four beautiful countries: Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Germany.  From stunning alpine scenery and charming villages to delicious food and unforgettable memories, this itinerary packs a lot into one week.

Personally, out of the four countries we visited, I'd love to go back to Austria and Germany.  Even though we only had a short time there, we had an amazing experience.  The scenery was breathtaking, the people were friendly and the food was delicious too.  There's still so much more to see and I'd definitely love to return to explore more cities and experience everything these beautiful countries have to offer.

I hope this blog helps anyone planning to visit any of these destinations.  Feel free to browse through the posts and if you have any questions, I'd be happy to help as much as I could.  Happy reading, and I hope it inspires your own European adventure! 

Muscat International Airport

Fly out from Bangkok to Zurich with Oman Air, with a short transit at Muscat Airport click here

Ibis Budget Zurich Airport

Stayed for one night at Ibis Budget Hotel, Zurich click here

Lucerne, Switzerland

Enjoyed delicious local Swiss cuisine at Wirtshaus Taube in Lucerne click here

Hotel Krebs, Interlaken

Charming and historic stay at Hotel Krebs in Interlaken click here

Interlaken, Switzerland

Interlaken in wintertime click here

Chocolate pie from Mcdonald's in Interlaken

The best chocolate pie from McDonald's in Interlaken click here

Coop Supermarket

Everything you could possibly need - from snacks and drinks to ready-made meals - you can find them in Coop Supermarket click here

Chocolate fondue

We had Thai food from Tom Yum Kung Restaurant and chocolate fondue for dessert from Chasstubli Click here

Grindelwald

Beautiful Alpine village of Grindelwald  Click here

Pretzel from local bakery in Zermatt

The hunt for the iconic Matterhorn Click here

A vignette for driving in Europe

Vignette or Motorway pass Click here

Liechtenstein Castle

One of Europe's smallest countries click here

Innsbruck

Innsbruck for a night click here

Karaage Restaurant, Innsbruck

The best karaage chicken I've ever had Click here

Chocolate and cherry strudel from Kroll Strudel cafe

A must-try Austrian strudel in town Click here

Donut from Austrian McDonald's

McDonald's Click here

Pension Bergfried, Hallstatt

One night in my dream town, Hallstatt Click here

Wiener schnitzel from Restaurant Zum Salzbaron, Hallstatt

A no-regrets dinner at Restaurant Zum Salzbaron inside Seehotel, Hallsatt Click here

Hallstatt

Peaceful morning walk in Hallstatt Click here

Maislinger Bakery in Hallstatt

Local bakery in Hallstatt click here

Pork ribs burger from Mcdonald's in Germany

German McDonald's Click here

Koos Hotel in Munich

Stayed at Koos Hotel for the night Click here

Frauenkirche Cathedral, Munich

Wandering through Munich on foot Click here

Hofbrauhaus Munchen

Prost to German beers! Click here

Goodbye and see you again

Some pictures from the Aspire Lounge in Zurich Airport Click here

Maislinger Bakery, Hallstatt

Previously:

Hallstatt, Austria

We started the day the right way, with a visit to a local loved bakery shop - Maislinger Bakery.  There's something special about grabbing fresh bread straight from a neighbourhood bakery and this place did not disappoint.

Paired with our picks was a cup of Hallstatt coffee.  It was rich, warming and elevated with delicate drips of alcohol that gave a subtle kick.  It felt like a small indulgence, perfect for easing into the morning.

The cheese and bacon stick was a standout savoury, satisfying and baked just right.  And for something sweet, the apricot jam filled donut was an absolute little treat.  It was soft and pillowy. 

Cafe Backerei Konditorei Maislinger

Seestrasse 156, 4830 Hallstatt

PH: +43 6134 20004

Open: 6:30 am - 5 pm (Sunday closed)

 
Stay tuned for the next blog still in Europe:

McDonald's in Germany

Hallstatt, Austria

Previously:

Restaurant Zum Salzbaron, Seehotel Gruner Baum, Hallstatt

Hallstatt had always lived in my imagination as a dream destination - one of those places that almost feels too beautiful to be real. Tucked between serene lake and dramatic alpine mountains, it's the kind of village you see in postcards and wonder if it could ever look the same in person.  And somehow, it does - maybe even more magical.

We visited toward the end of January, just after the peak holiday season had faded and right after a fresh snowfall.  It felt like we had arrived at the perfect moment.  The crowds had thinned, the rush was gone and what remained was a quiet, snow-covered fairytale.  Every rooftop was dusted in white, the mountains stood still and majestic and the entire village seemed wrapped in a peaceful bush.

Staying overnight tuned out to be the best decision.  As everything settled in, Hallstatt grew even more tranquil, and by early morning, it felt like the village belonged entirely for us.  Walking along the lake with barely anyone around.  It was calm, intimate and almost surreal.  There's something incredibly special about experiencing a place before the world wakes up.

Winter adds a different kind of charm to Hallstatt.  It isn't about ticking off attractions or rushing from one spot to another.  There isn't much to do in the traditional senses, but exactly the beauty of it.  You slow down.  You breathe.  You take it all in - the stillness, the reflections, on the lake, the quiet crunch of the snow beneath your feet.

And somewhere in between wandering and soaking it all in, we had one of those simple yet memorable meals that just felt right and perfectly paired with the atmosphere around us.

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hallstatt:

Maislinger Bakery, Hallstatt

Restaurant Zum Salzbaron, Seehotel Gruner Baum, Hallstatt

Previously:

Pension Bergfried, Hallstatt

Dinner that night was at the restaurant inside Seehotel.  Not sure if it was because everything on the menu looked so good or we were just that hungry.  But we definitely ordered way more than planned (no regrets though).

Pumpkin cream soup EUR 9.90

We started with a pumpkin soup, something light and easy to digest to warm up.  It was smooth, creamy and had that natural sweetness from the pumpkin, balanced with slightly savoury, buttery finish.  Perfect for the cold weather and honestly felt like a cozy hug in a bowl.

Farmer's salad bowl with grilled chicken EUR 19.90

Then came a salad with grilled chicken, which was fresh and simple but really well done.  The green were crisp, the chicken was tender and nicely seasoned and the dressing tied everything together without being too heavy.  A nice little "we're being healthy" moment before everything else arrived.

Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes and cranberry jam EUR 28.90

For the mains... this is where things escalated quickly.

The veal schnitzel was a standout - thin, crispy, and golden on the outside, while still juicy inside.  That classic crunch when you cut into it was so satisfying and it paired perfectly with a squeeze of lemon and sweet cranberry jam.

Rack of lamb with grilled mini vegetables, mashed potatoes and lamb thyme jus EUR 33.90

The lamb cutlets were beautifully cooked, tender and flavourful.  They had that rich, somewhat earthy taste lamb is known for, but not overpowering at all.

Grilled whole rainbow trout with parsley potatoes EUR 28.90 

The rainbow trout felt like the lighter option among all the mains.  It was delicate, flaky and fresh with a clean taste but kinda hard to eat as too many tiny bones.  I do understand though because they served as a whole.

Linguine with tomato sauce base and grilled prawns EUR 24.90

Then we had tomato pasta with giant prawns, which brought a bit of comfort food into the mix.  The sauce was tangy and rich, the prawns were juicy and all together just worked so well.  Simple but really satisfying.

Pork schnitzel EUR 22.90

And somehow.. after all that, we decided to add pork schnitzel at the end for our dessert 😁

Safe to say we left completely full and very happy.

Restaurant Zum Salzbaron in Seehotel Gruner Baum

Marktplatz 104, 4830 Hallstatt

Open: Daily 11:30 - 21:00

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hallstatt:

Hallstatt, Austria

Pension Bergfried, Hallstatt

Previously:

McDonald's in Austria

Next stop: my dream destination - Hallstatt.  The place that's always at the very top of my must-visit list.  Let's see if it's really as magical as I imagined would be ...

On the way there, still in the same country, you could already feel the shift.  The air got colder, the scenery slowly changed and soon enough the trees were dusted white, some with icy tips that looked like they were frozen mid-winter fairytale.  I really enjoyed this part of the journey.  It was just surreal.

In Hallstatt, we stayed at Pension Bergfried.  It's not exactly the most convenient location since it's about a 5-10 minute walk to the town center, but honestly, that ended up being one of the things I loved most about it.  The area is so much quieter and more peaceful, especially compared to the busy main spots.

One big plus is that they have their own parking space, which is actually a huge deal here since many places require you to park in public car parks quite far away.  After a long drive, that convenience alone was a win.

From the outside, it looks like a classic alpine chalet, very charming and simple.  But once you step inside, it's a completely different vibe.  The interior is modern, bright and thoughtfully designed.  Large windows let in plenty of natural light, making the whole space feel warm and welcoming despite the cold outside.

The room was spotless and felt very fresh, with a minimalist style that still managed to be cozy. The stairs were wide and easy to walk on, which is quite different from the narrow, steep stairs you usually find in traditional chalet-style houses.  Little details like that made the stay feel much more comfortable.

Pension Bergfried Hallstatt

Echerntalweg 3, 4830 Hallstatt, Austri

Ph: +43 660 8570684

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hallstatt:

Restaurant Zum Salzbaron, Seehotel Gruner Baum, Hallstatt