The Furka Pass is located at 2,431 metres above sea level, connecting Gletsch, in the canton of Valais, with Realp, in the canton of Uri. The pass is famous for a winding road carved out of the mountainside with a series of whiplash bends, and the Hotel Belvedere is situated in a high hairpin.

Film buffs might recall the pass featured in a car chase scene performed by Sean Connery in James Bond’s silver Aston Martin DB5, as he navigated the double threat of Tilly Masterson (Tania Mallet) in her Ford Mustang, and Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) in a yellow and black 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville, driven by his henchman, Oddjob (Harold Sakata), in one of the best-loved Bond movies of all time, 1964’s “Goldfinger.”

These days, the “chase” on the Furka Pass is all about the romance of rail travel as a team of volunteers operates and maintains the Pass’s train heritage, dating way back to 1926 when the first steam train created a vital regional link across the valleys of central Switzerland.

Though the train gained a tunnel and lost the need to take the mountain route in the early eighties, hundreds of rail enthusiasts, jokingly called the “pioneers,” have worked tirelessly to restore the tracks and the trains and keep them in working order.

A first section of the line opened as a visitor attraction in 1992, and by 2010, 18-kilometres of track were restored, running through “a largely unspoilt high‑alpine landscape, along steep slopes, through narrow gorges and up to more than 2,000 metres above sea level,” the website boasts.

These days, historic locomotives and carriages painstakingly maintained by the team of volunteers still operate on the metre‑gauge rack railway, continuing to serve summer tourists and visitors, linking Realp and Oberwald.

@steelrailblues Steam and fog mix on Switzerland’s iconic Furka Pass #railfanning #trainsoftiktok #traintok #trainspotting #railroad #railfan #railroading #railfansoftiktok #railfans #steamtrain #dampfbahnfurkabergstrecke #furkapass ♬ original sound – SteelRailBlues

A ticket for a two-and-a-half-hour, one-way trip starts at CHF46 (around €50). Passengers can even book “coffee and croissants” on morning journeys, or “aperitif platters” in the trains’ SteamPub at a price of CHF25 (about €27) between 16 July and 16 August 2026 on selected voyages.

The 100^th anniversary events commenced on 3 July and went on all weekend, with an exhibition, special train rides, encounters, and legendary tales.

L’article Rail buffs celebrate 100 years of steam on James Bond’s iconic Furka Pass est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to the Glacier Monitoring in Switzerland network (GLAMOS), every additional day of melting between now and October, when the first new snowfalls normally return to the Alps, will directly reduce the size of Swiss glaciers.

Data collection on what is known as “glacier loss day” began more than twenty years ago. It is perhaps somewhat reassuring that this year’s date is not the earliest on record: that unfortunate distinction still belongs to 26 June 2022.

GLAMOS director Matthias Huss warned on Friday, however, that Swiss glaciers are currently in a very bad shape and are melting at an unprecedented rate.

“We are just seeing enormous ablation, ice melt rates and snow melt rates all over the Alps,” Huss said, adding that conditions were “three months too early compared to a healthy state.”

The Alps have been shrinking for the past 170 years, but the pace has accelerated sharply in recent decades as temperatures have risen across Europe while snowfall has declined.

This year, the average snowfall over the glaciers was about 25% below the average recorded between 2010 and 2020. It matters because once the snow cover is gone, the glacier itself, essentially the darker grey ice underneath, becomes exposed and dark ice absorbs solar radiation far more readily than reflective snow, accelerating the melt.

Huss explained that he had recently returned to the Rhône Glacier and was struck by the changes he had witnessed in only ten days.

“There was one metre of ice melted in the vertical direction – one metre of melting within just the last 10 days,” he said.

“It’s very impressive to see, and this is just the effect of the heatwave.”

“The more days that are added with very high temperatures, not even mattering whether it’s 35 °C or 40 °C, this is just very bad for the glaciers.”

According to Huss, the “very bad state of the glaciers at the moment” results from a “combination of bad circumstances”, including reduced snowfall and the arrival of Saharan dust in March, which darkened the snow surface and sped up melting even before summer began.

Europe experienced record-breaking temperatures across many countries over the past week, with temperatures rising above 40 °C in several regions. The heat tested energy grids, emergency services and hospital systems and proved fatal for about 1,300 people across the continent.

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Europe remains particularly ill-prepared for such extreme heat events. And glaciers are not prepared at all.

Forecasts suggest another spell of unusually hot weather could return later in July, raising fears that the summer’s worst may not yet be over.

Switzerland has already lost around 1,200 glaciers over the past 50 years and now has only around 1,300 remaining.

Huss predicted that “if warming continues as it did over the last decades, by 2100 we will only be left with some little remnants of ice”.

L’article Swiss glaciers melting at alarming rate after record European heatwave est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to the chocolate manufacturer, the Parc du chocolat Cailler, as the project is called, is meant to “promote the unique cultural and industrial heritage of the site and the production of Cailler chocolate”.

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The company and the investors backing the project hope to be able to attract some 700,000 to 800,000 chocolate lovers during the first year, and over a million per year afterwards. Spanning over 30,000 square meters, the site in Broc (Gruyère) will require a total investment of some CHF 400 million (€436 million), including hotels, restaurants, chocolate tastings, and educational opportunities.

However, for the project, Maison Cailler won’t have to start from zero. The park will be a mix of old and new buildings. The factory in Broc has been recognised as being the oldest operating chocolate factory in the world and is listed in Switzerland’s Federal Inventory of Heritage Sites. The on-site Maison Cailler museum, attracting some 400,000 visitors per year, will be demolished in order to make room for a restored Neo-Renaissance facade. And the factory’s forecourt will be lowered in order to sit at its original level, where visitors will be able to participate in cooking workshops led by master chocolatiers.

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The final outlay of the new attraction is expected to include the factory’s former mechanical workshops, a reconstructed production line, a new gallery, as well as a cocoa bean-shaped greenhouses in order to take curious-minded chocolate lovers on an immersive tour. In the so-called Chocolate Emporium at the end of the journey, visitors will be able to try the entire Cailler range.

In order to alleviate traffic, a direct train will run from Bern to the Broc-Chocolaterie. A cable lift has also been planned to connect the chocolate park to an off-site underground parking garage.

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At the moment of writing, the park is still subject to planning permission, which will involve an amendment to the Local Development Plan and ten building permit applications. Nonetheless, investors plan to complete the first phase of the building by 2030.  And although 2030 is not that far off, especially for a project of such a size, Maison Cailler is even planning a pre-opening between late 2027 and mid 2028.

L’article Switzerland to open €436 million chocolate-themed park by 2030 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A European airline has launched a scheme offering flight attendants a lump sum of up to 15,000 Swiss francs, roughly €15,500, if they agree to leave the company. The offer is open to around 4,000 cabin crew based in Zurich and requires employees to terminate their contracts by 30 April and depart by August 2026.

SWISS said the excess cabin crew results from persistent engine issues and continuing shortage of pilots, which has forced the airline to operate fewer flights than scheduled, leaving more crew members available than needed. 

A spokesperson said the company had already introduced a range of voluntary measures in recent months, including unpaid leave and reduced working hours, adding: “Many colleagues make use of these options when they align well with their personal circumstances.” 

The payout is also available under alternative arrangements. Employees with at least six years of service can opt for a “dormant employment relationship” lasting a minimum of one year, allowing them to return to the airline afterwards. Meanwhile, those participating in a “Study & Fly” programme can receive a proportional payment while combining part-time work with further education. 

SWISS emphasised that compulsory redundancies are not currently planned. “Redundancies are not envisaged for the time being and would represent the last resort if voluntary measures were not to suffice,” a spokesperson said.

SWISS delivered strong operational performance in 2025, yet faced financial decline. #lxpressconference. pic.twitter.com/9jpcJ3Kz0n

— Swiss Intl Air Lines (@FlySWISS) March 6, 2026

The airline estimates that in some months it will have up to 300 more cabin crew members than it can deploy, reflecting a mismatch between staffing levels and flight operations.

Reports suggest the problem stems from wider industry challenges, including grounded aircraft and reduced flight schedules. The current Middle East conflict adds to the growing pressures on global air travel, further straining flight schedules and airline operations.

Last autumn, SWISS recruited around 400 additional cabin crew, which contributed to the current staffing imbalance. Despite this, the airline expects the situation to stabilise over time. “We expect this situation to gradually normalise in the coming months and to balance out again by the beginning of 2027 at the latest,” a spokesperson said.

The voluntary resignation programme forms part of a wider effort to adjust staffing levels without resorting to layoffs, as airlines continue to navigate fluctuating operational conditions in the post-pandemic aviation sector.

L’article Swiss airline offers cabin crew up to €15,500 to quit amid staffing imbalance est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The research team working on the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) INLADE project in Dübendorf tested the wireless inductive charging method “in everyday use,” including in snowy, rainy, and cold weather, and allowing for human errors. Mathias Huber, from the Empa’s Chemical Energy Carriers and Vehicle Systems lab, said the trial aimed to “clarify technical and regulatory issues and demonstrate its potential for the energy transition.”

With no cables, connectors, or fuss, the system removes the need for drivers to plug their vehicles in, instead using a charging plate in the ground, over which drivers must manoeuvre their coil-fitted vehicle. Although it requires precise positioning, a display helps drivers get their car in the right spot, and future plans include an assisted piloting function.

When the vehicle is correctly in place, an automatic safety check of the surroundings is carried out before charging commences. The coil fitted in the vehicle receives energy from the magnetic field produced by another transmitter coil in the base plate.

The tests proved that the “magnetic field generated during inductive charging did not interfere with other devices inside or outside the vehicle, or with people,” Huber confirmed. The success means the fleet of retrofitted test vehicles is now approved for road use, putting them among the first ever EVs in the world to run on inductive charging.

Currently, the technology achieves a charging efficiency of around 90%, which is comparable to plug-in systems, and beats similar efforts such as Elon Musk’s promised Robotaxi “supercharger,” which Tesla owners have complained only reaches 20%, according to Tesla accessory manufacturer, TPARTS.

Huber said the Swiss method “works very reliably” and offers “the big advantage of an inductive system” where “vehicles are connected to the grid much more frequently without the need for any active intervention – a plus for both convenience and the energy transition.”

The results of the collaboration between energy supplier Eniwa and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) could be a game-changer not only for drivers but for the power grid as a whole, Huber explained, by effectively turning electric cars into mobile energy storage units with bidirectional charging capability for the 23 hours a day on average that they are parked.

L’article Wireless electric vehicle charging could become everyday reality, after successful Swiss trials est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Under the agreement, Baidu’s autonomous ride service Apollo Go will roll out a fully driverless taxi service called “AmiGo,” using RT6 electric vehicles that do not have a traditional driver’s seat and feature a detachable steering wheel. Robotaxis aim to complement the region’s public-transport infrastructure, with both private and shared rides available to book through an app similar to Uber. The companies expect to begin testing in December 2025, with full commercial operations planned to scale up by the first quarter of 2027 at the latest.  

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“We are honored to partner with an operator as reputable as PostBus to introduce autonomous ride-hailing service in Switzerland,” said Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA, Baidu Apollo. “We will work closely with PostBus to enhance smart mobility in Switzerland, supplementing the existing public transport network and contributing to the nation’s reputation for innovation.” 

For PostBus, the collaboration reinforces its role in Switzerland’s autonomous driving sector. Apollo Go’s entry has received strong backing from the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and Thurgau, as well as the Federal Office of Transport, the Federal Roads Office, and the Touring Club of Switzerland, ensuring a smooth rollout and continued development of the service.

“Through AmiGo, we are bringing the mobility of the future to Eastern Switzerland — flexibly, digitally and completely in line with our customers’ needs,” said Stefan Regli, CEO of PostBus at Swiss Post.

This partnership marks a major milestone in Apollo Go’s global growth. Operating a fully driverless fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles across 16 cities worldwide, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong, the service has covered over 200 million autonomous kilometres and maintained a strong safety record, providing more than 14 million rides to the public as of August 2025.

No. 001!

That's Dubai's very first autonomous driving license issued by @rta_dubai to Apollo Go. With 50 test license plates secured, Apollo Go has been conducting autonomous vehicle testing in urban Dubai since August.

At the 4th Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving… pic.twitter.com/Zv46PkSVkp

— Baidu Inc. (@Baidu_Inc) September 24, 2025

Earlier this year, in July, Baidu revealed a collaboration with Uber to introduce thousands of Apollo Go robotaxis on the platform across multiple global markets outside of the U.S. and mainland China later this year. In August, the Chinese tech firm also announced a partnership with U.S. ride-hailing company Lyft to launch robotaxis in the U.K. and Germany beginning in 2026. 

Baidu’s move to Switzerland underscores its ambition to extend autonomous ride-hailing beyond China and enter the competitive European market alongside players such as Waymo and others. 

L’article China’s Baidu partners with PostBus to launch driverless taxis in Switzerland est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Grand Suite features two cabins connected by a private aisle with over 1.8-metre-high walls, creating a completely secluded space that can be used as a bedroom, office or meeting room. Along with all the first-class services, onboard amenities include a double bed, a 32 to 43-inch 4K television, a heated or cooling seat, and an in-flight entertainment tablet. The suite also offers a personal wardrobe and a table area suitable for both dining and working.

All first-class cabin packages come with Sisley skin care products and high-quality pyjamas from Swiss brand Zimmerli — the perfect addition to the premium air travel experience. The airline offers seasonal dishes prepared by award-winning Swiss chefs, paired with expertly selected fine wines. Passengers can also enjoy freshly brewed coffee and a variety of starters, main courses, and desserts with the flexibility to order in advance up to 24 hours before departure or directly during the flight.

Heike Birlenbach, SWISS Chief Commercial Officer, emphasised the suite’s focus on privacy and personalisation: “With our new SWISS First Grand Suite, we’re further expanding our First Class service product with an option that is specifically aimed at those of our top premium customers who are seeking even more privacy and even more scope to design their personal space on board.” 

SWISS is reinforcing its position as a leading airline in premium first-class air travel by introducing new amenities that elevate comfort, offer tailored experiences, and provide unmatched exclusivity, ensuring each passenger’s individual needs and preferences are met with an exceptional level of service.

“Our Grand Suite should give our guests all the feeling of having their own ‘loft aloft’ – a space that they can use as they wish, to relax, to work or just to enjoy the experience. It’s a further step in our development of our SWISS Senses concept, which is aimed squarely at delivering a truly premium air travel experience.”

The SWISS First Grand Suite will be available from early 2026 aboard the carrier’s new Airbus A350, with plans to extend it to refurbished Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s in the future. Reservations can be made only through the SWISS First hotline.

L’article SWISS unveils First Grand Suite: ultimate privacy and luxury in air travel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Filmed for the South Korean production called “Crash Landing On You”, a story of cross-border love between South and North Korea, one spot in particular, a pier at the lake’s edge, is presented in the hit show as a romantic getaway, and has become a hugely sought-after backdrop for souvenir photos and Instagram images.

There on the dock, in the 3^rd episode of “Crash Landing on You”, the character of army officer Ri Jeong-hyeok (played by Hyun Bin) remembers his time as a piano player and plays a song he composed for his brother.

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But the reality of the jetty is a little less peaceful and idyllic these days. In fact, Iseltwald, a village of just 406 inhabitants, with only three hotels and four restaurants, is struggling to cope with the approximately 1,000 daily visitors drawn in by the TV drama, according to village clerk Gabriela Blatter.

To raise revenue to help pay for the additional work and infrastructure that the tourists necessitate, such as rubbish collection and disposal, servicing public bathrooms, and street cleaning, the village decided in 2023 to start charging guests to set foot on the small wooden pier that features in the series.

Iseltwald, a Swiss village, confirms making CHF 244'000 (over $300k) with this selfie-spot in one year pic.twitter.com/Vrcua2qUAZ

— Tobi Mülhauser (@TobiMuelhauser) July 5, 2025

It’s not a question of making a profit, Titia Weiland, manager of the Bönigen-Iseltwald Tourism agency, told press, insisting: “It’s not correct to read it as ‘the community gets rich’”. But the strategy is nonetheless lucrative. Visitors paying the five-Swiss-franc fee (just over five euros) each to go through the lakeside turnstile generated €245,000 francs (€263,000) in 2024 alone, according to Blatter. What’s more, a nearby public toilet that charges one franc per use, has brought in 58,000 francs.

Some of those funds will go towards further projects. A car park is being improved to help accommodate the huge numbers of tour buses and cars that bring the tourists in and the village shop has expanded its opening hours to seven days a week.

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While the village welcomes the visitors, and has even created a website to help them navigate the Crash Landing sights to see in Iseltwald, it has suffered, like destinations elsewhere, with the anti-social behaviour displayed by some who go there. Blatter said: “The problem is that the tourists don’t understand what’s private and what’s public. They go everywhere” – and that’s including residents’ private land and gardens. As a result, the website asks guests to respect the surroundings, dispose of litter correctly, and to help maintain the “quiet atmosphere of this authentic Swiss village”.

L’article Swiss village raises over €300,000 in one year by charging for access to lakeside TV location est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

On 19 May, the 300 inhabitants of Blatten – located in the Lötschental valley in southern Switzerland – were evacuated from their homes. Geologists studying the Birch Glacier situated above the village had identified the risk of an imminent avalanche and that dramatic event happened a mere 9 days later. Live footage of the disaster has been shared online since.

Even though the glacier did not collapse entirely, the part that broke off was sufficiently big to cause a landslide which covered the village in a matter of seconds. According to Raphaël Mayoraz, head of the Wallis canton’s Natural Hazards Service, three million cubic metres of material had accumulated on the glacier before tumbling down into the valley.

“We have lost our village, but not our heart. We will support each other and console each other. After a long night, it will be morning again,” said Blatten’s mayor, Matthias Bellwald, in a statement.

The nearby Lonza riverbed was also obstructed by the landslide, leaving the water with no place to go, causing experts to fear for dammed water flows over the coming days. 16 people were already evacuated from villages nearby on Wednesday as a precaution. However, it became clear on Thursday evening according to Stéphane Ganzer, chief of the Wallis canton’s security department, that geologists consider the risk to be very small, as the Ferden Dam closely was preemptively emptied and should thus be able to absorb the water before it can cause damage to the villages.

Since the event, the Swiss army’s disaster relief unit has also arrived on-site. They are looking for a 64-year-old man in particular who went missing following the collapse, as a first thermal drone scan was unsuccessful. The Swiss government has already promised funding for the local residents, allowing them to stay in the village or at least closeby. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter showed her support to those affected on X.

Glaciers are increasingly impacted by climate change. According to official numbers, Swiss glaciers in particular lost 10% of their volume between 2022 and 2023, the same amount as between 1960 and 1990.

L’article Swiss village destroyed after breathtaking glacier collapse est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

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1. Sweden: KAJ – “Bara bada bastu”

Right now, Sweden has the leading position to take home the trophy with their Finnish-Swedish trio KAJ and their catchy song “Bara bada bastu”. The track is a quirky, upbeat celebration of Finnish sauna culture, performed in the Vörå dialect of Finnish-Swedish, which gives it a unique and local flavour. The playful energy and folk rhythms of KAJ have received great approval from the audience, putting Sweden at the top of the betting list with a winning probability of a whopping 41%. 

2. Austria: JJ – “Wasted Love”

Hot on Sweden’s heels is Austria’s JJ with his emotional ballad “Wasted Love”. JJ’s impressive countertenor voice brings a classical touch to a modern pop sound. The song’s heartfelt lyrics and powerful melody have made it a favourite among fans and critics and even secured a leading position for the Travel Tomorrow editorial team. Austria currently has around a 19% chance of victory, so this one is definitely not to miss on and maybe even the one to bet on.

3. France: Louane – “Maman”

France’s Louane enters with “Maman,” a soulful tribute to her mother that has touched the hearts of many fans. The song’s emotive lyrics reflect on the pain of losing her mother and express gratitude for the love and lessons she learned. Louane’s compelling performance has positioned France as a strong contender, with a 6% winning probability. 

4. Israel: Yuval Raphael – “New Day Will Rise”

Yuval Raphael’s “New Day Will Rise” is a song of pure hope and determination. It’s an emotional ballad that has been garnering a lot of attention — both for the music and the message behind it. Despite some political buzz around the song, Yuval’s incredible vocals and inspirational lyrics plus performing in three languages, English, French and Hebrew, have put it in the hearts of thousands across the globe. Betting odds are giving Israel around a 5% chance, but as with every Eurovision contest, anything can happen on the show night.

5. Belgium: Red Sebastian – “Strobe Lights”

Last but not least, we have Belgium with Red Sebastian’s upbeat song “Strobe Lights”. The song gives Eurodance rhythm, with electronic-techno vibes that can bring anyone on the dance floor straight away. Although not as high in the odds as Sweden or Austria, Belgium’s catchy track has earned it a spot among the frontrunners, with chances at around 4%. However, each performance has its unique sound on the night of the show, so it’s for sure the artist to keep an eye out for. 

Countdown to the first semi-final

As we gear up for the first semi-final tonight, the excitement reaches the highest point. While Sweden remains the top favourite, Austria’s captivating ballad and France’s heartfelt lyrics are not lagging. Adding to the suspense, Israel and Belgium are also all set to bring their unique voices to the stage.

Eurovision is known for surprises, and a standout performance tonight could completely shake up the odds. One thing’s for sure — fans around the world will be glued to their screens to see who secures a spot in the grand final. With rehearsals wrapping up and final touches being made, the show is all set to kick off. Get ready for an unforgettable night! 

L’article Who will win Eurovision 2025? Betting odds favour these countries est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.