When I was told to visit Switzerland for just three days, I jumped on board and immediately said yes. It was a short trip, but that has been a dream destination for many. Unlike a typical Switzerland trip where you visit Geneva or Interlaken, I went to this beautiful, less-traveled town called Neufchâtel.

Beautiful place, with friendly people, and fortunately, I bumped into at least three Asian people.

Here are the top 5 things that you need to know about Neuchatel:

1. Iconic view - Neuchatel Lake 

One of the greatest sights in Neuchatel is the lake. If the weather is good and clear, you can actually see Mount Alps across.

2. Dine in Bambou Sushi

Oh, Asian people like us will still want to look for homey food. Glad that we found this place called Bambou and the food was fantastic.

3. Historic place like Neuchatel Castle 

The town itself is pretty small and you can just laze around, strolling the beautiful town and taking tons of photos for your Instagram. While you do so, you can stroll and walk all the way to Neuchatel Castle. It’s worth the walk, despite lots of stairs to climb, as you will be able to see the Neuchatel town from the top, overlooking the Neuchatel lake.

4. Hot chocolate tastes so gooooddd!  

Somehow, their hot chocolate is worth applauding. So concentrated and it’s not sweet. I had not just one cup but a few cups throughout my stay in Switzerland. And I regretted slightly for not visiting the grocery store enough to buy a pack home.

5. Breakfast spread is a variety 

Keep aside your Nasi lemak or Mee goreng as breakfast but eat like a Swiss for breakfast. Their pastries, especially the croissant, are so flaky and nice. Savory dishes were delish too.

Overall, it was definitely an eye-opening trip. Going there as a tourist is definitely not cheap but it’s worth the experience. Also, I bumped into a few people there who shared some interesting facts about Switzerland:

1. Cannot flush the toilet after 10pm

2. Illegal to have an air conditioner at home, it’s only allowed for hotel

3. There are allocated laundry days for each and every person

4. Sunday is a rest day, most of the shops are closed even the restaurants.

More photos of Neuchatel, Switzerland: