Switzerland

Switzerland is the rare destination that outperforms its clichés: the trains really do glide past scenery that looks rendered, the lakes really are that colour, and yes — the meadows above Interlaken really are where half of Indian cinema fell in love. It is Europe's most expensive week and its most frictionless: one pass, every train, boat and bus, views included at no extra charge.

The shape of the trip

The classic (7 nights): Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen (3) as the Jungfrau-region base — Grindelwald First's cliff walk, the Lauterbrunnen valley's 72 waterfalls, and the big-ticket Jungfraujoch on the clearest day; Lucerne (2) for the lake, the bridge and Mount Pilatus's golden round trip; then Zermatt (2) for the Matterhorn at Gornergrat sunrise. Every leg is itself an attraction.

The money

Honesty first: budget ₹12,000–18,000 for pleasant doubles and ₹1,500–2,500 per restaurant meal — then beat the system like locals do: supermarket lunches with a view (₹600), apartment stays with kitchens, and the Swiss Travel Pass (with its half-fare on the big mountain railways) as the single most important purchase of the trip.

Worth knowing

Build weather slack around Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat — clouds refund nobody. Trains run to the minute; so should you. And pack layers in any month: summer up top is 5°C and glorious.