A Wheelchair Accessible Swiss Train Adventure

We arrived in Zermatt mid-afternoon and immediately went in search of a caffeine fix. We sat outside a little restaurant-bar with our cappuccinos, just taking in the feel of the place. With its cobblestone streets and many shops with steps at the entrance, it wasn’t the most wheelchair-accessible town I’ve ever visited — but there were plenty of restaurants with step-free access, and outdoor seating areas. We spent the evening wandering the main street, soaking up the alpine atmosphere. And since we were in Switzerland, and I love cheese, I obviously had to try cheese fondue. It did not disappoint!

The next morning, we took the Gornergrat rack railway up to the top of the Gornergrat mountain. From here, we had a stunning view of the Matterhorn, rising in the distance like a picture from a postcard. Sitting there with another cappuccino, looking out at that iconic peak I’d seen in a hundred photographs, I felt a little awestruck — to actually see it for myself was something else entirely.

Back in town, we tried another cheese fondue — very different in style, but just as delicious.

The following day we began our journey towards Italy. We had decided to take scenic trains, as it would give us a chance to see more of Switzerland as we travelled. The Glacier Express took us to Chur, where an overnight stopover inevitably included our third cheese fondue! Then we continued on the Bernina Express into Italy.

Through the panoramic windows, we watched spectacular scenery unfold – the landscapes shifting as we travelled through Switzerland. My boyfriend reminisced about family skiing holidays from his childhood, and I realised that this was so much more than an interesting way to get from A to B for me — it was a way of seeing places that would otherwise be completely inaccessible. I think a big part of travel — and life in general — with a wheelchair is about finding your own ways to experience as much as you can, not just accepting that something isn’t for you.