There are so many brilliant women’s sports events taking place this year, but if we had to pick one we’re counting down the days to, it would have to be the Euros. Three years on from the Lionesses’ exciting victory at Wembley, this summer sees the reigning champions heading to Switzerland to defend their title.

While tickets for England’s group stage matches are now sold out, there are still other matches with tickets available, and if England make it through to the knockout stages (fingers crossed), then more tickets should become available.

Even if you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets, heading to Switzerland this summer to soak up the atmosphere, as well as everything this incredible country has to offer, is a great idea. 

At the end of last year, Strong Women’s Lauren Geall headed to Grindelwald – a town just south of one of the tournament’s host cities, Thun, to find out why Switzerland is the place to be this summer.

Before my trip to Switzerland, Grindelwald was simply the name of a character from the Harry Potter franchise. In fact, it’s a bustling mountain town located at the base of the Swiss Alps that’s known for its ski slopes and beautiful scenery.

After landing in Zurich, we took the train across the country to Thun before jumping on a smaller train that takes you into the mountains. As someone who’s experienced my fair share of cancellations, rail replacement buses and general chaos on UK railways, I was pleasantly surprised by how simple and clean the public transport in Switzerland is – perfect for observing all the natural beauty on display outside of the window.

Grindelwald is located in the Jungfrau region, an area of Switzerland named after the mountain that looms above the area at over 4,000m above sea level. While in winter, the area is dominated by skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts, there are still plenty of things to do in the summer that allow you to get active outside.  

I stayed at the Belvedere, a beautiful traditional hotel located near the main train station, but there are plenty of fantastic places to stay in the town. From almost every spot you get incredible views of the Eiger, the peak that sits directly above the town, so you don’t need to worry about where to go to get the best view. It is worth noting that Grindelwald is, unsurprisingly, very mountainous; there are basically no flat parts. The climbs can be steep; I headed out for a trail run when I first arrived and had to give up, happy to settle to call it a hike for most of the uphill part.

Once you’ve found your hotel and settled in, the best thing to do is to enjoy a bite or two (there’s plenty of fondue on offer here) and get ready for all the adventures you have in store.

There’s so much to do in Grindelwald and the surrounding areas that it’s worth planning ahead before you go. If you want to spend your time travelling around the entire area, the Jungfrau travel pass – for unlimited journeys on almost all the routes in the area – will set you back approximately £190 for three days. Alternatively, you can just buy tickets as and when you want to travel, but this can quickly add up.

Activity-wise, there’s a lot to choose between. Grindelwald First – the mountain that sits behind the town – is home to a series of mountain activities, including Mountain Carts and Trottibike, the latter of which was my absolute favourite. A kind of scooter with bike-sized wheels, you use them to ride all the way down the mountain into Grindelwald, reaching some pretty incredible (and slightly terrifying) speeds along the way. It’s up to you to control the brakes, so you can take a leisurely journey if you prefer – I ended up taking one slow trip to take in the scenery and a faster one for a bit of fun. If I could take a Trottibike to work, I absolutely would.  

Further up the mountain, there are more activities for the adrenaline junkies, including the Glider, which allows you to fly through the air like a bird of prey. At the very top of the gondola at the First Mountain station, you can also go on a cliff walk around the edge of the mountain on a hanging platform. It’s also the starting point for some beautiful hikes; the stunning Lake Bachalpsee can be reached from the mountain station in an hour. 

A trip up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, is not to be missed. You can start your journey right at the Grindelwald terminal, where you take the gondola up to the Eiger railway station before jumping on the train that goes inside the mountain all the way to the top at 3,463m.

Once you’re there, you can head outside onto the glacier to see all the snow and ice (even in summer) and take a quick walk around. We went on a wet day – it was snowing at the peak – but during the summer, it should be clear and you’ll really be able to take in the view.

Tickets for the experience are £100 (or around £57 if you have the Jungfrau travel pass), but it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will take your breath away.  

The handful of days I spent in Grindelwald certainly wasn’t enough to experience it all; there are so many different hiking routes and areas to explore.

While Switzerland may not be the most traditional summer holiday destination, I’m here to assure you that it’s well worth a visit at that time of year. With the Euros being played a stone’s throw away in Thun, and with so many activities to choose, it’s the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and reconnect with nature. Plus, you might find yourself in Switzerland when the Lionesses once again lift the Euros trophy (a girl can dream, right?).

To see more of my trip, check out the reel below: 

Images: Rob Stewart; Lauren Geall; Tara Ledden