Exploring The Canton We Eventually Moved To

It was 2020, the year Covid launched itself into our lives. Most of the indoor activities were banned and we had to work really hard to find places to visit that weren’t closed. We wanted to explore the Canton of Aargau. We had no idea we would one day move to Aargau ourselves and have our kids take their first breaths here. Anyways, back to the exploration. Here is what we did.

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Arriving in Aargau

• Via Train or Bus: Aargau is centrally located with excellent rail connections through hubs like Aarau and Baden. To check schedules and book your ticket, use the Busbud platform here.
• Via Flight: Fly into Zurich Airport (ZRH) or EuroAirport Basel (BSL), both under an hour from Aargau. To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.

Getting Around and Staying in Switzerland

• Going Around:
  • Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
  • Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
  • Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
• Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
  • We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
  • Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
• Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.

Jugendheim Aarburg and Aare River

We parked our car at the parking lot of the nearby station and began our exploration on foot. Our first checkpoint was Jugendheim Aarburg, also known as the Juvenile Detention Center Aarburg. Interestingly, it is found on the Aarburg Castle so there is no need to judge us.

The castle is absolutely stunning and is found on top of a small hill. We went up the hill and enjoyed the walk and then the view from the top. The architecture of the castle was beautiful and totally caught our attention. Then, we came down towards the Aare River and spotted the castle from the river as well. The view of the castle from the river was even more mesmerizing.

After 90 minutes of our walk and exploration, we went back to our car and drove to our next destination.

Schloss Habsburg

Schloss Habsburg, or Habsburg Castle, is the ancestral castle of the Habsburgs. Yes, the Habsburgs that went on to conquer and rule parts of the world. This castle is where it all started.

The entrance is free and we spent an hour at the castle. We went around the castle and explored the ruins first. Inside the castle, there was a small museum that displayed some artifacts from the time of the Habsburgs that familiarized us with their history. Additionally, we enjoyed the beautiful view below from the top of the castle. At the end of our exploration, we had some hot chocolate and fries at the café.

Final Remarks

Our mini-exploration of Aargau was extremely pocket-friendly and fun for us. We got breathtaking views of beautiful castles and the Aare river. In return, we only paid for the parking tickets and our food at Habsburg Castle and the rest of the experience was absolutely free.

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