2-week itinerary in Switzerland, a traveller's dream holiday destination!

Anju Chandna
May 29, 2022
6 min read

Updated: Sep 24

Switzerland tops the charts where tourism is concerned.

I have cited many reasons why this small European country should be your target vacation destination, especially if you're travelling with kids.

Read more about it by clicking on the link below -

https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/planning-a-family-vacation-with-kids-to-europe-go-switzerland

We were in Switzerland for 2 weeks and covered the length and breadth of this beautiful country by train using the Swiss Pass.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/ is the official website for Switzerland tourism. Please check for all updates, current prices and offers before your trip.

There are additional discounts for families with kids; sometimes, kids can even travel for free!

Our 14-day itinerary included

2 days in Geneva,

3 days in Zermatt,

8 days in Lucerne, including 6 Day-Trips and

an extra day for travel between cities.

2 days in Geneva

Geneva is unmistakably French and every bit romantic.

It's a small city, only 6 miles across. So, walking can be fun if you are up to it.

See the Old Town

The Old Town is the most beautiful part of the city of Geneva.

It houses St. Peter's Cathedral, the English Garden, Bastions Park, the famous Mont Blanc Bridge and the Museum of Art and History.

Vehicles are not allowed into the Old Town.

The Museum of Art and History is free to enter.

You can stroll around the beautiful pedestrian squares lined with cafes and restaurants.

Lake Geneva and Geneva Water Fountain - Jet d'eau

This is the largest water body in Switzerland.

The highlight of the lake is the massive Water Fountain in its centre, called Jet d'eau

This is the most famous landmark in Geneva. Water from the lake is thrown 140 meters high into the air.

Sadly for us, at the time we reached Geneva, it was extremely windy, so the water fountain was not working.

The Flower Clock

The Flower Clock in Geneva is a must-see attraction. It's the largest outdoor clock in the World, located on the western side of Jardin Anglais Park, the English Garden.

Palais de Nations-United Nations Office

Palais de Nations is the seat of the United Nations.

This 12-meter-high Broken Chair is the iconic symbol of the UN in Geneva.

3-legged chair outside Palais de Nations in Geneva

The significance of this chair with a broken leg is to condemn the use of violence that is inflicted on people worldwide, especially the use of land mines that have the capacity to cripple innocent civilians. It's a call to the governments worldwide to protect their people.

in front of the United Nations in Geneva

The UN is a working office, so it's a good idea to have a pre-booked tour.

Please check the official website to cross-check the timings of conducted tours

https://www.ungeneva.org/en/visit

My Tip

Two days are enough to see Geneva, though one can easily spend a week in this beautiful city with its stunning vistas over Lake Geneva and the aesthetically carved architecture of the city.

If you're looking for adventure, then a Boat ride on Lake Leman is a good option.

With kids, one can forget about boat rides and hiking, as there is a lot of walking to do in both cases.

Instead, opt for the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour. The tour covers most of the important attractions mentioned above, except the boat ride and hike to Mont Blanc.

Or if you have the Swiss Pass, then go for local transport. You will have the unlimited option to board any tram, bus or shuttle boat too.

The simplest thing to do is to walk along the beautiful Lake Geneva.

The lakeshore is over 20 miles, with beautiful parks and boulevards along the route.

3 nights in Zermatt

From Geneva, we left for Zermatt by train.

As I've mentioned earlier, trains are a blessing in Switzerland and the most convenient way of travel.

The train takes about 3 to 4 hours through the scenic countryside.

The stunning town of Zermatt in the Swiss Alps lies at the foot of the Matterhorn and is a popular tourist destination for hikers and skiers.

First glimpse of Matterhorn from the balcony of our apartment in Zermatt

Matterhorn

We started our Day One in Zermatt with a trip to the most important attraction in Zermatt, Matterhorn Peak.

A cogwheel train called Gornergrat Bahn starts from Zermatt to Gornergrat train station at the top at an altitude of 3100 meters above sea level.

The views all along this journey are breathtakingly beautiful as the train slithers through mountainsides covered with snow.

The sight of the Matterhorn from the train is met with gasps by tourists in awe of the pyramid-shaped peak.

My Tip

If the day you reach Zermatt is sunny, just go for this outing first and foremost. Remember to carry your sunglasses; the glare from the sun's rays falling on pristine white snow has a blinding effect on the eyes.

Sunnegga Paradise

On Day 2, we went to Sunnegga, also called the 'Sunny Side of Zermatt', an open terrace offering splendid views of the Matterhorn.

A funicular runs from the Zermatt station called Sunnegga Blauherd Rothorn Funicular, and in just about 5 minutes, you reach Sunnegga.

One can go further to Blauherd with a gondola from here and even higher to Rothorn with a cable car. There are hiking trails all around.

My Tip

If you are with kids, then stay in Sunnegga since it has many fun activities for kids like kick biking, a play area and wooden rafting on Leisee Lake.

One can easily spend about 2 to 3 hours here. You can walk back to Zermatt, it's downhill and takes about an hour. We took the funicular on the way back too.

Zermatt Town

On day 3 in Zermatt, we decided to see this idyllic town on foot. Walking around Zermatt is an absolute pleasure since it is a car-free zone.

One can also use horse carts serving as taxis to move around.

The entire town is located around 'Bahnhofstrasse', a pedestrian main road bustling with shops and restaurants.

The typical Swiss wooden chalets with large wooden windows lend an old-world charm to this hamlet.

8 days in Lucerne

Situated on the edge of Lake Lucerne, this city is surrounded by amazing snow-capped peaks.

We had assigned only two days for local sightseeing. The remaining six days were for day trips from here with local trains.

We rented an apartment and kept it as the base point of our trip to avoid lugging our suitcases around.

Chapel Bridge and Lake Lucerne

Chapel Bridge or Kapelbrücke is built diagonally over the River Reuss and takes its name from St. Peter's Chapel on the right bank of the river.

It is the oldest covered bridge in Europe, built as early as 1333, to connect the Old Town with the New Town. It has a beautifully carved ceiling.

The entire area around the bridge is very lively.

Lion Monument

The sculpture of a dying lion is engraved on a huge rock in remembrance of Swiss soldiers who died during the French Revolution.

Entry to the monument is free, and it is surrounded by a beautiful park on the outskirts of the Old Town.

Hofkirche (Catholic church)

Very close to the Lion Monument, about a 7-minute walk away, is the Hofkirche.

It's located on a small hill overlooking the Old Town and is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture with its intricately detailed facades and spires.

The twin spires are visible from almost every corner of the city.

Entry is free.

Swiss Museum of Transport

If you're travelling with kids, you cannot miss the Swiss Museum of Transport. This expansive museum is a delight to visit with its vast collection of vintage cars and old means of transport.

Most attractions are interactive. Our children were thrilled to touch and get a feel of the old rail engines and helicopters. There is a short video exhibit, too, that you should not miss.

You will need at least 2 to 3 hours in the museum. It is well-connected by buses.