Planning a Family Vacation to Europe? Why Switzerland is Perfect with Kids
- Anju Chandna
- May 30, 2022
- 6 min read
Switzerland is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Europe. It is called a 'Tourist wonderland'. Why?
With breathtaking landscapes, efficient public transport, safe cities, and well-organised tourist attractions, it makes travelling with kids surprisingly easy. Switzerland boasts excellent infrastructure around every tourist attraction, making your visit comfortable and memorable.
In this blog, I'll share family-friendly places, activities, practical travel tips, and experiences from our Switzerland trip to help you plan your vacation with kids.
Why Switzerland is Perfect for a Family Vacation
Reliable and Efficient Transport System
The Swiss transport system is very efficient; there are buses, trams, local trains, and regional trains connecting all cities and tourist attractions.
All these modes of transport are very well linked with connecting buses, trams and boats to most attractions, which makes travelling for tourists, especially with kids, quite easy.
You will always find signage in English, too, along with the local official language.
There are good facilities for people with disabilities, too.
Using the Swiss Travel Pass in Switzerland
The best part about travelling around Switzerland is the Swiss Travel Pass, which offers a multitude of options for hassle-free travel.
This is an important travel accessory that can make your travel around the country really comfortable.
There is the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, Swiss 1-day Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare card, Saver Day Pass and Family Pass.
This might appear like an advertisement for Travel Passes, but if you have one, you can get into any train, tram, bus, ferry, or boat.
These passes can save money and time if you plan to go around city-hopping.
A lot of museums and attractions offer discounts with the travel pass. Please check all the latest offers and discounts before your journey.
We opted for the Swiss Travel Pass Flex. This pass allows you to pick a specific number of days of travel on dates of your choice. This makes perfect sense with kids since you might want some days of relaxation between excursions.
Clean, Safe, and Family-Friendly Environment
Tourist infrastructure in Switzerland is very organised, with easy walking areas with enough space for prams and strollers. Public spaces are clean, and cities are safe.
Easy Access to Mountain Attractions
Some funiculars take you to dizzying heights in no time, so no biking or hiking is needed if you have kids in tow.
Gondolas and cable cars connect to scenic high mountain peaks.
People with special needs are also looked after well, with provisions for prams and wheelchairs at most places. However, my advice is to check for facilities at individual places.
Family-Friendly Activities across Switzerland
Along with natural beauty, there are fun activities every step of the way, like the Swiss Miniature Park in Lugano, the Bear Park in Bern, Tobogganing at Mount Pilatus and Kids' trains at so many places. Your kids will love these outings.
Scenic Train Journeys enhance the Experience
Many scenic trains run through the countryside and stunning locales offering panoramic views like the Glacier Express, Gornergrat Bahn, Golden Pass Line, Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, and Luzern Interlaken Express, among others.
They offer tour packages that one should explore before embarking on a Switzerland vacation.
Easy Day Trips Between Swiss Cities
One of the best things about Switzerland is how easy it is to take day trips between cities and mountain destinations.
Thanks to the country's efficient rail network, many popular places are well-connected and can be easily explored without long travel times, and the best part is they are all included in the Swiss Pass!
Families can comfortably travel between Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, and Geneva via trains. Even mountain excursions such as Jungfraujoch, Mount Titlis, and Zermatt are easily doable through trains, cable cars, and funiculars.
We especially enjoyed how convenient it was to explore different regions of Switzerland through day trips at a relaxed pace.
10 Practical Tips for Visiting Switzerland with Kids
Must go for the Swiss Travel Pass
The Swiss Travel Pass makes travelling around Switzerland extremely convenient. It offers unlimited travel on many trains, buses, and boats across the country. If you plan to visit multiple cities and mountain destinations, then go for it because it makes spontaneous day trips possible. No need to validate the pass every time you travel, so just hop into the transport of your choice, and you're good to go!
Food Tips for Travelling in Switzerland
Eating out in Switzerland can be expensive, especially in tourist areas. Although supermarkets like Coop are great for quick bites and drinks, carrying snacks during long train journeys is a good idea if you're travelling with kids.
Tap water is safe for drinking, so carry reusable bottles. Restaurants near tourist areas are expensive; look for cafes away from crowded areas.
Make a Wish-list of Things to See
Switzerland offers a variety of attractions, both natural and manmade.
It's best to make a wish-list of things you want to see, depending on the number of days and your budget, since there is a plethora of activities to choose from.
Kids get bored with seeing natural beauty only, so your itinerary should include some fun activities for them too.
Two things that you should not miss if you have kids with you are,
One, Swiss Miniature in Lugano
Two, the Transport Museum in Lucerne.
Both of these are adorable attractions. We, as grown-ups, could barely contain our excitement.
If you have time, travelling from the north to the south of Switzerland will give you a taste of 3 distinctly different cultures.
In Geneva, the spoken language is French, in Lucerne, most people speak Swiss German, and if you travel south, then in Lugano, the language and culture are distinctly Italian. These three different regions will add three different flavours to your trip.
Book Mountain Excursions Early during Peak Season
If you're travelling as a family, you must book mountain excursions beforehand to avoid last-minute stress. Jungfraujoch, Titlis, and scenic trains get very busy, so it's better to plan.
Start Sightseeing Early in the Day
There are 3 reasons why you should start early. One, mountain weather is usually clearer in the morning, so visibility is good. Two, attractions become crowded as the day progresses. Three, you can get better seats on the trains and enjoy scenic views along the route.
Check Weather Conditions before Mountain Excursions
This is a very important Switzerland-specific tip. Mountain visibility changes very quickly, and cloudy days can be bad for sightseeing in the mountains. Depend on weather apps to plan your trips. Most of the time, these apps are quite accurate.
Keep Buffer Time between Connections
The public transport system in Switzerland is very punctual, but the mountain weather and busy stations can still make tight schedules very stressful for families. I always write in all my blogs that if you're travelling with kids, then keep extra time everywhere to accommodate their moods and tantrums.
Toilets in Switzerland
Public toilets are generally clean and well-maintained. You will find free toilets at train stations, tourist attractions, and malls. Some toilets at tourist attractions may be paid, so carry some Swiss francs or a paid card for restrooms.
Major train stations usually have baby-changing facilities, too.
What to Pack for Switzerland
Even if you're going in the summer, carry layered clothing since mountain weather changes quickly. On our trip to Jungfraujoch, the weather suddenly became very windy, and we were not really equipped for that kind of cold and rain. So, if you're visiting Jungfraujoch or other high-altitude areas, I'd strongly recommend carrying jackets even during warmer months.
Comfortable walking shoes are always a must. If they're waterproof, even better for mountain excursions.
Choose a Scenic Train based on your travel style
Switzerland is famous for its scenic train journeys, but each route offers a different experience. If you are short on time, it is better to choose trains based on the regions you are already visiting instead of trying to fit in a new panoramic route.
Remember, scenic trains are wonderful but expensive. Even regular trains between cities often provide stunning scenery, so you do not always need to reserve expensive panoramic trains.
Check the official website of Switzerland Tourism for more details and offers.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/ is the official website for Swiss tourism.
There are additional discounts for families with kids; at times, kids can even travel for free! So, look out for offers before making your bookings.
Planning your Switzerland Itinerary?
If you are planning a family vacation in Switzerland, read our detailed 2-week Switzerland itinerary covering cities, mountain excursions, charming Swiss towns, train and boat rides, and more!
Comments