Switzerland is a 'Tourist wonderland'.
It has an abundance of natural beauty that has been harnessed and laid out on a platter for tourists to savour.
If you want to make a family trip to Europe, then travelling to Switzerland is your best bet! Reason?
Switzerland boasts excellent infrastructure around every tourist attraction, making your visit comfortable and memorable.
In this blog, my focus is on trips/tours/activities that can be done if you are travelling with kids.
Check out my blog for more details about our trip to the cities of Geneva, Zermatt and Lucerne
5 prominent highlights of the country that can make your travel a memorable experience
- 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 points of tourist interest.
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 differently abled people too.
- Funiculars aplenty
There are funiculars that 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 too.
- Fun activities galore
Along with natural beauty, there are fun activities every step of the way like a miniature park in Lugano, a Bear Park in Bern, Tobogganing at Mount Pilatus and Kids' trains at so many places. Your kids will love these outings.
- Swiss Travel Pass
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.
- Scenic Trains
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.
My 5 Personal Tips that might prove helpful to you
- Must go for the Swiss Pass. That is the ideal way to travel in Switzerland. 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!
- Switzerland offers a variety of attractions, both natural and manmade.
It's best to make a wishlist 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 of 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 these are adorable attractions. We, as grown-ups, could barely contain our excitement.
- If you have time, then 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 is distinctly Italian. These 3 different regions will add 3 different flavours to your trip.
- Scenic Trains are wonderful but expensive. In summer, the most popular one is the Jungfrau Railway. But it's totally worth your time and money.
Check the official website of Switzerland Tourism for more details and offers.
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/ is the official website for Switzerland tourism.
There are additional discounts for families with kids; sometimes kids can even travel for free!
Learn about more touristy destinations in Switzerland by clicking on the links below
6 Not-to-miss day trips from Lucerne
https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-jungfraujoch
https://www.journeys2memories.com/post/6-not-to-miss-day-trips-from-lucerne-switzerland-mount-titlis