Traveling with children to Europe is not an easy task. On the one hand, European vacation is the most civilized and safe, and on the other, it involves sightseeing, monuments, visiting museums that are not always interesting for young travelers. In addition, excursions can be very exhausting for toddlers. But a trip to Switzerland with children can disrupt such notions. This country has such an abundance of outdoor activities, museums and attractions for kids that it is a fantastic family destination.
How to properly organize a vacation with children, read our article.
Switzerland has a wide range of child-friendly hotels and resorts offering childcare, babysitting and playrooms. Ski resorts often have ski schools for children and also offer recreational activities. Young tourists will be interested in sleigh rides, as well as visiting the Christmas villages that open up in the center of most Swiss cities.
How to get to Switzerland on your own
Plane
Direct flights from Moscow to Geneva and Zurich. They are performed by Aeroflot and Swiss. The flight lasts from 3 to 4 hours. Departures are carried out daily. Swiss also has flights from St. Petersburg to Zurich. In addition, there are many options for a flight with a transfer in European cities - Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Prague, Dusseldorf, but such a flight will be difficult for children, so it is better to pay attention to direct flights.
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A train
You can also get to Switzerland by train. True, you will have to change trains in Germany, because there is no direct railway connection from Russia. Such a move will take two days. Its cost is comparable to the price of an air ticket. However, it is a great alternative for those who are afraid of flying.
Bus
From St. Petersburg, the Ecolines company operates bus routes to the cities of Switzerland. You can also get to Europe by car. There are excellent high-speed routes between the states. From Russia, the path lies through Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany.
Before traveling to Switzerland, you need to obtain a visa! Read how to do it yourself in our life hack.
Where to stay
When planning a vacation with children, it is important to choose a suitable hotel for a family vacation, because not all are allowed to stay with children. Most often they are intended for conferences and business events.
If a family is traveling with a baby who is not yet two years old, then in hotels you need to request a baby cot. As a rule, in hotels from 4 stars and above it is provided free of charge, and in hotels from 3 stars and below - for a small fee.
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Each hotel has its own policy for the cost of children. Some of them accommodate children for free up to a certain age or offer discounts. Hotels like "apartments" do not give such discounts, but they have certain advantages for families. Firstly, the presence of a mini-kitchen where you can prepare food for children. Secondly, there is a separate bedroom for parents. The child can sleep on the sofa bed in the living room. These items will add additional comfort to your vacation.
Transport in Switzerland
The transport system in this country is one of the most perfect in the world. Children will love the train rides, which offer scenic views. Children under the age of 16 travel free of charge, provided that they are accompanied by at least one parent. To do this, you need to get a special Family Card at the station.
Tourists can rent a car to move around the country. This can be done subject to certain conditions. The driver must be at least 21 years old and have an international driving license, more than three years of driving experience and a credit card.
Bicycles can be rented in towns. This can be done free of charge in Zurich and Geneva. It is only necessary to leave a security document and from 20 to 50 Swiss francs, which will then be returned.
Lucerne with children
Lucerne is located in the heart of central Switzerland. This city is easily accessible - just an hour by train from Zurich and an hour and a half from Basel. There are many opportunities for families with children.
Exploring the mountains
First of all, this is the study of the mountains. Near Lucerne there are two mountains - Rigi and Pilatus. Visiting them will be an exciting adventure for children. To get to Mount Rigi, it is recommended to take a boat from Lucerne to Vitznau. This can be done across the street from the Luzern Bahnhof train station. Upon arrival in Vinzau, you need a network to the train that goes up the mountain. With older children, hiking in the mountains will be an interesting part of the trip in the summer, and in the winter there you can go sledging or skiing.
To get to Mount Pilatus, you need to take a train to Stansstad and then take a funicular ride to the top. A visit to this mountain guarantees stunning views, and kids will love the train ride on the world's steepest railroad.
If there are rainy days on vacation, you will not be bored anyway. There are several museums in Lucerne that will be interesting for families to visit.
Museums
The Ice Garden Museum is located opposite the Dying Lion Monument. The museum displays objects related to the Ice Age. The museum includes a mirror room, which is a real labyrinth.
In the Museum of Transport, you can learn the history of the development of trains, planes, cars. For the little ones, there is a miniature train that can be ridden for 2 CHF.
Walking along the lake
Lucerne offers wonderful walks along the lake. If you wish, you can rent a boat here. On it you can swim to the large beach of Lido. It has swimming pools and volleyball courts. On a hot summer day, this is the perfect spot in Lucerne. In addition, the beach offers not only an incredible view of the lake, but also a fantastic view of Pilatus.
Walk on the Kapellbrücke bridge
Children will not be able to appreciate the beauty of the old town, but they will enjoy a walk along the main bridge of the city - Kapellbrücke. In addition to being a lot of fun to walk across the bridges, they are iconic buildings in Lucerne. When you are near Kapellbrücke, you should definitely buy a portion of the best ice cream in the city at Cafe Dieci. And for a lunch with a child, the Opus restaurant is well suited. It offers a good children's menu.
Food
Not far from the train station, around the corner of McDonald's, is the Filou & Bengel Café, which offers a large selection of muffins, fruit teas, ice cream, lattes and cappuccino. Here you can enjoy the whole family. There is a park for small children across the street from the cafe.
To taste Swiss chocolate, you need to make a trip to the Aeschbach Chocolatier factory. It is only 10 minutes away by train. Children will enjoy learning about chocolate making while parents can relax with a cup of coffee. For Easter and Christmas, children are given chocolate bunnies or Santa Clauses here.
Family fun in Graubünden
Graubünden can be called a huge playground. Among the Alpine peaks, lakes, ski slopes and toboggan runs, families can relax and unwind. Family resorts Graubünden: Arosa, Davos-Klosters, Flims-Laax-Falera, Lenzerheide and Savognine. They take into account all the needs and wishes of children and parents.
Local hotels have special offers for children, ranging from comprehensive care to wellness programs and adventure travel.They are surrounded by alpine peaks, mountain lakes and magnificent panoramas.
An abundance of games and fun awaits children: sports and playgrounds, zoos, climbing walls, swimming pools, hiking in the mountains - family holidays in Graubünden guarantee exciting adventures, unique events and a variety of activities in the fresh mountain air. Parents can easily enjoy their holidays in the Alps, and the children will be supervised by experienced caregivers.
Ice Trail Skateline Surava
In winter, skating on the Skateline Surava is very popular here. This ice path is 3 km long and 3 meters wide. Driving down the gentle slope amidst a magical winter landscape is a pleasure for hikers of all ages.
Globy trail
In summer, parents can take their children along the Globi trail in Lenzerheide. A famous Swiss cartoon character accompanies the path along it. He helps the family get to know nature better through puzzles and games.
Globy explains about the diversity of nature and reveals many startling facts. Recognizing animal tracks, observing the clouds, calculating the age of trees from their rings will turn this excursion into an unforgettable adventure. The trail has a short, medium and long route. You can even take a short route with a baby carriage.
Children's park
At the Davos-Klosters resort in Madris, families will find Kids' land, where children can enjoy roller coaster rides and fun. A must-see in Davos is the Gwunderwald Heidboden Nature Reserve, where you can learn information about nature, flora, fauna, agriculture, and forestry in a fascinating way.
Pinocchio program in the Savognin resort
In summer and autumn, the Savognin resort offers something very special - the Pinocchio program for children under the age of twelve. Four days a week, little travelers can take part in gold mining, maze construction or cave adventures for free! If you wish, you can pay for lunch only.
Other activities with children in Switzerland
Of course, the above options are not all Switzerland's options for families with children. The Interlaken ski resort, located between Lakes Thun and Brienz, is a fantastic base for exploring the snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and waterfalls of the Bernese Alps.
Grindelwald
It offers an endless array of winter and summer sports. For families, Grindelwald is also of interest - one of the most established ski and hiking centers in the region. There are slopes for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers. Grindelwald is also the most popular hiking destination in the mountains in summer.
To Gürten by funicular
From Bern, you can take the funicular to Gürten and enjoy the beautiful views. In winter, sledding is popular in Gürten Park. Children will be interested in visiting the Kindermuseum Creaviva, where they can create their own work of art. Toddlers can watch the animals at Bern Zoo or discover the world of tropical birds, insects and butterflies at Papiliorama outside the city.
Zoo and museums in Zurich
In Zurich, little tourists can get acquainted with ponies and dwarf goats at the zoo, see more than 1200 antique toys from all over Europe in the museum, or gaze at prehistoric exhibits at the Dinosaur Museum. In winter, you can go ice skating in the open air at the largest ice rink in Europe.
The trip will leave vivid impressions for both parents and children!
