✈️ Family trip to Switzerland: travel, hotels and itinerary with kids

Switzerland scares families with high prices. But this is exactly where kids have it easy and fun: trains run to the minute, and mountains start right outside the city. Children aged 6 to 15 travel the country for free if the accompanying adult has a Swiss Travel Pass (as of 09/2026, SBB). This removes the biggest line item from a family budget.

Below we break down how to get there, where to stay, and what to show kids in Lucerne, Graubünden, and near Bern. Transport, food, and tickets are covered separately. Everything that can be verified was checked on official websites in September 2026.

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How to get to Switzerland with kids

💡 In short:

Children aged 6 to 15 travel by train and bus for free: get a Swiss Family Card with an adult who has a Swiss Travel Pass.
In Lucerne, take kids to Rigi and the Verkehrshaus, and in Zurich take them to the zoo and the antique toy collection.
Transport, tickets, and prices: 09/13/2026, verified on the official SBB website.

Plane

Both airports, Zurich and Geneva, are connected to the city center by train in 10-15 minutes. Dozens of airlines fly direct here from Germany, Austria, Italy, and France. With a child, choose a daytime direct flight: a connection at a large hub adds 3-5 hours and extra fatigue.

Train

The train is often more convenient than a plane. Direct trains run to Switzerland from Germany, Austria, France, and Italy, and they arrive in the city center. You don't check the stroller as baggage, and the child can walk around the car freely. Check tickets and schedules at sbb.ch.

Car

Driving is convenient from Germany or Italy. For highways you need an annual vignette, sold at the border and at gas stations. In winter, snow tires are essential in the mountains, and chains are sometimes required on high passes. Parking at mountain stations is paid and fills up quickly in summer.

In winter, check pass conditions: some roads close overnight.

Car on a mountain road in the foggy Alps

Where to stay: family hotels

Not every Swiss hotel welcomes children. Some are geared toward conferences and business meetings, and they simply won't check you in with a child.

If you're traveling with a baby under two, request a crib in advance. Hotels rated 4 stars and above usually provide one free of charge; 3 stars and below charge a small fee.

Hotels have different child policies: some let kids stay free up to a certain age, others offer discounts. Apartments rarely offer discounts, but they have a kitchenette for preparing kids' food and a separate bedroom. The child sleeps on a sofa in the living room. These apartments are convenient for long evenings: you cook yourself and don't have to hunt for an open restaurant.

Some budget hotels have age restrictions for children, so check the rules when booking.

Choose a hotel near the train station: that way you won't drag suitcases across the whole city. It's easy to compare options using this selection of Switzerland hotels on Trip.com.

Transport in Switzerland

Switzerland's transport system is one of the most convenient in Europe for families.

Children aged 6 to 15 travel the country for free if at least one parent is with them. To do this, you get a Swiss Family Card at the station (according to Swiss Federal Railways, 09/2026). The adult must have a Swiss Travel Pass or a Swiss Half Fare Card. Children under 6 don't need a ticket at all.

The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses, and boats, so you don't buy separate tickets. If you're not taking many trips, get the Swiss Half Fare Card: it gives you a discount on every ticket.

A rental car will be issued to drivers at least 21 years old. You need a driver's license, more than three years of driving experience, and a credit card.

Zurich and Geneva have free bike rentals. In Zurich, the Züri rollt program lends city and children's bikes with a 20 CHF deposit (as of 09/2026, Zürich Tourismus), and in Geneva, Genèveroule asks for an ID and a deposit from 20 to 100 CHF depending on the bike (as of 09/2026, Ville de Genève). The deposit is returned when you bring the bike back.

Check schedules and tickets for trains across the country in advance.

Lucerne with kids

Lucerne sits right in the center of Switzerland. The train from Zurich takes an hour, from Basel an hour and a half. The city is compact: everything important is clustered around the lake and the Reuss River, so you can cover it with kids at a relaxed pace in two or three days.

Panorama of Lucerne with the town hall tower and the Reuss River

Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus

Two mountains rise just outside the city: Rigi and Pilatus. To reach Rigi, you take a boat from Lucerne to Vitznau: the pier is right across from Luzern Bahnhof station. From there you transfer to a cogwheel railway. Kids under 15 ride free when accompanied by an adult (according to Rigi, 09/2026). In summer, families with older kids come here for hiking; in winter, for sledding.

Blue train at the snowy Rigi Kulm station

You can also reach Rigi by train from Goldau if you prefer the train over the boat.

For Pilatus, the cogwheel railway departs from Alpnachstad, while a cable car goes up from Kriens. The ascent is the steepest cogwheel railway in the world, and kids love the ride itself. The summit opens up a sweeping view of the Alps.

Go on a Tuesday morning: by 11:00 groups gather at the stations, and it's easier to get through earlier with kids.

Museums

Museums are a lifesaver on rainy days. The Gletschergarten sits across from the Lion Monument. It showcases traces of the Ice Age, and kids are thrilled by the mirror maze.

Rocky slope with boulders in the Glacier Garden

The Verkehrshaus brings together the history of trains, planes, and cars. Little ones love the miniature train; adults enjoy the massive locomotives in the hangar. Buy tickets online to skip the ticket office line (verified on 09/13/2026 on the official Verkehrshaus website).

The lake and Lido beach

Pleasant walking paths run along the lake. You can take a boat to Lido beach with its pools and volleyball court. On a hot day, it's a great spot for the whole family, and you can see Pilatus from the shore.

Panorama of Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus

Chapel Bridge

Kids won't immediately appreciate the old town, but they'll definitely enjoy the Chapel Bridge. Walking across the wooden bridge is fun, and inside you can see historic paintings.

Nearby, get ice cream at Dieci cafe, and for lunch with a child, Opus restaurant with a kids' menu is a good fit.

Food

Near the train station, around the corner from McDonald's, there is Filou & Bengel cafe. They have a large selection of cupcakes, fruit tea, ice cream, and coffee. Across the street there is a playground for toddlers.

For Swiss chocolate, head to the Aeschbach Chocolatier factory, a 10-minute train ride away. Kids watch the production process while parents enjoy coffee. At Easter and Christmas, children receive chocolate bunnies and Santa Clauses here.

If you want more ideas for the city, check out tours of Lucerne.

Family vacation in Graubünden

Graubünden stretches from the Alps almost to the border with Italy and Austria. For families, it is a huge playground: mountains, lakes, sledding runs and ski slopes. The canton's family resorts include Arosa, Davos-Klosters, Flims-Laax-Falera, Lenzerheide and Savognin.

Local hotels offer children's programs: from childcare to wellness and adventure days. They sit among alpine peaks and mountain lakes. Children's ski schools operate at the canton's ski resorts.

Kids can enjoy sports grounds, zoos, climbing walls, pools and mountain hikes. While parents relax, children stay under the supervision of experienced caregivers. In winter, Christmas villages open in the centers of Swiss towns, and it is worth visiting them with children in the evening.

Skateline Surava ice trail

In winter, skating on the Skateline Surava ice trail is popular in Graubünden. It is 3 km long and 3 meters wide. The gentle descent through the winter landscape suits visitors of any age.

Globi Trail

In summer, follow the Globi Trail in Lenzerheide. The route is led by a famous Swiss cartoon character: he sets riddles and explains nature.

With Globi, children learn animal tracks, watch clouds and count the age of trees by their rings. The trail has three lengths, and you can even do the short route with a stroller.

Children's park in Davos

At the Davos-Klosters resort, in Madrisa, there is a "Kids' land" with slides and play areas. In Davos, it is worth visiting the Gwunderwald Heidboden nature reserve. Here, nature, flora, fauna and agriculture are explained in a playful way.

Pinocchio program in Savognin

In summer and autumn, Savognin invites children up to 12 years old to the "Pinocchio" program. Four days a week, children pan for gold, build a labyrinth or descend into caves for free. You only pay for lunch, and even that is optional.

Other activities with children in Switzerland

Switzerland for families does not end with these places. Between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz lies Interlaken, a convenient base for hikes to the waterfalls of the Bernese Alps.

Grindelwald

From Interlaken, it is worth taking a trip to Grindelwald, one of the oldest ski and hiking centers in the region. There are enough slopes for both beginners and confident skiers. In summer, people come here for mountain walks.

Gurten and Bern

From Bern, take the funicular up to Gurten: in winter, you can go sledding here. Children will enjoy the Kindermuseum Creaviva, where they can create their own work of art. Bern has a zoo, and just outside the city, Papiliorama is open with tropical birds, insects and butterflies.

Gurten Hill above the neighborhoods of Bern

Zurich with children

In Zurich, children can visit the zoo with ponies and pygmy goats. A ticket for a child aged 6-12 costs 18 CHF, entry is free for children under 6, and a family day ticket costs 85 CHF (as of 09/2026, Zoo Zürich). The zoo is open from 9 am to 6 pm from March to October.

Entrance to Zurich Zoo with elephant figures

At the museum, you can see more than 1,200 antique toys from all over Europe. There is also a Dinosaur Museum with prehistoric exhibits. In winter, the city sets up the largest open-air ice rink in Europe.

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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much money does a family need in Switzerland?

It is impossible to give an exact amount, as it depends on the season and region. Consider transport: with the Swiss Travel Pass, children aged 6-15 travel for free. A ticket to the Zurich Zoo for a child costs 18 CHF, a family ticket costs 85 CHF (as of 09/2026, SBB and Zoo Zürich). Hotels in the mountains are more expensive than in cities.

Do children travel for free in Switzerland?

Yes. A child aged 6-15 travels without a ticket with the Swiss Family Card if accompanied by an adult with a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card (according to SBB, 09/2026). Children under 6 always travel without a ticket.

Where to go with children in winter?

In winter, families head to Graubünden. In Davos, there is a "Kids' land" and the Gwunderwald Heidboden nature reserve; in Bern, you can go sledding in Gurten Park. On the Skateline Surava ice trail, you can skate along 3 km of ice.

What to do in Lucerne with children in the rain?

Go to museums. At the Gletschergarten, you can see the Ice Age and a mirror labyrinth; at the Verkehrshaus, there is a collection of technology: trains, planes, cars. Little ones love the miniature train. Buy tickets online (checked on 13.09.2026 on the Verkehrshaus ticket page).

Do you need a car in Switzerland with children?

Usually not. Trains and buses run on schedule and take you right to mountain stations. A car is useful if you are coming from Germany or Italy and want to stop in villages away from the railway.

In short: what to book

Choose your base in advance, and the trip will go more smoothly.

If you have a baby under two, book a hotel with a crib near the train station. If you are traveling with school-age children and want mountains, set your base in Lucerne or Graubünden. In winter, Davos-Klosters is a good choice, and in summer and autumn, Savognin with its free "Pinocchio" program.

Arrange transportation before your trip: with the Swiss Family Card, children travel free. Check family hotel options on Trip.com and book in advance.

Switzerland with kids: free travel, Lucerne and family hotels