Traveling with children to Europe is not an easy task. On the one hand, a European vacation is the most civilized and safe, and on the other hand, it involves sightseeing, monuments, visiting museums, which are not always interesting for young travelers. In addition, excursions can be very tiring for kids. But a trip with children to Switzerland can break such ideas. This country has such an abundance of outdoor activities, museums and attractions for children that it can be called a fantastic family vacation destination.

How to organize a holiday with children, read our article.

Switzerland has a wide range of child-friendly hotels and resorts offering childcare, babysitting, playrooms. Ski resorts often have children's ski schools and also offer recreational activities. It will be interesting for young tourists to ride a sleigh, as well as visit the Christmas villages that open in the center of most Swiss cities.

How to get to Switzerland on your own

Airplane

From Moscow direct flights can be reached to Geneva and Zurich. They are carried out by Aeroflot and Swiss. The flight lasts from 3 to 4 hours. Departures are carried out daily. Swiss also has flights from Saint Petersburg to Zurich. In addition, there are many options for flights with transfers in European cities – Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Prague, Dusseldorf, but it will be difficult for children to transfer such a flight, so it is better to pay attention to direct flights.

A train

You can also get to Switzerland by train. True, you will have to make a transfer in Germany, because there is no direct railway connection from Russia. This trip 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, Ecolines operates bus services to the cities of Switzerland. You can also get to Europe by car. There are excellent highways between the states. From Russia, the path lies through Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany.

Before traveling to Switzerland, you need to get a visa! How to do it yourself, read our life hack.

Where to stay

When planning a holiday with children, it is important to choose the right hotel for a family holiday, because not all are allowed to stay with children. More often they are intended for conferences and business events.

If the family is traveling with a baby who is not yet two years old, then you need to request a baby cot from hotels. As a rule, in hotels of 4 stars and above, it is provided free of charge, and in hotels of 3 stars and below – for a small fee.

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Each hotel has its own policy on the cost of living for children. Some of them accommodate children for free up to a certain age or provide discounts. Apartment-type hotels do not give such discounts, but they have certain advantages for families. Firstly, the presence of a mini-kitchen, where you can cook food for children. Secondly, the presence of a separate bedroom for parents. The child can sleep in the living room on a sofa bed. These items will add extra comfort to your vacation.

Transport in Switzerland

The transport system in this country is one of the most advanced in the world. Children will love the train rides, which offer scenic views. Children under the age of 16 travel free of charge, provided 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 under certain conditions. The driver must be at least 21 years old and have an international driver's license, driving experience of more than three years and a credit card.

Bicycles can be rented in the cities. This can be done for free in Zurich and Geneva. It is only necessary to leave a document as a deposit and from 20 to 50 Swiss francs, which will then be returned.

Lucerne with children

Lucerne is located in the heart of central Switzerland. The city is easy to get to – just an hour by train from Zurich and an hour and a half from Basel. There are many opportunities for recreation with children.

Exploring the mountains

First of all, this is the study of the mountains. Near Lucerne there are two mountains – Rigi and Pilatus. Their visit 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 Luzern Bahnhof train station. Upon arrival in Vinzau, you need to 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 winter you can go sledding or skiing there.

To get to Mount Pilatus, you need to take the train to Stansstad and then ride the funicular to the top. A visit to this mountain guarantees stunning views, and kids will love the train ride on the steepest railway in the world.

If there are rainy days on vacation, you won't be bored anyway. There are several museums in Lucerne that will be interesting to visit with the family.

Museums

The Glacier 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 Transport Museum you can learn the history of the development of trains, planes, cars. For kids, there is a miniature train that you can ride for 2 CHF.

Walks along the lake

In Lucerne, you can make beautiful walks along the lake. If you wish, you can rent a boat here. On it you can swim to the large Lido beach. 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 along the Kapellbrücke bridge

Children will not be able to appreciate the beauty of the old city, but they will enjoy a walk along the main bridge of the city – Kapellbrücke. In addition to being fun to walk across, the bridges are iconic structures in Lucerne. Being close to Kapellbrücke, you should definitely buy a serving of the best ice cream in the city at the Dieci cafe. And for 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 cafe, which offers a large selection of muffins, fruit teas, ice cream, lattes and cappuccinos. Here you can have a good meal with the whole family. Across the street from the cafe there is a park for small children.

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 how to make chocolate while parents can relax with a cup of coffee. On Easter and Christmas, children are given chocolate bunnies or Santa Clauses.

Family holidays in Graubünden

Graubünden can be called a huge playground. Among the Alpine peaks, lakes, ski slopes and toboggan runs, families can relax and unwind. Grisons family resorts: Arosa, Davos-Klosters, Flims-Laax-Falera, Lenzerheide and Savognin. They take into account all the needs and wishes of children and parents.

Local hotels have special offers for children, ranging from holistic care to wellness programs and adventure trips. 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 – a family holiday in Graubünden guarantees exciting adventures, unique events and a variety of activities in the fresh mountain air. Parents can easily enjoy their holidays in the Alps, while the children will be looked after by experienced educators.

Skateline Surava ice trail

In winter, skating on Skateline Surava is very popular here. This ice trail is 3 km long and 3 meters wide. Driving down the gentle slope through the magical winter landscape is a treat for hikers of all ages.

Globe Trail

In the summer, parents can take their children along the Globi trail in Lenzerheide. The path along it is accompanied by a famous Swiss cartoon character. He helps the family get closer to nature through puzzles and games.

Globi explains about the diversity of nature and reveals many amazing facts. Recognizing animal tracks, observing clouds, calculating the age of trees by their rings will turn this excursion into an unforgettable adventure. The trail has a short, medium and long route. You can even walk along the short route with a baby stroller.

children's park

At the Davos Klosters resort in Madris, families will be interested in the Children's Park (Kids' land), where children can ride the slides and frolic from the heart. A must-see in Davos is the Gwunderwald Heidboden Nature Reserve, where you can learn about nature, flora, fauna, agriculture, and forestry in a fun way.

Pinocchio program at Savognin

In summer and autumn, the Savognin resort offers something special – the Pinocchio program for children up to the age of twelve. Four days a week, little travelers can take part in gold mining, labyrinth building or cave adventures for free! Optionally, you can pay for lunch only.

Other things to do with kids in Switzerland

Of course, the above options are not all the possibilities of Switzerland for families with children. The ski resort of Interlaken, nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, is a fantastic base from which to explore the snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and waterfalls of the Bernese Alps.

Grindelwald

It offers an endless number of winter and summer sports. Grindelwald, one of the most established ski and hiking centers in the region, is also of interest for families. There are slopes for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. Grindelwald is also the most popular hiking destination in the mountains during the summer.

To Gürten by funicular

From Bern, you can go to Gürten by funicular and enjoy 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 see animals at the Bern Zoo or discover the world of tropical birds, insects and butterflies at Papilorama outside the city.

Zoo and museums in Zurich

In Zurich, young tourists can get acquainted with ponies and dwarf goats at the zoo, see more than 1200 old toys from all over Europe in the museum, or gawk at prehistoric exhibits at the Dinosaur Museum. In winter, you can go ice skating in the city on the largest skating rink in Europe.

From the trip there will be vivid impressions, both for parents and children!