Zurich is a great place to start your Swiss adventure with kids. Take a boat ride on the Limmat River, visit the Swiss National Museum or climb the Grossmünster Church for panoramic views. Zurich Zoo is also a must-visit for families with children as it has more than 380 animal species, including endangered ones. In the evening, you can enjoy a Swiss fondue in one of the many restaurants in Zurich.
Spend the day in Schaffhausen in the morning visiting the Swiss Museum of Toys which has the world's largest collection of teddy bears, dolls and other toys. In the afternoon, visit the stunning Rheinfall waterfall which is one of Switzerland's largest waterfalls. It is possible to take a boat ride or climb the rocks to get closer to the falls.
This day trip will take you to the highest train station in Europe. You can take a cogwheel train from Interlaken to the top of Jungfraujoch Mountain, which offers breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps. On the way back, stop at Trümmelbach Falls, a series of ten glacier-fed waterfalls located inside the mountain.
Visit the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise for panoramic views of the Matterhorn peak and the surrounding glaciated landscape. Then, take a train ride to Gornergrat, where you will have a breathtaking view of the 29 mountain peaks above 4000m in Europe.
Chase the crystal-clear waters and spend the day by the Caumasee lake. Nestled within the Flims-Laax holiday region, the lake is surrounded by a forest of evergreens and soaring peaks. Caumasee also has a beach area for sunbathing and swimming. In the evening, explore Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland, which has preserved its historic buildings since medieval times. Walk through the web of cobblestone alleyways, visit the markets and admire the Gothic and Romanesque architecture.
Take a scenic train ride to the shores of Lake Geneva, one of Europe's largest and most beautiful lakes. Enjoy a visit to the Olympic Museum and take a cruise to see the castles and vineyards that surround the lake. For kids, Lavaux Adventure Park is an excellent stop with ziplines and rope courses. End the day with a stroll along the promenade or have a picnic in one of the parks nearby.
The Swiss are world-renowned for their cheese and chocolate, so it's only fitting to end your Swiss adventure by visiting two of their most famous factories. Start in La Maison du Gruyère visitor center and watch how they make the semi-soft cheese. Then journey to Broc-Fabrique in the afternoon to see how chocolate is made and sample some of Switzerland's best. In Gruyères, you can also visit the picture book village with a 13th-century castle and scenery that looks like it is taken right out of a fairy tale.
Switzerland has a vast and efficient transportation system. Traveling on trains is the most convenient way to go around Switzerland. Families traveling with small children can get the Junior travel card for under 16s for free, allowing them to travel for free on trains. Adults can purchase a Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited transportation, including boats and buses. The 7-day pass for the second class costs 458 CHF for adults and 229 CHF for youths. There are also family passes available for two adults and two children.
The estimated cost for transportation using the Swiss Travel Pass is 458 CHF per adult for the second class. To travel between cities, it is wise to take a regional train instead of the high-speed trains as they can be twice as expensive. Another tip is to book the train tickets in advance online, which often has special deals and discounts.
If you have more time, you might want to consider including the following destinations in your itinerary:
If you have less time, you can cut down your itinerary by skipping a couple of stops. As Switzerland has such an efficient transport system, it is possible to reach every destination easily and quickly.
The main airports in Switzerland are Zurich Airport (ZRH), Geneva Airport (GVA) and Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport (BSL). Zurich is the biggest airport in the country and is located about 10km from the center of Zurich. Geneva Airport lies around 5km from the city center of Geneva. Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport is on the border between Switzerland, France and Germany.