A Switzerland itinerary with kids

Switzerland is a dream destination for families: snowy mountains, clear lakes, scenic trains and safe, clean cities. It's true that it's more expensive than other European destinations, but with a little planning you can enjoy the best of it without blowing the budget. Here's a suggested itinerary for a week.

Why Switzerland suits families

Distances are short, public transport is punctual and convenient, and almost every attraction is accessible with a stroller. The big advantage is that the scenery does the work for you: there's no need to cram in activities to make the day impressive.

A suggested 7-day itinerary

• Days 1 to 2: Lucerne. A picturesque city with a famous wooden bridge, a lake cruise and a cable car up Mount Pilatus.
• Days 3 to 5: Interlaken and the Jungfrau region. An excellent base for trips among mountains, waterfalls and Alpine villages.
• Days 6 to 7: Zermatt. A car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn, with cable cars and easy family walking trails.

Attractions kids love

You don't need to ski to enjoy the snow. Sledding, adventure parks, cable cars and lake cruises give even the little ones a full experience, and if you feel like a city day, the zoos in Basel and Zurich are excellent.

A budget tip: the Swiss Travel Pass

If you plan to move between cities a lot, the Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses and boats, and sometimes museum entry too. For a family on the move, it usually works out cheaper than buying individual tickets.

When to go

Summer (June to September) is the ideal time for mountain and lake trips. Winter is for snow lovers, but it's more expensive and the days are short. Spring and fall are quiet and especially beautiful; just check in advance that the high cable cars are running.

Switzerland is expensive, so this is exactly where it's worth doing the budget math before you choose, as explained in the family trip abroad guide, which also covers trip length and what to pack.

And this is the part that takes the most time

Matching attractions to ages, arranging lodging and keeping to the budget: Diretix does all of this for you in minutes. A Switzerland itinerary built around your kids' ages and your pocket, with attractions, hotels and a daily schedule. One trip a month is built in full, for free, up to 12 days.