We are planning a European holiday (from Australia) August /September 2011, and hoping to have a very brief visit to Switzerland, only 2 nights, on our way to Italy (Como). I have a 7 & 9 year old and am confused as to where to visit. I would ideally love to include a short trip, perhaps by train, high in the mountains to view the spectacular scenery I have heard about. Can this be done from either Interlaken or Lucerne? Also, I am not sure if my children have the stamina for some of the hikes, although some short, easy walks would be appropriate. Also what is the best way to travel through to Como? Thanks!!

THE trip to do from Interlaken is the one up to Jungfrau Joch. I think I'm right in saying it is the highest train station in europe.
You take the train up from Interlaken to Kleine Scheidegg from where you transfer onto a train that goes right through the mountain upto Jungfrau Joch.
At the top you will be in deep snow all year round - so take appropriate clothing.
This is a VERY expensive trip, but on a clear day is fantastic and was the definite highlight of our family holiday to the area 2 years ago.
If you don't want to spend so much you can get the train from Interlaken up to Wengen or Grindelwald and go in a cable car up a mountain from there.
This link is a good one for the area http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/desktopdef...331_read-2577/
Another lovely (shorter) ride up is to schynige platte
We did go to Lucerne on the train from Interlaken, but that was a day trip in itself and we didn't do any trips out from Lucerne.
There is also a small railway called Harder Klum that runs up from the lake side in Interlaken that is good too and offers good views of the lakes and mountains
As I said the trains are expensive, but very good and run to time of course

When we were there in May the view from Jungfrau was super bad and we could not even step out to enjoy the snow or the view. So it was a total waste for us. However trip to Titlis was more fun and so was the rid up there. So I would say Titlis is a better bet. Between Lucerne and Interlaken, Interlaken wins hands down. Its beautiful and scenic.

Two nights mean one single day. Nobody can guarantee you suitable weather for mountain excursions on that one particular day. This is impossible to predict and impossible to plan. Probability of clear conditions is notably below 50%.
Apart from that, Jungfraujoch means two long train rides up and down, a long part inside a boring tunnel - nothing I would do with young children.
Choose a place to stay that allows activities for all weather options, alpine peaks to visit at the doorstep and an interesting city with enough things to do in case weather conditions are not in your favour. The obvious answer to this is Luzern. Rigi if you want to hike a little at the top, or Pilatus for more alpine scenery. The views from both are splendid, weather permitting. In addition to that there is the lake with the option of boat cruises. And the city. Plus, Luzern is located on the main train route towards Como, so no detours and lost travel time.

(prepar: why did you go to the top at all on a bad weather day, instead of checking the weather in the morning and deciding upon better activities for the day...?)

We were told that the wheather was bad but we come from a country where we don't get snow and my daugther was looking forward to this trip. Hence we took the trip (and regretted it also). But then what we did was we stopped at kleine scheidegg on our way down and let our duagther enjoy the snow.

Hi bambi1
We travelled to Swiis and Italy ealy this month..
The temp and climate in Jungfrau Joch was excellent..But 2 dasys later we went to Mt pilatus, where we could see nothing..So the climate does matter,only way to do is cjheck onthe day of travel with the information at the train station..
But generaly i found that June /july are th ebest season to travel to swiss..
Check out our detailed itineray in the link below..

http://swissinfourdays.blogspot.com/
Ours was 4 day trip in swiis (2 days in interlaken,2 dasy i n lucerne)
Have fun!!

In winter, no place really beats the lovely little town of Gstaad. Great people, great inns and great food.

Oh yeah, I guess the skiing wasn't so bad either! You can hop on and off the train into town with your skis to go to the next slope over.

Kids loved the ice rink in town and found their hockey skills good enough to play with the locals!

Having done a similar trip when our children were that age I think the advice to use Luzern as a base is probably a good one to consider.
Whilst there is an easy walk up near Kleine Scheidegg which you can get to from Wengen or Interlaken, this is a long way for just one full day. We did go up Pilatus and this was not quite as stunning as of course it is up at Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfrau but still pretty good for the children.
We did travel from Munich to Zugspitze for a day trip with our children - if you are planning to go there - and that was fantastic - and an amazing Alpine vista for 3 young Aussies! Not meaning to suggest you change your planned route - but worth a thought if you are going that way.

Here is the link for Zugspitze - just in case.

http://www.zugspitze.de/en/winter/berg/zugspitze/

Happy planning.

The mountains are high enough that they're in the clouds - so even if it's sunny in the valleys you can have mountian tops that are completely socked in. (We were in Interlaken 3 days - doing other towns/castles/lakes, while we waited for the weather to clear at the top of the Jungfrau - which is definitely worth it.) But you need to leave yourself several days to have a good chance of getting a clear day.

As for the weather - there is snow and it will be chilly - but not arctic. Assuming you have several layers and good walking shoes with non-skid soles you should be fine. Just don;t go the top like the couple that traveled in our train car - sandals, tee shirt and shorts - they were shivering half way up the mountain and left immediately they arrived at the top. If you have jeans, a tee shirt, regular shirt and warm sweater or thin sweater and thin jacket - you should be fine for the few hours you are up there - no need for winter clothing. (There is permanent snow - but the air temps are chilly- not Siberian.