princessleia

Hello all,

Planning a trip to Switzerland in mid May for 10 days with hubby, 4 yr and 1 yr old. Initially we had planned on doing the following:

2 days in Zurich (flying into Zurich around 11.30 am)
2 days in Lucerne
1 day in Bern (optional)
3 days in Interlaken
2 days in Geneva (flying out of Geneva on the 11th day)

But when we looked at all attractions in the above places, I see that most of the attractions are museums which we will not be able to do due to our small kids.
We are thinking the following now:
Zurich: Toy Museum, Zoological Garden., Old Town and Bahnhoffstrasse (sp?)
Bern: Mt Gurten and Clock Tower 9Bern is optional)
Lucerne: Lake Lucerne, Glacier Garden, Swiss Transport Museum, Old Town and when it came to a choice between Mt Pilatus and Titlis, we thought Titlis due to the rotating cable car.
Interlaken: Jungfrau, Lake Thun and Harder Klum
Geneva: Lake Geneva

I know that the days will have to be readjusted based on our new plan, but this is basically it. Is this doable in the time we have and are we missing out on any important things to do see? Due to our kids, we are not planning on doing any historical sights/museums with the exception of the above mentioned one's. Would you suggest we skip/add anyting to the above mentioned? Also, if we have time, we are planning on flying to Pisa (just for the Leaning Tower for only a day). Would you suggest it? Thanks in advance for replies. Have never travelled before beyond our state, and this is the first big trip. So any answers/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

PalenQ

are you going by car or train?

I would try to eliminate some bases so you need not pack up and move on after just one day - Bern is an easy short day trip from anyplace in the Interlaken area - otherwise it looks like a sweet itinerary.

If taking the train check out these fine fine IMO sources: www.swisstravelsystrem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com. If going by rail then check out some kind of Swiss Pass that passes not only on trains - just jump on - kids always go free on anything with the free Family Pass you get with a pass - but passes also pass on lake boats such as on Lake Lucerne - you could take one as part of the Mt Pilatus excursion - 4 yr-old will love the paddle-wheel steamers - get off at Alpnachstad and take the thrilling train up to Mt Pilatus or similarly you can take a boat part way to Engelberg and Mt Titlis.
Swiss Passes also get you free entry to 400+ Swiss museums like those you mention (believe it is 50% off Swiss Transport museum but still a good chunk - you can also take a boat from downtown Lucerne the few miles east to the Transport Museum dock.
And 8-consecutive-day pass would work and per day it is the cheapest version for your plans - spend the first day in Zurich and last day in Geneva, not using trains.

neckervd

Your trip (version 2) is feasible. It's up to you to decide whether Jungfaujoch will be a good choice for your kids: long ride in often bounded trains and deep temperatures (sometimes fog and snowfall) at the destination. The Lake Geneva area might be a alternative to Interlaken.

May be you have a look at a copiy of one of my previous posts:

SWiTZERLAND WITH CHILDREN

As public transport is rather expensive in Switzerland, study carefully the sites about Swiss Pass, Swiss Flexipass and Swiss half fare card: http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Tick...l?&L=2#s_h_f_c

Check the Swiss Travel System Family Card
The Swiss Travel System Family Card is issued at no cost to parents who wish to take along their children under the age of 16 at no cost. Please note that at least one parent has to travel with the child/ren.

Some ideas:

historic steamboats on Lake Geneva:
http://www.cgn.ch/horaires/pdf/AffA2-ete-10.pdf
http://www.cgn.ch/eng/flotte

Swiss Vapeur Park Le Bouveret:
http://www.swissvapeur.ch/en/index.php

Signal de Bougy:
http://www.parc-aventure.ch/Signal-de-Bougy/
http://www.signaldebougy.ch/

Menhirs at Yverdon
http://www.yverdonlesbainsregion.ch/...menhirs_clendy

Blonay-Chamby historic railway:
http://www.blonay-chamby.ch/index-en.php

Chillon castle:
http://www.chillon.ch/en/

Gruyeres castle, cheese diary and chocolate factory:
http://www.chateau-gruyeres.ch/e/mul...spectacle.html
http://www.la-gruyere.ch/en/navpage-...FR-120085.html
http://www.lamaisondugruyere.ch/inde...=142&Itemid=56
http://www.lamaisondugruyere.ch/inde...=142&Itemid=56

Chatelard-Emosson (Mont Blanc area):
http://www.chatelard.net/english/pages/descr_e.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emosson
http://www.emosson.ch/PublicEN/default-en.htm

Zermatt-Gornergrat:
http://www.gornergrat.ch/home/index.php
http://www.klein-matterhorn.ch/photos/
http://www.zermatt.ch/en/index.cfm

Entirely walled city of Murten:
http://www.murtentourismus.ch/en/nav...nFR-99305.html
http://www.murtentourismus.ch/en/nav...-MurtenFR.html

Medieval city of Bern:
http://www.berninfo.com/en/page.cfm/Information
http://www.kleinbahn-gurten.ch/

Swiss Village Park Ballenberg:
http://ballenberg.ch/en/Welcome

Lugano and Swissminiatur:
http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/en/291/default.aspx
http://www.swissminiatur.ch/

Seewen in the Jura close to Basel:
http://www.bundesmuseen.ch/musikauto...x.html?lang=en

Rapperswil:
http://www.zuerichsee.ch/en/page.cfm...FamilyDRZ/1230
http://www.knieskinderzoo.ch/
http://www.zuerichsee.ch/en/page.cfm/SightsRZ
http://www.zuerich.com/en/page.cfm/r...gion_zuerich_x

Rhine Falls Adventure Park
http://www.rheinfall.ch/Attraktionen...ark?lang=en-US

Roman theatres at Avenches (Murten), Augusta Raurica (Basel), Octodurum (Martigny

You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/interests/family.html
http://www.takethefamily.com/where/s...ays-and-breaks
http://www.eparenting.co.uk/family_h...tzerland.shtml
http://www.reka.ch/en/rekaferien/Pages/default.aspx
http://littletravellers.com/destinat...y-switzerland/

kenav

The rotating car for Titlis is not big deal. We went last year. Only part of the cable car rotates. You can hardly feel it as it rotates. It's not like an amusement ride. However, Mt. Titlis itself is spectacular.

Think about boat rides on the Limmat River/Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne. The one on Lake Lucerne can get you to Mt. Rigi. I always think boats are fun!

PalenQ

The rotating car for Titlis is not big deal> Yup it's a gimmick really with no really advantage IME.

PalenQ

ttt

PalenQ

As public transport is rather expensive in Switzerland, study carefully the sites about Swiss Pass, Swiss Flexipass and Swiss half fare card: http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Tickets.16.0.html?&L=2#s_h_f_c>

but if buying also scour www.raileurope.com for Swiss Pass prices as I have tracked them for years and have found that more often than not the same exact pass sold in U S $ thru RailEurope, part owned by the Swiss Federal Railways, is cheaper if bought here than there - especially if you factor in any foreign exchange transactions fees your c card my impose - some have none but many have 3%. Also check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com for price comparisons - prices should be the same but some may charge shipping costs - many do not.