Switzerland with kids-new thread
 

My previous thread got long so I am creating a new one. Hopefully I'm not violating any rules:

Based on the latest replies, I feel I should try and fit Konstanz in. How does this itinerary work:

Day 1-arrive Geneva, train to Montreux (1 night)
2-Montreux (castle in AM; mid-afternoon train to Lauterbrunnen (3 nights)stop in Spiez/Niesen if time
3-Jungfrau
4-Schilthorn/Trumm falls
5-Lauterbrunnen to Titlis to Lucerne OR Lake Thun or Br. cruise and then to Lucerne; see bridge (2 nights)
6-Pilatus day trip
7-Lucerne to Konstanz (1 night) -stay in Konstanz or train back to Zurich for next day flight
8-flight at 9:25 am

Thanks for all your help!!!

Leaving yourself one day for the Jungfrau is very dicey. the weather at the top is often bad - which means there's no point going up - since you will see nothing. We had to wait until our third day in Interlaken before we got good weather. You need to have an alternate in case the weather is bad.

we have 3 days in Lauterbrunnen and it's August so hopefully we'll luck out with at least one clear day.

You will also need clear weather for the Titlis and Pilatus excursions. Have a plan B up your sleeve, just in case. In August the rain will be warmer than in winter but the probability is just the same.

There is more to do and see in Luzern than only the bridge, by the way. The city can easily keep you busy for a day, so that is already a "plan B".

I have no idea why you would want to race over to Konstanz at the eastern end of Switzerland for one night (not even for a full day...) when you have the option of staying one more night and day in Montreux - a much nicer place than Konstanz, also on a lake, with much greater views to mountains across, and with better daytrip options than Konstanz.

With jetlag and with kids, you deserve to stay put in one place for two nights on arriving in Switzerland. It makes a world of difference and saves everybody from starting that tiny short vacation in a grumpy mood.

Stay two nights in Montreux. You can take a lake-boat cruise, marvel at the Mont Blanc across in the French alps, go to Lausanne to the Olympic museum if that interests you, take the cute little mountain train up to Glion and Caux and Rochers de Naye, or just promenade between Montreux and Clarens and take the boat back... It is called the Swiss Riviera, relax, get the jetlag out of your system, bring your camera, go for a swim in the lake...

If you can make an early start on day three (counting the arrival day as day one), hopefully with jetlag mostly worn off, see the Chillon castle and leave Montreux by lunchtime you can fit in the Niesen before arriving in the evening in Lauterbrunnen.

You only have two days in Lauterbrunnen. And you have only two days in Luzern, because the last day is travel day.

Here is what works and keeps you from being overly rushed and the kids from feeling too unsettled:

Arrival Day 1 GVA, sleep in Montreux.
Day 2 sleep in Montreux.
Day 3 Chillon-Niesen-arr. Lauterbrunnen late afternoon, sleep in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 4 Jungfrau or Schilthorn or ??, sleep in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 5 Jungfrau or Schilthorn or ??, sleep in Lauterbrunnen.
Day 5 Lauterbrunnen-Engelberg-Titlis-arr. in Luzern late afternoon, sleep in Luzern
Day 6 (Pilatus or Rigi or Einsiedeln or ???) sleep in Luzern
Day 7 (Pilatus or Rigi or Einsiedeln or ???) sleep in Luzern
Day 8 train to ZRH airport (takes a bit over an hour)

Three hotels to check into, three neighborhoods to get used to - that's as much as anybody would want to deal with in this short time.

You've got kids? Then skip Konstanz and a night to another area. Konstanz is not worth it.

My kids weren't blown away by Konstanz. It's a nice town, very pleasant in fact, but not worth the time invested for your present trip.

Ok. So happy for all your responses. Thank you so much. I will keep everything the same as you suggest. We actually land in Rome and should be over jetlag before arriving Geneva but anyway as noted, it seems like the Swiss Riviera is nicer and worth the stay compared to Konstanz. Thanks. The kids will enjoy Montreux area better and we'll save Germany for a future trip.