Switzerland with Toddler: Which itinerary would you pick? Help Please!
 

Hi there:

DH, DD (20 months at the time of the trip) and I are going to Switzerland for 7 days (September 24th to October 3rd). We are flying in and out of Zurich. I have put together four possible itineraries using Fodors Trip Reports, other Fodors threads and other travel sites. Could you please provide your thoughts/ideas/suggestions?

Which itinerary would you pick given that we have a toddler and are looking for a good mix of natural beauty, architecture, Castles (I LOVE castles), kid-friendly walks/hikes/strolls, kid-friendly places/activities. Ideally, we would love to do one of those lovely 6-7 hour train rides like Glacier Express. But at this point in our life with a spiried toddler, that might not be the best thing for us. So my itinerary # 3 tries to catch up with some portion of the Scenic Trains (Pre Alpine Express or Golden Pass Line) for a couple of hours. Do you think this is worth it or are the scenic train rides I have listed in Itinerary # 2 (Zurich -> Amden/Weezen or Zurich -> Chur/Lake Constance) pretty beautiful as well?

<B>Itinerary 1:</B>
Land in Zurich
2 days in Zurich
2 days in Lucerne
2 days in Lauterbrunnen/Wengen
Fly back Zurich

<B>Itinerary 2: Zurich as primary base and some scenic train rides here and there</B>
Land in Zurich
2 days in Zurich
Train ride to Amden in the Alps or Weesen. Lunch/putzing around, then return.
Train ride to Chur. Check out medieval town/lunch/putzing aorund, then return,.
Trip to Rapperswil
Trip to Utliberg
Fly back from Zurich

<B>Itinerary 3: Try to do some portion of Scenic Trains</B>
Land in Zurich
2 days in Zurich
2 days in Lucerne
Lucern to Rapperswill (on Pre-Alpine Express - Scenic Train) or to Interlaken East (on Golden Pass Line - Scenic Train)
Spendn couple of days in or around Rapperswill or Interlaken East
Back to Zurich

<B>Itinerary 4: A little bit of everything </B>
2 days in alps, 2 days in lake, 2 days by waterfall/village walk
This is more a concept at this point, rather than an itinerary. Any suggestions here for places for this itinerary?

Would LOVE to hear your thoughts. Help please!!!

Oh, I should also add that IDEALLY, we are looking to keep train/bus rides under 2 hours max. Thanks!

Option 4 IMO

waterfall/village - Lauterbrunnen in Jungfrau Region

2 days on lake - Lake Lucerne to me the most gorgeous of Switzerland's many gorgeous lakes

2 days in Alps - Wengen - actually just uphill by train from Lauterbrunnen

7 Day Trip

Day 1 - Zurich
Day 2 - Lauterbrunnen via Interlaken
Day 3 - Lauterbrunnen - possibly doing the fantastic loop up to Murren/Schithorn/Gimmelwald/Lauterbrunnen - to me the finest day excursion in all the Alps and very easily done
Day 4- Grindelwald - in other valley from Lauterbrunnen and a very very different type valley - actually a wide amphitheater where from your hotel balcony you can get intoxicated on the sweeping views of ice-girdled peaks, glaciers, etc.
Day 5 - Grindelwald - possible excursion to Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest train station and one in a sea of snwo and ice - can walk to a glacier and trek around the vast ice caves, etc.
Day 6 Take Golden Pass, one of Switzerland's special scenic tourist trains over the Brunig Pass to Lucerne

Day 7 Lake Lucerne - hop a boat and just float, getting off at several sweet lakeside towns or doing Mt Pilatus or Mt Rigi - two of Switzerland's most fabled peaks from boat docks.

Day 8 - an hour or less by train right to Zurich Airport.

And for this i would get an 6-consecutive-day Swiss Pass that would cover virtually all your transports from get off the plane to get go to the plane - trains, postal buses, lake boats - city trams and buses - practically everything that moves in Switzerland save cows! the child always goes free and needs no ticket or pass at that age.

For loads of info on Swiss trains, lake boats, passes, etc i always spotlight these fantastis info-ful sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com - with links to the Swiss Federal Railways (www.sbb.ch) to compare regular fares with the pass, etc.; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com

Itinerary 2:

- you can do the Rigi and/or the Pilatus from Zürich
- you can do Appenzell from Zürich

Thanks PalenQ for all your suggestions. I will research these. I hope we get to do all the wonderful things you have suggested as having a toddler with us, severely slows us down.

Schuler, thanks for your recommendations of Rigi and/or Pilatus and Appenzell. I see that these are within 2 hours from Zurich. Any quick suggestiosn of things to do here?

Why dont you have Lucerne on your list?

It is the most gorgeous of the Swiss cities. Very clean, very beautiful lake, mountains you can see from everywhere and unbelievable cuisine.

Going to Pilatus and Rigi mountains is also pretty simple from Lucerne. You will love it. Daughter will enjoy walking near the lake and seeing the ducks while you eat at the lakeside restaurants. And of course the boat rides on the lake to go to the mountains will also appeal to the little one.
It is truly one of my most favorite cities as there is so much to do. At every step you know you are in Switzerland because of the lake and the mountains and decent weather.
Tons of boutique shops selling everything from delicious Swiss chocolates to Swiss knives and Swatch watches.
So, research Lucerne seriously, you will love it.

Just my two cents. I totally agree with Palen:

"Lauterbrunnen - possibly doing the fantastic loop up to Murren/Schithorn/Gimmelwald/Lauterbrunnen - to me the finest day excursion in all the Alps and very easily done"

We were just in the Jungfrau area for a week, and that was certainly the 2nd best thing we did. It's second, only because we went paragliding!!!!

ileen - Lucerne is on my Itinerary 1 and 3. So am definitely considering it. And now from what you have said, am DEFINITELY SERIOUSLY considering :)

TravMimi - wow, paragliding sounds fantastic! Thinking that one is probably out for us given LO will probably figure out how to GET OUT of harness than stay in ;) But will look into the loop.

How long does the Murren/Schithorn/Gimmelwald/Lauterbrunnen loop take? Also what mode(s) of transporation are involved? Is it a lot of rough hiking? Want to make sure not too strenuous with our toddler.

Lauterbrunnen cable car to Grutschalp (about 10 mins) Train along the ridge line to Murren (about 20 mins) 10 min. walk to cable car station. Cable car via Brig to Schilthorn (about 25 mins). To get back you take cable car down via Gimmelwald or direct to Stechelberg. (10 mins?) Then the bus through the gorgeous valley back to Lauterbrunnen. It's not as complex as it sounds. You could do it in reverse too. This is the best I can do off the top of my head. The times might be off, because you are in another world.

Be sure IMO to get off at Gimmelwald when returning from Schilthorn to Lauterbrunnen Valley -as Gimmelwald is a very unusual place- a farming hamlet out in the middle of nothing except scintillating panoramas of the Jungfrau Massif in all its ice-girdled glacier right across the deep Lauterbrunnen Valley that Gimmelwald sits on top of.

There is a famous mountain hotel/restaurant here serving local dishes - but just stroll around a bit in this very very awesome and unique place.

Palen is correct IMO2. Some of us got off in Gimmelwald and others went straight down to go to Trummelbach falls (we had alread been.) Gimmelwald was lovely. We kept saying "I think I had this jigsaw puzzle when I was a kid"

We kept saying "I think I had this jigsaw puzzle when I was a kid">

Yes if i have your drift there are so many nice pieces on the Lauterbrunnen to Murren to Gimmelwald to Stechelberg to Trummelbach Falls to Lauterbrunnen Loop that all fall lovingly into place- and all those varied pieces are the reason i prefer this excursion over even going to the Jungfraujoch.

Does anybody know if this is doable with a toddler? Did you see lots of families/young kids when you went?

20 month old toddler - well i certainly could not speculate on that but can say that nearly no walking is required - just getting out of one conveyance and into another - so in that aspect it is easy - but i suppose it would be little different from say driving or taking any train - i have seen families with toddlers in tow on these type things.

But overall i am not familiar enough with 20-month-olds to really know. But it is not physically demanding, at all and you are never on any oneconveyance very long - lots of places to take breaks - there are very frequent services on the whole route.

That is helpful info, PalenQ, thank you :)

Manisha,

Do let me know what itinerary you decide to use. We are planning a trip to Switzerland as well and have a toddler too. Any details would really be appreciated.

Thanks,
Farrah

We did Mt. Pilatus on our trip this summer with our 5 children ages 6, 8, 11. I did see a couple parents with toddlers in back carriers. I enjoyed it very much and it was the highlight of Switzerland for us. You actually can take the gondola or train up to a certain point which is still quite high and has an amazing view, then you can decide if you want to continue on and traverse the rest of the climb up the stairs and path to the top or not.

We did visit a lovely town called Regensburg in the Zurich region. Very picturesque. We climbed the tower to see the panoramic view of the valley and mountains in the distance.

chickenlittle - thanks so much! I will investigate Mt. Pilatus (from Luzerne, right?)

Jezebel9bce - So far, I am thinking of Zurich (including Kinder Zoo @ Rapperswill or Zurich Zoo) -> Lauterbrunnen -> Luzerne -> Zurich. I will come back and post a trip report/highlights. :)

We did Spain with her when she was 6 months old and I did a trip report. Not sure how helpful since its Madrid (not Switzerland), but perhaps some general children tips if you'd like:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-stroller.cfm

Yes from Luzerne. There is restaurant at the top.

Mt Pilatus is really famous and the train from Alpnachstad to the summit is one of the most thrilling in Europe and the aerial cable way back down to Krens, in suburban Lucerne and a short bus ride from the town center is also awesome.

But in my many many sojourns in Lucerne it seems Pilatus is very fickle in often being enshrouded by clouds or fog - so if in your plans hop on the first good weather day as it could be your last chance.

And a nice way to get to Alpnachstad, besides by train, is to take a lake boat there from Lucerne's train station front. Railpasses are valid on the boats 100%- but 50% Alpnachstad to summit and cable way to Krens - then 100% valid on bus back to Lucerne.

Thank you for your tips and advice. Will let you know how it goes.

Also - Any advice on which one to do - Lauterbrunnen loop (Murren/Schithorn/Gimmelwald/Lauterbrunnen) or the Jungfrau loop?

IMO the Lauterbrunnen-Murren-Schilthorn-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg-Trummelbach Falls- Lauterbrunnen loop is a much more varied and overall interesting full day excursion where each component is different and awesome.

Jungfraujoch train goes mainly thru tunnels to emerge in a sea of ice - a great experience once up top but a few hours at most for most folks tops.

And Jungfraujoch is a lot more expensive to boot

This is my opinion but the Lauterbrunnen-Murren Loop is my favorite excursion in the Jungfraujoch region.

Hi Manisha,

Would you mind sharing your trip details? We are looking to travel with our 27 month toddler in a week's time...I know it sounds kind of crazy doing such last minute planning but didn't want to miss the oppourtunity.

Thanks!!

tt to see if Manisha is still around.

Oops I see on Minasha's profile she hasn't been around in over a year - gone gone gone!

Manisha, would you mind sharing your itinerary? We're looking to visit with a toddler and would hear your experience/travel plans. Thanks in advance!

Hi Frapsicumm,

This is what we ended up doing.
Day 1 - Land in Zurich morning/afternoon time
Day 2 - Zurich
Day 3 - Zurich (Visited Rapperswille castle this day)
Day 4 - Train to Lauterbrunnen. This was the Golden Express, I think that's what the name was and was beautiful. I can't exactly remember how long but it was a couple of hours and just the perfect amount of time for our very energetic toddler. We checked into our hotel, then went for a walk around Lauterbrunnen
Day 5 - Lauterbrunnen-Murren Loop. This was amazingly beautiful, however in hindsight, I woud not do this with a toddler. Too much go-go-go and not enough stopping to smell the roses (or playing with random grass/snow along the way)
Day 6 - Train to Lucerne
Day 7 - Day in Lucerne
Day 8 - I think we either headed back this day or maybe spended another day in Lucerne. Train to Zurich. Overnight in Zurich.
Day 9 - Flight back home.

In hindsight maybe we should have just skipped Zurich, headed straight to Lucerne and used that or Lauterbrunnen as a base camp for a few days. Maybe 3 days each and used the time to really go slow. Lucerne is a wonderful wonderful city - very family friendly and pretty.

Hope this helps, sorry my memory is so fuzzy. Do let me know if you have any specific questions! I'd be happy to answer.

I would say that it was actually quite a tough trip. After that, we referred to the 2 year old mark as the "Switzerland age" in our household as in ...the age we took DD1 (yes, we now have two daughters!) to Switzerland and it was quite a challenging trip. We were up all of the first night due to jet-lag. And the second night, we slept great but slept in all the way until noon the next day (including DD) which means we pretty much spent most of the daylight hours sleeping. DD1 had lots of tantrums, so that made it "fun".

I say this not to discourage you but just to encourage you to REALLY keep it slow. And not move around so much. I will say though that after the Switzerland trip, going out and about locally felt like a breeze. We even made a trip to India a couple of months after we got back from Switzerland and it was easy peasy.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Sorry on Day 1, we landed in the evening actually. By the time we got to our hotel, it was dark.

Hi Manisha,

I am planning on taking a trip to Switzerland with my 13 month old but it'll just be me and her. Any itinerary suggestions? I don't mind taking things slowly and staying in a city for a couple of days. I am a bit nervous as it'll just be me and my toddler. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks!!

Going in a weeks time with our 14 month old highly energetic toddler. We will stay in interlaken town.

We plan to do the Lauterbrunnen-Murren-Schilthorn-Gimmelwald-Stechelberg-Trummelbach Falls loop as recommended above, will it take full day?

Next we want to do Jungfrau top of europe tour, again will it take full day?

For our third day would appreciate any suggestions, do we go to wengen, grindlewald etc.

The boat rides across the lakes in interlaken, any suggestions to those will be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Farooq Zuberi

For our third day would appreciate any suggestions, do we go to wengen, grindlewald etc.>

Not as destinations because they are nice pretty towns but nothing to see in them especially, especially tiny Wengen.

Yes on third day you could do a lovely boat ride on either lake bookending Interlaken.

I think Lake Thun makes a prettier ride but Lake Brienz has more interesting things to get off and explore.

Lauterbrunnen-Murren-etc loop will take a full day.

Jungfraujoch train need not take a full day- a half day could be enough if you do not care to trudge thru the perpetual snow up top and walk to the glacier but just take in the awesome views from the main building's sun terraces.

For our third day would appreciate any suggestions, do we go to wengen, grindlewald etc.>

I think on the other thread you started you said you were going to do the Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Ridge Walk - an easy easy few-mile stroll really - but that can be done in conjunction with the Jungfraujoch train since it goes thru Kl Scheidegg.