Top 6 Things to Do in Switzerland with Kids

With famous names such as The Matterhorn and Jungfrau known to children across the world, it makes sense to start your Switzerland family adventure in the mountains. Kids of all ages are instantly in awe of the sheer magnitude and glory of giant formations that beg to be explored, either by hiking, biking, or skiing.

Part of the adventure is getting to the top on a classic rack-and-pinion railway system, as you hear every click and clack that helps bring your family higher up the mountain. There are many ways to visit and exciting times of year to explore, with each offering a different challenge and reward the entire family can discover.

Highlights: Jungfrau • Matterhorn • Wetterhorn • Gornergrat • Eiger • Mount Rigi

The Swiss make excellent chocolate, cheese, and watches, and you can take the time to visit key destinations that highlight these exceptional crafts. Try your hand at designing and perfecting mouth-watering masterpieces or watch tradespeople hard at work creating wooden works of art.

Attend festivals and learn how to dance and sing with locals, and hear stories of days gone by or of famous people who once called Switzerland home. Your kids will take an interest in your surroundings as you embrace all this marvelous destination has to offer young visitors.

Highlights: Stafa Chocolate Making • Gruyere Cheese Making • Gstaad • Shepherding • Yodeling Festival

The cities and towns of Switzerland invite kids of all ages to step inside and explore the fascinating concrete jungles that blend history and contemporary perspectives.

An old-town district within a bustling metropolis shares a historic past with the modern world, where sharp-angled buildings and busy squares contrast storybook frames and angled rooftops.

Enjoy the ambiance as each new street teaches young travelers about local culture and traditions via open-air museums, monuments, art galleries, and outdoor discoveries.

Highlights: Zurich • Geneva’s Jet d’Eau • Bern • Basel • Grindelwald • Zermatt

Lakes are an integral part of the breathtaking and dramatic landscape that make up Switzerland and there are myriad activities to choose from on and around the water for any kind of family.

Enjoy boat rides or plunge into a waterskiing or windsurfing adventure, or simply splash about on the edges of the lake as you take time to indulge in the European summer sun.

In winter, the lakes form a scene from a fairytale, adding to the charm of quaint villages and towns that surround them, and offering a new way to view the best places to visit across the country.

Highlights: Lake Lucerne • Lake Geneva • Lake Thun • Lake Brienz • Lake Lugano • Lake Zurich

The slopes of the Alps are some of the most sought-after in the world and visiting for a ski experience or gently gliding down the snow can give your kids the opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s great winter destinations.

Popular ski resorts and mountain parks offer young visitors the chance to try to master the renowned pastime in a safe, easy, and observed environment, accompanied by spectacular views. Whether skiing or snowboarding, you can spend a day or an entire trip on the slopes during your Switzerland trip to try something new or hone your skills on enticing new ground.

Highlights: Zermatt • Tasch • Randa • Sunnegga

The most popular and the country’s highest railway is the cogwheel-steered ride up Jungfrau.

However, Switzerland has many magical train experiences you and your family can discover. Embrace the panoramic views that seem endless on a slow-paced ride from one adventure to another as you travel by rail to enjoy one of the most fascinating ways to experience the beauty of the country.

Travel over bridges that span snow-covered terrain, jump in a cable car, or traverse a mountain railway to see Switzerland from a unique angle and indulge in an unforgettable experience.

Highlights: Jungfraujoch • Gotthard Panorama Express • Rhaetian Railway • Globi Express • Glacier Express

The adventure begins the moment you set foot on Swiss soil. Mountains, lakes, charming towns, and vibrant cities all invite young explorers to embrace the great outdoors and local culture during your family trip.

Discover your ideal family vacation to Switzerland by finding inspiration in our Switzerland family vacations & tours or Switzerland travel guide.