| 6 mins read
By Jen Mullen
On first thought, the picture postcard landscapes and scenic orderliness of Switzerland do not really sync well with the spontaneity and high pace energy that typically characterises a trip with kids. Add to that Switzerland’s reputation for being cripplingly expensive and just a tad bit on the conservative side, to make you consider whether this holiday should be attempted with kids. This article however, aims to dispel this perception and you may even find yourself imagining yourself as Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music, stealthily marching her family towards the Swiss border!
Getting In!
Switzerland is served by several international airports, including Basel in the North, Geneva in the French speaking west and Zurich in the German speaking eastern cantons. When you arrive into Zurich, if you are lucky enough to land at gate E, you will be swept efficiently by train to the main terminal through a tunnel, which has clever holograms of cow bells and men playing alpine horns, complete with sound effects. This is surely enough to make even the weariest junior traveller very welcome.
Gruezi wohl!
English is very widely used in the country and on public transport one gets to hear a huge variety of languages being spoken, due to the very international workforce, as well as tourism. In Zurich, although German is the official language, the locals speak a particular dialect called “Schwyzerduutsch” (or Swiss German); therefore teach your children to say “Gruezi wohl!” to greet people, “merci vielmals” to say thanks and “uf widerluege” for goodbye. The hardest word to say in Swiss German is “Chuchichaestli” (which means kitchen cupboard). Practising this can be a good game to keep the children occupied on long train journeys!
Getting around!
One of the best things about Switzerland is the public transport, which is clean, beautiful and extremely punctual. Trains, trams, buses and boats cover the entire country in one super co-ordinated infrastructure and it is very easy to buy one ticket to cover each method of transport. Ticket offices will give you a printed itinerary with precise connections, allowing for exact walking distance times between platforms and terminals. Moreover it works! Children under six travel free on Swiss public transport and journeying off peak will mean better discounts for the adults. Some trains even have a family carriage with a kids play area! Do enquire about special tickets, such as the “Junior Card” for ages 6 to 16, as this also gives substantial savings.
If you have a slight rebellious streak in the face of all the Swiss orderliness, whisper quietly in a small child’s ear that there is a bell on the floor at the back of a lot of Swiss trams. Watch their faces explode with delight, as on leaving the tram you let them stamp the bell, which of course will result in a few disapproving stares (but often smiles too!).
Fun Activities with Kids
One of the most enjoyable and least expensive activities in Switzerland is to take a trip to the Alps. Switzerland boasts some of the most famous mountains in Europe, such as the Eiger, the Jungfrau and the Matterhorn (and which child is not going to be excited about eating a Toblerone, whilst gazing at the mountain, which inspired the iconic packaging?). Switzerland’s extensive peaks and large glaciers are also home to an impressive network of hiking trails, often marked with yellow signs showing the precise number of minutes needed to get to your destination. If your children are old enough, some hikes can take several days and many routes have dormitory-style accommodation with pillows, mats and blankets. As the weather can change quickly in the mountains, make sure you have appropriate footwear, lightweight thermals and waterproofs, which can be purchased for quite reasonable prices in supermarket chains. If in doubt, ask someone who is an experienced trekker and knows the terrain.
Youth hostels also are extremely good value, or why not find a cosy “Pension” (or guest house) in a small village? In summer you can also stay in tee pees, or pitch your tent in one of Switzerland’s scenic campgrounds, where you and older children can also often try your hand at sports such as paragliding, rock climbing and wakeboarding. On many lakes one can hire boats and pedalos, and despite the fact that Switzerland is a landlocked country, swimming is a popular sport, thanks to countless lakeside “badi’s” (or bathing areas).
If your children’s legs are still a bit short for mountain climbing, why not take a cable car up to the top? Peaks such as Flumserberg can be reached within a couple of hours from Zurich, or if you also want to experience the steepest cog wheel railway in the world, plan a day trip to the breathtaking Mount Pilatus. When coming from a warmer country, if your children have never touched snow before, many mountains will still have some coverage up the top well into April and May. It is a great way to let them build their first snowman, without having to invest in a ski holiday.
Many Swiss tour guides would recommend visiting in summer, when the window boxes are bursting with colour, one can hear the sound of cowbells everywhere, and the weather is pleasantly inviting to encourage kids to have a run around. And when it gets warm, in most places there will be fountains and drinking troughs, where you can simply fill your water bottle and enjoy the cold Alpine refreshment for free.
Switzerland in winter is a picture perfect white wonderland and boasts of some of the best ski areas in Europe. Smaller tourists will be catered for in multi-lingual ski schools, often resulting in them leaving their parents for dust several days later on the real slopes. It is a very rewarding experience for families to tuck into a fondue or schnitzel after a hard day on the slopes, celebrating the runs conquered and nursing aching limbs. Many parents are also delighted that skiing is a first class activity to ensure children retire early to bed, completely exhausted, after which they can enjoy a cold glass of Feldschloesschen beer or local Swiss wine in peace.
Therefore, whatever the season and whatever the age of your children, a trip to Switzerland can be a fun filled experience for kids and will give you countless photo opportunities. The cow bell sounds on the airport train, as you head back to gate E, will also remind you to stock up on those chocolates to take back home!
Image Details and Licenses: https://flic.kr/p/78rzN (Karen and Bob Richardson, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/2Qx9gM (Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/2gLyT (Kecko, CC BY-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/2wsZqj (Kyle McDonald, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/8Ycm68 (oshokim, CC BY-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/dWGAxd (Lisa Stevens, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/xr6kr (Dan, CC BY-NC 2.0)