I don’t think I need to give much of an introduction to Switzerland, especially for my Indian audience. However, when compared to other European countries, Switzerland stands out for several reasons. First, it is absolutely gorgeous. Second, the vibe here is truly international. Even though it is a European country, people are very welcoming—perhaps because you mostly meet tourists, or because there is no single dominant language. English is widely spoken, along with French, Italian, and German.
Another great thing about Switzerland is that it is very travel-friendly. Even the most challenging hiking spots can be reached by cable cars and public transport. This makes it a perfect vacation destination not only for adventure lovers, but also for families with kids and older travelers.
So, I will directly jump into planning a trip to Switzerland, keeping the cost in mind—because Switzerland is definitely not a cheap country to travel to.
Below Travel itinerary is applicable for :-
- Baby(>6 months)- friendly Itinerary
- Suitable for travel with parents.
- Travel-friendly even if you are pregnant
How to reach Switzerland ?
If you are traveling from outside Europe, flying is the most convenient option. Most international travelers arrive in Switzerland via Zürich. Before booking anything, it is important to finalize the number of days for your trip. Based on that, you can decide how many regions of Switzerland you want to explore.
Some of the most popular destinations include Lucerne, known for the iconic Chapel Bridge; Interlaken, famous for its beautiful lakes and as a central base to visit the picturesque villages of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen; Geneva; and, of course, Zürich.
We traveled from Germany, so we took an ICE train instead of flying. But if you are a fan of Switzerland’s scenic beauty shown in Bollywood movies and want to experience that paradise for yourself, the below itinerary will be perfect for you.
Where to stay in Switzerland?
It is very important to choose accommodation that is easily accessible to popular tourist destinations. We stayed at Hotel Merkur in Interlaken West. However, if you stay near Interlaken Ost, it is even easier to travel to regions outside Interlaken.
Checkout the hotel which we booked from booking.com
We had an average-sized room, and since we didn’t book very early, it cost us €236 per night. The location, however, was excellent—it was right next to the Interlaken West bus and train station. There was a supermarket just outside the hotel, along with several good Indian restaurants nearby.
The hotel also offered breakfast with a beautiful view of the mountains and Lake Thun, which made our mornings even more enjoyable.
Interlaken-Lake Thun & Brienz
We reached our hotel in the afternoon and still had some time left to explore the area. The next step we did was to go the reception for nearby places to visit and received a free local bus pass in return to travel around Interlaken.
We spent the day we arrived, as well as our last day of the four-day trip, exploring Interlaken itself. If you prefer a relaxed itinerary, there are plenty of beautiful places to enjoy within the town.
Town Center
If you are a fan of Swiss watches, the town center is full of luxury watch showrooms. You can also find souvenirs, chocolates, and Swiss knives, which make great gifts. For a touch of old European charm, you can even enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride around the town.
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm is a beautiful viewpoint near Interlaken Ost that offers stunning mountain views. Even in summer, it can be quite cold here, and the entrance area is usually busy.
You can either hike up the mountain or take a cable car that climbs 1,322 meters above sea level with a steep incline of 64% in just 10 minutes. Buying tickets online helps you avoid long queues. The ride itself is quite adventurous because of the height, even with kids—we visited with our 2-year-old.
At the top, there is a lovely restaurant with breathtaking views and a glass viewing platform that’s perfect for photos. The ticket cost us around €40 per person.
Lake Thun & Lake Brienz
Both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are incredibly beautiful, with clear green water and stunning mountain backdrops. You can also take a cruise on the lakes, although it is a bit expensive. Still, it’s a wonderful experience—we enjoyed it during our second visit to Switzerland.
The cruise has restaurants on board and even a play area for kids. The lakes are not as crowded as some other tourist spots, and there are many water activities you can try here as well.
Mountain First
Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit Mountain First on either of our trips. However, it is a great alternative to Harder Kulm. Both places offer hiking trails, spectacular mountain views, and scenic cable car rides, so you can choose one based on your preference and schedule.
Grindelwald for Top of Europe
Grindelwald is a charming Swiss village with hut-style houses and lush greenery all around. The village is very well maintained, and you won’t see many cars—mostly just trains. You can also choose to stay here, but accommodation is quite expensive. If you are traveling by car, you will need to park it at the entrance of the village.
Top of Europe/Jungfraujoch
We took a train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald (Train No. 61). There are two main ways to reach the Top of Europe:
Option 1:
Stop at the Terminal station for the Eiger cable car, then take another cable car to the top.
Option 2:
Stop at Grindelwald station, take Train No. 64 to Kleine Scheidegg, and then Train No. 65 from Kleine Scheidegg to Eigergletscher, followed by the train to Jungfraujoch.
Both journeys are amazing, but I personally preferred the train route. The train passes through cute houses on grassy hills, making it the most beautiful train journey I’ve experienced so far. You can also stop at Kleine Scheidegg to enjoy coffee or a meal—it’s a lovely spot surrounded by mountains. I would highly recommend Option 2.
At the Top of Europe, there are several restaurants, including an Indian restaurant with Bollywood star pictures. The buffet was quite good too. You can explore the outdoor snow area and enjoy fun activities with kids.
This part of the trip is worth spending a full day on. We bought the Top of Europe pass, which cost us around €250 per person.
Lauterbrunnen for Waterfalls
This is another must-visit village, and you can easily travel to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken by train using the same Top of Europe pass. The village is incredibly beautiful and famous for its waterfalls.
When you enter the area, it feels like a natural park. You can explore it on foot or by using the local bus, although you’ll need to buy separate bus tickets. There are many paragliding spots here if you’re interested in adventure activities. You can also bring a stroller for most of the walking paths.
Staubbach Falls
You will come across many waterfalls in this region, and one of the most memorable ones is Staubbach Falls. It is very tall but not very wide. Surrounded by greenery, it’s a peaceful spot where you can take as many photos as you like. It wasn’t very crowded when we visited, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
Trümmelbach Falls
If you have limited time, make sure to visit Trümmelbach Falls. It is located inside a narrow gorge and features powerful waterfalls flowing through a tight space. The sound of the water is incredible, and at some points, you can even feel the splashes. We were lucky enough to see a rainbow here as well.
Kids will love this place, but keep in mind that you’ll need to fold the stroller because there are stairs inside.
Checkout my other European itineraries if you would like- Amalfi Coast,Italy and Northern Lights,Norway
