3nights in Switzerland with young kids 17-20 Oct

Hoping to see Montreux/Interlaken/Lucerne.
Also, maybe Zermatt/Grindelwald area for some snow if any, otherwise it's ok.

With three nights and two little kids, you cannot do it all.... Go to Lauterbrunnen in the Berner Oberland, just a 20-minute train ride beyond Interlaken. Stay all three nights. Get a Berner Oberland Regional Pass for the lifts and trains that take you to the high places where there may be snow and at minimum are nice hikes and mountain restaurants with playgrounds. October is late, but we were there last October and although cool it was not COLD.

You can park your car in the garage at Lauterbrunnen for the entire stay as you won't need it.

FYI Grindelwald is near to Lauterbrunnen, not Zermatt.

Get Rick Steves' Switzerland Guide for lots of details on this, his favorite area.

Hi Laurel n thx for your reply.

I suppose you would suggest to explore Lauterbrunnen area instead of Zermatt area?

Should I stay in Interlaken for all 3 nights rather than Lauterbrunnen? Maybe it will give us more options to explore surrounding cities n not just the mountains? Is that advisable?

Can you suggest a nice family friendly town to stay in Interlaken area?

Also, is there anywhere we can go within 2 hours drive frm Interlaken that has kids friendly attractions/activities?

Thanks!

I agree with Laurel's advice. Lauterbrunnen is in the heart of the best alpine scenery that you came all that way to see. The cutest playground I've ever seen is near Lauterbrunnen. It's called the Flower Park, has a stunning mountain view, and it's next to the top of the funicular station at Allmendhubel. To get there from Lauterbrunnen, take the funicular from Lauterbrunnen up to Grütschalp, then the short train ride to Mürren, then the funicular from Mürren up to Allmendhubel.

There's also a nice playground at Männlichen, which includes a bowling alley made from logs! It has another stunning mountain view. To get there from Lauterbrunnen, you take a cog rail train up to Wengen, and from Wengen you take a cable car up to Männlichen.

Lauterbrunnen, Muerren, Wengen and the surrounding landscapes will keep you more than busy for the 3 nights and 2 full days. Much more charming and kid-friendly than Interlaken. You will not need to have a 2-hour trip anywhere to entertain them. Everything you need is RIGHT THERE: trains, cogwheel railways, mountain lifts of all kinds, waterfalls, the highest station in Europe at the Jungfraujoch, a 007 spectacle at the Schilthorn, playgrounds, cows, hikes, and the cute village of Gimmelwald as well. Walk down the path from Muerren to Gimmelwald and look at all the fat rabbits the Swiss keep.

Thanks again Laurel & LindaL.

I guess Lauterbrunnen it is then. Had a look and the altitude is around 850m. This should be fine for our 20 month toddler.

Any particular area in Lauterbrunnen we should stay?

We checked with our paediatrician and higher altitude is fine but we would like to keep our toddler below 1800M.

Our dates are sort off in between seasons, r the lifts/train/cablecars/parks/attractions open?

Thanks.

To find out what will be open during mid to late October, you can get great advice by contacting one of the Tourist Information centers in the area (see below). They will also answer your questions about places to stay best suited to your needs. Also, the Rick Steves Switzerland guidebook gives great advice for places to stay and eat in that Berner Oberland area.
Lauterbrunnen Touristcenter:
Tel: +41 33 856 85 68
email: [email protected]
web: mylauterbrunnen.com

Allmendhubelbahn:
Tel: +41 33 856 88 80

Mürren Tourismus:
Tel: +41 33 856 86 86
email: [email protected]
web: mymuerren.ch

This website https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/lauterbrunnen.html plus the Rick Steves' Switzerland guide are great resources. We love this apartment. FYI, there is a little grocery in Lauterbrunnen, but a large one in Interlaken with better hours and selection. You might want to figure a stop in.

We were there in mid-to-late Oct last year and everything was running.