Itinerary with Teens

I'm not sure what you're asking - are you seeking recommendations for places to stay? Or something else?

Since we have a limited amount of time to spend in Switzerland, I'm most interested in which cities folks think we should explore. Thanks so much!

With such very limited time as you have, I'm not sure that I would head for any Swiss city. To me, Switzerland isn't really about the cities, it's about the mountain scenery.

How many days on the ground do you have in France?

Are you flying into Zurich? If so, I suggest you head straight to Luzern, just over an hour away by train, for your first night. Explore the lovely lakeside town, and maybe take a boat excursion and/or the boat/train loop up Rigi or Pilatus. I suggest Rigi if you would like to do some hiking.

https://www.rigi.ch/en

In the afternoon, head to the Lauterbrunnen Valley (again by train) and ride the cablecar up to the car-free village of Muerren to spend the rest of your time. Chalet Fontana is a great place to stay, whether in the ground-floor apartment or a bedroom upstairs in the Bed and Breakfast.

http://www.ferntree.ch/chalet/fontana_summer.htm

This is a pretty standard recommendation for a short visit to Switzerland, but it works. We still love Muerren after five 2-week visits to Switzerland.

And if by chance you are there over the first weekend in August, you will be fortunate, as that is the time of the village festival, with a sweet little cow parade and other activities.

Thanks for the great responses! We're going to spend 4-5 days in Paris after Switzerland.

"I'm wondering which cities we should definitely see." - None. Switzerland is not famous for its cities (though it does have some nice ones), it is famous for its mountains.

I would says the options are Luzern, or the Jungfrau region of the Berner Oberland. You say "would prefer hikes and exploring small towns or the countryside", so go for the Jungfrau region. Choose one of Mürren, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald.
For info and hotels in the Jungfrau region, see here: https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/summer/

For more information we would need to know how you are arriving (air/train/road) and where you enter Switzerland.
The best way to get from Switzerland to Paris is by train.

I agree with Chris F. You should consider the Jungfrau region. I say that as a parent that has brought each of his young teens there for a week each. Now in their late 20's, they still return to enjoy the same trails and scenery!

Murren or Lauterbrunnen would be good choices. If you are curious about what to do, take a look at my Jungfrau hiking trails page that you will find in my profile when you click on my name.

If I had 4 days, I would stay in the Bernese Oberland and enjoy the hiking & biking and then the visiting via cable car/funicular/buses/cog rail to small towns, tops of peaks, waterfalls, boat rides on a lake and the like. We fell in love with Mûrren thanks to the RS Europe program on PBS so that would be my base. You might also like Lauterbrûnnen.