Looking for inputs if I should be skipping some places and trying something alternatively as well. We are a family of 5, (three teenagers) landing in Zurich in Mid July. We have traveled to multiple non-European countries, but this is the first time we plan to rely on trains (and the luggage lugging around), and could use all your help.
Day 1 - Land in Zurich
Day 2 - Zurich Alstadt, FIFA Museum and travel to Lucerne
Day 3 - Lucerne - Mt Titlis and Brunnen
Day 4 - Lucerne - Mt Pilatus. Lake Lucerne
- (Is mt pilatus unique or does mt Titlis provide the better option?)
Day 5 - Head to Interlacken. Do Touristy stuff at Interlacken. Go to Wengen
Day 6 - Jungfraujoch - (Is anything else possible?)
Day 7 - Visit Grundelwald - (Is anything else possible?)
Day 8 - Return to Zurich.
We do have a day to spare and looking for some other activity
Posted by
Bend, OR
1301 posts
We did Switzerland last summer with our kids and grandkids. They had fun upstairs at the FIFA Museum doing all the soccer games. They had hoped to get an official FIFA ball but nothing like that available, just some pins. The Jungfrau had a zip line and tubing outside the main building. Up above Grindelwald there’s a park with zip lines and a toboggan run.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3340 posts
I don’t know if your teens would like it but the Swiss Transportation Museum is in Lucerne. Lots of trains, cars, boats…
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2648 posts
We spent 5 nights in Wengen in July 2023 with our two teens. Spend as much time in the area as possible, since weather will affect what you do/see. We had some rain 5 days of 6. You need to be flexible in your plans and go where the weather permits. Go to Jungfraujoch early if the weather is clear. We were on the first train from Wengen (around 7:15) on a crystal clear morning. We were done by around 11:45 and took the Eiger Express down to Grindelwald. Left out jackets in a tote bag at the left-luggage office in the train station and headed to First. We were caught in a sudden thunderstorm just as we started downhill on the mountain coasters. Stuck on the mountain for about 2 hours when the gondolas stoped (with people in there!) due to lightening.
So yes, you can plan multiple activities in a day. Just be flexible and always prepared for rain.
Posted by
Nashville, TN
773 posts
I’m assuming you’re returning to Zurich on Day 8 in order to fly out the next day? If that’s the case, switch up the order of your places to avoid having to change an additional time. You can easily get to the Zurich airport from Luzern, so if you are flying out on Day 9, do Zurich (1 night) > Interlaken (4 nights) > Luzern (3 nights)
If that’s an incorrect assumption, I’ll make comments based on your existing itinerary:
Day 1 - Land in Zurich
Day 2 - Zurich (various day plans to your preference) > Luzern
Day 3 - Luzern old town + boat ride to Fluelen with stop at Brunnen
Day 4 - Luzern > boat ride to Vitznau > Rigi
Day 5 - Luzern > Interlaken — boat ride on Lake Brienz
Day 6 - Interlaken > Lauterbrunnen > Wengen > Kleine Scheidegg > Jungfraujoch > Eiger Express to Grindelwald > Interlaken
Day 7 - Interlaken > Lauterbrunnen > optional walk the valley to Stechelberg > Murren > optional Schilthorn or hiking around Murren > Lauterbrunnen > Interlaken
Day 8 - Interlaken > Zurich
Posted by
OP
4 posts
All - Thanks for the suggestions to locations and the itinerary!
Our intention was to make a quick dash to the IOC in Bern, but if not, the idea to flip the destinations is great. Yes we do take a train out to Stuttgart from Zurich, and maybe we can leave directly from Lucerne instead.