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Itinerary check/tips/advice please

Hello again friends!

My husband went to Switzerland last May and completely fell for this gorgeous Country. Before the plane departed I knew we had to come back and bring our kids. So we are planning to fly out this year at the end of May and return the first week of June. Since our kids will be with us we are going to be there 14 nights. The plan is:

Fly into Zurich train immediately to Locarno
Locarno (4 nights)
Train to Montreux
Montreux (3 nights)
Train to Wengen
Wengen (5 nights)
Train to Zurich

Zurich (2 nights)
fly home Zurich

We are trying to mix in some new places and some old places. Last trip we did Lucerne, Mürren, Basel (day trips to Freiberg Germany and Colmar France).
I do want to see Zermatt and the Matterhorn but figured we can day trip there if we end up with a sunny day instead of spending a few nights there with a hope of a view.
My children will be 9 and 6 when we go and are excellent travelers, but still I’m hoping a slow day or two at the lake will help with jet lag and time change.
Questions- my kids are dying to do a chocolate tour. Planning on Lindt on our full day in Zurich followed by a trip to rapperswil. Will there be enough time/is this a good place with kids? Is Callier or Laderach better? I prefer the latter for chocolate but I’m more concerned with their experience.
Is it possible and recommended to try and do a day trip to France while in Montreux? I was thinking about taking the ferry. My daughter and I both would love to go.
Also interested in seeing the Borromean islands or Stresa while in Locarno. Is this doable? What is the ideal route.
Open to all opinions, tips, advice etc. you guys know all the good secret things to do!

Thank you in advance!

Posted by
5319 posts

I know some people do the Matterhorn day trip from Montreux, but it's too much to me. There are so many things to do from Montreux. It's just an hour to Geneva so you can see if actually going into France is important to you--the towns between Montreux and Geneva are very appealing. I wanted to get to Vevey and tour vineyards, but it did not work out. I think kids will love Castle Chillon. My husband was there for the week prior to me for business and did some hikes above town (watch out for donkeys). I read of a chocolate train so hopefully someone can share if that is something worth pursuing or not.

Posted by
680 posts

Sounds like a great trip!

I haven't done Locarno, so I can't speak to that. For Montreux, you can do a day trip to Yvoire, France by taking the train to Nyon and then taking the boat across to Yvoire. That's a much better option than Geneva.

The English audio tour for the Chateau de Chillon is great and I highly recommend walking there from Montreux along the lake promenade and then taking the boat back. It makes it more of a full trip that way and the view of the castle from the boat, as well as walking up to it from the lake promenade, are both excellent.

If you haven't already, make sure to take a look at www.swissfamilyfun.com for lots of great ideas for families/kids in Switzerland.