Family Holidays: Switzerland family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

Switzerland is a country that repays a little effort. It is much visited, but little understood. The obvious attractions of mountains and lakes, cuckoo clocks and cheese are all there, but you need to get off the beaten track to discover really how exceptionally beautiful the mountains are. Go in spring when the flowers are at their finest and run down a meadow like Heidi (or Julie Andrews – take your pick). It’s a very rewarding country to visit with children - the transport links are excellent, most people speak English and appear to be pleased to see you, its very safe and better value for money than it once was.

Traditional village with chocolate box views

Swiss train journey with incredible view

The attractive and dynamic city of Lausanne

Top left: Family at the summit of Grächen
Top middle: Traditional village with chocolate box views
Top right: Swiss train journey with incredible view

Bottom left: Summer fun at Hasliberg
Bottom right: The attractive and dynamic city of Lausanne

When

Outdoor enthusiasts should know that December to March is peak ski season, while July and August are ideal for hiking. In ski country, lodgings are scarcer and more expensive in winter, while cities see increased prices during the summer; rooms can be harder to come by if you haven't got a reservation. The cheapest time to go is in the shoulder season (May-June and Sept.-Oct.), when there is also the added benefit of milder weather.

The Alps cause many climatic variations throughout Switzerland. In the higher Alpine regions temperatures tend to be low, while the lower land of the northern area has higher temperatures and warm summers. Expect Summer temperatures of around 24°C (although the highest on record is 36°C!), and winter temperatures from -2°C to 3 or 4°C. There can also be more rain in August and September.

How

The main airports for international flights are Zürich and Geneva, (check British Airways deals), although Basel, Bern and Lugarno airports also receive frequent international flights, many of which are from low cost airlines such as easyjet, flybe and bmi baby. There is no departure tax when flying out of Switzerland.

Trains are a popular, convenient and extremely efficient way to travel to Switzerland, and European rail passes make train travel affordable. Buses tend to be slower and less comfortable, although cheaper than travelling by rail.

Getting to Switzerland by road is simple, since there are fast, well-maintained motorways through all surrounding countries.

Finally, if you have the time and the money, it's possible to get to Switzerland by boat along the Rhine all the way from Amsterdam. Switzerland can also be reached by lake steamer ferries from Germany via Lake Constance, from Italy via Lake Maggiore and from France via Lake Geneva.

Do

Be adventurous, it’s easy to get off the beaten track here.

Try adventure sports if you have older children, the whole place is awash with bungee jumping, white river rafting, river planing, extreme skateboarding enthusiasts/nutters.

Base yourself in Lausanne, a dynamic and interesting city, much more attractive than Geneva, which takes itself too seriously.

Take a boat ride around Lake Lusern, a beautiful place set in the mountains. If you have any rail enthusiasts in the family (who don’t suffer from vertigo) then take the funicular railway up the mountain afterwards.

Don’t leave Switzerland without visiting the Matterhorn, Switzerland’s most recognisable landmark. A great, craggy peak, it has superb visitor facilities – year round snowboarding for example and you can go on any number of tours around it, walking or otherwise. Buy yourself some Toblerone while you are there it is based on the shape of the Matterhorn.

For railway buffs and everybody with a pulse, try the Centovalli railway as the perfect introduction to the attractions of Switzerland - little trains swing you over sheer ravines and past mountain villages before leaving you gasping on the border with Italy. Not for those with vertigo, but then if you suffer from this condition, Switzerland is not really the country for you anyway.

Eat

This is the tricky area for a family budget, be careful to mix and match self-catering with eating out, it can be very expensive. There are numerous snack bars selling mainly German and Italian based snacks – pizza and Bratwurtz. Restaurants are full of cheese-based dishes, fondues and raclette (molten cheese on a plate that you scoop up!) another staple is rosti, (grated potato fried with cheese or ham). The coffee is very good, the sweets excellent (think Austrian) and your arteries will recover one day.