Spring Break with Kids (14 & 11).

Flights are Arrive in Zurich 3/12/25
Depart Paris 3/21/25

We are trying to plan a good itinerary that the kids will enjoy and are torn between traveling through Switzerland or heading north into Germany.

Thoughts on where we should go...

Zurich ... Frankfurt ... Luxembourg city ... Paris
Or
Zurich ... Interlaken ... Lausanne .... Paris

Others cities and options are completely open especially in Switzerland.


Don't need much time in Paris as us and kids have been before, just need to knock off Notre Dame (fire killed it last time) and another trip to the tower because the oldest loves it, but was scared of highest last time.

It really depends on what your kids are interested in. Are they more into history or nature? My girls are 10 and 11, and we travel quite a bit in Europe, so I can say there are amazing options for both. If you're not already working with a travel advisor, my contact info is in my bio.

scottjg2 said:

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Spring Break with Kids (14 & 11).

Flights are Arrive in Zurich 3/12/25
Depart Paris 3/21/25

We are trying to plan a good itinerary that the kids will enjoy and are torn between traveling through Switzerland or heading north into Germany.

Thoughts on where we should go...

Zurich ... Frankfurt ... Luxembourg city ... Paris
Or
Zurich ... Interlaken ... Lausanne .... Paris

Others cities and options are completely open especially in Switzerland.


Don't need much time in Paris as us and kids have been before, just need to knock off Notre Dame (fire killed it last time) and another trip to the tower because the oldest loves it, but was scared of highest last time.

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Very much the second.

I agree, the second one will be significantly more enjoyable for the whole family. There some amazing family hotels in the alps, unbelievable scenery and activities.

If you want to do Germany I would say Bavaria/Black Forest or Dresden would be where I'd go. Frankfurt wasn't all that memorable IMO.

Do the second, but I'd stay in Wengen or Grindewald rather than Interlaken.

Loved Wengen - there is plenty to do within a short train ride. Lausanne has an Olympic Museum that was interesting!

The Pilot said:

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Frankfurt is very underwhelming, basically only go there if flights are convenient. Do the second one.

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This. No reason to explore Frankfurt really.

I've had clients do the second option with their teenagers and they loved it!

We're thinking of doing a similar summer to second itinerary and wondering if we can do it all by train or need to rent a car.

I've done trains in Europe a few times but only rented a car in the Normandy area for the day.

drumboy said:

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We're thinking of doing a similar summer to second itinerary and wondering if we can do it all by train or need to rent a car.

I've done trains in Europe a few times but only rented a car in the Normandy area for the day.

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No need to rent a car to explore Switzerland. In fact, it's probably a handicap. Can't say that about rural areas of other European countries, but Switzerland has a public transit system like no other. Not just trains, but busses and boats as well, all linked up with Swiss precision.

Thanks for all the feedback! We have booked stays in Grindelwald and Lausanne for the week.
Does anyone have experience with the Jungfrau Travel Pass? It looks like a good option while in Grindelwald.

Thanks again!

Frankfurt is lame. Skip it.

Great choice. We took our kids (6, 9, 12, and 14) at the time to Switzerland for ten days summer of 2024 and it was amazing. The amount of outdoor stuff for kids and families is insane. And rental car needed. Buses and trains are amazingly easy. Have a blast!

scottjg2 said:

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Thanks for all the feedback! We have booked stays in Grindelwald and Lausanne for the week.
Does anyone have experience with the Jungfrau Travel Pass? It looks like a good option while in Grindelwald.

Thanks again!

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I had the Swiss Travel Pass, which covers the entire country. Jungfrau will cover a narrower region, but I believe it gives you a larger discount on high mountain lifts (maybe more free one). You'll have to look up the details.

Be sure to get the SBB app. With the pass, you can hop from one means of transport to another. Here's a video that illustrates that: