Traveling to another country with babies, toddlers, school-aged children, teens, and pre-teens can be very scary. Traveling to the United States with children comes with its own many stressors, but when you add language barriers, cultural differences, and foreign ways of doing things, it can be downright miserable if you’re in charge of children.
But some places are easier than others when it comes to traveling with kids. Switzerland is one of them. This fall, I traveled to the city of Zurich and the nearby city of Laax in the Swiss Alps to scout the country for kids’ vacations. Everything I’ve learned is that Switzerland is a great place to take your kids on vacation, from the ease of travel to the way the culture treats children.
The most important thing I learned was:
Swiss people actually treat children as equal human beings
I know this sounds weird, but let me explain. In Swiss culture, children are seen as real human beings with real feelings, thoughts, desires and needs. In America, children may be ignored as just children, or babies may be seen as annoying crying machines on airplanes, but in Switzerland I definitely felt that children were treated with respect and equality that was not there in America.
How does this translate to traveling with children in Switzerland? We’ve found that the Swiss are not shy and are quick to accommodate the needs of their children. Babies are allowed to be babies and toddlers are allowed to be toddlers. Children are taken seriously. Children’s wants and needs are recognized and met without any fuss. That’s amazing!
Swiss give children a lot of autonomy and independence
No matter where I go, I find that in Switzerland children are simply trusted. Swiss children learn independence early on. That shows it. For example, I saw many children alone on public transport in Zurich. And at Laax Rock Resort’s indoor skate and trampoline park, parents confidently sent their kids (complete with helmets and safety gear) out for hours of fun while the adults did their own thing.
For American parents who are not used to this kind of freedom and independence for their children, the difference can feel uncomfortable or even a little scary. For example, at Rock Resort’s kids club, I was surprised to see sharp tools like saws hanging on the wall and learned that they teach woodworking and tool safety to 5- and 6-year-olds. And in the resort’s dining room, I was surprised to see that the children’s plates, cups, and bowls were all made of glass (and incredibly cute).
What can we learn from this huge cultural difference? Personally, I was very inspired by the trust and confidence that the Swiss have with their children, and thought how fun it would be for children to see and experience that. On the other hand, it is important to note that Swiss people may think that their child has skills or abilities that they do not yet have, for example a young child handling a knife at dinner.
Fathers are very involved
One thing I noticed as soon as I got off the plane: many Swiss fathers seem to have a fatherly role. trapped. I saw more fathers strapping their babies to their chests or pushing strollers in a week than I did in a month in the United States. It is also common to see fathers out with their children and mothers nowhere to be seen. How moving!
Switzerland is generally incredibly safe
If you’re looking for a destination free of crime, violence and injury, Switzerland is your best bet. This small country has a long history of valuing peace, order and law, and all its citizens are very proud of that history. In fact, it is ranked #1 for safety by US News & World Report.
While I was there, I even heard Swiss people joke that following rules is such a big part of their culture that their neighbors might call the police on them for mowing their lawn too early on a weekend or not parking their car in the right parking space. And to back that up, the Swiss have definitely noticed that if you don’t follow the rules, you get a serious side-eye. Most people have been very understanding and accepting, but we also expect everyone to color within the lines and follow protocols.
That said, there are some things to keep in mind…
If you’re looking for a safe country to take your kids on vacation, there’s no better country than Switzerland. But that doesn’t mean you should travel without worrying.
I’ve never experienced or seen it, but I’ve heard that there is a possibility of pickpocketing and petty theft at major tourist attractions and stations. I spoke to a friend whose bag was stolen on the train between Geneva’s airport and the main train station. Still, their crimes are rare and preventable with a little vigilance and education. It’s also not something you won’t find in major cities around the world.
Next, be aware of traffic hazards when traveling with children. I noticed that some small Swiss villages have narrow, winding streets with lots of blind spots, unclear beginnings and ends of sidewalks, and sometimes vague curbs. On the other hand, walking and cycling are very popular in Switzerland, which means drivers are very careful about pedestrians and cyclists. And if you’re walking or biking, there are plenty of designated paths and lanes so you can drive with confidence.
Another safety hazard worth mentioning is generally natural. The Swiss Alps are one of the most beautiful and rugged places I have ever traveled. This may have been the best vacation ever for me, but it also created a dangerous situation for my children. Mountains are inherently dangerous everywhere. Be aware of getting lost, steep descents, rapidly changing weather, and other natural hazards. Dress appropriately, know where you’re going, and keep an eye on your children.
Finally, there is one more small danger that is somewhat related to nature. Cows are everywhere in the Alps. Many of these cattle are kept in fields with electric fencing. Often these fences are just very small wires with no labels. On an early hike, I hit one and got zapped. I didn’t have any health problems, but I didn’t feel well either. Things to keep in mind when hiking with children.
Great playgrounds everywhere
I have never traveled anywhere in the world where there are as many great playgrounds as there are in Switzerland. It feels like every small village or neighborhood has a very well-equipped, creative and varied play area for children, both in private and public spaces. Many of these play areas are integrated into the surrounding area, so parents can sit at a table with a cup of coffee or beer and watch their kids play.
Note: As mentioned above, the Swiss are strong supporters of “risky play” as a way to make children more independent. That means playgrounds in Switzerland may be more dangerous than the ones we’re used to in the United States. I thought these elements were very fun and great, but parents of young children should be careful. Parents with older children should consider talking with their children about how Swiss playgrounds are different.
And one more thing to note. The Swiss rules of love don’t change on the playground either. Although there may be more “risk” in those structures, there are often strict rules for the use of playgrounds. Please read these before letting your child play.
many people speak english
Depending on the country I’ve traveled to, it can be difficult to find someone who can answer your questions in English. Or, culturally, some people don’t like speaking in English even if they know the language (we’re looking at you, France!). In Switzerland, about half of the population speaks good English, and most young people and people in urban areas can speak it at some level. Even if someone doesn’t speak English, it won’t be rude if they can speak English.
Switzerland is sandwiched between France, Germany, and Italy, so many people speak or understand French, German, and Italian. Therefore, you are likely to find someone who speaks the language you are familiar with. During my week in the countryside, there were only a few times I had trouble communicating with someone (for example, an elderly bus driver who spoke Italian). Please note that understanding Swiss German can be difficult if you know traditional German.
It is very easy to travel by train or bus, even if you are traveling with children.
If I could wish for one thing, it would be for the United States to invest in better rail and bus lines, on par with many European countries. I traveled around Switzerland for a week and only got into the car once (when I had to get to the airport before the trains started moving). It was very easy to get anywhere by bus, train, gondola, or even on foot or by bicycle. We were also able to take a bus and go hiking to the top of a secluded mountain.
Another plus? All transportation is very clean and well organized, making your trip less stressful and very manageable when exploring this country.
Also, the train and bus routes are not only very easy, convenient, frequent, and clean, but also very child-friendly. I was surprised to discover that the train I took from Zurich to the Alps had a dedicated family carriage with an upstairs play area. yes. Children can play in quirky play areas while riding the train to their next destination in a vehicle specifically designed with family needs in mind. heart. I was blown away.
Easily find food for kids
Traveling to some countries can be difficult if you have a child who is picky about food. But Switzerland may be the perfect place to take children with underdeveloped palates. Many restaurants have a “kid-friendly menu,” and even those that don’t often have options like macaroni and cheese (this is amazing!), cheese sandwiches, pretzel bread, sausage, pasta, and applesauce.
Don’t miss out on special Swiss treats such as cheese fondue or chocolate fondue, raclette (a potato or vegetable snack filled with melted cheese), or hot cocoa.
The Swiss are very interested in eating locally and sustainably, so there’s a lot of very fresh and healthy food, mostly whole foods, that’s great for kids and adults alike.
All are quite expensive, but
Perhaps the biggest obstacle to vacationing in Switzerland is the fact that it is an expensive place to visit. Why is Switzerland expensive? Well, they pay all of their citizens a living wage, they love to make everything local and sustainable (which can increase costs), and they have relatively high taxes and regulations (which make this country a great place to visit, i.e. clean, good transportation, playgrounds everywhere, etc.). So while you may be put off by the price of a quick lunch or bus ticket, remember that you’re paying for something really high quality. However, if you’re traveling with a lot of kids or have big budget constraints, this might not be the best option.
Service may be slow
This has to do with the fact that all Swiss citizens are paid a living wage. Hiring people like restaurant servers is very expensive, so there are fewer of them. Most restaurants I visited only had one or two servers working for the entire restaurant. This means service is slower than in the US and meals, especially dinners, can easily take an hour or more. I also noticed that servers often don’t care unless you wave at them. For example, if you want a check, you have to ask for it. I learned this the hard way.
I found that once I got used to the idea that the service was going to be slower than before, it wasn’t an issue at all.
Children are generally welcome anywhere…with some caveats
We found that most places welcome children of all ages in Switzerland because children are seen as real human beings and most places recognize that children have needs too. Even the nicest restaurants I’ve been to have had babies without any issues.
Many locations also have child-friendly accommodations, such as book baskets and ‘kinder menus’, making it very easy to travel and explore without worry.
That said, I’ve been to a few places, such as hot spring baths, that have kids-only hours and adults-only hours later in the evening. So always check the website or call ahead if in doubt.
There are many things for the children to do!
Finally, I would like to emphasize how many great things children can do in Switzerland, whether in big cities or in small alpine villages. From hiking, biking, swimming and skiing in the mountains to eating and playing in the cities, Switzerland feels like a big, wonderful playground, carefully cared for by its residents. From boat rides and merry-go-rounds to gondola trips and goat petting, there was no shortage of activities for people of all ages. I can’t wait to go again.
