MySwissAlps.com includes Feedback on planned Jungfrau region trip with 8 year old
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Hi all — planning our first Switzerland trip and would love a sanity check from people who know the Jungfrau region well. Traveling late August from NYC with our 8-year-old daughter (experienced traveler, she loves animals/nature/exploring).
Current plan:
• 5 nights in Wengen (Hotel Edelweiss)
• 1 final night in Zurich near HB before flying homeItinerary:
Day 0: Arrive ZRH late morning → straight to Wengen
Day 1: Lauterbrunnen valley — Staubbachfall, Trümmelbachfälle, valley walk
Day 2: Schilthorn via Stechelberg/Mürren
Day 3: Mürren + Allmendhubel + walk down to Gimmelwald
Day 4: Flexible/lighter day — considering Grindelwald First, Pfingstegg + toboggan, Lake Brienz boat, or just a slower day around Wengernalp
Day 5: Train to Zurich + Lindt Home of Chocolate Day 6: Fly homeA few things we’ve already ruled out:
• Driving / rental car
• Schynige Platte (motion sickness concerns)
• Probably Jungfraujoch unless people strongly feel it’s worth the cost/crowds tradeoff for a first tripA few questions:
- Wengen vs Mürren vs Lauterbrunnen as a base for this exact itinerary — would you change anything?
- Is Hotel Edelweiss Wengen a good family choice, or are there other hotels we should seriously consider?
- For Day 4, what would you personally choose with an 8-year-old: Grindelwald First, Pfingstegg, Lake Brienz boat, or just a slower scenic day?
- How crowded are Schilthorn and Grindelwald First realistically in late August, and what time should we aim to arrive?
- Any especially good kid-friendly dinner spots in Wengen (pizza/pasta/schnitzel/simple food)?
- Swiss Travel Pass vs Berner Oberland Regional Pass for this itinerary?
Would also love any “don’t miss this” feedback. Thanks so much!
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Hello Jim
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
You are not doing a lot of travelling in Switzerland, so I would rule out Swiss Travel Passes.
The two adults should invest in Swiss Half Fare Cards (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/, 150 CHF per person) and six-day Berner Oberland Passes (https://www.myswissalps.com/details/berner-oberland-pass-validity/). The HFCs will give you 50% off the fares between Zurich Airport and Bern, and give you 96 CHF per adult off the cost of a BOP. It will (very importantly) entitle you to get the Swiss Family Card (see below). (Bern to/from Wengen is free using your BOPs.)
For your daughter you should get the FREE Swiss Family Card. With that Card your daughter, provided she is travelling with you, travels FREE on all Swiss Public Transport – and that even includes lines up very high mountains such as Schilthorn! (Go EARLY to avoid the crowds.)
If the weather on a day is poor, use your BOPs to go to Bern for the day. Bern is NOT a BIG city (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/). But it is shatteringly beautiful. Your daughter will love the fountains, the gigantic Zytglogge clock, and the real live bears. Everything except the bears is an easy walk from the station.
The bears are at the Barenpark, which is about a mile from the station. If you do not want to walk, catch the number 12 trolleybus bound for Zentrum Paul Klee. The adults will have to pay a fare (to a ticket machine at the stop) but your daughter will go free.
I am not really qualified to answer your other questions. I am sure other members of this forum will help you.
Best wishes for your detailed planning
Roger
Your itinerary is very doable and the area is small so very accessible from either Wengen or Murren which are both car free and peaceful. Hotel Edelweiss in Wengen is nice but a steep little hike uphill to get to the train station for outings each day. Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn is right by the train station in Wengen and in the village center (where there are playgrounds and fun activities for kids) and has a kid friendly warm indoor swimming pool with jets and lazy river which is lovely for the family after a day of outings. Check the weather (meteoswiss) and web cams each day to plan your excursions in the area as all your days activities are interchangeable. You can combine your day to Murren and Schilthorn (stop on the way down from Schilthorn to do the free Birg cliff walk at the intermediary cablecar station) with a hike down to Gimmelwald (the cute farm village). Then you could walk down to Murren through the Blumental back to Murren after visiting the wonderful playground at Almendhubel on your Almendhubel day. Another don’t miss activity is to take the Royal Ride on the top of the cablecar from Wengen to Mannlichen (6 minute ride) where there is a wonderful adventure playground and viewpoint and you can then walk the easy family friendly Panorama trail (1 1/2 hrs.) to Klein Shidegg and then take the train to Grindelwald where I would suggest Pfingstegg and activities there (playground, toboggan and gentle fly line through the trees) vs. First Mountain as it is more kid friendly for younger kids. A boat trip on Lake Brienz is very relaxing where you can visit Geissbach Falls. Have a wonderful trip. I might see you there as I’ll be there late August too!
Hi Jim,
That’s a great itinerary especially when you have a young traveller with you. Wengen is definitely a good choice as a base, and Hotel Edelweiss is considered a family friendly hotel. From the train station it’s a short downhill walk but walking back up may be a challenge.
You can find further information about Wengen including sightseeing options here: https://www.myswissalps.com/town/wengen/
Regards,
Anna
Thanks all for this super helpful feedback. I am continuing the planning phases and will take this all into account. Appreciate your help!
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