7-night car round trip in Switzerland for a family, from and to Milan
George, a traveler from Greece, is planning a trip to Switzerland with his family next summer, focusing on a mix of cities and mountains. He seeks advice on his itinerary, which includes stays in Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne, and Lugano, along with a preference for shorter travel times due to his younger son's health issue.
- Consider using the Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats, excluding only certain mountain routes.
- Stay longer in Lucerne instead of Zurich for more convenient access to nature and attractions like Mount Rigi and Pilatus, which are partially free with the Swiss Travel Pass.
- For excursions, prioritize day trips from Lucerne to Interlaken, and enjoy a scenic train ride while keeping children’s comfort in mind.
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Good morning from Greece. This is my first contact with the forum, and I am happy that I have the opportunity to communicate with other people who love travel, and especially Switzerland.
It has been my dream to visit Switzerland for many years, and I believe that now the time has come. I am planning to travel to Switzerland next summer. Specifically, I have booked flight tickets to Milan Malpensa Airport on June 30, 2026 (arrival at 11:00 AM) and return on July 7 (departure at 12:00 PM).
We are a family with two children, aged 15 and 11, and we wanted the trip to combine cities and mountains (trains, cable cars). Also, because our younger son has a health issue, I would prefer to have 1-2 stays of 2 nights each in some places, and the daily travel time by car not to exceed 4-5 hours (ideally 2-3 hours of driving).
One itinerary I thought of is the following: Malpensa – Geneva (2 nights) – Interlaken (1 night) – Lucerne (2 nights) – Locarno (1 night) – (stop in Como) and near Malpensa (1 night). Since I don’t know much about what we should see in Switzerland and there are so many places I consider worth visiting, I would like your comments on my plan and any other suggestions you might have. Maybe something more relaxing or more interesting, etc. Thank you very much! George
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Hello George
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Switzerland is a dream destination for many people.
One of the reasons why it is such a fantastic country is that it has superb public transport. The Swiss Travel Pass gives you the complete freedom of that public transport (Trains, buses, streetcars/trams. Boats on lakes.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
Only lines which simply ‘go up mountains’ are not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. But remember you cannot drive a car up those mountains! You have to us a cog-wheel train, cable car or funicular.
Possible Tour by Public Transport as an Alternative to Car
Spend two nights in Lausanne (much better centre than Geneva); two nights in or near Interlaken; two nights in Lucerne (known locally by its German name Luzern); one night in Lugano. To arrive in plenty of time for your flight home at 12 00 NOON, you will have to leave Lugano at about 07 00.
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/
https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lugano/The S50 Train from Malpensa to/from Lugano
This quite new train service, which does NOT go through Milan city centre, is a key component of my plan. This train runs hourly and goes via Varese, CANTELLO-GAGGIOLO and Mendrisio to LUGANO, (and then continues to Bellinzona and Biasca). Malpensa to Lugano takes about one hour and forty minutes.
On June 30th you will need Italian tickets for the section Malpensa to CANTELLO-GAGGIOLO (the frontier station). Your Swiss Travel Passes (and Swiss Family Card) will be valid from CANTELLO-GAGGIOLO. You do not get off the train at Cantello-Gaggiolo.
On arrival at Lugano, take a break. Then catch an Intercity train to Zurich (takes just under two hours). Take another break. From Zurich take an Intercity train to Lausanne (takes just over two hours.)
On July 7th your STPs will take you to Cantello-Gaggiolo. You will need separate tickets from there to Malpensa. Swiss station booking offices will be able to sell you those.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/italy-switzerland
Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Family Card (‘STP’ and ‘SFC’)
The two adults will need to invest in eight-day Swiss Travel Passes. Buy these on line a few weeks before you travel.
For the younger child get on line a Swiss Family Card. This is simply an administrative process. The SFC costs nothing, and it entitles the child to travel FREE (even on high mountain lines) provided he is with the parents.
For the older child, if he/she has reached the age of sixteen by the date of travel, he/she will need a YOUTH Swiss Travel Pass; this is 30% cheaper than the full adult price.
If the older child is still under sixteen at the date of travel then he/she can be included in the Swiss Family Card, and will (like the younger child) be able to travel free.
https://www.myswissalps.com/details/buy-swiss-travel-pass/
Note Regarding Frequency of Public Transport
Note that trains and buses on all important routes run at least hourly, and are timed to inter-connect with each other. Trains on main services such as Zurich to Lausanne run twice an hour.
Regarding the health issue of your younger son, if he needs a break from travelling, just get off at the next station, knowing that ‘there will be another train in an hour’.
(Seat reservations are generally not required on Swiss long distance trains.)
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/how-it-works/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/seat-reservation/Note Regarding possible Drive from Malpensa to Geneva (or Lausanne).
This will be via the SIMPLON route. This will take four-five hours. There is no ROAD tunnel under the Simplon Pass. You will either have to drive over the pass, or put your car on a train at a place called Iselle di Trasquera.
(There are a number of places in the Swiss Alps where cars are ferried through tunnels on trains. The car passengers stay in their vehicles.)
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/car/car-train/
Best wishes
Roger
Good morning Roger!
Thank you very much for your thorough and comprehensive response.
We finally decided to make the trip by train and to arrange it so that we have 2-3 overnight stay centers (cities) as bases for excursions and so that we are not constantly carrying our suitcases around (it’s difficult with kids). As an initial thought, I also take into account the fact that our flight is to Milan (and not to Zurich, which would have been more convenient) and changing it would cost an additional 300-400 euros.
So, without having studied the sights, good destinations, and the “must-see” places very much, I have come to the following plan:
Train Itinerary:
- June 30: Milan → Lugano or Bellinzona (as you described), with a 30-minute wait (we’ll skip the first tight connection) and then take the train to Zurich. July 30 – July 3: Accommodation in Zurich and on one of these days, a half-day trip to the Rhine Falls (or a full-day trip to Bern).
- July 3–6: Stay in Lucerne with a full-day excursion to Interlaken and the surrounding mountains (Grindelwald, Jungfraujoch, etc.), returning late afternoon to Lucerne.
- July 6: Depart early in the morning and stay in Lugano.
- July 7: Morning train at 7:00–7:30 to Malpensa.
Feedback Request:
I’d greatly appreciate any comments or suggestions you might have on the above itinerary. I’m also open to any changes that could improve the plan.
Nature and Countryside:
I’d love to experience more Swiss nature and mountains, perhaps staying 1–2 nights in a small town in the countryside. However, for instance, in Thun, I noticed on booking.com that a one-night stay exceeds €600–700, which is quite expensive for me.
City Selection:
The choice of cities was made considering Zurich’s convenience in the itinerary and easy train connections (initially, I thought of excluding it since I had Lucerne), Lucerne was already planned, and Lugano is convenient as the last night near the airport (I wouldn’t prefer an Italian city).
Train Ticket from Lugano to Malpensa:
If I understand correctly, I can purchase a ticket at the Lugano station only for the Cantello-Gaggiolo to Malpensa segment, while the Swiss portion is free with the Swiss travel pass.
I’m looking forward to your feedback and thank you very much.
George
Hello Again George
Thank you for sharing your revised plans!
Nature and Countryside: City Selection.
I have given this some thought.
Zurich (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zurich/) is Switzerland’s one ‘Large’ city. It is about 50 Kilometres from the mountains. It does have a lake with frequent boats, but both sides of the lake are densely populated with ‘commuter’ towns.
Lucerne (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lucerne/) is much smaller. Adding in the adjacent towns of Kriens and Emmenbrűcke, the population is only about 150,000.
Perhaps more importantly Lucerne is in the very centre of Switzerland. The area to the north (in the direction of Zurich) is heavily populated.
But to the east you have the stunningly beautiful lake with pretty lakeside villages. The lake boats run every hour.
To the south you have the high mountains, and charming villages/small towns like Stans, Sarnen and Engelberg.
To the west, going towards BERN on the RE7 train via Langnau i Emmental, you are into rich farming countryside, but with glimpses of the high mountains to the south.
I would suggest, skip Zurich and have Six Nights in Lucerne and the final night in or near Lugano.
That will give you five full days in Lucerne.
Yes, have a day trip to Interlaken (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/interlaken/) and the Berner Oberland. On a day when the weather is not so good go to Bern (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/bern/) using the slow train via Langnau.
Unusually, in the Lucerne area some of the mountain lines are FREE with the STP. In particular, the lines up the Rigi (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rigi/), up the Stanserhorn (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/stanserhorn/), and from Beckenried to Klewenalp.
The lines up Pilatus (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/pilatus/) are 50% discount with the STP. Note that there is a large area of activities at Frakműntegg, on the cable line from Kriens to Pilatus.
Another wet weather option is the very large Verkehrshaus Transport Museum. The STP gives 50% discount on the admission charges.
Lucerne to Lugano on 6 July
Catch the 07 18 Treno Gottardo bound for LOCARNO and stay on this train to Locarno, arrive 10 27, or take an hour break at somewhere like Airolo and arrive at 11 27. From Locarno, RE80 trains run to Lugano (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/lugano/) every 30 minutes.
The reason why I recommend the Treno Gottardo is that this train service takes the OLD highly scenic Gotthard line opened in 1882. It does NOT go through the Gotthard BASE tunnel which, at 57 kilometres, is currently the longest railway tunnel in the world.
Train tickets Lugano to Malpensa
You are right. Use your STPs (and SFC) Lugano to Cantello-Gaggiolo. Buy Cantello-Gaggiolo to Malpensa tickets from the booking office at Lugano station.
Best wishes for your detailed planning
Roger
Hi George,
It’s good that you have decided to take the train instead of driving. There are pros and cons to driving around Switzerland. You can find some useful information here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train-or-car/. I personally prefer the train.
Based on your plan to spend 7 days in Switzerland, I think it is sensible to choose Zurich, Lucerne and Lugano as your base. However I do agree with Roger that you could probably skip Zurich as it is very close to Lucerne (you can do a day trip). I would instead choose Interlaken as a base. So Lucerne, Interlaken and Lugano.
Good luck with the planning.
Anna
Dear Anna,
I really appreciate your input
In the end, I’ve decided to follow Roger’s advice for the most part. We’ll stay 6 nights in Lucerne and spend the final night in Lugano. During the 5 full days in Lucerne, I’m thinking of doing the following: one day in Bern (taking the slower train for one leg of the journey), half a day on Mount Pilatus (taking the boat to Alpnachstad one way and returning via Fräkmüntegg), and one day in the Bernese Oberland. We’ll spend the remaining time exploring the sights of Lucerne and visiting the Verkehrshaus Transport Museum.
Do you think this itinerary is feasible?
Finally, I’d like your opinion on the best route in the Bernese Oberland among Lauterbrunnen (Mürren), First Grindelwald, and Jungfraujoch. To help you out, we’d like to enjoy beautiful scenery, take cable cars, we’re not into heavy hiking, so we’d prefer a short and scenic walk, find good food, and (my older daughter and I) might also want to try an activity.
Thanks again both, for all your tips and guidance. I’m sure I’ll be in touch again over the next few months as I get into the details of the trip.
Best regards
George
Hello George
Thank you for this latest very interesting reply. Subject to what I say about the Berner Oberland, your proposals are doable. In fact there is a bit of room for more activity in the Luzern area.
Berner Oberland
First bare in mind that Luzern to Interlaken, while it is s a very scenic ride, does take (nearly) two hours.. So you will probably have about eight hours to spend in the Berner Oberland area.
I would suggest that on arrival at Interlaken Ost, you go immediately to Wengen via Lauterbrunnen. From Wengen go up to Mannlichen (50% discount with STP). Some gentle walks in this area.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/mannlichen/
After lunch, go down the cable car to Grindelwald Terminal (50% discount with STP). Short train ride to Grindelwald village, then go up First (50% discount with STP). Lots of activities at the top of First, but be warned that there may be long queues, even in June or September. Some quite gentle hikes.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/grindelwald-first/
Note that I have omitted Jungfraujoch. Firstly, it will take up a lot of time. Secondly, it is very expensive, (only 25% discount with STP).
Luzern Excursions. Just remember that Rigi, Stanserhorn an Klewenalp are free with the STP. Pilatus is 50% discount with the STP. If you are keen to see (and stand on) snow, go up the TITLIS cable car, 50% discount with the STP. Titlis is 3,028 metres above sea level.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/titlis/
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Hi George!
If you’d want to add an easy but scenic hike to the Jungfrau Region day trip proposed by Roger, you could walk from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. At Kleine Scheidegg, take the cogwheel train down to Grindelwald to visit Grindelwald-First. This will result in a full day, but it’s doable if you don’t mind leaving early and returning in the late afternoon or early evening.
https://www.myswissalps.com/blog/hike-mannlichen-kleine-scheidegg/
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