10 days Switzerland late April with toddler?

Hi Need2Travel and welcome to MySwissAlps!

I would highly recommend taking advantage of the Swiss rail system and not driving here. It is much more convenient 95% of the time – especially as your itinerary seems to have you pick up, drop off and pick up a car again. Read about traveling by train vs. car here. I think it would be a lot simpler and easier to just train everywhere (some towns, like Zermatt are also car-free). The trip to Zermatt by car or train is about 3.5 hours. Unless you arrive late in Zurich I’d just head straight there.

You can use the Swiss railways timetable here to plan out train trips.

Also, the higher mountain passes almost certainly will not be open until mid-May (this year probably mid-June due to the huge amount of snow so far). If you are set in staying out in very small villages / remote areas though then a car might be needed. All the towns you mention however, are easily reached by train.

I think the itinerary itself looks good – I think I’d stay in Grindelwald or Wengen over Interlaken though. I don’t think it matters which direction of the Golden Pass you take… although some people quite enjoy ending in Montreux as you get the views coming down to the town and Lake Geneva.

I hope that starts to help you in your trip planning – let us know if you have more questions!

Hi Need2Travl,

I’d go straight to Zermatt on the 24th.

For rail passes, considering you have 8 days and the only pass to cover everything (almost) is the Swiss Travel Pass I’d go with that for simplicity. If you did Lucerne first or last you could split between the Tell Pass and Swiss Travel Pass (4 days each) but it makes more sense geographically to follow the route you suggested.

To be sure about the most economical pass you’ll need to plan out all your routes and do the math – our page on how to choose the best rail pass will help with a handy excel sheet. In the end it is probably easiest to just buy the 8 day Swiss Travel Pass – read about what it covers here.

>> 4th May: Plan to visit the Zoo and Bahnhofstrasss and possibly lake cruise. Overnight in Zurich.

If you are going to the zoo, there is an interesting way of returning to central Zürich that you might enjoy.

It is called “Seilbahn Rigiblick” and is an automatic single-cabin funicular (no driver) that travels between the top of the Zürichberg (a hill overlooking Zürich) and a small plaza at the bottom. From there you can catch a tram back to Zürich Hauptbahnhof (main station).

Here are directions to follow this route to return from the Zoo:

• At the Zoo bus stop, catch the #39 bus (travelling in the direction “Letzistrasse”). Alight at the stop called “Rigiblick”. From the Zoo to Rigiblick will take about 5 minutes (5 stops). This bus runs 7 days a week every 30 minutes (at 9 minutes and 40 minutes past the hour) from early till late.

• Catch the Seilbahn Rigiblick (funicular) all the way down to the last stop. The funicular leaves every 6 minutes from the top station, travels 4 stops, and takes about 7 minutes. Standard Zürich public transport fares/tickets apply, and it is in the central fare zone (zone 110).

• Before you catch the funicular, you can enjoy panoramic views over Zürich, the Zürichsee (Lake Zürich) and the mountains in the distance from a little park (with seating) adjacent to the funicular.

• From the bottom station of the funicular, walk straight ahead through the small square to the tram stop, from where you can catch the #10 tram (direction “Zürich, Bahnhofplatz”) back to Zürich Hauptbahnhof. This trip will take about 10 minutes (6 stops).

Alpenrose

Thanks Lucas, SlowPoke & Alpenrose,

No we will be getting off just a just 2 hour flight so no jet lag. the flight will be coming into zurich around 2:30 so by the time we clear immigration, collect bags and car would be 3:30/4? then doing the 3+ hour drive to zermatt. It is tempting to get it over in one go and gives us an extra night there or in Montreux.

@Alpenrose66, that is a great suggestion, will definitely add it to the day :), @Slowpoke haha yes will also look up James Joyce when there.

Any idea how long the Kandersteg–Goppenstein car transport takes? Google saying 38 mins while it says on the website the actual journey is only 15 mins. The route through Zurich-Bern-Thun-Kandersteg–Goppenstein -Tasch seems to be the fastest per google maps in car at that time of the day.

If we do drive same day to zermatt i was thinking 2 nights. staying over in montreux on the friday to get the golden pass on saturday so this leaves me with an extra night. Any suggestions? Stay 2 nights in Montreux and roam around?

Thanks again guys, much appreciated.

<“Are you coming from a Schengen Country?”>

Yes, just contingency – with a small child time flies. so from the above i probably would be in the car within the hour of landing.

will be bit tough to do the straigh 3+ hour drive but we can relax at out destination then :).