1-Week in Switzerland with a Baby

Our first international travel with Eli (and our very first Europe trip) was when he was just 10 months old. I don’t quite remember how we came to this conclusion, but we decided that our first Europe experience should be Switzerland. Depending on how you look at it, this may or may not have been a wise choice. Why? Because Switzerland is just too beautiful and it spoiled us for good. In Korea, people often say that Switzerland is God’s favorite creation - and I can see why. The amount of unbelievable nature that spreads across the landscape is quite literally that: unbelievable.

Considering Eli’s age at the time, I think it was a great decision to go to Switzerland. Our family is definitely not super outdoorsy, so we definitely did not consider any type of hiking planning the trip (although, we would love to revisit and try once Eli is a little older). However, we still wanted to take in the natural beauty of Switzerland and it was nice not having to plan different activities to keep Eli occupied or worrying about finding restaurants considering Eli’s pickiness.

We went to Switzerland in early October, which gave us a chance to experience Switzerland without the heat or freezing temperatures. The cool autumn breeze made our experience all the more enjoyable and truly set our travel expectations high.

View from our Chalet in Grindelwald

7-day Itinerary:

Day 1: Travel to Grindelwald
We took a red-eye flight from JFK - ZUR via Swiss Airlines as we often do to let Eli get some sleep on the plane (read about our in-flight tips with kids here). Upon landing in Zurich, we embarked on a scenic drive to Grindelwald, a picturesque village nestled in the Bernese Alps. It took us about 2.5 hours from the Zurich airport and the drive as we got closer to Grindelwald was divine.

Instead of a fancy hotel, we decided to enjoy large space and the classic Swiss-style chalet up in the mountains. We arrived at our chalet early afternoon and we all took a much needed nap for a couple hours before waking up to enjoy the beautiful view from our balcony. (You can read more about where we stayed here).

I mean, I don’t think views can get any better than this.

• Tips for Families: In Zurich, if time allows, visit the Zurich Zoo or the Swiss National Museum, which has interactive exhibits for children.

Day 2: Bern and Old City
As rookie travelers we completely forgot to bring a power adapter for our phone chargers, hair straighteners and iphone chargers. Our second day in Switzerland was a Sunday and it was extremely difficult trying to find an electronics store that was open. After endless searching on Google, we found one in Bern and decided that it was the perfect time to go explore Old City.

We didn’t have much planned this day and just decided to wing it. We walked into a local German restaurant to have a classic schnitzel and bratwurst (which was delicious), watched kids run around the square trying to catch the bubbles a lady was making, and took a stroll around the city taking in the beautiful views and the charming city.

• Tips for Families: Visit the Bear Park, where the kids can see real bears, the symbol of Bern. Don’t miss the Zytglogge, an ancient clock tower with moving puppets, which is a delight for children.

Day 3: Lauterbrunnen

Known for its stunning landscape and waterfalls, Lauterbrunnen is not to be missed. Lauterbrunnen was a short drive from Grindelwald and the scenic views are something that cannot be put into words - it is incredible! The main reason why we drove to Lauterbrunnen was to fulfill one of my husband’s bucket list item: paragliding! I mean, what a perfect place to get paragliding crossed off the list, right? I have an extreme fear of heights (and we had Eli), so we all took the cable car up the mountain, said our funny-dramatic goodbyes and I took the cable car back down to where my husband would soon land. The cable car itself is worth it in my opinion as you get to see the beautiful green landscape all around. As for my husband’s review of the paragliding experience, it was completely worth it and possibly one of the best memories for him. (You can read more about our paragliding experience here)

Paragliding in Lauterbrunnen

• Tips for Families: Take the cable car to explore the heights. For adventurous families, try paragliding together for an unforgettable experience.

Day 4: Grindelwald First

On our 4th day, we enjoyed breakfast at the chalet and went out to the local market to buy some sandwiches, fruits, and yogurt to pack. Then we were off to Grindelwald First. Taking the cable car up is always so much fun for both adults and the little ones. You can always spot cows and the sound of cowbells always has a calming element to it.

Enjoying the mountain views from the cable car

Once we got to First, we walked around to take in the views which was, again, incredible. As we went in early October, it was less “green” than I had imagined, but nonetheless, beautiful. Specifically, the views of Mt. Eiger and Jungfrau is something out of a postcard. After debating whether we should do a short hike with Eli strapped in our baby carrier (and opting not to do it), we grabbed a seat outside the cafe with cold refreshing beer and our packed lunch. The breeze. The view. The food. The beer. Everything was perfect.

Grindelwald First

Everything is better up here

Afterwards, we decided to go on a thrilling walk on the “First Cliff Walk,” a secured suspension bridge around the cliff of the mountain. Again, as someone afraid of heights I did not get to enjoy this as much as I would have liked, but the different views you get with each step is definitely worth it!

First Cliff Walk

• Tips for Families: The First Flyer, a zip line, is thrilling for older children.

Day 5 & 6 : Lucerne

On Day 5, we packed up our things (and our saddened hearts), said goodbye to Grindelwald, and drove up to Lucerne, a compact city in Switzerland is known for its preserved medieval architecture.

Our hotel had beautiful view of the Chapel Bridge right outside our balcony (read our review of the hotel here), which we got to enjoy throughout the day. After grabbing a quick lunch at the hotel restaurant downstairs, we strolled across the Chapel Bridge, admiring its uniqueness and the beautiful views of the city.

View from our balcony

During our two day stay in Lucerne, we didn’t have expectations to do much but to explore the city. As someone visiting Europe for the very first time, the small, intricate alleyways in Europe always fascinates me and is the one thing that makes me really feel like I’m in a different country. We explored and enjoyed tiny shops, restaurants, and chocolate shops at every turn in different alleyways.

The Lion Monument

Strolling around the city

• Tips for Families: Visit the Swiss Transport Museum, which is interactive and educational. The Lion Monument is also a peaceful spot for a family stroll.

Day 7: Return to Zurich

On our last day, we had light breakfast at the hotel and drove back to Zurich to catch our flight. As we traveled back to the airport, I thought about how easy and relaxing this entire trip was. Eli was so easy with us, taking naps while we explored cities, eating so well (we let him have his first taste of gelato in Lucerne), and sleeping well at night. We didn’t have any grand itinerary packed with sightseeing or must-do activities everyday, and we mostly just spent our week walking around and exploring the city. Then I realized, that this was probably the key and the perfect way to travel stress-free with our kid and this has been our travel strategy ever since. No crazy itineraries. Explore. Relax.