Bengaluru: What does an ideal holiday entail? Is it relaxing in the lap of nature’s beauty or exploring exciting new places? If you are looking for a reason to get away with your loved ones, surprise them this Autumn with a trip to Switzerland – a country that will enchant you with its spectacular snow-capped peaks, glistening lakes and charming old towns, all transformed with the blazing glory of Autumn.
If there is one sight you don’t want to miss in this magical country, it is the pristine Swiss Alps fired up in myriad shades of orange, gold, red and yellow! To share the joy of walking over a carpet of crackling dry leaves scattered across the forest floor with your children, to shrieking with delight on picturesque boat rides, or bonding over treks through thick foliage tinted in reds, yellows and oranges, taking trips to a variety of engaging museums that have something for every member of the family, to gorging on lip-smacking cuisine including the hard-to-resist melted cheese Fondue or Raclette, there are a host of experiences awaiting you in Switzerland’s cool, crisp and vibrant Autumn season. We list down a few that are sure to strengthen bonds with your family. You’ll come back with a bagful of warm, colourful memories that will last you a lifetime.
Lucerne
Nestled amongst mountains and an aquamarine-tinted lake, Lucerne will make your children feel like they’ve time travelled to a quaint fairytale-town with all its trimmings — cobblestone streets and centuries-old pretty wooden bridges all surrounded by blazing autumn trees reaching up through a mysterious veiled mist.
Lucerne’s charm lies in its traffic-free old town and its beautiful lake and autumn is the ideal time to soak in this town with all its glory – the weather is just right; everyone is outdoors and the town is buzzing with changes the gifts of nature bring. Be prepared to drop down exhausted in bed each night after your children have explored all there is to offer, with their unbridled energy and enthusiasm.
Spend time on the lake in a steamer cruise. Plan an adventure with your kids to the two nearest peaks — Rigi and Pilatus. What kids will enjoy the most about going to Rigi is how you get there. You need to get on a boat and then on a train straight up to breathtaking, spectacular views. At its foothills and on the shore of Lake Lucerne lies the small, idyllic resort town of Weggis, described by Mark Twain as the “loveliest place” he had ever visited.
To get to Mount Pilatus, hop on to a train and then a cable/funicular car to be welcomed by the steepest railway in the world at a 48-degree angle! Now, that is something other kids in school will be envious of. If you’re lucky, you might even catch alphorn players and yodelers at the top! The resort town of Burgenstock situated on the top of a mountain will give you the best views of the lake and the box views of the grandeur of the colours of fall.
While the parents swoon walking across the historical wooden Chapel Bridge, kids can gorge on ice-creams, cupcakes and chocolates —some of the best they’ve tasted — from the numerous shops in the area. There is more to the bridge that meets the eye, though. Tucked into the bridge’s wooden ceilings is a vast collection of historic panels – a great learning tool for older kids of the rich Swiss history, including Lucerne’s. Other things your children will enjoy are the beautifully painted frescoes on facades of medieval guildhalls in the old town of Lucerne, colourful fountains and a host of restaurants that serve the best fondue!
For all the times your children have behaved on vacations in exchange for little chocolate treats, the Aeschbach Chocolatier is a place you must take them to. An 11-minute train ride away from Lucerne, children can munch on a variety of chocolates and even get a first-hand glimpse of how they are made on an interactive tour of the chocolate factory. At Bachman, other than the wide range of chocolates and cakes, you’ll can also relish the traditional Lucerne gingerbread cake.
Museums and children have never been known to go hand in hand, but not in Switzerland. The Swiss Museum of Transport is the most visited museum in the country, and it is no wonder why. It has real simulators for everything thing that moves — be it planes, trains, cars, buses, boats, and even a recently added space hall! Through these, kids can experience different modes of transport first-hand. It also has an outdoor lake and play area, state-of-the-art planetarium, an IMAX theatre with the largest screen in Switzerland, and the most popular of all— the Swiss Chocolate adventure. This museum can change the way your kids perceive boredom with museums around the world.
Engelberg-Titlis
Autumn is a good time to visit Engelberg and Mount Titlis. Not only are you welcomed with a blanket of snow, you also experience the added bonus of bathing in clear, bright sun reflecting off the coloured autumn leaves of the alpines. The weather is just right at around 2 degrees. The excursion to the peak of the 3,000-metre summit of Mt. Titlis will reward you with its breathtaking panoramic views. Hop aboard the TITLIS Rotair – the world’s first revolving aerial cableway, that revolves 360 degrees during the five-minute trip! What you see in five minutes is idyllic panoramic views of steep rock faces, deep crevasses and distant snow-covered mountain peaks. A sure thrill for your children and you! One of the biggest highlights of this journey is the Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe’s highest suspension bridge, at 3041 metres above sea level!
The train journey from Lucerne to the Engelberg train station takes around 45 minutes, and a further ten-minute walk will bring you to the Titlis valley station. The Titlis Rotair cable car then takes you up the final leg ending at the summit station. Once you’re on the peak, indulge in snow games or try the open chairlift ice flyer that gives you sweeping views of the snow-capped mountains. The ice lift takes you directly to the glacier park – a snow haven for kids of all ages. There are restaurants offering a variety of local delicacies at all altitudes. Freeze memories of your day out with your family at the Titlis photo studio.
A not-to-be-missed highlight is the Trubsee Playground. Themed on ‘Smugglers and sumpters’, the playground enchants children of all ages. The warmth of the glimmering sun and cool, crisp air makes the perfect setting for an exciting picnic and barbecues to indulge in with your family. There are also bouncy castles, slacklines and rowing boats for hire. End the afternoon with a leisurely stroll alongside Trubsee Lake.
For that perfect combination of nature and food, head to the Alpine Cheese Trail in Engelberg. Spanning over 40 kms in length, you and your family will embark on the hike of your lifetime. Explore the beautiful landscapes of Engelberg across this multi-layered trail that passes by eight cheese dairies. You can experience live the making of cheese by hand, chat with a cheesemaker and of course, sample the delicious cheeses. With glistening golden skies and palettes of orange carpeting the forests, you will want to pause and admire the magical bliss of Autumn here.
Swiss Travel Pass
To be able to comfortably and easily access the most reliable transport network of Europe as well as the world’s densest transport system, one can avail the all-in-one Swiss Travel Pass with a validity of 3, 4, 8 and 15 days.
This amazing all in one travel pass allows you to travel free on public transportation in more than 90 Swiss cities. Children between 6 and 16 years of age travel free of charge on the entire Swiss public transport network with the Swiss Family Card. Children also receive a 50% discount on the mountain excursions as well as free entrance to over 500 museums with the Swiss Family Card.
