Our family recently embarked on a 10-day adventure across Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids. It was an unforgettable journey filled with rich cultural experiences, breathtaking landscapes, and cherished memories. We immersed ourselves in the charm of Italy’s ancient cities, reveled in Switzerland’s majestic alpine vistas, and explored Germany’s vibrant towns.
We’re sharing our itinerary, full of scenic train rides, stunning landscapes, and delightful family activities for travelers of all ages. Pack your sense of adventure and your sweet tooth, and follow along on this enchanting and enriching trip across Europe!
Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with Kids
Over our February break, my wife and I packed up our three girls (with my mom in tow) and flew from New York City to Milan, Italy to start our journey. If the process of planning a trip with kids feels overwhelming, start here! After all, I’m Tidy Dad. I’m here to help you tidy up your travels!
Itinerary Overview
Here’s a glance at our full itinerary by day:
Day 1 – Travel to Milan, Italy (stay for 2 nights)
Day 2 – Milan, Italy
Day 3 – Travel to Zurich, Switzerland (stay for 5 nights)
Day 4 – Lucerne, Switzerland (day trip)
Day 5 – Zurich, Switzerland
Day 6 – Zurich, Switzerland
Day 7 – Konstanz, Germany (day trip)
Day 8 – Bern, Switzerland, then travel to Milan, Italy (stay for 2 nights)
Day 9 – Milan, Italy
Day 10 – Travel back to NYC
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Milan, Italy
Buongiorno, Milan! After taking a red-eye flight from New York City, we arrived in Milan early in the morning. We dropped off our travel bags and our luggage scooter, and hit the ground running!
Despite the exhaustion from the journey, we stuck to our family’s tried-and-true jet lag prevention strategy: resist the urge to take a nap, and just push through until local bedtime. Trust me, after that first full night’s sleep, you’ll wake up the next day ready for your adventure!
Once we stepped foot in Milan, it was easy to resist the urge to sleep! Milan is a beautiful city in Northern Italy, and is known as “The Fashion Capital of the World.” The city also features beautiful architecture, museums, parks, and fabulous restaurants. It’s a great place to explore with kids.
We started our time in Milan with a stroll around the Duomo di Milano cathedral area. Construction began on the cathedral in 1386, and it is magnificent! It is surrounded by a stunning plaza filled with shops and restaurants. We stopped by Luini’s to order panzerotti (small savory turnovers filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and other toppings) and ate them on the steps of the Duomo. Then we explored the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery. No stop to Milan is complete with taking a few fashion photos!
And of course, no trip to Italy is complete without savoring authentic gelato. On our first day, we stopped at Grom for gelato, and there were many delicious flavors to choose from. Our youngest daughter thoroughly enjoyed her first gelato experience, complete with lots of messy drips and chocolate stains.
Day 2: Milan, Italy
After a solid night’s sleep we returned to the Duomo di Milano cathedral. We purchased 10am tickets to climb to the roof (this area in Milan can become quite crowded, so to beat the crowds, I recommend booking tickets for the morning), and enjoyed breathtaking views of the city. It was incredible to see the intricate stone work up close as we climbed! Once on the roof, the girls enjoyed sketching in their travel journals. We climbed back down and continued exploring, as our tickets also included access to the Duomo museum and the inside of the cathedral. The stained glass windows are exquisite!
Next, we strolled through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for some retail therapy (my mom has become a very fashionable international Nana). We had packed “light and bright” clothing for the girls, but decided it was probably wise to purchase some dark leggings, shirts, and wipeable jackets, to help hide the inevitable gelato drips. We also discovered a fun view on the 4th floor of the Galleria, just above the Burger King. You can look down on the entire area from the bathroom windows!
After our morning in central Milan, we grabbed some gelato to-go at the Granaio Duomo’s outside café and then walked Via Dante (a pedestrian street) from the Galleria to Parco Sempione (a large city park in the historic center of Milan). The walk along Via Dante is beautiful and there are more shops, restaurants, churches, and examples of exquisite Italian architecture to take in along the way!
Parco Sempione is home to Castello Sforzesco, a 15th century castle which now houses several different museums. After walking through and exploring the castle grounds, the girls enjoyed playing at the playground in the park. The playground provided a fun respite from the dynamic energy of the city. If you visit with children, be sure to bring along some Euro as there are several carnival rides, electric cars, and a train for kids (and the adults who have to accompany them) to enjoy!
After a busy day of exploring, shopping, eating, and playing, we took the tram back to our apartment. Milan’s public transportation system is impressively efficient, and riding the historic tram cars is an experience in itself. One of the best parts, is the opportunity to watch the city’s vibrant streetscape unfolding through the tram’s windows as you journey along!
Day 3: Travel to Zurich, Switzerland via the Bernina Express
We left Milan early in the morning and took the train to Lugano, Switzerland to catch the Bernina Express Bus, a three-hour bus ride through the small villages and vineyards that surround Lake Como and the Italian countryside. The views out the window were breathtaking, and it was an incredible way to see the majestic lakes and mountain areas of Northern Italy. The Bernina Express Bus dropped us in Tirano, Italy with plenty of time to enjoy an outdoor lunch before catching the Bernina Express Train into Switzerland.
The Bernina Express Train had been on my travel bucket list for years and it inspired our entire trip to Italy, Switzerland, and Germany! Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the four-hour ride was filled with awe-inspiring views and took us on an incredible ride through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges.
We reserved tickets in one of the modern panoramic cars on the Bernina Express Train with ceiling-high windows and were able to see the incredible Swiss landscape unfold outside the expansive windows. It was incredible to travel through Switzerland’s oldest town, past gorges and glacier filled mountains, and over spectacular man-made structures such as the Landwasser Viaduct, a single-track six-arched curved limestone railway viaduct. The train runs on the highest railway tracks in Europe and they are also the steepest in the world. This experience was incredible for the entire family!
Day 4: Lucerne, Switzerland (day trip)
We chose Zurich as our home base for our stay in Switzerland and planned several day trips from Zurich to the neighboring areas. While in Switzerland we traveled using our Swiss Travel Pass. The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket, including unlimited travel by train, bus and boat, premium panoramic trains (excl. reservation fee), public transportation in more than 90 towns and cities, 50% discount on most mountain railways, and free admission to more than 500 museums. The SBB app was incredibly helpful with planning transportation to and from Zurich and it shows the timetable for all arrivals and departures.
On our first full day in Switzerland we took the train from the Zurich HB railway station to Lucerne. Lucerne is a picturesque old Swiss town with numerous shops and restaurants. We grabbed pastries at Bachmann’s, and ate them on benches overlooking Lake Lucerne. The view towards Mount Pilatus was beautiful.
Then we took the bus (riding the bus was included with our Swiss Travel Pass) from the city center to the base of Mount Pilatus. We rode our first gondola from Kriens to Krienseregg, and enjoyed the incredible views. We stopped there to play at the PILU Land Playground. The playground is incredible for kids and even includes a zipline! Then we got back on the gondola and continued on to Fräkmüntegg.
Then we took the Fräkmüntegg gondola to the top of Mount Pilatus. The gondola is like a comfortable, epic adventure ride. The final ascent to Mount Pilatus is incredible. Everyone in the gondola gasped as we went over the steep crevice in the mountain pass.
While at the top, we enjoyed lunch at the cafe and explored the observation decks. On a clear day you can take in the panoramic vistas of the alps and surrounding lakes, but when we were at the top, It felt like we were stepping out into a cloud.
On the way back down the mountain, we stopped for some special “adult” hot chocolate, and got a few treats for the girls too! After our mountain adventure, we walked through Old Town Lucerne and enjoyed dinner before heading back to Zurich.
Day 5: Zurich, Switzerland
We followed up our day in the mountains with a Zurich city adventure day. We spent the morning at the Swiss National Museum. Admission was FREE with our Swiss Travel Pass. The museum is incredibly interactive and features a range of exhibits on Swiss history, transportation, art, architecture, and more. The girls enjoyed the dress up exhibits, the “magic carpet ride,” and learning about the Swiss rail system.
After the museum, we grabbed some pretzels for lunch at Brezelkönig and walked to nearby Lindenhof Park. The park has a wonderful playground for kids and sweeping views of Zurich. After satisfying our sweet tooth at Confiserie Teuscher (my mom picked out some cat shaped chocolates), we climbed the steps to the top of Grossmünster Church.
From the nave, it’s a 187 step climb to the top of the church. The climb is strenuous (this is coming from the dad who carried a napping three-year-old on my chest in our toddler carrier), but it was well worth it! Through the six panoramic windows you get a beautiful view of the city and Lake Zurich. And it’s only CHF 5 per adult and CHF 2 for children!
After the climb we walked around Lake Zurich and grabbed dinner at Co-op. Most food options in Switzerland are pricey, but the grocery stores provided some inexpensive yet tasty mealtime options.
Day 6: Zurich, Switzerland
After our day exploring the city, we wanted to spend a bit more time in nature. We headed to Uetliberg, also referred to as “Zurich’s Mountain”, which features a playground, hotel, and restaurants at the top. It’s a 20 minute ride from Zurich HB and is well worth the trek. The views at the top of the mountain are stunning. We got a 360 degree view of the mountains and lakes surrounding Zurich. There’s also a FREE observation tower that can take you to an even higher elevation!
After our morning on the mountain, we took the short lake cruise from Zurich Bürkliplatz to Kilchberg ZH. Chocolate wafts through the streets of Kilchberg, and you can follow your nose to the Lindt Home of Chocolate. This is an amazing experience for chocolate lovers and a delight for all the senses. Margaret and my mom enjoyed a hot chocolate in the Lindt Café while Emily, the older two girls, and I took a chocolate course in the Chocolateria. We were each able to pour chocolate and create and decorate a chocolate bar exactly to our liking! The chocolatier remarked that my bar was “one of the tidiest he’d ever seen for a novice chocolate maker.” Would you expect anything less?
After the course, we all went on a Chocolate Tour with audio guides. We learned about how chocolate is made and the role that chocolate has played throughout history. We also sampled chocolates in three different tasting experiences! I have an insatiable sweet tooth and the tasting experiences were incredible. In one room we tasted samples from three different chocolate fountains consisting of dark, milk, and white chocolate. In another room we tried guessing the flavor of different chocolate bars that dropped from a mystery machine, and in a third room we sampled different flavors of the world famous Lindt Truffles. It was a scrumptious afternoon, and we took home treats from the Lindt Chocolate Shop!
Emily and I ended the day with a cozy fondue dinner date at Milchbar. We dipped bread, potatoes, pickles, and onions into melted cheese. It was certainly a day filled with tasty Swiss delights.
Day 7: Konstanz, Germany (day trip)
Konstanz is a beautiful German village about an hour away from Zürich. We picked up pastries and took an early morning train from Zürich. The Swiss Travel System made day trips to and from Zurich incredibly easy. The family cars – where the girls could stretch their legs and play – helped so much too!
Once in Konstanz, we took the bus to Meersburg Castle and spent the morning exploring. The castle is located on Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited castles in Germany. The castle is a medieval fortress and the girls LOVED exploring the series of rooms and thinking about what it would really be like to live in a castle – a bit cold and drafty!
After exploring, we enjoyed a hearty German lunch, complete with traditional dishes such as schnitzel, sauerbraten, bratwurst, and spätzle. Before hopping back on the train, we grabbed some pretzels and German pastries for the trip home.
Day 8: Bern, Switzerland
On our way back to Milan, we made a stop in Bern. Bern is the capital of Switzerland and is a beautiful, walkable city. We strolled past the Parliament building and watched the Zytglogge Clock Tower strike 12:00 noon. The clock tower was built in the 13th century. It consists of mechanical figures, including a parade of bears, a jester, and a golden rooster.
After walking through Bern Old Town, we spent most of the day at two playgrounds. We started at the unique Schützenweg public adventure playground. It features a pirate ship, swings, a balance beam, an airplane, bikes, cars, slides – the list goes on and on. Its a place to explore, discover, and play!
We then walked to Rosengarten. Rosengarten is a garden park with panoramic views of the city of Bern and the distant Bernese Alps. There is also a café next to a playground where the kids played!
After a day of play, we took the train back to Milan. We settled in for a final day of European adventures.
Day 9: Milan, Italy
We ended our time in Milan with a visit to two museums. For breakfast we grabbed pastries and coffee and enjoyed them near the Basilica di Santa Maria. Then we walked to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology.
The Leonardo da Vinci Museum is the largest science and technology museum in Italy and is located in the beautiful ancient monastery of San Vittore al Corpo. The museum is interactive for kids and we appreciated the guided signs on the floors, indicating how to navigate the expansive collections. We especially enjoyed the space and transportation exhibits.
After lunch, it was a rainy afternoon, so we took the Metro to the Museo di Natural Science. It is the oldest civic museum in Milan and only €5.00 per person. We spent two hours exploring the five large sections of the museum. The girls enjoyed seeing the various animal and fossil exhibits.
Day 10 : Travel back to NYC
After an action packed week, we were all ready for a movie day! The flight home felt incredibly relaxing.
Our 10-day adventure across Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids was an unforgettable journey! From the breathtaking landscapes of the Swiss Alps to the gelato in Italy to the rich history of Germany’s castles, each country left its unique imprint on our family. As we bid farewell to this whirlwind journey, I hope you’re inspired to plan trip a trip to Europe of your own, maybe even to Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids!
Thanks for pinning: Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids!
This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission for purchases made through these links. Thanks for shopping some of our favorite products, to help support our blog!
____________________________________________________________________________
You may also like:
Hi, I'm Tidy Dad!
Tyler Moore is the creator of the “Tidy Dad” Instagram, TikTok, and website. A public school teacher in New York City, husband, and father of three young daughters, he has been featured on Good Morning America and in The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Post, Better Homes & Gardens Secrets of Getting Organized magazine, Apartment Therapy, and many podcasts including HGTV and Minimalist Moms. During the school year, he lives with his wife, Emily, a pediatric occupational therapist, and three daughters in Queens, New York. In the summer, they spend as much time as possible in their small but tidy cottage in the Poconos.
June 7, 2024
Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with Kids
Our family recently embarked on a 10-day adventure across Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids. It was an unforgettable journey filled with rich cultural experiences, breathtaking landscapes, and cherished memories. We immersed ourselves in the charm of Italy’s ancient cities, reveled in Switzerland’s majestic alpine vistas, and explored Germany’s vibrant towns.
We’re sharing our itinerary, full of scenic train rides, stunning landscapes, and delightful family activities for travelers of all ages. Pack your sense of adventure and your sweet tooth, and follow along on this enchanting and enriching trip across Europe!
Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with Kids
Over our February break, my wife and I packed up our three girls (with my mom in tow) and flew from New York City to Milan, Italy to start our journey. If the process of planning a trip with kids feels overwhelming, start here! After all, I’m Tidy Dad. I’m here to help you tidy up your travels!
Itinerary Overview
Here’s a glance at our full itinerary by day:
Day 1 – Travel to Milan, Italy (stay for 2 nights)
Day 2 – Milan, Italy
Day 3 – Travel to Zurich, Switzerland (stay for 5 nights)
Day 4 – Lucerne, Switzerland (day trip)
Day 5 – Zurich, Switzerland
Day 6 – Zurich, Switzerland
Day 7 – Konstanz, Germany (day trip)
Day 8 – Bern, Switzerland, then travel to Milan, Italy (stay for 2 nights)
Day 9 – Milan, Italy
Day 10 – Travel back to NYC
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Milan, Italy
Buongiorno, Milan! After taking a red-eye flight from New York City, we arrived in Milan early in the morning. We dropped off our travel bags and our luggage scooter, and hit the ground running!
Despite the exhaustion from the journey, we stuck to our family’s tried-and-true jet lag prevention strategy: resist the urge to take a nap, and just push through until local bedtime. Trust me, after that first full night’s sleep, you’ll wake up the next day ready for your adventure!
Once we stepped foot in Milan, it was easy to resist the urge to sleep! Milan is a beautiful city in Northern Italy, and is known as “The Fashion Capital of the World.” The city also features beautiful architecture, museums, parks, and fabulous restaurants. It’s a great place to explore with kids.
We started our time in Milan with a stroll around the Duomo di Milano cathedral area. Construction began on the cathedral in 1386, and it is magnificent! It is surrounded by a stunning plaza filled with shops and restaurants. We stopped by Luini’s to order panzerotti (small savory turnovers filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and other toppings) and ate them on the steps of the Duomo. Then we explored the elegant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping gallery. No stop to Milan is complete with taking a few fashion photos!
And of course, no trip to Italy is complete without savoring authentic gelato. On our first day, we stopped at Grom for gelato, and there were many delicious flavors to choose from. Our youngest daughter thoroughly enjoyed her first gelato experience, complete with lots of messy drips and chocolate stains.
Day 2: Milan, Italy
After a solid night’s sleep we returned to the Duomo di Milano cathedral. We purchased 10am tickets to climb to the roof (this area in Milan can become quite crowded, so to beat the crowds, I recommend booking tickets for the morning), and enjoyed breathtaking views of the city. It was incredible to see the intricate stone work up close as we climbed! Once on the roof, the girls enjoyed sketching in their travel journals. We climbed back down and continued exploring, as our tickets also included access to the Duomo museum and the inside of the cathedral. The stained glass windows are exquisite!
Next, we strolled through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for some retail therapy (my mom has become a very fashionable international Nana). We had packed “light and bright” clothing for the girls, but decided it was probably wise to purchase some dark leggings, shirts, and wipeable jackets, to help hide the inevitable gelato drips. We also discovered a fun view on the 4th floor of the Galleria, just above the Burger King. You can look down on the entire area from the bathroom windows!
After our morning in central Milan, we grabbed some gelato to-go at the Granaio Duomo’s outside café and then walked Via Dante (a pedestrian street) from the Galleria to Parco Sempione (a large city park in the historic center of Milan). The walk along Via Dante is beautiful and there are more shops, restaurants, churches, and examples of exquisite Italian architecture to take in along the way!
Parco Sempione is home to Castello Sforzesco, a 15th century castle which now houses several different museums. After walking through and exploring the castle grounds, the girls enjoyed playing at the playground in the park. The playground provided a fun respite from the dynamic energy of the city. If you visit with children, be sure to bring along some Euro as there are several carnival rides, electric cars, and a train for kids (and the adults who have to accompany them) to enjoy!
After a busy day of exploring, shopping, eating, and playing, we took the tram back to our apartment. Milan’s public transportation system is impressively efficient, and riding the historic tram cars is an experience in itself. One of the best parts, is the opportunity to watch the city’s vibrant streetscape unfolding through the tram’s windows as you journey along!
Day 3: Travel to Zurich, Switzerland via the Bernina Express
We left Milan early in the morning and took the train to Lugano, Switzerland to catch the Bernina Express Bus, a three-hour bus ride through the small villages and vineyards that surround Lake Como and the Italian countryside. The views out the window were breathtaking, and it was an incredible way to see the majestic lakes and mountain areas of Northern Italy. The Bernina Express Bus dropped us in Tirano, Italy with plenty of time to enjoy an outdoor lunch before catching the Bernina Express Train into Switzerland.
The Bernina Express Train had been on my travel bucket list for years and it inspired our entire trip to Italy, Switzerland, and Germany! Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the four-hour ride was filled with awe-inspiring views and took us on an incredible ride through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges.
We reserved tickets in one of the modern panoramic cars on the Bernina Express Train with ceiling-high windows and were able to see the incredible Swiss landscape unfold outside the expansive windows. It was incredible to travel through Switzerland’s oldest town, past gorges and glacier filled mountains, and over spectacular man-made structures such as the Landwasser Viaduct, a single-track six-arched curved limestone railway viaduct. The train runs on the highest railway tracks in Europe and they are also the steepest in the world. This experience was incredible for the entire family!
Day 4: Lucerne, Switzerland (day trip)
We chose Zurich as our home base for our stay in Switzerland and planned several day trips from Zurich to the neighboring areas. While in Switzerland we traveled using our Swiss Travel Pass. The Swiss Travel Pass is an all-in-one ticket, including unlimited travel by train, bus and boat, premium panoramic trains (excl. reservation fee), public transportation in more than 90 towns and cities, 50% discount on most mountain railways, and free admission to more than 500 museums. The SBB app was incredibly helpful with planning transportation to and from Zurich and it shows the timetable for all arrivals and departures.
On our first full day in Switzerland we took the train from the Zurich HB railway station to Lucerne. Lucerne is a picturesque old Swiss town with numerous shops and restaurants. We grabbed pastries at Bachmann’s, and ate them on benches overlooking Lake Lucerne. The view towards Mount Pilatus was beautiful.
Then we took the bus (riding the bus was included with our Swiss Travel Pass) from the city center to the base of Mount Pilatus. We rode our first gondola from Kriens to Krienseregg, and enjoyed the incredible views. We stopped there to play at the PILU Land Playground. The playground is incredible for kids and even includes a zipline! Then we got back on the gondola and continued on to Fräkmüntegg.
Then we took the Fräkmüntegg gondola to the top of Mount Pilatus. The gondola is like a comfortable, epic adventure ride. The final ascent to Mount Pilatus is incredible. Everyone in the gondola gasped as we went over the steep crevice in the mountain pass.
While at the top, we enjoyed lunch at the cafe and explored the observation decks. On a clear day you can take in the panoramic vistas of the alps and surrounding lakes, but when we were at the top, It felt like we were stepping out into a cloud.
On the way back down the mountain, we stopped for some special “adult” hot chocolate, and got a few treats for the girls too! After our mountain adventure, we walked through Old Town Lucerne and enjoyed dinner before heading back to Zurich.
Day 5: Zurich, Switzerland
We followed up our day in the mountains with a Zurich city adventure day. We spent the morning at the Swiss National Museum. Admission was FREE with our Swiss Travel Pass. The museum is incredibly interactive and features a range of exhibits on Swiss history, transportation, art, architecture, and more. The girls enjoyed the dress up exhibits, the “magic carpet ride,” and learning about the Swiss rail system.
After the museum, we grabbed some pretzels for lunch at Brezelkönig and walked to nearby Lindenhof Park. The park has a wonderful playground for kids and sweeping views of Zurich. After satisfying our sweet tooth at Confiserie Teuscher (my mom picked out some cat shaped chocolates), we climbed the steps to the top of Grossmünster Church.
From the nave, it’s a 187 step climb to the top of the church. The climb is strenuous (this is coming from the dad who carried a napping three-year-old on my chest in our toddler carrier), but it was well worth it! Through the six panoramic windows you get a beautiful view of the city and Lake Zurich. And it’s only CHF 5 per adult and CHF 2 for children!
After the climb we walked around Lake Zurich and grabbed dinner at Co-op. Most food options in Switzerland are pricey, but the grocery stores provided some inexpensive yet tasty mealtime options.
Day 6: Zurich, Switzerland
After our day exploring the city, we wanted to spend a bit more time in nature. We headed to Uetliberg, also referred to as “Zurich’s Mountain”, which features a playground, hotel, and restaurants at the top. It’s a 20 minute ride from Zurich HB and is well worth the trek. The views at the top of the mountain are stunning. We got a 360 degree view of the mountains and lakes surrounding Zurich. There’s also a FREE observation tower that can take you to an even higher elevation!
After our morning on the mountain, we took the short lake cruise from Zurich Bürkliplatz to Kilchberg ZH. Chocolate wafts through the streets of Kilchberg, and you can follow your nose to the Lindt Home of Chocolate. This is an amazing experience for chocolate lovers and a delight for all the senses. Margaret and my mom enjoyed a hot chocolate in the Lindt Café while Emily, the older two girls, and I took a chocolate course in the Chocolateria. We were each able to pour chocolate and create and decorate a chocolate bar exactly to our liking! The chocolatier remarked that my bar was “one of the tidiest he’d ever seen for a novice chocolate maker.” Would you expect anything less?
After the course, we all went on a Chocolate Tour with audio guides. We learned about how chocolate is made and the role that chocolate has played throughout history. We also sampled chocolates in three different tasting experiences! I have an insatiable sweet tooth and the tasting experiences were incredible. In one room we tasted samples from three different chocolate fountains consisting of dark, milk, and white chocolate. In another room we tried guessing the flavor of different chocolate bars that dropped from a mystery machine, and in a third room we sampled different flavors of the world famous Lindt Truffles. It was a scrumptious afternoon, and we took home treats from the Lindt Chocolate Shop!
Emily and I ended the day with a cozy fondue dinner date at Milchbar. We dipped bread, potatoes, pickles, and onions into melted cheese. It was certainly a day filled with tasty Swiss delights.
Day 7: Konstanz, Germany (day trip)
Konstanz is a beautiful German village about an hour away from Zürich. We picked up pastries and took an early morning train from Zürich. The Swiss Travel System made day trips to and from Zurich incredibly easy. The family cars – where the girls could stretch their legs and play – helped so much too!
Once in Konstanz, we took the bus to Meersburg Castle and spent the morning exploring. The castle is located on Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited castles in Germany. The castle is a medieval fortress and the girls LOVED exploring the series of rooms and thinking about what it would really be like to live in a castle – a bit cold and drafty!
After exploring, we enjoyed a hearty German lunch, complete with traditional dishes such as schnitzel, sauerbraten, bratwurst, and spätzle. Before hopping back on the train, we grabbed some pretzels and German pastries for the trip home.
Day 8: Bern, Switzerland
On our way back to Milan, we made a stop in Bern. Bern is the capital of Switzerland and is a beautiful, walkable city. We strolled past the Parliament building and watched the Zytglogge Clock Tower strike 12:00 noon. The clock tower was built in the 13th century. It consists of mechanical figures, including a parade of bears, a jester, and a golden rooster.
After walking through Bern Old Town, we spent most of the day at two playgrounds. We started at the unique Schützenweg public adventure playground. It features a pirate ship, swings, a balance beam, an airplane, bikes, cars, slides – the list goes on and on. Its a place to explore, discover, and play!
We then walked to Rosengarten. Rosengarten is a garden park with panoramic views of the city of Bern and the distant Bernese Alps. There is also a café next to a playground where the kids played!
After a day of play, we took the train back to Milan. We settled in for a final day of European adventures.
Day 9: Milan, Italy
We ended our time in Milan with a visit to two museums. For breakfast we grabbed pastries and coffee and enjoyed them near the Basilica di Santa Maria. Then we walked to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology.
The Leonardo da Vinci Museum is the largest science and technology museum in Italy and is located in the beautiful ancient monastery of San Vittore al Corpo. The museum is interactive for kids and we appreciated the guided signs on the floors, indicating how to navigate the expansive collections. We especially enjoyed the space and transportation exhibits.
After lunch, it was a rainy afternoon, so we took the Metro to the Museo di Natural Science. It is the oldest civic museum in Milan and only €5.00 per person. We spent two hours exploring the five large sections of the museum. The girls enjoyed seeing the various animal and fossil exhibits.
Day 10 : Travel back to NYC
After an action packed week, we were all ready for a movie day! The flight home felt incredibly relaxing.
Our 10-day adventure across Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids was an unforgettable journey! From the breathtaking landscapes of the Swiss Alps to the gelato in Italy to the rich history of Germany’s castles, each country left its unique imprint on our family. As we bid farewell to this whirlwind journey, I hope you’re inspired to plan trip a trip to Europe of your own, maybe even to Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids!
Thanks for pinning: Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with kids!
This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission for purchases made through these links. Thanks for shopping some of our favorite products, to help support our blog!
____________________________________________________________________________
You may also like:
June 7, 2024
Italy, Switzerland, and Germany with Kids
Hi, I'm Tidy Dad!
Tyler Moore is the creator of the “Tidy Dad” Instagram, TikTok, and website. A public school teacher in New York City, husband, and father of three young daughters, he has been featured on Good Morning America and in The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Post, Better Homes & Gardens Secrets of Getting Organized magazine, Apartment Therapy, and many podcasts including HGTV and Minimalist Moms. During the school year, he lives with his wife, Emily, a pediatric occupational therapist, and three daughters in Queens, New York. In the summer, they spend as much time as possible in their small but tidy cottage in the Poconos.
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