Switzerland - Alpine Camping/Family Holiday tips
Discussion
Instead of the usual Devon/Cornwall etc camping trip, thinking of going to the Alps this Summer - Probably Interlaken/Grindelwald area. It'll be a heck of a drive from Yorkshire with a 5 year old but we have a big car, all the camping gear in the world, and he travels well.
I know Switzerland can be expensive, but we dont have expensive taste, so it'll be camping, barbecues, sandwiches from Aldi etc. Just to be in the mountains, go up some cable cars, on some trains, do some bike riding, swimming and kayaking, and generally - why would anyone not want to stay somewhere like this for a week!?
Campsite in Interlaken
Its somewhere my Grandparents and Mum used to talk about constantly but I've never been, and frankly, if they managed it 5 up, in a Ford Cortina with a Trailer Tent on the back and a Michelin Map, I should get a grip and drive there in my Automatic modern diesel estate car with google maps guiding me! It interests me much more than a beach holiday in Spain and proper Alpine mountains are something I'd like my lad and also my partner to experience, neither of whom have ever been anywhere like it (I've done France, Austria etc in the Winter, The Alps in Summer looks to be basically my idea of heaven).
It will have to be August because of School which I know is not ideal and it will be busy/ferries expensive etc, but at least we should get some decent weather. Any tips, hints, must-dos, etc?
I know Switzerland can be expensive, but we dont have expensive taste, so it'll be camping, barbecues, sandwiches from Aldi etc. Just to be in the mountains, go up some cable cars, on some trains, do some bike riding, swimming and kayaking, and generally - why would anyone not want to stay somewhere like this for a week!?
Campsite in Interlaken
Its somewhere my Grandparents and Mum used to talk about constantly but I've never been, and frankly, if they managed it 5 up, in a Ford Cortina with a Trailer Tent on the back and a Michelin Map, I should get a grip and drive there in my Automatic modern diesel estate car with google maps guiding me! It interests me much more than a beach holiday in Spain and proper Alpine mountains are something I'd like my lad and also my partner to experience, neither of whom have ever been anywhere like it (I've done France, Austria etc in the Winter, The Alps in Summer looks to be basically my idea of heaven).
It will have to be August because of School which I know is not ideal and it will be busy/ferries expensive etc, but at least we should get some decent weather. Any tips, hints, must-dos, etc?
I lived in Zurich for 8 years and twice a year made the schlep back to Yorkshire. I could do the journey in a day - admittedly a long day, but in a camper and with a little one, deffo count on a 2 day journey there and same back.
You'll need a vignette for the motorways in Switzerland. Even if you don't intend using them, it's v likely you'll be made to buy one at whichever border crossing you use.
Take your swimmers, as the lakes and rivers are pristine and there'll likely be some lido of sorts if you're staying near water.
Use public transport as often as you can to get around. The busses and trains are exactly as you will have heard - meticulous timing, safe and clean and generally reasonable value, except the funiculars / cablecars. These can be expensive.
Don't expect food, drink etc to be cheap, even from supermarkets. If you're out in the sticks it's more likely you'll get food from the Swiss stores (Migros / Coop) rather than Aldi / Lidl. Cost of living there is high! However, quality of life is exceptional.
Enjoy the walking / hiking trails. They are well signposted and the timings are accurate.
I may think of a few more things - if I do I'll post them. Enjoy
You'll need a vignette for the motorways in Switzerland. Even if you don't intend using them, it's v likely you'll be made to buy one at whichever border crossing you use.
Take your swimmers, as the lakes and rivers are pristine and there'll likely be some lido of sorts if you're staying near water.
Use public transport as often as you can to get around. The busses and trains are exactly as you will have heard - meticulous timing, safe and clean and generally reasonable value, except the funiculars / cablecars. These can be expensive.
Don't expect food, drink etc to be cheap, even from supermarkets. If you're out in the sticks it's more likely you'll get food from the Swiss stores (Migros / Coop) rather than Aldi / Lidl. Cost of living there is high! However, quality of life is exceptional.
Enjoy the walking / hiking trails. They are well signposted and the timings are accurate.
I may think of a few more things - if I do I'll post them. Enjoy
If you’d consider Austria, there’s a very nice campsite here https://www.natterersee.com/?lang=en-GB I can recommend
but it'll be my 40th and I've always wanted to go. We took our 4 year old to Grindlewald and it was an epic holiday. Rode around on the local trains and camped in our trailer tent right by the Eiger. I was surprised at how laid back the Swiss were about bookings and where to pitch etc- very easy and a memorable holiday for sure.
Lauterbrunnen (?) is incredible especially if you see some of the BASE jumpers setting off into the void. Enjoy!
Lauterbrunnen (?) is incredible especially if you see some of the BASE jumpers setting off into the void. Enjoy!
Stayed, and worked, on that campsite (Manor Farm) some 25+ times, one of the best in that area but also the most expensive cos of its lakeside location. There are a few others in the area whose facilities are just as good. Be warned, they get booked up quick so if you want to go it's advisable to book your plot in advance.
Wherever you stay in the area you will get the Interlaken Visitors card which gives you free bus travel in the area and discounts on many attractions. You won't need the car when there, use the bus and trains. There are a number of travel passes which may seem expensive but are insane value if you get out every day and make the most of them. This is the one I recommend for first timers in the region: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-travel-pass...
The walking infrastructure is excellent, well signposted with accurate timings and all start/end at some form of transport link. The walks are also graded so you know which are family suitable and which are more challenging. Some ideas here: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/summer-sport/hiking
Jungfraujoch is insanely expensive and rammed with tourists. It's the thing you do on a clear day and get up there early. Schilthorn is much the same.
For wet days there is an excellent indoor pool in Interlaken, also check out the Trummelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. There is an excellent Swiss Out-door Museum at Ballenberg and the villages of Brienz, Wengen, Murren and Grindelwald are worth a wander about in drizzly weather as well as fine days.
Of the 2 lakes, Thunersee is the largest but Brienzersee is the prettier of the two and the one I'd recommend for a lake cruise.
Interlaken itself is a bit of a cheesy tourist town now but that's where you'll find Lidl, Aldi, Co-op and Migros supermarkets. Be warned, nothing is cheap! Expect 3x the prices of the UK. Eating out in the mountain restaurants is also eye-wateringly expensive so take packed lunches and water bottles although not much beats a cold beer at Kleine Scheidegg gazing at the mighty Eiger.
There is a pretty good Facebook Group for Camping Manor Farm if you do FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2451735138485154/ Manor Farm has a restaurant which has a good value pizza night once a week, their campshop is convenient but pricey, their facilities are excellent. The bus to town is every 20 mins or so and the campsite has its own bus-stop. The lake steamer stops at the restuarant next door and between there and Interlaken is free with the visitors pass.
I really like the region and if you choose your walking routes carefully you can find some real solitude in the mountains. In August however, the trains etc will be busy so the earlier you get out the better.
Wherever you stay in the area you will get the Interlaken Visitors card which gives you free bus travel in the area and discounts on many attractions. You won't need the car when there, use the bus and trains. There are a number of travel passes which may seem expensive but are insane value if you get out every day and make the most of them. This is the one I recommend for first timers in the region: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-travel-pass...
The walking infrastructure is excellent, well signposted with accurate timings and all start/end at some form of transport link. The walks are also graded so you know which are family suitable and which are more challenging. Some ideas here: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/summer-sport/hiking
Jungfraujoch is insanely expensive and rammed with tourists. It's the thing you do on a clear day and get up there early. Schilthorn is much the same.
For wet days there is an excellent indoor pool in Interlaken, also check out the Trummelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. There is an excellent Swiss Out-door Museum at Ballenberg and the villages of Brienz, Wengen, Murren and Grindelwald are worth a wander about in drizzly weather as well as fine days.
Of the 2 lakes, Thunersee is the largest but Brienzersee is the prettier of the two and the one I'd recommend for a lake cruise.
Interlaken itself is a bit of a cheesy tourist town now but that's where you'll find Lidl, Aldi, Co-op and Migros supermarkets. Be warned, nothing is cheap! Expect 3x the prices of the UK. Eating out in the mountain restaurants is also eye-wateringly expensive so take packed lunches and water bottles although not much beats a cold beer at Kleine Scheidegg gazing at the mighty Eiger.
There is a pretty good Facebook Group for Camping Manor Farm if you do FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2451735138485154/ Manor Farm has a restaurant which has a good value pizza night once a week, their campshop is convenient but pricey, their facilities are excellent. The bus to town is every 20 mins or so and the campsite has its own bus-stop. The lake steamer stops at the restuarant next door and between there and Interlaken is free with the visitors pass.
I really like the region and if you choose your walking routes carefully you can find some real solitude in the mountains. In August however, the trains etc will be busy so the earlier you get out the better.
Edited by rednotdead on Saturday 18th March 14:38
elise2000 said:
If you’d consider Austria, there’s a very nice campsite here https://www.natterersee.com/?lang=en-GB I can recommend
Just returned from skiing in Serfaus, Austria. It’s a summer resort too, with a lake “Seealm Hög” (?) halfway up the main bubble lift. The lake's used for swimming and pedaloes in the Summer. The pics of this and other places around the 3 linked towns for summer use looked great.If you’re into MTB, they’ve a tone of purpose built tracks for fast descents
Edited by RC1807 on Monday 20th March 11:51
snotrag said:
It will have to be August because of School which I know is not ideal and it will be busy/ferries expensive etc, but at least we should get some decent weather. Any tips, hints, must-dos, etc?
I love touring around Europe with our 6 year old. Book ferries now though and get a decent room upgrade, makes the trip much nicer. Once you go 30 minutes from the port the number of GB cars drop alot, Switzerland I get the feeling aren't interested in becoming the next Greece/Spain interms of attracting Brits enmass.We are going this summer and popping down to Italy, cannot wait.
rednotdead said:
Stayed, and worked, on that campsite (Manor Farm) some 25+ times, one of the best in that area but also the most expensive cos of its lakeside location. There are a few others in the area whose facilities are just as good. Be warned, they get booked up quick so if you want to go it's advisable to book your plot in advance.
Wherever you stay in the area you will get the Interlaken Visitors card which gives you free bus travel in the area and discounts on many attractions. You won't need the car when there, use the bus and trains. There are a number of travel passes which may seem expensive but are insane value if you get out every day and make the most of them. This is the one I recommend for first timers in the region: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-travel-pass...
The walking infrastructure is excellent, well signposted with accurate timings and all start/end at some form of transport link. The walks are also graded so you know which are family suitable and which are more challenging. Some ideas here: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/summer-sport/hiking
Jungfraujoch is insanely expensive and rammed with tourists. It's the thing you do on a clear day and get up there early. Schilthorn is much the same.
For wet days there is an excellent indoor pool in Interlaken, also check out the Trummelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. There is an excellent Swiss Out-door Museum at Ballenberg and the villages of Brienz, Wengen, Murren and Grindelwald are worth a wander about in drizzly weather as well as fine days.
Of the 2 lakes, Thunersee is the largest but Brienzersee is the prettier of the two and the one I'd recommend for a lake cruise.
Interlaken itself is a bit of a cheesy tourist town now but that's where you'll find Lidl, Aldi, Co-op and Migros supermarkets. Be warned, nothing is cheap! Expect 3x the prices of the UK. Eating out in the mountain restaurants is also eye-wateringly expensive so take packed lunches and water bottles although not much beats a cold beer at Kleine Scheidegg gazing at the mighty Eiger.
There is a pretty good Facebook Group for Camping Manor Farm if you do FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2451735138485154/ Manor Farm has a restaurant which has a good value pizza night once a week, their campshop is convenient but pricey, their facilities are excellent. The bus to town is every 20 mins or so and the campsite has its own bus-stop. The lake steamer stops at the restuarant next door and between there and Interlaken is free with the visitors pass.
I really like the region and if you choose your walking routes carefully you can find some real solitude in the mountains. In August however, the trains etc will be busy so the earlier you get out the better.
Thanks for that, well definitely take some of that advice when we head over. Wherever you stay in the area you will get the Interlaken Visitors card which gives you free bus travel in the area and discounts on many attractions. You won't need the car when there, use the bus and trains. There are a number of travel passes which may seem expensive but are insane value if you get out every day and make the most of them. This is the one I recommend for first timers in the region: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfrau-travel-pass...
The walking infrastructure is excellent, well signposted with accurate timings and all start/end at some form of transport link. The walks are also graded so you know which are family suitable and which are more challenging. Some ideas here: https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/summer-sport/hiking
Jungfraujoch is insanely expensive and rammed with tourists. It's the thing you do on a clear day and get up there early. Schilthorn is much the same.
For wet days there is an excellent indoor pool in Interlaken, also check out the Trummelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. There is an excellent Swiss Out-door Museum at Ballenberg and the villages of Brienz, Wengen, Murren and Grindelwald are worth a wander about in drizzly weather as well as fine days.
Of the 2 lakes, Thunersee is the largest but Brienzersee is the prettier of the two and the one I'd recommend for a lake cruise.
Interlaken itself is a bit of a cheesy tourist town now but that's where you'll find Lidl, Aldi, Co-op and Migros supermarkets. Be warned, nothing is cheap! Expect 3x the prices of the UK. Eating out in the mountain restaurants is also eye-wateringly expensive so take packed lunches and water bottles although not much beats a cold beer at Kleine Scheidegg gazing at the mighty Eiger.
There is a pretty good Facebook Group for Camping Manor Farm if you do FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2451735138485154/ Manor Farm has a restaurant which has a good value pizza night once a week, their campshop is convenient but pricey, their facilities are excellent. The bus to town is every 20 mins or so and the campsite has its own bus-stop. The lake steamer stops at the restuarant next door and between there and Interlaken is free with the visitors pass.
I really like the region and if you choose your walking routes carefully you can find some real solitude in the mountains. In August however, the trains etc will be busy so the earlier you get out the better.
Edited by rednotdead on Saturday 18th March 14:38
ChocolateFrog said:
Jungfraujach is expensive 
Trying to decide if its worth doing both that and the Matterhorn or just the Matterhorn.
You staying near Zermatt too?Trying to decide if its worth doing both that and the Matterhorn or just the Matterhorn.
Personally, I'd say avoid the Jungfraujoch. Yes, it's Europe's highest railway station but it's also really really busy. Not a lot at the top apart from the views, a bloody expensive restaurant, and a tacky ice palace. There is a good walk to the Moenchsjochhuette that takes about an hour (if the path is open) but you need to be relatively fit due to the altitude.
Lots of other places in the region which give you the views/walks - First, Kleine and Grosse Scheidegg, Murren, Schynige Platte, Faulhorn, Maennlichen, Eigergletscher, Obersteinberg, Sulwald, Niederhorn, Stockhorn, Niesen etc.
rednotdead said:
Personally, I'd say avoid the Jungfraujoch. Yes, it's Europe's highest railway station but it's also really really busy. Not a lot at the top apart from the views, a bloody expensive restaurant, and a tacky ice palace. There is a good walk to the Moenchsjochhuette that takes about an hour (if the path is open) but you need to be relatively fit due to the altitude.
Lots of other places in the region which give you the views/walks - First, Kleine and Grosse Scheidegg, Murren, Schynige Platte, Faulhorn, Maennlichen, Eigergletscher, Obersteinberg, Sulwald, Niederhorn, Stockhorn, Niesen etc.
Lots of other places in the region which give you the views/walks - First, Kleine and Grosse Scheidegg, Murren, Schynige Platte, Faulhorn, Maennlichen, Eigergletscher, Obersteinberg, Sulwald, Niederhorn, Stockhorn, Niesen etc.
Plus the Schilthorn above Murren where you can have an adventurous walk back down the the mid station.We drove through that area last August and i have to say was really taken back by how stunning it was. The clarity of the lake thunersee was incredible.
We drove by as we had spent a week near Annecy and were driving over to Lake Konstanz and took the slightly more scenic route.
I dont recall seeing hardly any GB plates at all once we had passed Geneva and especially around Konstanz.
Would highly recommended that area too, Rhinefalls, Stein am Rhein, Konstanz itself.
We then looped back up via the black forrest which was well worth the visit.
Were going to drive to Austria this year, aiming for Bregenz, for a couple of nights then spending a week over at Wolfgangsee and then coming back up through Germany on way home and a stop over in Bruges.
First day will be a bit brutal with Calais to Bregenz but after that not so bad in terms of hrs driving.
This was done with our 8yr old who is used to travelling, if your going up high check they dont have age restrictions, i know the cable car at Mont Blanc had a minimum age due to the altitude when we did it last year. But if they are no higher then your average ski resort then shouldn't be an issue.
We personally love to mountain areas more then beach. Also, all these lakes are quite warm in the late summer so have really enjoyed swimming in Annecy/Konstanz/Garda when we were in Italy. Much nicer then the sea imo.
We drove by as we had spent a week near Annecy and were driving over to Lake Konstanz and took the slightly more scenic route.
I dont recall seeing hardly any GB plates at all once we had passed Geneva and especially around Konstanz.
Would highly recommended that area too, Rhinefalls, Stein am Rhein, Konstanz itself.
We then looped back up via the black forrest which was well worth the visit.
Were going to drive to Austria this year, aiming for Bregenz, for a couple of nights then spending a week over at Wolfgangsee and then coming back up through Germany on way home and a stop over in Bruges.
First day will be a bit brutal with Calais to Bregenz but after that not so bad in terms of hrs driving.
This was done with our 8yr old who is used to travelling, if your going up high check they dont have age restrictions, i know the cable car at Mont Blanc had a minimum age due to the altitude when we did it last year. But if they are no higher then your average ski resort then shouldn't be an issue.
We personally love to mountain areas more then beach. Also, all these lakes are quite warm in the late summer so have really enjoyed swimming in Annecy/Konstanz/Garda when we were in Italy. Much nicer then the sea imo.
Edited by poosemon on Thursday 6th April 08:29
Edited by poosemon on Thursday 6th April 09:33
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