Top 5 cities to explore in Switzerland

It is no secret that Switzerland is one of the most picturesque countries in the world with its snow capped mountains and resplendent lakes. I had the pleasure of going with my husband and five year old son during the summer months and needless to say it did not disappoint.

If you have two weeks to spare then here are five things to do for a whirlwind tour of this natural paradise;

1.A must see is the beautiful city of Zermatt and the adjacent Matterhorn trail. Even with a five year old we were able to take the cable car to the surrounding peaks at the helm of the Matterhorn and were able to do a five to six hour trek down back to the town of Zermatt. Our favourite peak was the Sunnegga where we had close encounters with the black nosed Wolli sheep, famous breed of the region. The family-friendly peak of Sunnegga has lots of fun activities for kids with a playground and a lake for a swim. Don't forget to pack your sunscreen as this is the "sunny corner'' of Zermatt as the name Sunnegga suggests.

2. Lucerne’s wooden Chapel Bridge with its long standing Water Tower is placed right in the middle of what looks like a Camelot themed city. With the famous Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi as backdrop, the city gives you an enchanting taste of life in the medieval ages with its chimneys and castle like architecture. You must also spend a day on Mount Titlis and Engelberg with yet more amazing views and snow filled activities. There is a Globi’s playground for children at Ritsis in Engelberg on your way to Mount Titlis that boasts a rope park and an Alpine Coaster. The city of Lucerne can be explored by foot in a couple of hours. We spent a day at the transport museum and my son was intrigued with all the fun activities related to locomotive and transport. It also has a planetarium, a large format cinema and a Swiss Chocolate adventure all in the same premises. Just across the Transport museum is the Lucerne Lido and was a place of respite for us on a hot day in Lucerne.

3.Interlaken is yet another gem in Switzerland’s crown situated between the lakes Thun and Brienz and hence the name Interlaken which means in between the lakes. Interlaken is a post card worthy city that provides a number of treats for the adrenalin junky in you. With parasailing glides off the various surrounding peaks during sun rise and white water rafting trips you definitely have a lot to do here. You will find yourself doing a number of mountain excursions to the peaks such as the Jungfrau, Schilthorn and Harder Klum. Top tip for mountain excursions is to check the weather and plan your trip accordingly as you don’t want to miss the stunning views due to a cloudy day. If possible get there as early as possible to avoid crowds and uninterrupted views. On peaks like Harder Klum they have a swiss folklore sessions of yodeling that is worth checking out. Details of which can be obtained from the tourist office located on the Interlaken west side near the train station.

4. Montreux’s numerous boat rides and a visit to Chillion castle will definitely be another great memory of your time in Switzerland. There are numerous ferry departures from the promenade in Montreux next to the statue of Freddie Mercury that take you to other areas of interest such as Laussane, Vevey and also to Geneva. The ferry rides can last up to half a day travelling up and down Lake Geneva and hopping on and off the many villages in between. Laussane has a beautiful promenade of its own along with an Olympic Museum which is worth exploring. Vevey is another village that houses some of the most interesting museums such as Chaplin’s World, Alimentary museum and Nestle’ Museum. While Chillon Castle can take upto 15 mins by ferry or 45 mins on foot if you choose to walk up the Montreux promenade. Chillon Castle can easily take up to four hours of your time as you explore its narrow alley ways and secret chambers. The promenade of Montreaux is also a beautiful and relaxing walk that can take anything from one to two hours to complete fully. The promenade itself has numerous restaurants of with all type of cuisines including Indian and Chinese.

5. Zurich is one of the biggest cities in Switzerland yet it doesn’t fail to mesmerize you with its natural beauty that you will find dotted around Lake Zurich. There are a number of great swimming spots and playgrounds to keep children busy. A short walk away from the Zurich Hauptbahnhof you will find Sihlcity, Fifa World Cup Museum and Thermalbad & Spa. A much preferred place by the locals, Sihlcity is a shopping complex with some of the high street shopping brands, a cinema, a nightclub and numerous restaurants. There is also a Kinder paradise in the mall itself if you wish to drop off your kids and go shop. When you are in Zurich you must indulge yourself in a day at the Thermalbad and Spa for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience that has plenty of baths, saunas, steam rooms and relaxation areas all in a beautiful setting.