Must-Dos for families : northern Italy, Switzerland, Western Austria, SW Germany, Belgium

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

Sometime next spring (between March and May tbd) we are doing a road trip Tuscany-UK! Can’t wait. Our boys will be 1 and almost-4 so I’d love to hear recommendations for any super cool places to take them - would hate to arrive home and then hear of something great we missed! Any beautiful places, museums, animal type places, national parks, mountains, waterfalls, lakes. I’m not even opposed to a soft play recommendation! I’m sure we’ll want some low key days amongst the adventure.

We could skip Switzerland (although want to stay at Chedi Andermatt!) and swing by Munich if it’s a must-do.

In North Italy, visit Parco Giardino Sigurta. One of the top gardens in all of Europe, this enormous park is a beautiful adventure that everyone in the family can enjoy. It’s so large that they have little trains to take you around the parkbecause walking the whole thing would take days. There is something for every kid: a labyrinth, a farm with animals, a fountain, lots of green spaces to run, and best of all a castle.

Place marking as we're planning on a year long trip round Europe with a 3 and 5 yr old.

Switzerland has some great themed family walks , mountain play areas and opportunities to feed animals like marmots. Which route were you planning to take ? Myswitzerland.com will give you ideas.

Switzerland has some wonderful places to visit although I would say that and ermattet is not the most beautiful village.... if you do visit Switzerland drive up to andermattt and the over the pass (oberalp i think) stop and visit the glacier on the way. Drive into wallis and spend a day at the aletch glacier (bettmeralp). From Wallis you can go over into Italy (there is a train tunnel also I think a pass to drive over). While in Wallis go to zermatt and see the matterhorn.

Imho Saas Fee is more family friendly than Zermatt, both largely traffic free, and agree Andermatt is not a looker, spent hours there freezing cold waiting in car for the train. If you can avoid driving through on the first and third weekend in August so much the better, it can be gridlocked on the tunnels and passes. You will need a licence to use Swiss motorways.

I would also suggest lake garda, one or both of florence or sienna a quick stop at the leaning tower of Pisa.

Ooh amazing, replies! Thanks!

Andermatt is only because we stayed at a Chedi hotel in Bali on our honeymoon and it was amazing. I know nothing of the place so thanks for letting me know it's not good

Parco Giardino Sigurta sounds wonderful!

Overmydeadbody that sounds like a dream, are you driving? Homeschooling 5yr old along the way or just skipping it? Exciting!

It is a bit 'off piste' i.e. going slightly east on your route home but if you can do please include the Dolomites in your journey, absolutely stunning.

Black Forest is beautiful. My inlaws live on its edge (in a village looking down into the Rhine land with the Vosges beyond, and Basel and the Alps to the South) and it's just glorious.

Yes to italian lakes. Lake Garda meant to be family friendly. Ive been to Como which is beautiful. Garda is huge.

Venice? Lido looks nice for families. Boat trips with dc not so great i suppose.

Switzerland you shoukd go see the castles at Belinzona. Theyhave a little train that takes you between all 3. Castles would be fun for 4yo and the town is beautiful. Get them a wooden sword and shield for battlement fights!

Aw lovely ideas! Sword and shield!

We have friends in Venice so will probably meet up with them - need to show them the new baby anyway (who will be 18 mo by then )

I went to Switzerland last September as opposed to the winter for skiing. We went on lots of mountain railways and we were based near Interlaken. We had a railway expert with us who planned it all using the Rail pass for the area. From Interlaken you can get rail trips to fantastic mountain areas such as Wengen and Murren. The lakes are beautiful. I like Zermatt but the Eiger is fantastic too.

Many years ago we went to Gardaland. A theme park on the shores of Lake Garda. Lake Garda has lots of interesting little towns which are served by the boat. We stayed at Desenzano. (Check spelling). I also recommend Bologna, Ravenna, Parma and Ferrara. Not too touristy. The best food though! The Ferrari museum is at Modena.

Tuscany is also great. We have stayed at San Giminagno. Great town with medieval towers. Sienna is fantastic and there are so many ancient towns you won’t get bored. Lisa and Lucca are also worth visiting.

Have fun.

Lisa! Pisa.

If you drive up from Italy along Lake Lugano, just inside Switzerland, there is a large scale model of Switzerland landscape highlights including mountains working model trains and cablecars at Melinde, on the causeway across the lake, which our dc loved to visit. Also has small rides etc. Good for a couple of hours break from the car.