A family trip to Switzerland from Dubai works best with a nonstop Emirates flight from Dubai International (DXB) to Zurich, about six and a half to seven hours, then just two bases, such as Lucerne and the Interlaken area, for 8–10 days. The biggest saving for families is the free Swiss Family Card: children aged 6 to 15 travel free on Swiss public transport when a parent holds a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, and children under 6 travel free anyway. Plan short travel days, one mountain excursion per base and a spare day for bad weather.
Why Switzerland suits families from the UAE
For families living in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, Switzerland offers what the Gulf summer cannot: cool air, lakes to swim and boat on, real snow and long walks without the heat. It is also easy to travel with children. Trains are frequent and clean, lake boats run like buses, and many mountain trips start from a station platform, so there is no long drive with car seats.
The key is to slow the pace. An itinerary that suits a couple, with a new city every day, wears children out. Choose two bases, unpack once in each, and do day trips from there.
How do you get from Dubai to Switzerland with children?
- From Dubai (DXB): Emirates flies nonstop to Zurich and Geneva. Schedules show a flight time of about six and a half to seven hours, so a daytime departure lets young children stay on a normal sleep pattern.
- SWISS also flies Zurich–Dubai when its schedule is running; it paused the route for much of 2026 and planned to restart in late October 2026.
- From Abu Dhabi (AUH): Etihad sells flights to Zurich and Geneva, which saves families in Abu Dhabi the drive to DXB.
Zurich airport has its own railway station, so you can go from arrivals to a train for Lucerne without a taxi. Pre-booked transfers are still worth it if you arrive late with a pushchair and several cases; you can arrange one on our airport transfers page. Gulf flight schedules changed often in 2026, so check the live timetable before you book.
How do Swiss trains work for families?
Rail is where families save the most in Switzerland, according to Switzerland Tourism:
- Children under 6 travel free on public transport.
- Children aged 6 to 15 travel free when accompanied by at least one parent holding a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Swiss Half Fare Card, using the complimentary Swiss Family Card.
- With the Family Card, children also get free travel on many mountain excursions when their parents hold the right tickets, and free entry to more than 500 museums.
- Children who travel without a parent still get 50% off the Swiss Travel Pass.
Ask for the Family Card when you buy the parent’s pass. Prices and hours change — check the official site before you go.
Best time for a family trip to Switzerland from Dubai
- July and August line up with the long UAE summer school break. Lakes are warm enough for swimming, and alpine playgrounds and summer toboggan runs are open. It is the busiest season, so book family rooms early.
- December to February fits the UAE winter break. Children who have only seen Ski Dubai can try sledging, ski school and snow at the summits. Days are short and cold, so plan less per day.
- Spring break (late March–April) can be quiet and good value, but some lifts close between seasons. Check each mountain’s operating dates.
Sample 9-day family itinerary from Dubai
This plan uses two bases and keeps train rides under about two hours.
- Day 1 – Dubai to Zurich, train to Lucerne. A morning flight lands in the afternoon; take the train to Lucerne and keep the evening free.
- Day 2 – Lucerne town and lake. Walk across the Chapel Bridge and take a lake boat. The Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne is a good rainy-day option for children.
- Day 3 – Mount Titlis. Train to Engelberg and cable cars up to 3,020 m, with snow at the top even in summer. The final cable car, the Rotair, turns a full circle on the way up.
- Day 4 – Rest day or Mount Pilatus/Rigi. Children tire after high-altitude days. Keep this day light or take a short mountain trip close to Lucerne.
- Day 5 – Lucerne to Interlaken. The scenic Luzern–Interlaken line is an outing in itself. Settle into your second base.
- Day 6 – Lake day. Boat on Lake Brienz or Lake Thun and stop at a lakeside playground or beach.
- Day 7 – Jungfraujoch or a lower peak. Older children enjoy the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station at 3,454 m, with its Ice Palace carved into the glacier. With toddlers, a lower mountain such as Harder Kulm above Interlaken is easier.
- Day 8 – Lauterbrunnen valley. Easy, flat walks past waterfalls; a good last full day.
- Day 9 – Train to Zurich and fly home. Allow extra time with luggage and children at the airport.
Teenagers may prefer more activity: summer toboggan runs, mountain biking or a ski day in winter. Families with babies can stay in one base for the whole week.
Choosing family hotels in Switzerland
- Room size: Swiss hotel rooms are often small. Look for family rooms, connecting rooms or apartments with a kitchen, which also cut meal costs.
- Location: stay a short walk from the railway station. You will use it every day.
- Breakfast included saves time and money with children.
Compare family rooms on our Zurich hotels page or the main hotel search.
Budgeting for a family trip
Switzerland is expensive, but families have more ways to save than couples do. The Family Card removes most children’s train fares. Apartments with kitchens reduce restaurant bills, which are much higher than in Dubai. Mountain excursions are usually the biggest activity cost, so choose one or two rather than one a day. Package prices from Dubai vary too much by season and room type to quote a single figure; compare what each one includes.
Visas for families travelling from the UAE
Each family member’s passport decides whether they need a visa. UAE nationals can visit the Schengen area, including Switzerland, without a visa for short stays. Most other nationalities resident in the UAE need a Schengen visa, and children need their own application. Book visa appointments early before the summer break. Check the latest rules before you travel with the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) or the Swiss embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Planning a trip for adults only? See our Switzerland holiday packages from Dubai guide.
