To Switzerland with a child. Family skiing - the best resorts. Little Italy in Carouge

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How to travel in Switzerland on a budget and budget holiday in Switzerland

Switzerland is a very diverse country. On the one hand, there are majestic mountains, delicious fondue and chocolate, large banks where the richest people on the planet keep their savings, world famous Swiss watches, and an organized society. But on the other hand, simply incredible prices in Switzerland, which can shock any tourist: $8 for a cup of coffee or glass of beer, $50 for a steak, $15 menu at McDonald's, $35-40 for a bed in a hostel!

Switzerland is considered the most expensive country in the world among tourists, and Geneva And Zurich are two of the ten most expensive cities to live.

Due to the high cost, it is easy to understand why so many people are afraid to travel to traveling around Switzerland on your own and wait until they are older and richer. Therefore, when you claim that even Switzerland can be visited by a budget tourist, many will shake their heads in disbelief and twirl their finger at their temple :).

At first glance, Switzerland will be a real test even for experienced tourists who are used to traveling independently and inexpensively. Switzerland is a country with a strong currency and high taxes, a mecca for wealthy bankers, international organizations, wealthy residents, and tax havens.

Switzerland will never be a “cheap” country to visit, one that travelers can visit for just a few dollars a day, but you may be surprised to realize that it is possible to travel around the country for relatively little money. It's difficult, but doable!

Find cheap flights to Switzerland

Here are some effective ways to save your budget, but at the same time enjoy your trip and avoid wasteful spending:

1. Use Couchsurfing

With hostel beds starting at $30-$40 per night, you'll definitely need to find cheap option for housing in Switzerland. Couchsurfing is one of the ways to save significantly on accommodation. This is a service that allows travelers to stay with local residents for free. This can be a lifesaver that will keep your expenses within your planned budget. Since many travelers use this service, we recommend that you send inquiries to property owners in advance.

2. Use BlaBlaCar

Transport in the country is very expensive, even more expensive than the cost of living. Most intercity trains cost around 50 CHF (Swiss francs). He's really very fast! Instead, use the popular BlaBlaCar service, which many of our compatriots are already familiar with, to avoid train costs and at the same time communicate with local residents. This service allows you to share travel costs with several travel companions, and each trip can save you a decent family budget. It is important to remember: be careful, trips can often be canceled by the driver, even at the last minute. Therefore, try to be flexible in making decisions. But if you use the service, you will be satisfied with the trip.

3. When traveling with a group, use Airbnb

If you are traveling as a couple or in a group and prefer independent accommodation, we recommend that you pay attention to the service, where you can rent inexpensive and comfortable accommodation in Switzerland. At around $50 per night, you can split the cost between two people - that's only $25 per person, which is much cheaper than staying in a hostel!

4. Less alcoholic drinks (or better yet, not drinking at all)

Drinking here isn't cheap. Most beers cost around 8 CHF. Most wines cost between 10-25 CHF per bottle. If you do decide to drink, the cheapest place will be at the bar in the hostel, where so-called “happy hours” are often held, where you can drink 2 drinks for the price of one, or just buy a cheap cocktail - about 5 CHF.

5. Prepare your own meals

The cost of lunch in a restaurant will cost you on average about 40 CHF per person. And since this is a considerable amount for a budget tourist, we recommend purchasing food in local supermarkets. A grocery package for a week (bread, pasta, rice, eggs, vegetables, cheese, deli meats for sandwiches, assorted fruits) will cost you about 75-100 CHF. The main supermarkets are Migros, COOP and Spar. COOP is the most expensive.

6. Try vegetarian dishes

Meat is very expensive in Switzerland. Swiss people and expats say they sometimes limit their consumption of meat because it is expensive. Therefore, eat vegetables and avoid buying meat (especially beef). A pound of meat in a supermarket costs an average of 12-14 CHF!

7. Take advantage of special offers at cafes

If you are going to eat in a cafe or restaurant, it is better to do it during lunch, when most dishes of the day cost about 10-19 CHF. Also, feel free to visit ethnic restaurants such as Chinese, Oriental, Indian, or Thai - here you will get huge portions for a reasonable price (on average 10 CHF will fill you to your heart's content). Daily specials are a great way to save your budget while enjoying delicious food for less money. As a result, we recommend preparing breakfast and dinner yourself, and you can also have lunch in a cafe.

Switzerland is an expensive country – there is no doubt about it. The minimum possible budget with which a tourist/budget traveler can travel to Switzerland would be around $75 dollars. For this budget, you can visit the main attractions, stay in a budget hostel, and enjoy adventures and outdoor activities. A smaller budget will significantly limit your ability to truly enjoy what Switzerland has to offer.

But regardless of your travel style, following the tips above will allow you to save a lot on your trip to Switzerland by cutting down on unnecessary expenses and focusing your hard-earned money on your interests - museums, beer, adventure, or a pound of meat :)

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– a wonderful country for children to relax all year round. Clean mountain air and natural beauty are a great alternative sea voyage. Swiss air is perfect for children with allergies, asthmatics and those who are contraindicated from the scorching sun.

Useful tips

The Swiss have a perfect transport system, so it is enough to purchase a Family Card for a child under 16 years of age, accompanied by an adult, to travel around the country for free. The list of such transport includes intercity buses, trains, ships and public transport any city.

Almost all provide the service of a separate cradle for a child under 4 years old. In four- and five-star hotels this service is free; in three-star and lower hotels you will need to pay a little extra. Some hotels give discounts for children or even accept children under 6 years of age free of charge - it depends on the specific hotel. Hotels with apartments usually do not give discounts for children, but they have a number of significant advantages, for example, the presence of a kitchen for preparing food for a little gourmet and a separate bedroom for parents.

Entertainment for children in Switzerland

located in the very heart of the country. This city has a lot of opportunities for relaxing with little children. Lucerne has the steepest railway in the world, and you can also take a funicular ride to the top. Even with children, it is worth visiting the Tierpark safari park, ride a miniature railway The Luzerner Gartenbahn is a very interesting place to visit and definitely take those with a sweet tooth to the Aeschbach Chocolatier chocolate factory.
will surprise its little visitors with an abundance, for example, the museum of dinosaurs, such interesting places for relaxation and walks, like child Center Kindercity, Sport-und sports park, Adventure Park Rheinfall. We recommend taking your children to the Kart-Bahn Zurich and flying in the Body Flying wind tunnel. Despite the fact that it is a rather expensive city, visits to most museums are free for children under 6 years old, and with discounts for children from 6 to 16 years old. You can also go on excursions around the famous.

The most convenient way to get around the city is by bicycle, especially since most provide bicycles and child seats for them free of charge. This will significantly save on expenses, and will bring more joy to children than boring walking. By bicycle you can get to the Jurapark wild animal park, where the famous one is located. You can also relax with your child in entertainment center for Yatouland children, and to interest teenage children and.
From the funicular you can see incredible views of the city. You can also visit the Kindermuseum Creaviva, where children create works of art with their own hands, and be sure to stop by the Grabenmuhle nature reserve, where children and adults can freely interact with animals and see wildlife. Another recommended place for tourists to visit is. Many children will enjoy riding the Dampftram steam tram and mini railway.

On in Davos there is a children's amusement park called Kids'land, which has many slides and plenty of opportunities to have a lot of fun. There is also a park called Gwunderwald Heidboden, where children are taught in a playful way about the local flora and animals of the country. Davos tourists also note that the Adventure Park Farich amusement park and the Eau La La water park are well equipped, have excellent service and are very suitable for children's relaxation.

IN Lenzernheide You can walk along the Globi path. The trail has three routes and is designed for three ages of children. The shortest one can be walked by a mother with a baby in a stroller. While walking along the trail, children are accompanied by a cartoon character who helps them get to know nature through puzzles and games to recognize animal tracks, types of clouds and the age of trees.

Traveling to Europe with children is not an easy task. On the one hand, a European vacation is the most civilized and safe, but on the other hand, it involves sightseeing, monuments, and visiting museums, which are not always interesting to young travelers. In addition, excursions can be very tiring for children. But a trip to Switzerland with children can disrupt such ideas. This country has such an abundance of outdoor activities, museums and attractions for children that it is a fantastic place for family vacation.

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Where to stay

When planning a holiday with children, it is important to choose a suitable hotel for a family holiday, because not all hotels allow children to stay. More often they are intended for conferences and business events.

If a family is traveling with a baby who is not yet two years old, then hotels must request a crib. As a rule, in hotels of 4 stars and above it is provided free of charge, and in hotels of 3 stars and below - for a small fee.

Each hotel has its own policy on the cost of living for children. Some of them accommodate children for free up to a certain age or offer discounts. Apartment hotels do not offer such discounts, but they have certain advantages for family vacations. Firstly, the presence of a mini-kitchen where you can prepare food for children. Secondly, the presence of a separate bedroom for parents. The child can sleep in the living room on a fold-out sofa. These points will give your vacation additional comfort.

Transport in Switzerland

The transport system in this country is one of the most advanced in the world. Children will love the train rides, which offer scenic views. Children under 16 years of age travel free of charge provided they are accompanied by at least one parent. To do this, you need to get a special Family Card travel pass at the station.

Tourists can rent a car to get around the country. This can be done subject to certain conditions. The driver must be at least 21 years old and have an international driving license, more than three years of driving experience and a credit card.

In cities you can rent bicycles. This can be done for free in Zurich and Geneva. You only need to leave a document and 20 to 50 Swiss francs as collateral, which will be returned later.

Lucerne is located in the heart of central Switzerland. This city is easy to reach - just an hour by train from Zurich and an hour and a half from Basel. There are many opportunities for recreation with children.

Explore the mountains

First of all, this is an exploration of the mountains. Near Lucerne there are two mountains - Rigi and Pilatus. Visiting them will be an exciting adventure for children. To get to Mount Rigi, it is recommended to take a boat from Lucerne to Vitznau. This can be done across the street from railway station Luzern Bahnhof. Upon arrival in Vinzau you need to get on the train that goes up the mountain. With older children, hiking in the mountains will be an interesting part of traveling to summer time, and in winter you can go sledding or skiing there.

To get to Mount Pilatus, you need to take the train to Stansstad and then ride the funicular to the top. A visit to this mountain guarantees stunning views, and kids will love the train ride on the steepest railway in the world.

If they are on vacation rainy days, you still won’t be bored. There are several museums in Lucerne that will be interesting to visit as a family.

Museums

The Glacier Garden Museum is located opposite the Dying Lion monument. The museum displays objects dating back to the Ice Age. The museum includes a mirror room, which is a real labyrinth.

In the transport museum you can learn the history of the development of trains, planes, and cars. For kids there is a miniature train that you can ride on for 2 CHF.

Walks along the lake

Lucerne offers wonderful walks along the lake. If you wish, you can rent a boat here. You can sail to the large Lido beach. It has swimming pools and volleyball courts. On a hot summer day this is the ideal place in Lucerne. In addition, the beach offers not only an incredible view of the lake, but also a fantastic view of Pilatus.

Walk along the Kapellbrücke bridge

Children will not be able to appreciate the beauty of the old town, but they will enjoy a walk along the main bridge of the city, the Kapellbrücke. Besides being a lot of fun to walk on, the bridges are iconic structures of Lucerne. If you are near Kapellbrücke, you should definitely buy a portion of the best ice cream in the city at the Dieci cafe. And for lunch with a child, the Opus restaurant is good. It offers a good children's menu.

Food

Not far from the train station, around the corner from McDonald's, is the Filou & Bengel cafe, which has a large selection of cupcakes, fruit teas, ice cream, lattes and cappuccinos. The whole family can enjoy a good meal here. There is a park for small children across the street from the cafe.

To taste Swiss chocolate, you need to take a trip to the Aeschbach Chocolatier factory. It is only 10 minutes away by train. Children will enjoy learning about chocolate making while parents can relax with a cup of coffee. At Easter and Christmas, children are given chocolate bunnies or Santa Clauses.

Family holidays in Grisons

Graubünden can be called a huge playground. Among the alpine peaks, lakes, ski slopes and toboggan runs, families can have a good rest and relaxation. Family resorts of Grisons: Arosa, Davos-Klosters, Flims-Laax-Falera, Lenzerheide and Savognine. They take into account all the needs and wishes of children and parents.

Local hotels have Special offers for children, ranging from comprehensive care to wellness programs and adventure trips. They are surrounded by alpine peaks, mountain lakes and magnificent panoramas.

An abundance of games and fun awaits children: sports and playgrounds, zoos, climbing walls, swimming pools, mountain hikes - a family holiday in Grisons guarantees exciting adventures, unique events and a variety of activities in the fresh mountain air. Parents can easily enjoy their holiday in the Alps, while children will be under the supervision of experienced teachers.

Ice trail Skateline Surava

In winter, ice skating at Skateline Surava is very popular here. This is an ice trail 3 km long and 3 meters wide. Driving down the gentle slope through a magical winter landscape is a delight for hikers of all ages.

Globi Trail

In summer, parents can take their children on the Globi trail in Lenzerheide. The path along it is accompanied by a famous Swiss cartoon character. It helps families connect with nature through puzzles and games.

Globy explains about the diversity of nature and reveals many amazing facts. Recognizing animal tracks, observing clouds, calculating the age of trees by their rings will turn this excursion into an unforgettable adventure. The trail has short, medium and long route. You can even walk the short route with a stroller.

Children's park

Families will enjoy the Davos-Klosters resort in Madriz " Children's park» (Kids’ land), where children can ride the slides and have fun to their hearts’ content. A must-visit in Davos is the Gwunderwald Heidboden nature reserve, where you can learn information about nature, flora, fauna, agriculture, forestry.

Pinocchio program at the Savognin resort

In summer and autumn, the Savognin resort offers something special - the Pinocchio program for children under twelve years of age. Four days a week, little travelers can take part in gold mining, maze building or cave adventures completely free of charge! If you wish, you can pay for lunch only.

Other things to do with children in Switzerland

Of course, the above options are not all the possibilities for a holiday in Switzerland with children. Ski resort Interlaken, located between Lakes Thun and Lake Brienz, is a fantastic base for exploring the snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and waterfalls of the Bernese Alps.

Grindelwald

It offers an endless number of winter and summer sports. For a family holiday, Grindelwald is also interesting - one of the most established ski and pedestrian centers in the region. There are slopes for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. Grindelwald is also the most popular place For hiking in the mountains in summer.

, ), interesting museums (Technorama in, museum under open air Ballenberg near ), (for example, in Gruyères), (Callier in the town of Broc), picturesque waterfalls(Rhine Falls, Reichenbach Falls, Trümmelbach and Staubbach waterfalls in, Giessbach waterfall near) and caves(Beatus Caves near,) and much more. You can walk around by choosing one of the easy routes for.

Save in Switzerland with children:

Despite the high cost of Switzerland, they still try to make entertainment for children as accessible as possible. Children under 6 years of age, as a rule, have the right free entry to museums. And, of course, they ride for free.

Children from 6 to 15 years old are entitled to a 50% public transport tariff. But you can save even more: SBB offers for only 30 francs(!!!), travel for children under 6 years old is generally free, and if you have one, you can take STS Family card for a child under 16 years old, and he will ride with you for free! Even on !

But the question remains, where to go with a child in Switzerland? What will be interesting for young children to watch?

Below are the best attractions in Switzerland for kids:

What to see in Switzerland with children?

Park "Switzerland in miniature in Melide"

This park is a great opportunity to see all the main attractions of Switzerland in one day and captivate your child for several hours. Numerous castles, churches, traditional houses, and even train stations and airports with moving vehicles - everything is done on a scale of 1:25. In total, 121 objects are collected here.

The park “Switzerland in Miniature” is located in a town in the south of Switzerland, in. You can get here by local train.

Working hours: from March 15 to October 26, 2014 (annually from March to October): 9:00 - 18:00
Tickets: adults 19 CHF, children 6 - 15 years old 12 CHF, under 6 years old free. Family ticket - 55 CHF.

Chillon Castle

The most famous Swiss castle, glorified by Byron in his “Prisoner of Chillon”. A picturesque castle with medieval furnishings is located in the suburbs, on the coast. The history of the castle goes back over 1000 years.

Working hours:

January-February-November-December: 10.00-16:00,
March and October 9.30-17.00
April to September, 09:00-18:00
When purchasing a ticket, you are given a brochure with a description, including in Russian.

Tickets: adults 12.5 CHF, children 6 - 15 years old 6 CHF, under 6 years old - free, family ticket - 29 CHF, with Swiss pass - free.

Lenzburg Castle

Lenzburg Castle, located in the town of the same name near Zurich, is one of the largest and most interesting. Historical Museum made as interactive as possible, with shadows and people’s voices (oh, sorry in German!), which allows you to recreate the atmosphere of past centuries. Well, where would a castle be without a legend? Of course, there must be a dragon imprisoned in a real castle. You can feel his menacing roar with your body at the end of the visit. And upstairs, kids can dress up in medieval costumes and play in the playroom!

Opening hours: from April 1 to October 31. Tue-Sun (and holidays) 10-17. Closed - Mon. and 2nd Friday in July (jugendfest).
Admission: Adults / students up to 25 years old / children 4-16 / family ticket (1 adult + up to 5 children) / family ticket (2 adults + up to 5 children): With museum premises - 12 / 9 / 6 / 20 / 30 francs . Without the museum - 4 / 3.5 / 2 francs.

Gruyere Cheese Factory

The most famous cheese factory in Switzerland, where the most famous Swiss cheese is made. It is located, as you might guess, in the town of the same name. Here you can observe the various stages of cheese production yourself, as well as watch a thematic film.

La Maison du Gruyère
Place de la Gare 3, 1663 Pringy-Gruyères
Working hours: daily from 9 to 12 and from 13:30 to 19.
The best time for excursions is from 10 to 11 and from 14 to 15, when you can directly see the cheese making process (3-4 times a day depending on the season).
July-August: from 7 to 19.
Tickets: adults CHF, students/seniors 6 CHF, family ticket 12 CHF

Gruyere Castle

The castle was built in the 13th century and for a long time belonged to the family of the Counts of Gruyere. The castle bears a curse: all the counts - the owners of the castle between the 11th and 16th centuries - constantly experienced problems. The last of them, Michel, struggled with financial troubles almost all his life and went completely bankrupt in 1554. The baroque interior of the castle remains from one of the rulers who lived here. Romantic landscapes were painted in the 19th century by a number of famous artists under the new owners of the castle.

Working hours: Every day, from April to October: 9.00-18:00, from November to March 10.00-16.00 (last entry).
Tickets: Adults - 9.5 CHF, pensioners, students - 8 CHF, children from 6 to 16 - 3 CHF, groups (from 15 people) - 6.5 CHF.
Castle and HR Giger Museum - 17 CHF.

Giger Museum

The Giger Museum and the Giger Cafe-Bar located next to it will remain indelible impression. It’s better not to go here for gentle, vulnerable souls, but fans of the movie “Alien” and all sorts of such monsters will be simply delighted!

The museum's collection includes numerous grotesques, sculptures, eccentric furniture and models for films, most of them from the 60s. The ground floor houses Giger's private collection. The museum contains many sketches for the film Alien, as well as models of monsters.

Keep in mind that the museum has a separate room where Giger’s works of an erotic nature are collected, but there is a special warning about this in the hall.

Opening hours: Apr-Oct daily 10-18, Nov-March Tue-Fri 11-17, Sat-Sun 10-18.
Admission: adults/students 12/8 CHF.

Nestlé Chocolate Factory

Which child doesn't like chocolate? And see how it is made? Of course, all children will love this idea! So don't miss the opportunity to visit the Nestlé chocolate factory - MAISON CAILLER, located in the town of Broc. After all, this is where milk chocolate was invented! Inside you will find an interesting installation of the different stages of chocolate production and its history. All this will be accompanied by an audio guide (you can choose Russian). And at the end - of course - a tasting of delicious Nestlé sweets!!!

Alternatively, you can visit the chocolate factory during an excursion on the Chocolate Train from Montreux (only from May to October).

Ticket to the chocolate factory: children under 16 years old inclusive - free in the company of an adult. Adults - CHF 12.00, students and pensioners - CHF 9.00.

Opening hours: daily, April - October 10 - 17, November - March 10 - 16. Closed only on December 25 and January 1.

Bear park in Bern

Funicular operating hours: May 4 – October 8, 2017
Funicular tickets: adults return 10 CHF, one way 7 CHF. Children 6 - 16 - 8 CHF and 6 CHF respectively.
Combined cable car + Sherlock Holmes Museum ticket: adults CHF 11.- / children 6-16 CHF 8.-

Trummelbach Falls

The only waterfall in Europe located inside a rock can be seen in the town, or rather in its suburbs. There is an easy path to the waterfall (40 minutes walk) along a picturesque valley, past the highest Staubbach waterfall in Switzerland (100 m!) and steep cliffs against the background of the snow-capped peaks of the Jungfrau region.

Taking the elevator up, you'll pass through a series of corridors, admiring the various steps of the rock-rumble waterfall that meanders inside the cave. The impressions are strong! Just bring a jacket: it’s very cool and humid inside.

The Trummelbach Falls consists of 10 cascades hidden inside the Black Monk Mountain. From a 200-meter height, up to 20,000 liters of melt water flies every second with a deafening noise. The waterfall can only be viewed in the summer using an elevator going through illuminated tunnels.

Opening hours: daily (but may be closed in case of bad weather) from April to November 9 - 17, in July and August 8:30 - 18:00.
Tickets: adults 11 CHF, children 4 CHF.

Holidays and events for children in Switzerland:

Christmas market in Zurich

Mountain sled

A fun sledding ride is something all kids love! So why not take advantage of the conveniently located slides in Switzerland... Well, more precisely, mountains?! Here you can find trails of any difficulty level, suitable even for small children. There are also summer sleds, where the descent follows special guides (much like attractions in water parks). Renting a sled is inexpensive, you don’t need special training, as with alpine skiing. And you will be rewarded with magnificent landscapes

The stereotypical idea of Switzerland is that it is boring - nothing interesting happens and only the cuckoo clock ticks monotonously. The Swiss themselves are aware of this opinion and do everything to make their stay in the country bright and impressive. For example, in Geneva, which traditionally seems sleepy resort town, there are places to go and things to do all year round.

Mysterious Geneva

The game “Mysterious Geneva” will help you have an interesting time in the old city, in which you will be asked to reveal the mystery of the sudden disappearance of archeology professor Archibald Kimerion one June night in 1893. The game begins in the office of the Geneva Tourism company, where you are given a special book about which places, museums and streets you should visit to find evidence and clues for the investigation. The tour lasts a minimum of three hours, so winter time We recommend dressing warmly.

Address: Rue du Mont-Blanc, 18

Cost: The book costs 21 Swiss francs and also includes tickets to all places visited. If it is expected group tour, then for each person an additional fee is 7 CHF. francs

Cruise on Lake Geneva

One of the main treasures of Geneva is Lake Leman, the largest freshwater body of water in Europe, with clean water and picturesque shores. Therefore, various yacht cruises on the lake start from the city piers dozens of times a day. The duration of trips can be selected according to taste, as there are short cruises up to famous fountain and back, there are two-hour tours with an overview of the surrounding area or a trip to several cities at once with a stop, for example, in Lausanne. The themes of the cruises are also varied - there are tours with the history of Geneva castles, and gastronomic “voyages” with tasting fondue or haute European cuisine.

Address: Quai du Mont-Blanc

Cost: price varies depending on the tour, check with carriers

Large Hadron Collider

The complex regularly conducts excursions, both individually and for groups of up to 48 people. Unfortunately, non-specialists are not allowed into the underground section with the collider, but for visitors, scientists have two permanent exhibitions about the smallest particles of the Universe, as well as lectures and discussions on various topics, for example, how to robotize a person. Since this is a sensitive facility, you must strictly follow the instructions: be sure to have your passport with you, come to the excursion 15 minutes before the start, do not take luggage or animals with you, and do not wear high-heeled shoes, flip-flops or sandals.

Address: 385 route de Meyrin

Cost: excursions are free, but there are so many people interested that you need to reserve a tour 15 days in advance by filling out a form on the CERN website

Little Italy in Carouge

The southern suburb of Geneva, Carouge, is called “little Italy” - because of its special Mediterranean, Sardinian architecture, numerous shops, art and antique shops, local restaurants and cafes. In addition, there is open pool, where daredevils swim even in winter, a park with bike paths for riding, and on Wednesdays there is a market here, and local greengrocers and farmers bring out the freshest vegetables and fruits.

Address: Rue Ancienne – 1227 Carouge

Swatch watch exhibition

In the center of Geneva is the "City of Time", Cite du temps, where you can find the most complete collection of famous Swatch watches, from the company's founding in 1983 to the present day. In addition to thousands of bright, colorful, amazing plastic watch, works here too art Gallery, where contemporary art and photography are regularly shown and special projects are carried out - for example, exhibitions for the release of the next James Bond film. In the “City of Time” there is also a cozy restaurant where you can take a breath and drink coffee.

Address: Pont de la Machine, 1

Cost: Admission is free

Making chocolate

The boutique of the Stettler chocolate brand hosts chocolate making master classes from Monday to Friday. This is a complex and multi-stage matter, so everyone is introduced to the history of chocolate, shown the huge fruits of the cocoa tree, and told about all the stages that the ingredients go through on the way to chocolate candy. And, of course, it is suggested to form the praline yourself, stir the hot chocolate in a large saucepan and try it.

Address: Avenue Blanc, 49

Cost: Price for a 45-minute lesson is CHF 30. CHF, a 1.5-hour lesson costs CHF 120. francs per person

Ethnographical museum

The best museums in Geneva are ethnographic, since outstanding collectors of household and religious objects from different peoples of the world once lived here. M.E.G. Ethnographical museum Geneva contains an extensive collection, which includes ritual masks, feather headdresses, samurai armor, in a word, the most exotic attire that is traditionally worn in different parts of the Earth. For each exhibition, the museum hosts a lot of related events, for example, as part of projects about the Amazon Indians, there are theatrical performances, children's excursions with dance and music, “shamanism sessions” with stories about the esoteric practices of the peoples of the world, as well as film shows.

Address: Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 65-67

Cost: Ticket price for adults is CHF 9. francs, for children under 18 years of age admission is free

Exhibition "Days of Dinosaurs"

There's always something going on at Palexpo, Geneva's largest exhibition centre, and this autumn (1 October to 8 January 2017) it's hosting Dinosaur Days, a huge show dedicated to prehistoric animals. On the territory of pavilion 7 of the complex with an area of 4500 sq. m, more than 60 species of dinosaurs are reproduced - life-size, moreover, their three-dimensional images are animated, they can move and even growl! At Dinosaur Days, giant footprints of dinosaurs and their paw prints are also shown as evidence of the life of these legendary creatures.

Address: Route François-Peyrot, 30

Cost: CHF 14.9-18.9 francs

Assembling a Swiss knife

In the basement of the Victorinox flagship boutique in Geneva there is a real workshop - with a workbench, a lot of parts and an engraving machine. Here everyone can assemble the famous Swiss knife on their own, of course, under the guidance of an experienced craftsman who will not let you put your finger in the clamp and will tell you which way to insert the nuts. You can also choose the color of the case, the inscription that will be engraved on your knife, its font and style.

Address: Rue du Marché, 2

Cost: CHF 19 francs

Botanical Garden

One of the main attractions of the city is Botanical Garden with an observatory, occupying an area of 28 hectares. There are up to 12,000 plant species here, including such exotics as the “walking tree”, and the collected herbarium contains six million flora specimens! For children, there is an Enchanted Forest playground, a carousel of fairy tales, where you can admire the sheep nibbling grass, watch the bees in the apiary and play ball on a specially equipped playground.

Address: Chemin de l'Impératrice, 1

Cost: Entrance to the garden and observatory is free, but for 1 round of the carousel you need to pay 3 CHF. franc

Where to live and what to eat

Most five-star hotels are very child-friendly: not only do they offer... special discounts, family rooms, but also try to make pleasant surprises. As representatives of the Mandarin Oriental hotel tell us, “sweet surprises prepared by our pastry chef will await our little guests in their rooms. For special comfort, we have small robes, bath accessories, high chairs, a bottle warmer, and so on. We will prepare everything you need and deliver it to your room.” Also, most hotels offer children's menus and babysitting services, so staying in Geneva with children will be very comfortable.

You can safely go with children to almost any restaurant in Geneva: most of them have a children's menu. Special events are also offered: for example, Parc Des Eaux-Vives has Sunday brunches with animators, and the special family restaurant Un R de famille offers cooking classes and painting lessons, a children's corner with toys and books, and a winter garden.

We thank the company Geneva Tourism and Albina Rassamakin for assistance in preparing the material.

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