Switzerland
Lakes, glaciers and mountain railways around Lucerne, Interlaken and Zermatt, with cool summers and reliably snowy winters.
In this guide
When to go
June to September is peak season, with highs of 22 to 26°C in Lucerne and Interlaken and every high-altitude excursion open. July and August coincide with UAE school holidays, so book hotels and Schengen appointments early: Interlaken and Lucerne are especially popular with Gulf families. May and October are quieter and cheaper, although some mountain railways close for maintenance.
Ski season runs from December to April, with snow most reliable from January to March. Switzerland is three hours behind Dubai in winter and two hours behind in summer, from late March to late October.
Where to stay and how to plan the route
Our Swiss Alps family holiday splits a week between Lucerne and Interlaken, with day trips by train. For something more indulgent, the Swiss lakes luxury itinerary adds Montreux on Lake Geneva and Zermatt below the Matterhorn. A travel pass covers most trains, buses and lake boats and gives discounts on mountain railways. Elena Volkova and Mariam Al Falasi recommend no more than two hotel moves in a week.
Schengen applications can be lodged up to six months ahead; see our Schengen visa service.
Things to do
- Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe
- Mount Titlis rotating cable car and glacier cliff walk
- Mount Pilatus by cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad
- Lake Lucerne cruise and a walk over the Chapel Bridge
- Grindelwald First cliff walk and mountain carts
- Matterhorn views from Gornergrat in Zermatt
- Glacier Express panoramic train between Zermatt and St Moritz
- Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, easy from Zurich
Food, money and practical tips
Switzerland is expensive, so we include breakfast and suggest supermarket picnics on mountain days. Halal food is available in Interlaken, Lucerne, Geneva and Zurich, and many hotels host Gulf guests regularly; vegetarian and fish dishes are easy elsewhere. Service is included in prices, so tips are a small extra for good service. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. Plugs are Swiss type J. Bring layers even in summer: it can be 5°C at the top of Jungfraujoch while Lucerne is warm.
Rules change; we confirm the current requirements before you apply.
Switzerland holidays from Dubai
Three nights on Lake Lucerne and four in Grindelwald below the Eiger, with a Swiss Travel Pass, Jungfraujoch and Pilatus tickets included and children under 16 riding free with a parent.
Lakeside grand hotels in Zurich, Lucerne and Montreux, a first class Swiss Travel Pass, the panoramic GoldenPass journey, Mt Titlis, Lavaux wine terraces and private drivers on the key days.
Visa services for Switzerland
Switzerland: questions we are asked
Do UAE residents need a visa for Switzerland?
What is the time difference with Dubai?
What is the best month to visit Switzerland?
How many days do we need?
Is Switzerland good for families?
Can we combine Switzerland with Italy?
Travellers back from Switzerland
Two children under ten, and the First cliff walk above Grindelwald plus the mountain carts were the best things they have ever done. Seat reservations on the busy trains meant we never scrambled. Elena also prepared our Schengen visa file and booked the appointment for us.
Interlaken first, then Zermatt, seven nights with the rail pass covering every train and lake boat. Jungfraujoch with the kids, then the Matterhorn from Gornergrat. We had a family apartment in Zermatt so we could cook a couple of evenings and save on dinners.
Emirati couple travelling in summer. Elena arranged private transfers throughout, handled the Schengen applications and gave us a list of halal-friendly restaurants in each city. The Rigi trip and the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne at dusk were superb.
Reading before you go
Schengen Visa from Dubai: A Step-by-Step Guide for UAE Residents
Which country to apply to, when to book your appointment, the documents consulates actually look at, insurance, biometrics, fees and the refusal reasons we see most often from the UAE.
Family Holidays from Dubai: A Planner's Guide That Works for Parents Too
Flight times that suit children, short-haul family winners, connecting rooms, child pricing, nanny visas and how to dodge UAE school holiday price spikes, from a family travel consultant and mother of three.
Summer Escapes from Dubai: Cool Places to Go from June to August
Where UAE residents go to escape 43°C: Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Alps, the Dolomites, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Bali, with July temperatures, flying times, real summer prices and when to book.
