Getting to Swiss ski resorts from the UK with children
Most British families fly to Zurich or Geneva and finish the journey by train. It is usually the easiest way with children: no hire car, no snow chains, and a seat for everyone. These are the journey times from each airport to the resorts we cover.
Flying in
- Zurich (ZRH) and Geneva (GVA) both have direct flights from London and from several regional UK airports. The flight takes about an hour and a half.
- Both airports have a railway station under the terminal, so you can go from baggage hall to platform without a taxi.
- Geneva is closer to the Valais and Vaud resorts (Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Villars). Zurich is closer to Graubünden (Laax, Arosa Lenzerheide). The Jungfrau resorts (Grindelwald, Wengen) are about the same from both.
From the airport to the resort
Typical public-transport journeys from the airport station to the village, including changes, from the Swiss timetable.
From Zurich Airport: 2 h 55 by train. Train to Chur, then the Rhaetian Railway to Arosa: two changes, about 2 h 55 min. Lenzerheide and Valbella take about 2 h 25 min by train to Chur and then Postbus (December 2026 SBB timetable).
From Geneva Airport: 5 h 45 by train. One or two changes, then Chur and the Rhaetian Railway to Arosa: about 5 h 45 min. Lenzerheide takes about 5 h 15 min with Postbus from Chur. Most families fly to Zurich instead (December 2026 SBB timetable).
From Zurich Airport: 2 h 55 by train. Usually two changes, at Bern and Interlaken Ost (the BOB train runs up to Grindelwald).
From Geneva Airport: 3 h 45 by train. Usually two changes, at Bern and Interlaken Ost (the BOB train runs up to Grindelwald).
From Zurich Airport: 2 h 25 by train and bus. Typical morning journey is about 2 h 20 min with two changes: intercity to Chur, then the PostBus to Laax Murschetg. A LAAX airport shuttle also runs on winter weekends; book at least 48 hours ahead.
From Geneva Airport: 5 h 15 by train and bus. Typical morning journey is about 5 h 15 min with two changes: intercity via Zurich to Chur, then the PostBus to Laax Murschetg.
From Zurich Airport: 3 h 25 by train and bus. Direct train to Visp, then PostBus 511 from Visp station to Saas-Fee, every 30 minutes. About 3 h 25 min in the current timetable; check the winter 2026/27 timetable before booking.
From Geneva Airport: 3 h 55 by train and bus. Train along Lake Geneva to Visp, then PostBus 511 from Visp station to Saas-Fee, every 30 minutes. About 3 h 55 min in the current timetable; check the winter 2026/27 timetable before booking.
Car-free village: the last part is by train or bus, and electric taxis or hotel shuttles meet you at the station.
From Geneva Airport: 2 h 15 by train and bus. Train to Aigle, then bus 144 up to Villars (about 30 minutes). Or change at Bex for the mountain railway to Villars. Both run about hourly.
From Zurich Airport: 4 h 05 by train and bus. Train via Bern or Lausanne to Aigle, then bus 144 up to Villars. Two or three changes; most families fly into Geneva instead.
From Zurich Airport: 2 h 56 by train. Wengen is car-free. Take the train via Bern or Thun to Interlaken Ost, then the Berner Oberland railway to Lauterbrunnen and the Wengernalp rack railway up to Wengen.
From Geneva Airport: 3 h 46 by train. Wengen is car-free. Take the train via Lausanne and Bern to Interlaken Ost, then the Berner Oberland railway to Lauterbrunnen and the Wengernalp rack railway up to Wengen.
Car-free village: the last part is by train or bus, and electric taxis or hotel shuttles meet you at the station.
From Zurich Airport: 3 h 35 by train. Trains from the airport to Visp or Brig with one change, then the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn up to Zermatt. A through ticket covers both legs; a few connections at Visp are tight, so leave buffer.
From Geneva Airport: 3 h 55 by train. Hourly train along Lake Geneva to Visp or Brig, then the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn up to Zermatt. One change, and a through ticket covers both legs.
Car-free village: the last part is by train or bus, and electric taxis or hotel shuttles meet you at the station.
With children on Swiss trains
- Children under 6 travel free.
- Children from 6 to 15 travel free with a parent who has a ticket, on the Junior Travelcard: CHF 30 per child for a year, free from the third child.
- Trains have family coaches on many intercity routes, and SBB can forward big luggage between stations for a fee.