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Winter holiday with children without skiing
A winter holiday with children works without skiing too, with sledging, winter walks or dog sledding in Lapland, Tyrol or the Bernese Oberland. Warm clothing and short programme points are important. Swiss Vibes is a Swiss travel agency with video consultations and plans winter holidays for families.
Von Family, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Set holiday dates and preferred destination
- Choose winter activities for the children's ages
- Check warm clothing or rent it at the destination
- Book accommodation with warmth, space and play options
- Plan short programme points with warm-up breaks
- Prepare the route and luggage
- Agree destination and programme with your adviser
Checkliste
- Warm layered clothing for all children
- Gloves, hat and spare socks packed
- Winter shoes with good grip
- Sunglasses and sun protection for snow
- Programme with breaks planned
- Accommodation with a drying room checked
- Thermos flask and snacks included
- Travel insurance checked
Winter holidays with children work without skis too. Sledging, winter walks, dog sleds and warm breaks in a hut create experiences that smaller children often enjoy more than hours on the slopes. You will find destinations in Lapland, Tyrol and the Bernese Oberland.
What children can experience in winter without skis
Winter offers much more than skiing. Sledging, building a snowman, winter walks and ice skating are simple and inexpensive, and they suit very small children too. Depending on the place, dog sleds, horse-drawn sleighs or snowshoe hikes are added. A visit to a thermal spa or an indoor pool can also be fitted in well if the weather does not cooperate.
If you travel with children of different ages, such activities give a common denominator. Everyone can join in, and nobody has to learn technique first. Those who have tried it once often notice that the children miss skiing less than you would expect.
A day at the swimming pool or a museum belongs too. Staying flexible in the cold makes for a more relaxed holiday.
Lapland: winter wonderland in the far north
In Lapland, families experience snow, husky tours, reindeer sleds and Santa Claus village. The programme fits Christmas and sports holidays well, and the cold is far more pronounced than in Switzerland. The darkness in the north shapes the daily routine, so a programme with activities in the morning and calm evenings is worthwhile.
Thermal clothing for children can usually be borrowed on site, so ask about it. Plan short times outdoors and warm breaks. Ask about minimum age and weight limits for activities, as they differ by provider.
Do not forget the sun. In snow it is reflected, and children can get sunburnt in winter too. Sun protection and sunglasses belong in the luggage.
Tyrol and the Bernese Oberland: snow without flying
Tyrol and the Bernese Oberland can be reached without flying. Toboggan runs, winter walking trails and swimming pools are part of the offer, and many places have a children's area with a conveyor lift and practice slopes. Many places also offer children's programmes in which children first get to know the snow through play.
Here too, plan the day with breaks. An hour of sledging, then a hot tea in the hut, keeps spirits up. For the outward and return journeys, also allow extra time for winter weather, because snowfall lengthens journeys and transfers and can shift schedules.
If you drive, check snow chains and winter tyres. Find out in advance about conditions on the route.
What clothing and equipment do children need?
Several layers keep warm and can be adjusted. Waterproof shoes, gloves, a hat and a scarf belong, and spare socks save many a day. Sunglasses protect against reflection in winter too. Waterproof gloves are more important than thick ones, because wet fingers are the most common reason for ending an outing.
For equipment such as sledges, snowshoes or ice skates there is hire on site. That saves space in the luggage. A rucksack with spare gloves, tissues and a water bottle saves many outings.
For very small children, a sledge with a backrest or a pushchair with winter equipment is worthwhile. Ask on site about suitable routes.
How do I plan the day with children?
Shorter programme points work better, especially with small children. A morning outdoors, a lunch break indoors and a calm afternoon are often enough. In the cold, children tire faster than you think. That keeps spirits good even if the weather changes, and your children still have energy for play in the evening.
We advise you by video call, also on the journey and accommodation if you wish. An early start to the day makes use of daylight, which is scarce in winter. Plan a break at the accommodation in the afternoon so the children can warm up, and only go out briefly in the evening.
Which accommodation suits a winter holiday?
Accommodation with a drying room or space for wet clothing makes everyday life easier. After a day in the snow, gloves, hats and shoes need a place to dry. Ask about it before booking.
Warmth is important too. A well-heated room and a place to warm up with a cup of hot chocolate create cosiness. Family hotels often offer a swimming pool or sauna, which provide recovery after the day outdoors.
Check the location. Accommodation close to a toboggan run or winter walking trail saves walking and time. In Lapland the distance to activities is often more important than in the Alps, so ask about transfers.
