Campervan Road Trip From the UK to Interlaken and Lake Garda, With Kids
- Carina
- Jun 30
- 14 min read
This was our campervan road trip from the UK to Interlaken and Lake Garda with the kids. Two weeks, one van, and a long list of things we were not sure would work.
We drove Blue, our VW T6, from the UK down through the Swiss Alps to Interlaken, then on to the shores of Lake Garda in Italy. Two very different stops, one camper, two kids, and a list of excursions we actually did as a family. Here is what worked, what we would book again, and how to pick the right adventures for the ages your children are now. Plus, the things we’ve saved for our next campervan road trip.
By Carina · Nest Nomad & Beyond · Last Updated June 2026
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Our campervan road trip route: Interlaken to Lake Garda at a glance
The route | UK to Interlaken (Switzerland), then on to Lake Garda (Italy). Camping at both stops in our own van and awning. |
Best for | Families who want a mix of high adrenaline scenery and slower lakeside days. Genuine variety across two very different climates. |
Our kids' ages | 12 and 14 on this trip. Old enough for proper adventure, young enough that a few of the wilder options were still off the table. But they have been on road trips, flights, and boats since they were babies, so we understand the full spectrum of age related kid travel. |
Interlaken highlight | First family whitewater rafting, plus the toboggan and tree-top flight at Pfingstegg above Grindelwald. |
Garda highlight | Kayaking straight off the campsite beach, a speedboat day on the lake, and bucket list day trips to Verona and Venice. |
Worth knowing | Pack layers even in summer (mountain tops are cold), and pre-book the big city attractions to skip the queues. |
Stop one: Interlaken, the adventure capital
First on our campervan road trip to Switzerland and Italy: Interlaken, it is a real hub for adventure sports, and you feel it the moment you arrive. Paragliding and base jumping are firm favourites here, and one of our simple morning pleasures was rolling out of bed, looking up at the sky, and watching the bright colours of all the parachutes circling overhead against the blue. Simply gorgeous. This was our second time to the area, having loved our first trip.
However, as beautiful as the parachutes are to look at, we are not quite at that stage with our two kiddos (this is where I’m happy to use the kids as an excuse!). So instead of throwing ourselves off a mountain, we went looking for local family adventures that still deliver a proper thrill, but kept us a little closer to the ground. There were plenty.
Whitewater rafting (their first ever)
Martin and I have rafted plenty of times over the years, on rivers in the Dominican Republic, Australia, New Zealand and the USA, and we love it. So we were genuinely excited that our youngest was finally old enough to join a tour. Needless to say, they loved every second.
TOP TIP: The bit nobody tells you about age limits This matters when you book. Around Interlaken the gentle family rafting run (the lower Lutschine down to Lake Brienz) tends to start from about age 8 – this is what we did. The Simme river, a little livelier, is usually from age 10. The full whitewater Lutschine trip with the bigger grade 3 and 4 rapids is often 14 and up. Check the minimum age against your youngest before you pay. |
Cycling the local routes
We took our own bikes, but there are plenty of hire options if you would rather travel light. There is nothing quite like cycling through the local towns, stopping off for a massively indulgent cheese fondue overlooking the water, and then heading on to explore for the afternoon. Bliss.
The gorge: caving, and watching the jumpers
Caving and gorge jumping are popular here too. Given the ages of our two,
the big jumps were a little out of reach (again – this was welcomed news). But stopping off at the Glacier Gorge is a brilliant spot to do two things at once: cool off in the cut rock passages, and witness first hand from the gorge floor as the canyon swingers take the plunge headfirst towards the racing white water below. It was a sight to witness, but I am now left with a 14 year old who is adamant she is doing it the day she turns 18. We’ll see.
Tobogganing and the tree-top flight at Pfingstegg
One of our favourite days of the whole trip. You take the cable car up the mountain above Grindelwald and then do both the summer toboggan run and the tree-top flight in one visit. The kids absolutely loved both, but for me the tobogganing was the hands down winner.
If you have little ones, they can ride the toboggan with you, and for the tree-top flight you are fitted into a full body harness. It sounds a lot more daunting than it is. It is actually a really good gentle introduction to this type of activity: not so calm that there is zero thrill, but a long way from a high speed zip wire either. A good middle ground.
TOP TIP Even in high summer it is significantly cooler at the top of the cable car than at ground level. Pack layers for a mountain day, even if you set off in shorts. |
Stop two: Lake Garda, a different rhythm entirely
Leaving Interlaken and heading to Lake Garda, we were excited to land in a completely different climate and culture. Our campsite was stunning, right on the shores of the lake, which was perfect for us because getting our kayaks onto the water was top of the list.
Kayaking off the campsite beach
We brought our own kayaks on the trip, but there are lots of local hire options, including a boat rental firm directly on the beach at our campsite. When we kayaked we explored a lot of the local towns, the ones a little closer to where we were staying, and it made for a great day: pull in for a picnic at one stop, then paddle on to the next for an ice cream. It’s easy on the mooring front too, because you can just paddle up to the beaches and lift the kayaks ashore while you explore.
Hiring a motorboat for the day
On a separate day we hired a motorboat from that same beachfront firm and explored further afield around the lake. Terrific fun, if a bit of a baptism of fire when it came to mooring up.
TOP TIP If you are planning a boat day, plan ahead for lunch. Unless you are eating on board, the moorings by the lakeside towns fill up fast in high season. You don’t want to be deciding to pull in at midday and expecting to find a space. That said, if you are happy to drop anchor in a quiet cove with your own food and drink, nothing beats a swim and a sunbathe over a relaxed lunch whilst gently bobbing on the water. |
Day trip: Verona, and standing on Juliet's balcony
Our day trip to Verona was a bucket list highlight for me. As a lifelong Shakespeare fan, I have always wanted to go, and standing on Juliet's balcony was a genuine pinch me moment, even though we all know it is not really real.
Here is the practical bit. You can see the balcony from the courtyard for free, although you still need a ticket. If you actually want to go inside the house and stand on the balcony yourself, there is an admission fee. The courtyard below gets very busy, and you have to pass through it to reach the entrance to the house, so going in with your admission already secured really helps de stress the whole thing.
TOP TIP Go prepared for crowds in high season and pre-book your house entry. It makes the difference between a magical moment and a hot, shuffling queue. |
Day trip: Venice, a second visit decades in the making
Venice was a bucket list moment for a different reason. Martin and I had our honeymoon here years ago, and we always wanted to bring the kids back. We finally did. There is so much to explore, and a lot depends on how much time you have.
A gondola ride is clearly a must. The girls loved winding through the narrow passageways and looking up at the buildings from the water. It truly is a magical experience. Glass is a massive export for the region, and if you have time you can visit the blowing workshops out on the islands. If not, Venice itself is full of incredible galleries and shops. Be warned though, this is not mass-produced tat, it is hand blown art, and the prices reflect that. Venture out from the centre and away from St Mark's Square and you can find better value on similar designs.
St Mark's Square itself is a marvel, and the basilica is well worth a visit. Pre-booking is a must here too, because there are scheduled entry times and the last thing you want is to be waiting outside in the blazing sun. The square can be a real sun trap, though it’s fun to see how people congregate in the tall narrow shadow of the clock tower – myself included. There are plenty of cafes and bars in the square to soak up the atmosphere while you wait for your slot.
TOP TIP If you are a little peckish but not after a full meal, just order drinks. You will usually be served some nibbles as standard. It is fairly common practice across much of northern Italy and a lovely way to sit and take in a famous square without committing to a whole lunch in sweltering heat. |
Best excursions by age
The single biggest thing that shapes a trip like this is the age of your youngest. An activity that is a dream at 14 can be a non-starter at 4. Here is how the experiences we came across stack up across three stages, so you can plan around the children you have right now.
Families with little ones (0 to 5)
This is the slow, sensory, keep everyone happy stage. Lean into water you can control, short cable car trips, and gentle rides where a grown up does the work.
• Pfingstegg tree-top flight. A gentle glide through the forest at walking pace, usually open to little ones from around age 4. The standout mountain activity for this age.
• Cable car up and back. The view is the activity. No minimum age and a real hit with toddlers.
• Lakeside paddling and beach time at Garda. Free, easy and endlessly entertaining.
• Tandem kayaking on calm water, with a little one sitting in front of an adult and a properly fitted buoyancy aid.
• A short gondola ride in Venice. Magical and contained, as long as you keep it brief. Just be aware getting little ones in and out of a gondola some may consider a two person job.
• Family boat rental on the lake. Many will hire with covered canopies to ensure you have shade out of the water. As long as you go prepared with things you’ll likely need, plenty of food and drinks, as well as perhaps a carry case potty if you have a toddler of that age, this can be a really relaxing, private way to enjoy the day, or half a day depending on your little ones threshold. Rental companies will supply lifejackets for your group and keeping everyone cool in the water during breaks, is fun all around.
Honest note for this stage Rafting, the summer toboggan ridden solo, and the canyon swing are all out at this age. The toboggan can sometimes be ridden with a child on an adult's lap from around age 4, but check the operator's current rule on the day, as it varies. |
Families with school age kids (6 to 12)
The sweet spot for variety. Most things open up here, with a couple of the wildest exceptions.
• Family rafting on the gentle lower river to Lake Brienz, typically from age 8. A brilliant, safe first taste of whitewater with a swim at the end.
• Summer toboggan at Pfingstegg, ridden solo from around age 8, or with an adult for younger children.
• Tree-top flight, kayaking, cycling the local routes, and the Glacier Gorge walkway, all comfortable at this stage.
• Verona and Venice as day trips. Pace them, build in gelato and gondola time, and pre-book entries to avoid meltdowns in queues.
Honest note for this stage The full grade 3 and 4 Lutschine rafting and the canyon swing are still above this band. The Simme river rafting (often from 10) can suit the older end of this group if they are confident in water. |
Families with teens (12 plus)
Now you can chase the proper adrenaline.
• Full whitewater rafting on the Lutschine, with the bigger rapids, usually from age 14.
• Everything at Pfingstegg, plus longer hikes and the Glacier Gorge for watching the canyon swingers.
• Speedboat days, longer kayak explorations, and self-guided cycling between towns.
• Verona and Venice with a bit more depth: the basilica interior, a glass blowing workshop, even a canal kayak tour for water confident teens.
Honest note for this stage Canyon swinging and bungee style jumps generally require participants to be 18, which is exactly why our 14 year old is counting down. Spectating from the gorge floor, though, is open to everyone and is a genuine highlight. |
Quick age guide
Although this should hopefully help as a planning steer, minimum ages vary by operator and can change, so be sure to always confirm age restrictions at the point of booking.
Experience | Suitable from (typical) |
Cable car and mountain views | All ages |
Pfingstegg tree-top flight | Around 4 |
Pfingstegg summer toboggan (with adult) | Around 4, solo from about 8 |
Lakeside beach and tandem kayaking | All ages with a buoyancy aid |
Family rafting (lower river to Lake Brienz) | About 8 |
Simme river rafting | About 10 |
Full whitewater Lutschine rafting | About 14 |
Verona, Venice and the gondola | All ages, pace for little ones |
Canyon swing and bungee jumps | Usually 18 (spectating all ages) |
What we’re saving for next time
We didn’t manage everything, and that is rather the point. A trip like this always leaves a list, and ours is already shaping the next one.
• The canyon swing. Our eldest has decided this is happening the day she turns 18. I have decided to be very supportive from the gorge floor, with a camera and no intention whatsoever of joining her.
• Glass blowing on the islands. We have wanted to visit Murano, and the smaller, quieter Burano, both times we have been to Venice, and somehow still have not made it across. Next time we are booking an actual family workshop and having a go ourselves.
• The bigger whitewater in Interlaken. Once our youngest passes 14, the full grade 3 and 4 Lutschine run is back on the table for all of us.
• Interlaken’s longer toboggan runs. There is no shortage of them, and plenty are bigger and faster than the one we did. As the kids get older, that is an easy yes.
• Lake Garda’s theme parks. There are several we have not been to yet, and they are firmly on the list for a return.
• A detour through Milan. A small change to the route would let us stop for Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and the Duomo di Milano, two things we would happily build a day around.
For now though, this trip gave us exactly what we hoped for. A proper mix of adrenaline and slow lakeside days, and two kids who came home already asking when we are going back. We will take that.
Book the experiences we did
These are the experiences from our trip, grouped by stop. The Swiss adventure side maps well to Klook and KKday, and the two Italian cities are a strong fit for WeGoTrip, whose self-guided audio guides let you wander Venice and Verona at your own pace, which suits travelling with kids.
INTERLAKEN AND GRINDELWALD (Klook and KKday) • Interlaken river rafting Klook and KKday both list Lutschine and Simme rafting. Match the run to your youngest: family or Simme for younger kids, full Lutschine for teens. • Jet boat ride on Lake Brienz A lower age, lower commitment water thrill if rafting is a step too far for your group. • Jungfrau region and Grindelwald multi-day pass or tour For the cable car country around Grindelwald and the wider Jungfrau sights. Pfingstegg cable car, toboggan and tree-top flight, and the Glacier Gorge: these are usually bought on site rather than pre-booked online, so treat them as a signpost in the post rather than an affiliate link. Say so plainly, readers trust it. |
LAKE GARDA, VERONA AND VENICE (WeGoTrip, plus Klook and KKday) • Uncover Verona self-guided audio tour WeGoTrip. Walks you past Juliet's House, the Arena and the Cathedral at your own pace. Note: attraction entry tickets are usually separate. • Venice St Mark's Basilica ticket and audio tour WeGoTrip. Pairs a timed basilica entry with narration, which is exactly the pre-booking we recommend in the post. You can pick your own tour guide character, voice and language to truly bespoke your experience.. • Venice Grand Canal vaporetto audio tour WeGoTrip. A budget friendly way to see the palaces from the water if a private gondola is not for everyone. • Venice gondola experience Klook and KKday list gondola rides and city combos for the classic must do. • Lake Garda and Sirmione boat or activity ticket Check Klook and KKday for current Garda listings; coverage varies, so confirm the link is live before publishing. Note: WeGoTrip tours are self-guided audio on an app. Popular attraction area can get busy in peak periods and large crowds can sometime mean stress on mobile network services. If time allows, it’s always best to download your tour over WiFi before you arrive at your attraction to ensure a totally seamless experience. |
Family road trip FAQ
Is Interlaken good for families with young children?
Yes. Even if the headline activities here are extreme sports, there is a strong layer of family friendly options underneath: cable cars, the gentle tree-top flight at Pfingstegg, lakeside beaches and the family rafting run. The trick is matching the activity to your youngest child's age before you book.
What is the minimum age for rafting near Interlaken?
It depends on the run. The gentle family rafting trip down to Lake Brienz typically starts from around age 8, the Simme river from around 10, and the full whitewater Lutschine with the bigger rapids from around 14. Operators set their own limits, so confirm when you book.
Do you need to pre-book Juliet's House in Verona?
You can view the famous balcony from the courtyard with a free ticket, but going inside the house to stand on the balcony has an admission fee. In high season the courtyard gets very crowded, so booking your entry ahead makes the visit far less stressful.
Is a gondola ride worth it with kids?
For us, yes. Winding through the narrow canals and looking up at the buildings from water level is genuinely magical for children. Keep the ride on the shorter side for younger ones and it lands as a real highlight rather than a long sit still.
Can you take your own kayaks and bikes on a campervan trip like this?
We did, and it gave us a lot of freedom. That said, both Interlaken and Lake Garda have plenty of hire options right by the water, so you are not stuck if you would rather travel lighter.
What should you pack for a summer mountain day?
Layers. It can be warm at ground level and noticeably cold at the top of a cable car, even in high summer. A fleece and a light waterproof in the day bag will save a chilly afternoon.
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