Activity ideas to do with your kids this summer without leaving Switzerland

Working Mom part-time or full-time Mom, a well-deserved summer break is a must! Here are our ideas of activities to do with your family this summer that will allow you to recharge your batteries without even leaving Switzerland!

Little girl in swimsuit

Parks in Geneva

On the left bank, there is the playground of park Bertrand in Champel, de la Grange in Eaux-Vives with its amazing paddling pool or the renovated, brand new playground in the park des Evaux in Onex. On the right bank, you have the paddling pool of the Franchises and Trembley parks. Towards the embassy district, you will find the Mont-Repos park and the Nant de Cayla path in the direction of the Bois de la Bâtie in St-Jean. And don't forget the famous and unmissable Jardin Botanique, a great outing for the entire family!

Water places in Geneva

When it's hot outside you might want to be looking for water places in Geneva to cool down. Out of the 18 public pools in the canton of Geneva, 6 are open to the public, namely: Pâquis-Centre, Lancy, Vernets, Varembé, Lignon, Avanchets, and Cointrin.
The public beach Baby Plage in the Eaux-Vives is a place to go as well as the Bains des Pâquis on the other side, which you can get to by taking the fairy boat (les mouettes). Due to the sanitary situation, some places are limited with a quota of entrance tickets per time slot. We suggest you check online or call before going.

Activities in the canton of Vaud

If you like spacious and well-equipped playgrounds, discover the playground in Morges by the lake in the Parc de Vertou with foam floors and fun activities. Children can go on a boat-shaped game with slides, climb a small house made out of a climbing wall and swings, all with a breathtaking view of the lake and the mountains. From this place to Préverenges, you can take a nice walk that takes about 20 minutes and is accessible with a stroller. In Morges, there is also a very nice playground next to the church.
Closer to Lausanne, if the children like to play in the sand and particularly like rope play equipment, there is a nice place not far from the C.I.O. next to the restaurant La Vaudaire.

At the port of Vidy, the little train allows children to enjoy a little tour of the place. However, it is better to find out on which days the train is running. In Pully, there is also a mini-train for children and a brand new playground. There, on the other hand, the sun shines all day long so we advise you not to go there in the afternoon when it's too hot.

If you have the day ahead of you, go to the Signal de Bougy park above Aubonne which is worth the detour. There are slides for all ages, zip lines, and water activities for children to enjoy. There are also boats on lakes that will delight parents and children, an animal park, and the famous Adventure Park from 4 years old. Regarding tree climbing activities, you can find them at Signal de Bougy, Aigle, Sion, and also in St-Cergue and Onex. It is very playful and the courses are adapted to different age groups.

If you like missions and detective-like activities, you will surely enjoy the Urba byrinth in Orbe. This is a fun maze of 2 km in life-size cornfields. It's really fun and very captivating to read the stories and find the answers to the clues as you make your way through the meanders of this natural maze.

Last but not least, if you are looking for freshness, go to the Aquasplash in Renens. There is a Baby Splash for children up to 4 years old, a playground for children up to 5 years old and shady green areas. The largest vertiginous slides are accessible to all.

You have more time?

Plan a family weekend getaway outside of your usual stops, why not try the adventure maze, Aquaparc, or the Swiss vapor parc. On the other side of the border, there is also the Ravensburger playground, Europaparc or Lego land for the Lego lovers.

We have heard about the Vitam Parc in Eytens but we haven't tested it yet. What about you? Apparently, you should avoid weekends and busy days, otherwise, you'll have to wait in line for hours!

You see, the grass is not greener elsewhere. You don't have to go very far to feel on holiday and live unforgettable moments with your family. Activities clear the mind, help to evacuate stress but above all to exhaust the children for a better night sleep (laughs).

Give us feedback if you have the chance to try out the activities mentioned in this article. Don't hesitate also to share with us your go-to activities this summer!

We wish you a beautiful summer!

Céline Racine editor MotherStories

Céline Racine
Writer for MotherStories - Kids & Family
Working Mom of a 4-year-old daughter.