Activities for children in Geneva
At the end of Lake Geneva, Geneva is often described as the most international of Swiss cities. For families, it is especially a vast playground: a world-famous lake, parks as far as the eye can see, museums that spark curiosity, and urban beaches where you can splash around in the summer just steps from the center.
The city is very accessible with children. Distances are short, trams and the Mouettes cross the lake, and you can effortlessly transition from a museum visit to a break at a playground or a ride on a little train. Whether it rains or shines, there is always an option: trampoline, laser tag, and indoor mini-golf, swimming and walks along the water as soon as the nice weather arrives.
This page brings together our selection of activities for children in Geneva, from the Jet d'eau to animal parks, including swimming pools and neighborhood cinemas, to help you plan your next family outing at the edge of the lake.
Our selection of family activities to do in Geneva
40 activities for children
Activities by type in Geneva
Play area of Parc Bertrand: wading pool and large games in Champel
Are you looking for a playground that appeals to both young and old in Geneva? In the heart of the Champel district, Parc Bertrand combines a large shaded playground and a very popular wading pool in the summer. A classic for Geneva families, free and outdoors.
Play area of Parc Trembley: playground and wading pool at Petit-Saconnex
Looking for a large free park where your children can climb, slide, and splash in the heart of Geneva? At Petit-Saconnex, the playground at Parc Trembley combines various games, a multi-sport arena, and, in the summer, a welcome wading pool to cool off with the family.
Playground of Parc La Grange: play in the heart of the most beautiful park in Geneva
And what if you offered your children a big breath of fresh air in the heart of the most beautiful park in Geneva? The playground at Parc La Grange features slides, sand games, and a summer wading pool, all for free, with the rose garden and the view of the lake as a backdrop.
Playground of the Parc des Bastions: climb, slide, and play giant chess in the heart of Geneva
Want a gaming break in the heart of Geneva, just steps from the old town? The playground at Parc des Bastions welcomes your children in a wooded park, featuring towers, rope bridges, a slide, and even giant chess. An outdoor outing, public and free, easy to fit into a day in the city.
Bois-de-la-Bâtie playground: the largest play area in Geneva
Want a great outdoor outing in Geneva without spending a dime? At Bois-de-la-Bâtie, your children will discover the largest playground in the city: wooden slide towers, water and sand games, a wading pool in the summer, and a petting zoo right next door. All of this is free and open year-round.
Les Cinémas du Grütli in Geneva: the young-audience cinema from age 4
Looking for a cinema that really programmes for children, right in the centre of Geneva? Les Cinémas du Grütli, in the Maison des Arts du Grütli, offer young-audience screenings from age 4, a dedicated summer cycle and even film workshops. A cultural, accessible outing, in any weather.
Cinéma Les Scala in Geneva: three art-house screens in the Eaux-Vives
Looking for a neighbourhood cinema outing, in a real Geneva art-house venue? Les Scala, in the Eaux-Vives, has three screens, a fine programme of films from around the world and an attractive family rate. Easy to reach by tram, perfect for a family outing in any weather.
Cinéma Le Nord-Sud in Geneva: the neighbourhood cinema of the Servette
Looking for a warm neighbourhood cinema, over towards the Servette? Le Nord-Sud, opened in 1951 and fully renovated in 2019, is one of the three independent venues of the Les Scala group. With its links to the Animatou animation festival, it is a lovely address for a family outing, in any weather.
Cinéma Le City in Geneva: the auteur cinema of the Eaux-Vives
Looking for a human-scale cinema outing, in the lively Eaux-Vives quarter? Le City, an independent auteur cinema renovated in 2017, is part of the small Geneva group Les Scala. With its family rate, it is a lovely address for a family outing in any weather.
Pedal Boats in Geneva: a ride in the bay facing the Jet d'eau
Want to get the whole family out on the lake in Geneva? In the bay, on either bank, pedalo rental gets you on the water within minutes, facing the Jet d'eau: you pedal, the children take the helm and soak up the view. A simple, refreshing summer outing — no booking required.
Eaux-Vives Beach: swimming in the heart of Geneva
Want a day at the beach without leaving the city? Just a stone's throw from the harbor, the Plage des Eaux-Vives stretches 400 meters of sand and pebbles along Lake Geneva, right in the heart of Geneva. Shallow water, a large shaded park, and free access: here’s a perfect summer outing for the family.
ColoRoom Geneva
Looking for a workshop where your children can finally paint without any rules? At ColoRoom in Les Acacias, in Geneva, you step into a room designed like a colourful playground: you splash, you experiment and you leave with a real artwork to hang at home.
Broken Chair – Geneva
Want to show your children a monument that tells a great story in the heart of Geneva? The Broken Chair, an immense wooden chair with a broken leg, stands in the Place des Nations, facing the Palais des Nations. A free visit, outdoors, suitable for all seasons and all curiosities.
Explorial Geneva
Want to discover Geneva differently, as a family and at your own pace? Explorial turns the city into a big smartphone treasure hunt: you walk, you solve puzzles and you learn a host of anecdotes along the way, with no guide and no fixed schedule.
Champel University Sports Center – Geneva
Want to hit the ball with family in the heights of Geneva? The Champel University Sports Center offers tennis, padel, squash, and beach volleyball in a green setting, just a stone's throw from the Champel district.
Yatouland – Les Acacias – Geneva
Looking for an outing where children can let loose to their heart's content, rain or shine? Yatouland, in Les Acacias in Geneva, is a large indoor play park where you climb, jump and slide as much as you like, perfect for an afternoon that tires them out (a little) and delights them (a lot).
Cinerama Empire in Geneva
Looking for a cultural and cozy moment with the kids? Cinérama Empire, in the heart of the Plainpalais district in Geneva, offers screenings on a panoramic big screen, easily accessible and perfect for any weather.
Animal Park of Bois-de-la-Bâtie
Want a nature outing, free and simple with the kids? The Parc aux Animaux du Bois-de-la-Bâtie, on the heights of Geneva, brings together nearly 300 local animals to observe up close, outdoors and in almost any weather.
Finding Daniel Geneva
Want to discover Geneva differently, turning a walk into an adventure? Finding Daniel is an urban treasure hunt to do as a family: you set off in search of a prankster guide, puzzle after puzzle, through the city's most beautiful spots.
Swing – Interactive Mini-Golf Geneva
Looking for a fun and slightly futuristic outing with the children? Swing, the first interactive mini-golf in Geneva, welcomes you in Les Acacias for 12 holes that light up, make sounds and react in real time. An ideal indoor activity in any weather.
Paintball.ch – Geneva
Looking for an outing that lets off steam, out in nature, a stone's throw from Geneva? Paintball.ch offers children from age 6 a real game of paintball in the forest, in a gentle, supervised version, perfect for a birthday or an afternoon with friends.
Botanical Garden of Geneva
Want a big breath of fresh green air with the kids, without worrying about your wallet? The Botanical Garden of Geneva, by the lake in Chambésy, combines a zoo, tropical greenhouses, and vast lawns, all in a free and open setting year-round.
Cinéma Cinélux in Geneva
Looking for a family-friendly cinema outing with your kids? Cinélux, a small independent theater in the heart of Geneva, offers warm screenings for young audiences that are easy to access and perfect for any weather.
Laser Game Geneva
Looking for an outing that gets you moving, sheltered from both rain and sun? Laser Game Genève, on Route de Chêne in Eaux-Vives, immerses both young and old in a multi-level maze for energetic games filled with laughter.
Geneva Museum of the History of Science
Looking for a free and amazing cultural outing with the kids? Nestled in the beautiful Villa Bartholoni, by the lake in the Parc de la Perle du Lac, the Museum of the History of Science in Geneva takes both young and old on a journey through globes, telescopes, and instruments of the past, sheltered and in peace.
Ciné 17, the neighborhood cinema in the heart of Geneva
Want a sweet and cultural moment with the kids? Ciné 17, located on the bustling Rue de la Corraterie in Geneva, welcomes you to an intimate and comfortable theater, easily accessible and perfect in any weather.
Outdoor and Indoor Pool of Varembé – Geneva
Looking for a water outing that works in all weather with the kids? The Varembé pool, just a stone's throw from the Place des Nations in Geneva, features indoor pools open year-round and a large outdoor area in the summer, complete with a wading pool designed for the little ones.
Historical Tramway Rides in Geneva
Looking for an original outing that combines a stroll and history with the kids? On one Sunday each month, from late spring to early autumn, the Geneva Tram Museum Association operates real trams from the 1920s through the streets of Geneva. You board, sit on the wooden benches, and traverse the city at the pace of yesteryear.
The Geneva Seagulls – Geneva
Want a simple mini-cruise in the heart of Geneva? The Mouettes Genevoises cross the lake in just a few minutes, all year round, and offer children a true boat experience on the lake, accessible with a regular public transport ticket.
Old Arsenal of Geneva
Want to dive into Geneva's history without spending a dime or watching the clock? Under the arcades of the Ancien Arsenal, in the heart of the Old Town, five authentic period cannons and three large mosaics tell the story of the city, to be discovered with family at any time and in all weather.
LaseRed Geneva
Looking for an outing that combines action and mystery with the kids? LaseRed Geneva immerses families in a life-sized prison where laser tag and escape games meet, just a stone's throw from downtown and sheltered from the weather.
Geneva Sightseeing Tour – Petit Train
Want to explore Geneva without tiring out little legs? The little tourist train takes you through the city and along the lake at a leisurely pace, with stunning views of the Jet d'Eau and Mont-Blanc. An easy, fun outing that's perfect for a first family visit.
Little Train Left Bank - Geneva
Want a gentle and refreshing stroll by the lake with the kids? The Petit Train Rive Gauche runs along the harbor of Geneva starting from the Jardin Anglais, to discover the Jet d'Eau, the Flower Clock, and the parks along the water, without tiring little legs.
Swimming Area of Quai Wilson – Geneva
Want to take a swim in the city with the kids? The swimming area at Quai Wilson offers direct and developed access to the lake, facing the Jet d'eau, with ramps for entering the water, changing cabins, and a refreshment stand right on the grass.
Rollers Mini-Golf Bar – Geneva
Looking for an original outing with the kids, sheltered from the weather? In the Eaux-Vives district, Rollers reinvents indoor mini-golf with a 12-hole course featuring cinema-inspired decor, in a colourful and cheerful atmosphere.
Quiz Room Geneva
Looking for a moment of laughter and challenges as a family, sheltered from the weather? In the heart of the Eaux-Vives district in Geneva, Quiz Room sets you up on a real TV studio set to buzz, sing and test your knowledge, young and old together.
Jet d'Eau de Genève
Looking for a simple, spectacular outdoor outing with the children? The Jet d'Eau de Genève shoots its plume of water 140 metres above the bay. It's free, easy to reach beside Lake Geneva, and always impressive for young and old alike.
The Privateers – Geneva
Feeling like a big breath of fresh air by the lake with the kids? At Les Corsaires, at the end of Quai Gustave-Ador in Geneva, you can rent a pedal boat or a small boat and head out to admire the Jet d'eau from the water, at your own pace and with the family.
Baby-Beach – Geneva
Want a day by the lake without leaving the city? In the heart of Eaux-Vives, Baby-Plage offers a small sandy and grassy beach, shallow water, and a playground just steps away: the perfect spot for a family outing, and it's free!
Bains du Jet d'eau - Geneva
Feeling like a refreshing swim in the heart of the harbor, right under the famous Jet d'eau? The Bains du Jet d'eau offer your family two floating pools in the lake, with a space designed for children and a team of lifeguards on site all summer long.
Why Choose Geneva for a Family Outing?
Geneva may be a city of business and diplomacy, but it holds a special place for children. It often all starts by the water: the Baby-Plage with its relaxed atmosphere, the Bains du Jet d'eau, the swimming area at Quai Wilson, or a crossing of the lake with the Mouettes Genevoises turns a simple afternoon into a little lakeside adventure. And it's impossible to leave without having admired the Jet d'eau up close.
On the nature side, the Botanical Garden offers a free stroll among greenhouses, ponds, and animal enclosures, while the animal park at Bois-de-la-Bâtie allows you to observe goats, peacocks, and deer in the heights of the Rhône. Two classic Geneva spots, perfect for little ones.
Rainy days don't scare Geneva families: Yatouland, in Acacias, for letting off steam, Laser Game, Quiz Room, or ColoRoom for the older kids, the interactive mini-golf Swing or the Rollers Mini-Golf Bar for a fun moment, not to mention the Varembé swimming pool with its indoor and outdoor pools. The neighborhood cinemas — Ciné 17, Cinélux, Cinérama Empire — also feature great programming for young audiences.
Curious minds also have plenty to do: the Museum of the History of Sciences, located in the Parc de la Perle du Lac, makes science surprisingly tangible, and the Old Arsenal with its cannons tells a part of the history of the old town. For exploring while having fun, the urban treasure hunts Explorial and Finding Daniel, the historic tram, or the little tourist trains offer a different way to discover the city, while Les Corsaires invite you to take to the water in a pedal boat.
With its contrasting neighborhoods, parks, and omnipresent lake, Geneva allows for a tailor-made day, regardless of the children's ages and the weather. It's a city that can be enjoyed as a family all year round — and each visit makes you want to come back to try a new idea.