Activities for children aged 3 to 5 in the canton of Vaud: our outing ideas

At 3 to 5, a successful outing lasts two hours, not six. It has toilets, somewhere to picnic, and ground where a child can run without being told no every thirty seconds.

The canton of Vaud is particularly well equipped for this age: landscaped lakeshores, plenty of playgrounds, and short, flat walks. Here is our selection, sorted by type of outing rather than by region, to help you decide based on the weather and the mood of the day.

What really matters at 3 to 5

Four criteria, in order:

1. Duration. Allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours of actual outing. Beyond that, children switch off, however good the venue.
2. Immediate safety. A clear perimeter, with no road or dangerous drop, so you can let go of their hand.
3. Logistics. Toilets, a water point, a shady corner, a picnic table. These details make the difference between a good and a bad afternoon.
4. Stroller access. At this age, even a child who walks well often finishes the trip sitting down.

Shallow-water beaches: the safest bet

This is the format that works best at 3 to 5: children paddle, fill a bucket and never leave the twenty square metres around the towel.

• Préverenges beach — the big sandy beach between Morges and Lausanne, where the water stays shallow for tens of metres. Our first recommendation at this age.
• Dorigny beach in Saint-Sulpice — a large lawn, sand and a playground at the foot of the UNIL campus, free of charge.
• La Cure d’Air beach in Morges — a shaded lawn, a small cove and a playground.
• Curtinaux beach in Lutry — a large lawn facing the mountains, between Lausanne and Lavaux.
• The playground at the Trois-Jetées beach in Nyon — the ideal combination at this age: sand, play equipment and a calm swimming spot all in one place.
• On Lake Neuchâtel, Cudrefin offers the same very shallow water on the northern side of the canton. See all our Lake Neuchâtel beaches and Lake Geneva beaches.

Swimming pools: shallow pools and paddling areas

When the lake is too cold or too rough, a pool is more manageable at this age, thanks to separate paddling areas and lifeguards.

• Le Cossy pool in Nyon
• Le Parc pool in Morges
• La Fleur-de-Lys pool in Prilly
• Pully-Plage — a pool with its feet in Lake Geneva
• Les Mousquetaires pool in La Tour-de-Peilz

Our full selection: outdoor swimming pools in French-speaking Switzerland.

Playgrounds where you stay for two hours

Not all playgrounds are equal at 3 to 5. The best ones have shade, an enclosed perimeter and equipment at the right scale.

• The harbour playground in Pully — at the water’s edge, with a view over the lake.
• Parc Guillemin in Pully — a large wooded park, ideal for a picnic.

See also the whole Playgrounds category and our picnic-plus-playground ideas by Lake Geneva.

Walks that really work at this age

The rule: flat ground, a visible goal, and something to look at every fifty metres.

• The nature trail in the forêt des Arses in Rougemont — short, playful and well laid out. See also Le Pays-d’Enhaut as a family.
• The deer park in Leysin — animals to watch up close, with no walking.
• La Tine de Conflens in La Sarraz — ten minutes’ walk to a rocky amphitheatre and two waterfalls. From age 3, but the final descent is steep: hold children firmly.

For outings with a stroller, our selection of stroller-friendly walks is made for exactly that.

Animals: the format that never fails

At 3 to 5, seeing an animal up close beats any museum. The educational farms and animal parks in Vaud are perfect: short, concrete, in the open air. See our farms and animal parks to visit with children and the Nature & Animals category.

Little trains and boats

The transport becomes the activity: at this age, boarding a rack railway or a CGN boat is an event in itself. See our little tourist trains and our car-free train and boat outings.

The Rochers-de-Naye rack railway from Montreux works very well from age 3 to 4, provided you pack warm clothes for the top.

Rainy days

This is the weak point of this age: many indoor activities are designed for older children. Three reliable options:

• Indoor play parks, with a separate toddler area at most venues.
• Interactive museums, for the rooms where you can touch things.
• Indoor pools, such as the indoor pool in Pully or the Perrerets pool in Gland.

Our dedicated selections: what to do when it rains and a rainy day in Lausanne.

Going out for free

At 3 to 5, this is the age when free works best: a municipal beach, a playground and a snack are enough to fill an afternoon. Most beaches in Vaud are free to access, and children under 6 often get into museums and pools free of charge. See our free activities in Lausanne.

By region of the canton

• La Côte (Nyon, Rolle, Gland): our children’s outings between Nyon and Rolle and our activities in Gland.
• Morges and around: Morges as a family.
• Lausanne and Lavaux: free activities in Lausanne.
• Terre Sainte: Coppet and Terre Sainte.
• Jura vaudois: Saint-Cergue and the Jura vaudois.

And for everything else, all the activities in the canton of Vaud.

And for other ages?

Find our neighbouring guides: 0–3 years, 3–5 years in French-speaking Switzerland, 6–9 years and 10–12 years. To plan a holiday period, see the Vaud school holiday dates.

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