Outdoor swimming pools with children: our tour of French-speaking Switzerland

A paddling pool for the youngest, a slide for the in-betweens, a diving board for the daring and a sun lounger for you: the outdoor pool remains the easiest summer outing to organise with children.

From Nyon to Neuchâtel by way of Valais, here is our tour of the outdoor pools where families spend their finest summer days. Opening hours and prices vary from one commune to another: always check the official website before loading up the car.

On La Côte

• The Colovray pool, in Nyon: a big outdoor pool on the shore of Lake Geneva, with a lawn and a holiday feel. The view over the lake is part of the deal.
• The Bassins pool: the village pool par excellence, with a lawn, a paddling pool and a kiosk, without the crowds of the bigger complexes.

In Geneva and around

The canton of Geneva is particularly well supplied with municipal outdoor pools:

• Genève-Plage, in Cologny: pools, shaded lawns and a beach on the lake, the full combo ten minutes from the centre.
• Les Vergers, in Meyrin: an Olympic pool, a giant slide and a paddling pool for the youngest.
• Marignac, in Grand-Lancy: pools for all ages, slides and big lawns.
• La Bécassière, in Versoix: a water slide and a large grassy park by Lake Geneva.
• Les Ailes, in Cointrin: several pools, play areas and lawns for picnics.
• Varembé and Les Vernets: their summer outdoor areas complement the indoor pools, handy when the weather can’t make up its mind.

In Valais: swimming with a view

• The natural pool in Les Marécottes: carved out of the rock, with clear, cool water and the Valais peaks as a backdrop. A swimming experience that is unique in French-speaking Switzerland, to combine with the neighbouring alpine zoo.
• Le Domaine des Îles, in Sion: not a pool in the strict sense, but a lake, beaches and wide open spaces for a full day of swimming and play.

On the shores of Lake Neuchâtel

• The Nid-du-Crô pools: outdoor pools, an indoor area and a pebble beach by the lake. Versatility itself, whether the sun is blazing or the weather is mixed.

Our pool tips with children

• Arrive at opening time or after 4pm on scorching days: the crowds thin out and the lawns can breathe.
• Spot the paddling pool as soon as you arrive and settle nearby with the youngest.
• Slip armbands and water shoes into the bag, even for good swimmers: poolside areas are slippery.
• Many municipal pools have very gentle family rates, and some communes let young children in free: it’s worth asking.

To extend the day a stone’s throw from the pool, some pools sit next to a minigolf course, such as the one at Le Lignon: pick your round from our best minigolf courses in French-speaking Switzerland. Fancy alternating with the lake? Browse our finest beaches on Lake Geneva and all our Sports & Leisure activities.

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