Picnic plus playground: our favourite combos around Lake Geneva

Sometimes the perfect family outing comes down to two ingredients: a cool bag and a good playground. Here are our favourite picnic-and-play combos around Lake Geneva — tested, approved, and all free.

The picnic-plus-playground combo is the low-mental-load outing: no booking, no timetable, and a budget limited to the contents of the basket. You just need to know the right spots.

On La Côte

• The Abériaux picnic and play area in Prangins: tables, shade, play equipment and the harbour a stone’s throw away. The ready-made combo par excellence.
• Square Perdtemps in Nyon: right in the centre, handy to combine with the market or an ice cream.
• The playground at the Trois-Jetées beach: play, swim and a snack on the grass, the winning treble of a Nyon summer.
• Parc Alice Sauvin: green and quiet, perfect with little ones.
• The playground at the Château de Rolle and the one in the Jardin Anglais: playing at the water’s edge facing the castle — it’s hard to be more charming.

In Terre Sainte and nearby

• The playground at the Founex sports centre: modern and well equipped.
• The playground in Céligny: with street workout equipment for older children (and motivated parents).
• The playground in Le Vaud: the ideal stop after a visit to the neighbouring La Garenne wildlife park.

At the foot of the Jura

• The Crosette picnic area in Begnins: a view over Lake Geneva and the Alps, with tables at the edge of the forest. Our sunset spot.
• The playground in Begnins: the village complement, simple and effective.

Further away, but worth the detour

• The playground in Chaumont, on the heights above Neuchâtel: a picnic with a view over three lakes.

The smart picnic basket

• Plenty of water, fruit that won’t get squashed, and a reward snack for the tidying up.
• A waterproof blanket: the grass here is rarely dry before midday.
• Sunscreen and caps from spring onwards — shaded playgrounds are precious, and we point them out in the listings.
• A rubbish bag: leave the spot as lovely as you found it.

All our playgrounds are listed with photos and practical information, town by town. And every week, the Kidora newsletter suggests new spots: come and join us.