Summer 2026 in French-speaking Switzerland: the big guide to family outings
Michael Ambass
3 min read
The summer holidays are coming, and with them eight weeks to fill with memories. Beaches, treetop adventure, cruises, alpine pastures and mazes: here is our big guide to summer 2026 in French-speaking Switzerland, so that every week has its own adventure.
We have organised this guide by the mood you’re in rather than by canton: pick according to the weather, the day’s energy levels and the age of your explorers.
In the mood for water: beaches and swimming
Summer here is lived by the water. The must-dos: Genève-Plage and its diving boards, the Trois-Jetées beach in Nyon, the beach in Rolle and all the Lake Geneva swimming spots listed on our pages. For a change, the Domaine des Îles in Sion offers a lake and a pine grove, and the sportiest can try surfing at Alaïa Bay.
In the mood for heights: treetop and adventure parks
Summer is the season for tree-top courses: Parc Aventure de Sion, Saint-George in the Jura, Onex on the edge of Geneva, Chaumont above Neuchâtel or the Organic Adventure Park in Champéry: there is bound to be one near you, often from age 3–4.
In the mood for open water: boats and cruises
A CGN cruise from Nyon, the Three Lakes with the LNM in Neuchâtel: summer is peak season on the water, so make the most of it on a scorching day — it is always pleasant on deck.
In the mood for adventure: mazes and treasure hunts
- The Labyrinthe Aventure in Evionnaz: getting lost on purpose in the largest maze in Switzerland, from age 4.
- The Yeti treasure hunt in Orsières: a family adventure in the mountains, from age 4.
And for a quieter but equally essential summer outing, treat yourselves to a round in the open air at one of our best minigolf courses in French-speaking Switzerland.
In the mood for cool air: the mountains in summer
When the lowlands overheat, gain some altitude: the alpine pastures of the Jura vaudois, the Jorasse mini zoo in Ovronnaz at 2,000 metres, or shady gorges. Expect 5 to 10 degrees less than in town. And for a thrill, nothing beats a run down a summer toboggan, one of the great summer sensations at altitude.
The blueprint for a good summer week
- 1 water day (beach or pool)
- 1 adventure outing (treetop course, maze, treasure hunt)
- 1 cool-off excursion (mountains, gorge, cruise)
- 1 free day at home or at the local playground
- And the rest: naps, ice creams and improvising — that’s summer too.
All summer long, filter our activities by the summer season, by canton and by age on Kidora. And to receive the best of the local summer every week, join the 1000+ families subscribed to the newsletter.
