Outings with teenagers: 10 activities that genuinely appeal to 12 to 16 year olds

Finding an outing that gets an “ok, not bad” out of a teenager is quite an achievement. We have selected ten activities in French-speaking Switzerland that pass the world-weary-look test — thrills, a challenge or adrenaline required.

The golden rule with 12 to 16 year olds: offer a challenge, not a guided tour. Here is what works, tested and approved.

For pure adrenaline

1. RealFly in Sion: flying in a wind tunnel just like free fall. The experience they will talk about for weeks.
2. Alaïa Bay in Sion: surfing a real wave at the foot of the Alps, from age 8 and more than technical enough to challenge a teenager.
3. EVA Martigny: the free-roam virtual reality arena, from age 12 — e-sport on the move.
4. All-terrain scootering in Champéry: a mountain descent from age 8, thrills guaranteed.

For a challenge with friends or family

5. Prison Island in Sion: dozens of cells full of physical and mental challenges — the Fort Boyard spirit.
6. IRTAG in Saxon: tactical laser tag in the forest, from age 7 but tailor-made for teenagers.
7. Bubble football in Lausanne: bumping into each other inside giant bubbles, fits of laughter guaranteed from age 8.
8. Escape games: SionEscape, LaseRed Genève and all our escape rooms in French-speaking Switzerland.

For the sporty ones

9. The indoor skatepark in Sévelin, Lausanne: skateboard, scooter and BMX under cover, up to age 16.
10. The Creux du Van: the spectacular hike that is worth every selfie — 4 hours of walking, from age 10, and a panorama that impresses even the toughest customers.

For music fans

Music-loving teenagers will enjoy Queen – The Studio Experience in Montreux: entry is free to the former studios where the band recorded by the lake, and you can remix their hits yourself on a real mixing desk — a short but memorable stop for anyone passionate about music.

Our teenager-specific tips

• Let them invite a friend: the same outing becomes twice as successful.
• Give them a choice between two options rather than imposing one — buy-in changes everything.
• The budget for thrills is higher than for a classic outing: look out for family offers and youth rates on the official websites.
• Many of these activities have minimum height or age requirements: check before announcing the outing, as disappointment is brutal at this age.

Filter all our activities by the 13–17 age group on Kidora to build your programme. And to receive our teen-focused ideas, join the newsletter.