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Littoral neuchâtelois

Littoral neuchâtelois

Twenty kilometres of shoreline, beaches and forest above the lake

Activities
32
Towns
11
Altitude
429 à 1090 m

The Littoral is the strip of land squeezed between Lake Neuchâtel and the first slopes of the Jura, running from Vaumarcus to Le Landeron. Everything sits close together: from Neuchâtel station you can walk to a beach in ten minutes, reach the Laténium museum in Hauterive in a few bus stops, or take the funicular up to Chaumont for a completely different landscape. Families mostly come for the water. Beaches are public and free almost everywhere, from Paradis Plage in Colombier, the largest stretch of sand on the lake, to the quiet coves at Monruz and Petit-Cortaillod. Between swims, the lakeside playgrounds, such as the sand boat at the Baie de l'Évole or the boat shaped castle in Hauterive, keep children busy with no planning at all. Out of season the shore promenade stays walkable all year.

Littoral neuchâtelois

Family activities in Littoral neuchâtelois

Everything to do with your kids in the region. Tell us the constraint of the day and we will show you what fits.

Illustration of the playground at the Port of Saint-Blaise by Lake Neuchâtel: wooden climbing tower with slide, swings, spring games, sandbox, and harbor with sailboats in the background.

Saint-Blaise

Play area at the Port of Saint-Blaise: play with your feet by the edge of the lake

2-10 yrs Free
Illustration of the playground in the Baie de l'Évole in Neuchâtel

Neuchâtel

Playground of the Évole Bay: the sand boat by the lake in Neuchâtel

2-10 yrs Free
Illustration of the Landeron pool, outdoor pools and slides

Le Landeron

Landeron Pool: large pool, slides, and children's pool by Lake Biel

0-18 yrs
Illustration of the playground at Plage in Hauterive, castle-boat by the lake

Hauterive

Playground of the Beach in Hauterive: a ship-castle boarding at the edge of the lake

2-10 yrs Free
Illustration of the playground at Pierre-à-Bot in Neuchâtel, wooden area with a view of the lake

Neuchâtel

Pierre-à-Bot playground: the wooden area with a view of Lake Neuchâtel

2-12 yrs Free
Illustration of the Hauterive beach by Lake Neuchâtel

Hauterive

Hauterive Beach: free swimming and a green space by Lake Neuchâtel

2-18 yrs Free
Illustration of Boudry beach by Lake Neuchâtel

Boudry

Boudry Beach, family swimming at the mouth of the Areuse

2-18 yrs Free
Illustration of the beach at the Port of Vaumarcus by Lake Neuchâtel

La Grande Béroche

Port de Vaumarcus Beach: a quiet cove by Lake Neuchâtel

2-18 yrs Free
Illustration of Saint-Blaise beach on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel

Saint-Blaise

Saint-Blaise Beach: free family swimming by Lake Neuchâtel

2-18 yrs Free

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Plan the family outing

Getting there, weather, ages, budget: the answers before you go.

Getting there

Neuchâtel sits on the rail line from Biel to Yverdon and Lausanne, with direct trains from Bern, Lausanne and Geneva. The lakeside line serves Saint-Blaise, Marin-Epagnier and Le Landeron to the east, while the Yverdon line stops at Colombier, Boudry, Bevaix and Gorgier-Saint-Aubin to the west. The Littorail links the town centre to Boudry in about twenty minutes. By car, the A5 follows the lake and crosses Neuchâtel in a tunnel, with one exit per section of shore.

Good to know: the Fun'ambule funicular connects Neuchâtel station to the Jeunes-Rives lakefront in two minutes, which saves the climb back up with a pushchair and a bag of beach gear.

With toddlers

The shore is flat from Serrières to Saint-Blaise, so the whole promenade works with a pushchair. The rebuilt Jeunes-Rives beach and the one in Hauterive both slope gently into the water and have toilets nearby. The Laténium park in Hauterive opens straight onto the lake and lets children run while older ones visit the museum next door.

When the weather turns

The Laténium, the largest archaeology museum in Switzerland, easily fills half a day with its dugout canoes and reconstructions. On cool but dry days the Landeron pool, with its slides and paddling area, takes over from the lake. And when the plain stays grey, the La Coudre funicular climbs to Chaumont, often above the fog, where a lookout tower and easy trails wait at the top.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the Neuchâtel lakeshore without a car?
Yes, and it is usually the easiest way. Neuchâtel has direct trains from Bern, Lausanne and Geneva, and regional lines stop at Saint-Blaise, Le Landeron, Colombier and Boudry. The Littorail links the town centre to Boudry, and the Fun'ambule funicular runs from the station down to the Jeunes-Rives in two minutes. Most beaches are less than ten minutes on foot from a stop.
Which beaches suit toddlers best?
Paradis Plage in Colombier has the biggest stretch of sand on the lake and a very gradual entry into the water. The Jeunes-Rives beach in Neuchâtel and the one in Hauterive have flat grass and toilets close by, which keeps the logistics simple. To avoid crowds, the Monruz cove and the Saint-Blaise beach stay much quieter.
What is there to do on the lakeshore when it rains?
The Laténium in Hauterive fills half a day with its dugout canoes and full size reconstructions. The La Coudre funicular climbs to Chaumont, often above the fog in autumn and winter, so you can still get outside. And if the rain settles in, the indoor pools in the area let you finish the day dry.

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