In the heart of Neuchâtel, at Faubourg du Lac 1, the Pestalozzi toy library shares premises with the library of the same name. So you can drop in for stories as much as for games: hiring a game costs between 1 and 6 francs, while borrowing books and DVDs remains free, with a maximum of two reservations per user.
The doors are open Tuesday to Friday from 13:30 to 17:30, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00, a welcome slot for families with busy weekdays.
School classes and groups are welcomed by appointment, with a guided visit and dedicated borrowing slots. A great way to introduce children to the principle of lending, applied here to games as well as books.
Kids activities nearby
Family outing ideas around the toy library.
In the heart of Neuchâtel, the Muséum (MHNN) showcases Switzerland's wildlife in life-sized dioramas. A perfect outing for families, and you can even enjoy a snack under a whale skeleton.
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Board at the port of Neuchâtel for a cruise on the lakes of Neuchâtel, Morat, and Bienne. An outing along the water that delights the whole family, from the little ones to the older ones.
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Want a day by the lake without leaving the city? The Jeunes-Rives beach, just steps from the center of Neuchâtel, has been revamped: gentle sloping entry into the water, large wooden piers, and spacious shaded lawns. Perfect for laying down your towel with family, just a few minutes from the train station.
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Other toy libraries in the same canton.
La chaux
Marin, 2074
Looking to refresh the games at home without piling up purchases? Ludotène, the toy library of La Tène, offers games and toys in Marin for all ages and all occasions, from toddlers to adults. The catalogue can be consulted online, which is handy for spotting something you fancy before coming to borrow on site, at Rue de la Fleur-de-Lys 7. The doors are open two late afternoons a week, on Mondays and Thursdays from 15:30 to 18:00, plus one Saturday morning a month, from 10:00 to 12:00. Enough to fit the visit into the family schedule, between school pick-up and dinner. More than just a lending counter, the toy library sees itself as a place of discovery and a meeting point across the generations, where young and old share the pleasure of play.
Ludothèque La Colombine
Fontainemelon, 2052
Families in the Val-de-Ruz have their go-to address for games in Fontainemelon: the Ludothèque La Colombine, at Chemin de Bellevue 3, lends games and toys to the whole valley. The premises are reached from Rue du Temple. Three sessions a week leave plenty of choice: Mondays and Thursdays from 15:00 to 18:00, plus Saturday mornings from 09:30 to 11:30 for an unhurried family visit. The toy library is closed during the school holidays. Borrowing a game also means having the right to get it wrong: if a game doesn't catch on, you bring it back and try another, no abandoned boxes pile up, and every visit rekindles the children's curiosity.
Ludothèque de la Basse-Areuse
Boudry, 2017
Founded in 1984 and run by around twenty volunteers, the Ludothèque de la Basse-Areuse lends games and toys to children, teenagers and adults from its premises at Chemin du Theyeret 6 in Boudry. New titles can be tried out on site before you take them home, the best way to leave with a game the whole family will actually enjoy. A private association and member of the Swiss Federation of Toy Libraries, it is supported by the municipalities of Boudry, Cortaillod, Milvignes and Rochefort, and offers games for birthdays among other things. Doors are open three afternoons a week: Tuesdays from 14:30 to 17:00, Wednesdays from 15:30 to 18:00 and Thursdays from 16:00 to 18:30.
