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Family outings

Family outings in Geneva

Geneva is a 'city of parks' set between the lake, the Salève and the Jura: playgrounds in every neighbourhood, museums free for children, French-language libraries and, less than an hour away, the mountains. Here are our addresses, all checked on official websites.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks, playgrounds and swimming

The city looks after dozens of free parks, playgrounds and paddling pools. In summer, the lake becomes the whole city's swimming pool.

Good to know

  • The City of Geneva publishes a map of its playgrounds and paddling pools, free and open in summer in many parks. Source
  • The Bois de la Bâtie animal park is free and open every day, with over 300 regional and farmyard animals; feeding them is forbidden and dogs are not allowed. Source
  • The Bains des Pâquis are open every day of the year, with weather-dependent hours: swimming in summer, sauna and fondue in winter. Source

Addresses

  • Parc La Grange

    Park

    Quai Gustave-Ador, Eaux-Vives

    The city's largest park, with its rose garden, a playground, a paddling pool and a summer café; it runs on into the Eaux-Vives park above the lake.

    Website Source

  • Promenade des Bastions

    Park

    Promenade des Bastions, Plainpalais

    The large historic park in the centre, open 24 hours, with a playground, giant chess boards and, in winter, an ice rink.

    Website Source

  • Bois de la Bâtie, place de jeux et parc animalier

    Park

    Chemin de la Bâtie, Jonction

    One of Geneva's largest playgrounds, built of wood, next to the paddling pool and the animal park; buses 2 and 19 to Clair-Vue.

    Website Source

  • Jardin botanique de Genève

    Park

    Chemin de l'Impératrice 1, Chambésy

    Tropical glasshouses, rock gardens and lakeside paths, next to the international organisations: a free walk that delights young naturalists.

    Website Source

  • Bains des Pâquis

    Park

    Quai du Mont-Blanc 30, Pâquis

    Geneva's most iconic swimming spot, on a jetty facing the Jet d'eau, open all year round.

    Website Source

  • Genève Plage

    Park

    Quai de Cologny 5, Port-Noir

    Pool and lakeside beach with a children's area, in the warm season; reachable by the Geneva lake shuttles.

    Website Source

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Museums

Geneva has a rare density of museums, and most are free for children. The large municipal museums offer tours, workshops and activities for young visitors.

Good to know

  • Most of Geneva's museums and art venues are free up to age 18, and offer tours and workshops for children. Source
  • Every May, the Museum Night opens some twenty institutions with special activities; the Pass Musées brings together 14 Geneva museums for a year. Source
  • At CERN, the Science Gateway is free, with booking, offering exhibitions, science shows and workshops suited to families. Source

Addresses

  • Muséum d'histoire naturelle

    Museum

    Route de Malagnou 1, Malagnou

    Geneva children's favourite museum: animal dioramas, dinosaurs, minerals and a vivarium; perfect on rainy days.

    Website Source

  • Musée d'art et d'histoire (MAH)

    Museum

    Rue Charles-Galland 2, Vieille-Ville

    Archaeology, armour, fine and applied arts, with trails and workshops for young visitors.

    Website Source

  • Musée d'ethnographie de Genève (MEG)

    Museum

    Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65, Plainpalais

    Objects from around the world, immersive exhibitions and family activities at weekends.

    Website Source

  • Musée international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge

    Museum

    Avenue de la Paix 17, Pregny

    An interactive exhibition on humanitarian action, at child height, near the Place des Nations.

    Website Source

  • CERN Science Gateway

    Museum

    Esplanade des Particules, Meyrin

    CERN's discovery centre: exhibitions, science shows and lab workshops, free with booking.

    Website Source

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Libraries and toy libraries

No need to look for a French media library: in Geneva, the municipal libraries lend in French and for free. Toy libraries complete the offer with games to borrow.

Good to know

  • Geneva's seven municipal libraries lend free of charge, with a children's section in every neighbourhood library; four mobile libraries serve the canton. Source
  • The city has 12 toy libraries where you play on site and borrow games and toys, plus toy buses that tour parks and playgrounds. Source
  • Seven parent-child spaces welcome toddlers with an adult free of charge, without registration and anonymously: a good way to meet other parents on arrival. Source

Addresses

  • Bibliothèque de la Cité

    Library

    Place des Trois-Perdrix 5, centre-ville

    The largest municipal library, with a children's area, a music floor and a digital floor.

    Website Source

  • Bibliothèques municipales de Genève

    Library

    The network of neighbourhood libraries and mobile libraries, with the calendar of baby story times and children's activities.

    Website Source

  • Ludothèque centre et vieille-ville

    Library

    Manège en ville, Vieille-Ville

    Play on site and borrow games with a yearly family membership; under-6s come with an adult.

    Website Source

  • Espaces enfants-parents de la Ville de Genève

    Library

    Free meeting places for toddlers and their parents, and for pregnant women, in several neighbourhoods.

    Website Source

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Activities for children

Sport, music, theatre, cinema: every activity is in French, and the city subsidises many of them. Sign up early, places go at the start of the school year.

Good to know

  • The city's sports schools offer young people aged 4 to 17 more than 50 disciplines, during the school year and summer holidays. Source
  • The 18 community centres run parties, classes and workshops, and most organise day camps and holiday camps during school holidays. Source
  • The Théâtre Am Stram Gram and the Théâtre des Marionnettes programme for young audiences, and La Lanterne magique is a film club for 6 to 12 year-olds. Source

Addresses

  • Écoles de sport de la Ville de Genève

    Activity

    Swimming, climbing, judo, tennis and dozens of other sports for ages 4 to 17, at affordable prices.

    Website Source

  • Conservatoire populaire de musique, danse et théâtre

    Activity

    Music, dance and theatre classes for children in many neighbourhoods and communes of the canton.

    Website Source

  • Théâtre Am Stram Gram

    Activity

    Route de Frontenex 56, Eaux-Vives

    Geneva's young audiences theatre: theatre, circus, dance and music for children and families.

    Website Source

  • Théâtre des Marionnettes de Genève

    Activity

    Puppet shows for toddlers and older children alike, with a global outlook.

    Website Source

  • La Lanterne magique

    Activity

    Film club for ages 6 to 12, with one screening a month; the Petite Lanterne welcomes ages 4 to 6.

    Website Source

  • Maison de la créativité

    Activity

    Chêne-Bougeries

    A place for free play and creativity for toddlers and their parents, in a house with a garden.

    Website Source

  • Piscine des Vernets

    Activity

    Rue Hans-Wilsdorf, Acacias

    The city's large indoor pool, with outdoor pools in summer; the Vernets ice rink is in the same complex.

    Website Source

Go further

Through the seasons

Geneva lives by its traditions: the Escalade in December, the Promotions at the end of the school year, the lake in summer and sledging an hour's drive away in winter.

Good to know

  • The Escalade festival commemorates every year the night of 11 to 12 December 1602: costumes, parades, chocolate cauldrons broken as a family and the Cé qu'è lainô song. The 2026 edition runs from 11 to 13 December. Source
  • The Promotions, Geneva schools' end-of-year celebration, are one of the canton's living traditions, with parades and parties in the parks. Source
  • The Bâtie des enfants offers free workshops and shows in the Bois de la Bâtie several times a year, notably during the autumn holidays. Source
  • In winter, the seasonal Bastions ice rink is free to enter, with skate hire on site. Source

Addresses

  • Fête de l'Escalade, Compagnie de 1602

    Activity

    Vieille-Ville et parc des Bastions

    Three days of celebration in December: period market, torchlit parade and bonfire in front of Saint-Pierre cathedral. Dress the children up!

    Website Source

  • Course de l'Escalade

    Activity

    Vieille-Ville

    The popular race in early December, with routes for children from a very young age and a fancy-dress race.

    Website Source

  • Patinoire des Bastions

    Activity

    Promenade des Bastions

    Open-air winter ice rink, free, accessible to people with reduced mobility.

    Website Source

  • La Bâtie des enfants

    Activity

    Bois de la Bâtie

    Free 30-minute workshops and shows at the Pavilion, sign-up on site before each activity.

    Website Source

  • Genève Plage

    Park

    Quai de Cologny 5

    The summer family meeting point: pool, beach, children's area and swimming lessons.

    Website Source

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Trips under two hours away

Geneva is an ideal base: the mountains in twenty minutes, the lake by boat, France and the canton of Vaud on either side. With the Junior card, children travel by train with you anywhere in Switzerland.

Good to know

  • The Junior and Accompanied Child cards are valid anywhere in Switzerland the half-fare card is: trains, boats and postbuses included. Source
  • CGN boats link Geneva with Lake Geneva villages, on both the Swiss and French shores, mainly from April to October. Source
  • The Léman Express puts Annemasse, Évian and Haute-Savoie within reach by train, without a car or border traffic jams. Source

Addresses

  • Téléphérique du Salève

    Activity

    Étrembières (France), à la frontière de Veyrier

    The 'balcony of Geneva' in a few minutes by cable car: views of the lake and Mont Blanc, walks and sledging in winter depending on snow.

    Website Source

  • Annecy et son lac

    Activity

    Haute-Savoie, à environ 45 minutes

    Old town, swimming, pedalos and a cycle path around the lake: Geneva families' favourite French getaway.

    Website Source

  • Yvoire

    Activity

    Rive française du Léman, en bateau ou en voiture

    Flower-filled medieval village on the lakeshore, ideal for a day trip by CGN boat with the children.

    Website Source

  • Aquatis, Lausanne

    Museum

    Lausanne, à environ 45 minutes en train

    Freshwater aquarium and vivarium devoted to the world's rivers and lakes, a big hit with children.

    Website Source

  • Saint-Cergue et le Jura vaudois

    Activity

    Jura vaudois, à environ 40 minutes

    Sledging, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter, hikes and farms in summer, reachable by train from Nyon.

    Website Source

  • Station Monts Jura

    Activity

    Pays de Gex (France), à environ 30 minutes

    The ski resort closest to Geneva, with mountain activities in every season.

    Website Source

  • Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

    Activity

    Haute-Savoie, à environ 1 h 15

    Mer de Glace, Aiguille du Midi and leisure parks: the high mountains as a day trip.

    Website Source

  • Évian-les-Bains

    Activity

    Rive française du Léman, en Léman Express

    Lakeside, gardens and beaches, reachable by direct train from Geneva.

    Website Source

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Geneva will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ville de Genève, vivre à Genève avec des enfants
  2. 2 Ville de Genève, parc animalier du Bois de la Bâtie
  3. 3 Ville de Genève, musées et lieux d'art
  4. 4 Ville de Genève, la culture pour les jeunes et les familles
  5. 5 Compagnie de 1602, Fête de l'Escalade
  6. 6 tpg, cartes Junior et Enfant accompagné
  7. 7 CERN Science Gateway

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