When classic swings and slides are complemented by water features such as fountains, troughs, pumps, ponds, jets, or paddling pools, I guarantee that your kids will never want to leave the playground! On warm days, water playgrounds offer the perfect combination of exercise, fun, and a pleasant cooling effect. They are a popular destination, especially for families with younger children. The little ones can play for hours while the adults enjoy the peace, or at least the happy children. In this article, I’ll show you six beautiful water playgrounds in Switzerland – places that will delight not only children but also their accompanying adults.
Tip in advance: Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes – and, depending on the location, sun protection, a picnic blanket, or things for grilling.
1. Gwunderwasser, Diemtigtal Nature Park (BE)
If you want to cool off after a hike in the Diemtigtal Nature Park (how about the Schwingerweg?), there’s no better place than the Gwunderwasser water playground when the weather is nice. The playground is open from mid-May to the end of September, daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is full of play elements, but I find the “trough” system the most interesting, where children can divert the flow of water in various ways, build dams using wooden blocks, or launch boats, and learn about the dynamics of one of the natural elements. The contribution towards costs is CHF 5 per person and must be paid in cash.
2. Gurten – Köniz (BE)
The hill above the capital city of Bern is an ideal place to enjoy a peaceful day with your children, family, or friends. Gurten is beautiful in all seasons, but it is especially attractive in summer, when, in addition to a miniature railway, electric cars, a marble run, playground, observation tower, barbecue areas, and restaurants, there is also the Gurtenseeli lake with water jets, which is ideal for cooling off on hot summer days.
3. Mooraculum – Sörenberg/Entlebuch (LU)
The Mooraculum is the largest adventure park located in the middle of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and it opened in 2013. The park is divided into several areas, where both older and younger visitors can have fun. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the water park on an artificial lake, along with the water pumping system featuring various sluices and other gadgets. Like most tourist destinations in Switzerland, this one is also tailored to families with children in mind, focusing on their comfort. Starting with a self-service restaurant, several fire pits, and picnic areas, and ending with wooden deck chairs, net swings, and hanging swing chairs. While you’re here, don’t forget to take the Grosser Moorrundweg themed trail, which will introduce you to the local peat bogs and their inhabitants in a playful way.
4. Globi Alpenspielplatz – Engelberg Brunni (OW)
If you take your children on an adventurous treasure hunt with Globi and Globine, don’t miss the large playground at the Ristis middle station with a carousel, climbing wall, trampoline, swings, and slides. A short distance away is the Globi Wild Wasserwelt playground with water games, a bobsleigh track, and picnic areas with barbecues.
5. Wollis Adventure Playground Leisee – Sunnegga/Zermatt (VS)
High above Zermatt, on the “family mountain” of Sunnegga, a first-class experience awaits you: Wollis Abenteuerspielplatz (Wollie’s Adventure Playground) is located right next to Leisee, a small mountain lake with a magnificent view of the Matterhorn. Our children spent most of their time on the slide, playing with the water features and on the lake, where they pulled themselves back and forth on a pontoon. There are wooden deck chairs, a picnic hut and plenty of barbecue areas. From here, you can make the easy descent back to Zermatt.
6. Seepark Augstbord Unterbäch (VS)
This little mountain village in the canton of Valais is hiding a real treasure! Two water playgrounds, in fact. I haven’t written about them on my blog yet, but you can find them in my guide “Die 44 schönsten Familien Wanderungen” (The 44 most beautiful family hikes). The new park by the lake in Unterbach will delight you with its modern playground right next to a small lake. The combination of nature, water, and play options makes it a real treat for hot summer days. Seepark Augstbord will delight you with its modern playground featuring interactive water elements, located right next to a small lake fed by a local stream.
BONUS TIP: Just a few minutes’ walk away, right in the center of Unterbäch, is another interesting water playground: Suonen- und Sudelpark (see the introductory photo for this article). This playground is dedicated to the region’s traditional irrigation system – the suonen (also called bisse) – and shows children in a playful way how water is channeled and retained in the landscape.
Water playgrounds are a great way to keep children entertained and active on warm days – and cool them down at the same time. Whether in the city center, high up in the mountains, or surrounded by nature, Switzerland has the perfect place for every family.
These six water playgrounds are among my personal favorites – not only because of their great water features, but also because of their beautiful surroundings, easy accessibility, and overall family-friendliness.
Which of these playgrounds will you add to your summer list? Or do you have your own tips for water playgrounds that I should discover?
I look forward to your recommendations and experiences in the comments!
Don’t forget to pin this for later
