16 Free Activities for Kids in Zürich

Zürich has many fun free activities and amusements, particularly for kids. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Playgrounds

We love discovering parts of the city by trying a new playground. We particularly like Artegut, Wipkingen, Blatterwiese, QuartierTreff Enge, and Park im Grüene just outside the city. See more of our favorite playgrounds here. We also like the Zuri Play website that shows a map and pictures of all the playgrounds in Zurich.

2. Public libraries

Libraries are an inexpensive solution to the bad weather. Zurich public libraries usually have an English language section for children’s books, audio, and movies. See our Zürich library post for more info.

Also, most public libraries offer story time (aka Geschichtenzeit), where families can visit for free and hear fun stories read by volunteers. Story times are run in German as well as English and other languages.

Most sessions are free and require no registration. We suggest trying the story times at Aussersihl, Sihlcity, Altstadt or Unterstrass.

See the PBZ calendar for upcoming story times.

3. Nature walks near Zurich

Zurich has many walking paths both in the city proper and nearby. Here are two of our favorite. See our complete list of nature walks near Zurich.

Sihlwald Forest Theme Path – This short theme trail has fun activities like this animal long jump, moor walk, and barefoot path.

Elefantenbach – This beautiful path walks along a stream in the forest just on the edge of Zürich city. You can actually follow the stream all the way to Zürich lake. One the way, you pass this little elephant spraying water from his trunk, a fun place to cool off in summer.

4. Free bike rental & river bike ride

From April to October, you can lend bikes for free at three outlets in Zürich city. You generally leave a deposit of CHF 20 and an ID. You can lend kids bikes, child seats and helmets as well.

• Hauptbahnhof – Velostation Europaplatz 
• Standort Pestalozziwiese
• Standort Bahnhof Enge / Tessinerplatz

From the Hauptbahnhof, we suggest a ride along the Limmat river.

From the Bahnhof Enge location, we suggest a ride along Sihl river.

You can also ride along Zurich lake promenade (respect signs where it says pedestrians only).

5. Pumptracks

Zurich has two pumptracks. One is in the Zurichberg forest near the zoo. See our post about the Zuriberg Pumptracks. 

The other pumptracks is next to the skate park near the Sihlcity mall on the west side of the city. Closest bus stop: Saalsporthalle. Parking: Wannerstrasse 9-1, 8045 Zürich

6. Build a fire

Of course, you can picnic at any park. But there are several that have fire pits so you can build a fire and roast marshmallows. One of our favorites is in the large Allmend Brunau park on the west side of the city. There are a lot of grill pits scattered around this area, some with picnic tables, some informal fire pits along the water. See Allmend Brunau on the map. Closest public transport: Brunau bahnhof. Closest parking: Gfellstrasse 20, 8002 Zürich

See more grilling picnic areas.

7. Animal parks

These small animal parks are all free to visit.

Voliere Zürich – Aviary and Bird Sanctuary – This small bird enclosure has been saving birds since 1898. It has several small bird indoor and outdoor enclosures in the Arboretum park. Mythenquai 1, 8002 Zürich

 Wildnispark Langenberg is a free animal park with native Swiss animals, like wild boars, wolves, and even a bear. There is a playground and restaurant.

Wildnesspark Sihlwald  has a beaver enclosure and small aquarium and a few educational activities. There is also a big playground and theme trail.

8. Farms

Many farms allow you to visit the animals and buy products produced on their farm.

We like the Stockgut farm in Kilchberg on the silver coast, which is particularly set up for visitors.

Jucker Farm is another favorite, with fruit picking and special amusements for 

9. Splash Pads

Lots of the city parks have shallow splash pools, aka Planschbecken, where kids can cool off on hot days. 

Josefwiese next to the Viadukt market has a huge splash pad with sprays and a big playground and grassy park. Josefstrasse 197, 8005 Zürich

Unterer Letten – There is a free splash pad for kids and shallow pool at the Unterer Letten river swimming area. Wasserwerkstrasse 141, 8037 Zürich.

Though not intended as a splash pad, the fountain at Sechselautenplatz has become a family favorite, with lots of kids running through it on hot days. Get ice cream across the street at Globus or Mövenpick. See on map.

You can see a complete list on the Stadt Zürich website.

10. Lake Swimming

With kids, we prefer to swim at official lake swimming areas, aka “Badis”, where you’ll find a lifeguard, cafe, playground, changing room and WC. But there are a few relatively safe places to swim with kids in the lake. 

Saffa Island – This tiny island on Zürich is attached by a footbridge to the large Landiwiese park. There are some slippery steps to enter the shallow water and swim. It’s very shallow for a couple meters, but then drops off. So only appropriate for kids that know how to swim well. See on map. Closest bus stop: Bhf. Wollishofen/Werft

Savera Areal – Next to a big grassy park and the Wollishofen GZ (community center), there’s a rocky beach where lots of people swim for free. The rocks can be slippery and sharp, so I prefer to have water shoes or sandals for the kids. Shallow for a couple meters than drops off. So carefully monitor small children. See on map. Closest bus stop: Bhf. Wollishofen/Werft

Katzensee – A small lake just north of Zürich city that has a free swimming area. No SUP or inflatable boats allowed on this lake. See on map.

Badi Seegräben Pfäffikersee – There are official paid swimming areas on this lake, but we like this free one near Jucker Farm, that has a changing room and WC on the lakeshore. It’s not near any parking, so you can swim here as part of a walk or bike ride around the lake. See swimming spot on map.

11. River Swimming

It’s popular to swim in the Limmat river flowing through Zurich, but it can be very dangerous, especially with children. People drown every year in this river, so use good judgment and extreme caution.

Flussbad Au-Höngg (Werd Insel) – This little island in the Limmat river is popular for sunbathing and splashing in the river. The river divides around this island, with a “safer” stretch on the north side, where people jump, float a couple minutes, then pull themselves out and go do it again – only suggested for strong swimmers. There are also shallow areas on the main river where people picnic and splash. The island has a playground, café and public toilets. See on map. Closest bus stop: Tüffenwies  

Oberer Letten – This free public swimming area has a lounging terrace built along a long stretch of the river. To swim, you walk up river, jump and float until some stairs, where you can exit and go do it again. You won’t see many kids here. It’s mostly young adults sunbathing and socializing. See on map.

Unterer Letten – Another free swimming area along the river that is slightly enclosed. Popular with people that want to jump off the bridge. See on map.

12. River float

We love floating on the Limmat river on a hot summer days. After you invest in an inflatable boat and life jackets, this activity is free except the train fare to return to the city. See post for details: Floating on the Limmat river.

13. Free Museums

Zoological Museum – This free natural history museum has dozens of animal specimens to admire and lots of interactive displays with buttons to push. Easy choice for rainy days for Zürich city kids. See our post for details.

Kunsthaus Zurich – Their standard collection is free on Wednesdays. www.kunsthaus.ch

Focus terra – Fun free earth science exhibit at ETH University in Zürich, with lots of interactive exhibits that will entertain and educate the kids. 

Migros Museum of Contemporary Art – Free on Thursdays after 17:00. Limmatstrasse 270 8005 Zürich, migrosmuseum.ch

FCZ (Football Club Zurich) Museum – Small museum with memorabilia related to the Zürich football club. www.fcz.ch – This is not the same as the FIFA Museum.

Grossmünster Cathedral – You can visit this church for free and see the famous stain glass windows. It costs CHF 4 to climb the tower and get a beautiful view of Zürich city. www.grossmuenster.ch

Helmhaus – contemporary art museum focus on Swiss artist. Limmatquai 31 8001 Zürich  More info.

14. City walk

You can do my Zurich city walk for families or Self-guided chocolate walking tour of Zurich (but you’ll need to budget for chocolate!).

My Climate offers a free interactive audio tour for Zurich (in English). There are different versions of the tour for adults, youth and children. You can access the audio guide on their website. www.myclimate.org

15. City Gardens

In additiona to the great parks and green spaces in Zürich, there are two botantical gardens maintained by the University of Zurich that are free to visit.

The main Botantischer Garten is a large park near the University of Zurich on the east side of the city. They cultivating 9000 plant species. There are 3 tropical glass domes that are nice to visit in winter. Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich.

The Old Botantical Garden is in the city center, with a nice walking path through the plant and flower gardens. Talstrasse 71, 8001 Zürich.

You can also visit one of the largest succulent collections in the world, with over 6500 species. Mythenquai 88, 8002 Zürich.

16. Winter Sledding

It doesn’t often snow a lot in Zurich, but when it does, there are lots of fun places to go sledding for free in and near the city. See our favorite sledding hills near Zurich.

Map of free activities in Zürich

Any other suggestions? How do you spend a free afternoon with the kids?