Secret Aeroplane Park in Ferney

This park is uniquely located right up against Geneva Airport's runway. From the climbing frame you can view private jets and huge boeings roar in right next to you. The park is a nature reserve and there are often plane spotters sitting on the many benches overlooking the runway.
I particularly like the merry-go-round and its ability to make you feel quite sick while you attempt to demonstrate conservation of angular momentum.
To find these swings park by Lidl supermarket and head through the gate in the fence past the large ponds.

Adjacent to Carouge's Museum

Just by the museum in Carouge is small but perfectly formed park. It's a short walk from the excellent Saturday market place here. Go through the gap in the stone wall to find the park.

Indoor Play In Carouge - Wolfisberg

Wolfisberg is a laid back and sophisticated bakery and cafe, it's good for coffee, lunch or a drink. Children are well catered for with a climbing frame sensibly separated from the diners by a sheet of perspex - fabulous!

The Lizard of the Jardin Botanique

Geneva's Jardin Botanique is quite simply amazing and we seem to never go into town without visiting. It has  bespoke wooden climbing frames with rope bridges, an excellent hoist to lift the sand and a lovely lizard and bugs to balance on.

There's a unique carousel, a cafe for a beer by the playground, peacocks roaming and an animal park on the other side of the green. If you have never been here... go!
Beyond the playground there are touch and feel plant areas, a hot house, ...

A childrens' amphitheatre provides story telling opportunities though I don't know if anyone organises them?

Switzerland while famous for being expensive offers a lot of stuff, like this, for free.

Playing in Geneva Airport

Geneva airport has some of the best facilities for babies and toddlers. As well as a play area there are children's beds and cots.  The room is open from 08:30 I believe but I have heard of it being opened especially over night for people stuck at the airport. It can be quite tricky to find and is flight side just after the security check.

This place is so good it is worthwhile coming to the airport a bit early in order to spend some time there.

Meyrin's Moon Base

It's a little know fact that Meyrin has it's own moon base. This is never a very busy playground in my experience since people probably get distracted by the nearby Jardin Alpin. As well as four climbing structures there is a large concrete slope whose purpose is a mystery. A sign warns against cycling or skating down this slope.

Parc des Bastions

Parc Des Bastions

Sandpit, Parc des Bastions

When the sun is out the white wooden climbing frame in Parc des Bastions must be one of the busiest playgrounds in Geneva.

There are some wooden hobby horses and one of the best sand pits in the area. The sand pit includes running water for excellent dam making opportunities.

School Playground, Geneva Old Town

In the old town of Geneva is a school playground which seems to be open to the public when not in use.
It's near the museum of art and history and good to stop at if you happen to passing. There are good hop scotch and similar games on the ground as well.

Ahoy on a Sea of Sand in Nyon

Pirate Ship Nyon

Truck at Nyon

Playground at Nyon

Nyon has a fantastic park, there are great play areas to either side of the Museum of the Lake. On one side of the building there is a pirate ship on sand. There are buckets and cranes to hoist the sand up and down through funnels and the like providing endless hours of fun.

On the other side of the museum there is truck to drive, some slides and a self propelling merry-go-round.

There are picnic tables including some that are sheltered from the rain and sun. Given its great setting, this playground definitely has to be one of the best in the area.

By The Lake at Nyon

Nyon Lakeside Playground

Nyon Lakeside Playground

The lakeside at Nyon is an impressive location for this playground. You get excellent views of the lake and the Alps, including Mt Blanc on a good day.

The climbing frame is great, there are swings, a slide and one of those self propelled roundabouts with pedals. There's a picnic table and the playground is well fenced.

This and the nearby pirate ship make Nyon a top destination for playgrounds.

Buvette on the Lake at Versoix

The buvette beside the yacht club in  Versoix has a small area in which children can play. There are cartoon books and graphic novels for older children and adults, building blocks, lego, some large toy trucks and a nice comfy sofa.

The buvette sells coffee, home-made cakes and bagels and even some very decent beer, which is made in Lausanne.

The buvette closes for the winter months.

Rope Tower of Thoiry

The rope tower in Thoiry is the newest addition to the area after being opened just yesterday for the first time.
It's clearly popular already and was almost invisible yesterday for the swarm of children covering it.
I hope in time more will added to this area. Currently this tower stands alone in a large field.

Versoix's Outdoor Pool

The sports complex outside Versoix has a playground. There's a wooden climbing frame and a rubber floor.

The other  piece of enjoyment here is the rope bridge and various paths that have been created through the bushes. In the bushes there is a wooden Wendy house for playing in.

The best reason to come here would be for a day at the open air swimming pool here which is also at this location.

Lunching and Climbing at the Chavannes Centre

The self-service restaurant at the Chavannes shopping centre has a terrace that runs into three climbing frames including a pirate ship.

Unfortunately, we always visit Chavannes Centre in the rain - its a good rainy day destination!

The Tractor at Commugny

Commugny is a small village that seems to have excellent sports facilities. It's very close to Coppet and the motorway so, if you have a tractor fan in your family, this playground is worth a visit.

Wine while they climb, in Peney

The Cafe at Peney, near Satigny, has a public playground right outside. You can easily sip a glass of the local wine while your children play quite safely within this fenced-in playground.

The playground itself includes a climbing frame in very good condition. There is also an 'eau potable' fountain just outside the playground.

Next to the Auberge in Satigny

Playground in Satigny, Switzerland

Adjacent to the Auberge Communale de Satigny is a public playground and playing field. The climbing frame is brand new and hardly seams to have been used.
There's a slide, some swings and a sandpit but the main attraction, while we were there, was playing hide and seek behind the bushes. Some leafy trees provide excellent shade.

I expect if you reserved exactly the right table at the Auberge you could just about look over the playground - I will certainly be back.

Playground in Satigny, Switzerland

Rope Pyramid at St. Genis

The rope pyramid in St Genis is challenging enough to keep older children interested while underneath small ones can enjoy the large sandpit.

A football pitch and skate park are also on hand.

The park is a short walk from St. Genis centre. It's also just a pleasant ten minute walk along to the river bank to the Castle at St. Genis.

Story Train at Crozet

A visit to the train at Crozet normally brings great excitement.

Drive the train, walk along its length, climb on the roof,...

Park at St. Jean

St. Jean de Gonville has a really tranquil park of trees and shrubs. Aswell as the swings in the middle there are some good rockeries and hiding places to play on and in.

The ground floor of the climbing  frame is great, it has a table and chairs for a child scale picnic.

St. Jean park is a great venue for a lazy afternoon.

Russin Looking Over the Vally

In Russin village centre the playground overlooks the vineyards and valley.

It's just a single climbing frame but it's well maintained. Worth visiting if you are passing.

Climb in the Vineyards

At Satigny-Dessus there is school playground with climbing frames and a witch's hat. It's a nice playground surrounded by vineyards.

This is a public playground when not in use by the local primary school.

There's also a skate park with half pipe and grind rails next door.

Jardin Alpin In Meyrin

The Jardin Alpin in Meyrin is a very well maintained park with a good climbing frame and swings. The  park has streams, some impressive fauna and a rose garden. The animal enclosure usually has some goats or geese to look at.

Despite the park being encircled by trams, busy roads and the high rise flats of Meyrin this park is well worth visiting.

Funny Man in Meyrin

Funny Man In Meyrin

This small playground is next to the Jardin Alpin. The only purpose it serves is to distract your children when you are trying to get them back in the car after visiting the Jardin Alpin.

There is no comment as to why the funny man is there.

Castle at St. Genis

The castle playground in St Genis is usually a fairly quiet place with some picnic tables. There is a fence around the swings and in fact the whole park is surrounded by a robust fence (punctuated by gates, of course). A track around the large grassy area of the park allows children to do circuits on their bikes, scooters or tricycles.

For the adults there is also an exercise playground with rowing and climbing machines. The climbing machine seams, to me at least, to be particularly hard to use.

Squeaky New Ikea at Vernier

Ikea Play

Today was the grand opening of the new Ikea at Vernier and here is the play area. It's quite different to the Ikea at Aubonne. The best thing is the vertical pipes on the ground that are connected by mirrors.

The crèche also looked great through the window - Ballpit-tastic.

Dardagny's Turrets

Dardagny has an unusual climbing frame. It's made from tubular steel and the slide (not in picture here) is made up of just two metal tubes. I presume that the climbing frame's design is based on a ship's crow nest but it perfectly echos the turrets of the adjacent Chateau (now housing the Marie and the village school).

In the playground there are also some swings and an (eau non potable) water fountain.

Octagon at Peron

Climbing Trees at Peron

There are some climbing frames in the middle of Peron right next to the Marie. Some leafy trees give shade to some benches and some very low branching trees are good for climbing.

There's a tiny train as well, it's a log with a chimney on top but it does the job.

About 20m away there is a small cafe which is sometimes open.

Peron octagon and a tiny train.

Panoramic Climbing at Challex

Challex has one of the best locations for a playground I know. Located at the top of Challex by the football stadium you get good views of both the Saléve and the Jura.

It's grass for a change in between the swings and there's a good picnic table for your lunch.

Challex seems to be pretty quiet,  the only thing I could hear today was church bells and the genuine sound of Pétanque balls clacking.

The particular attraction with the climbing frame here is the little room on top of the climbing frame where children all go and hide out. Challex is a relaxing playground for the parents too.