Nyon Beach, Human Snakes and Ladders

Nyon Plage has recently been updated with a new ship with spectacular mountain views. In the woods there are three tiers of steps, rope walk ways and slides. Nyon beach even has something almost approaching real sand. The modern buvette provides lunch, ice cream and beer. A popular destination for good reasons and always busy on a sunny day.

Corbusian Concrete Maze at Bulle

Bulle is a typical Swiss town up near Gruyères. There is a castle and a museum in a park. The playground is a unique cast concrete maze with four slides descending from a couple of high points. There is no place you can stand from which all of the maze is visible so you will loose your children.

Artistic Fences at Plainpalais

Geneva's newest creation is on Plainpalais, it has to be one of the most abstract climbing frames in the area being made of logs and fence panels... It's a really good area to play in and some of the obstacles are indeed quite challenging.

In addition there is a sand pit surrounded by concrete dunes. The dunes have push button water for testing your canal construction.

The adjoining skate park is also pretty special.

And while there you can even grab a free bike to get around town.

In summer months bring your sun cream and sun hats - there is very little shade!

Sarasin Park near Palexpo

Sarasin park is hiding behind Palexpo. Walk past the entrance to Palexpo and find yourself in Sarasin park in Grand-Saconex.

Signal de Bougy

Signal de Bougy is easily one of the best collection of playgrounds in this region. Everyone should visit here at least once per year!
There's a water play area, numerous climbing frames including a rocket and a large rope polygon.
The park also boasts collections of pigs, cows, chickens, ... to stroll around.
There are lots of picnic tables, a BBQ area and a Migros cafeteria, which includes an indoor play area. Signal de Bougy is  free to enter and enjoy.
For older children there are tree walk ways within parc adventure.

The Tall Ship of Lausanne

It's never too cold to play, even with ice on the ground. The tall ship playground in Lausanne is by the lake in Ouchy. There are also giant chess and draft sets by the fountains.

One of the highlights of visiting here is the journey! You can travel from Lausanne city centre on what must be one of the only sloping tube lines. You can sit up front to "drive" it down the hill!

Either Side of Rolle Castle

There are two lakeside playgrounds just a short walk from Rolle Castle . To one side of the castle there is a basic structure and in the other direction there is a more complicated play area including a sand pit and a tube slide. There are also good picnic tables and you could happily spend all afternoon here. There is a unique chair rotating at 45 degrees to the perpendicular which is quite odd to use (not pictured).

Hoover your Car and Play

This playground is just off of Route de Meyrin, a four lane road through Geneva with trams whizzing by. It only has one purpose - to occupy your children in safety while you wash and vacuum the car. I admire the owner for providing these facilities.

Sailing Boat in Genthod

For the first time it was one of our children who led us to this playground - she 'discovered' it on a school trip! 
Genthod is a very well to do village of many châteaux and, of course, it has an immaculate and well appointed park. Play structures include a sailing boat, an arial runway, a sandpit and various wooden climbing frames.
It's a short walk from this park to the lake side where you can have a wee paddle. Go down the hill, past the train station and you're there. I think you are really meant to land here on your yacht and head to Le Creux-de-Gentold for your filet de perches... but we just stopped for ice-cream.

Tipping Water Buckets in Meyrin

Meyrin has surpassed itself with its newest playground. I am sure that Meyrin must hold a record for playground density. The water is button activated, the entire area is covered in bouncy rubber flooring. There are also two climbing frames and some swings. I expect this is where we'll be spending many of our lunch hours over summer.

The Immaculate Plage at Hemance

Hermance is the last piece of Switzerland on Lake Geneva before you enter France. Hermance is a very pretty village that boasts one of the best kept lake side beaches there is. It's a great place for swimming and the playground and sandpit are also extremely well located. The views of Lake Geneva are among the best. There is also a buvette selling wine, beer, saucisse and ice cream. To get to Hermance there is a ferry from Nyon or it is the last stop on Bus E 25 minutes from the center of Geneva. The plage costs 4CHF per adult to enter. Hermance plage is incredibly well kept.

The village itself has a few shops, restaurants and a large stone tower.

The Tower at Chancy

Chancy has one of our most recent playground discoveries. This is a big and high climbing frame. Once a year this park hosts a Fête des Enfants which is a good time to visit.

On the lake in Pregny along from Jardin Botanique

One of the more tranquil and close "beaches" to Geneva is opposite and along from the Jardin Botanique.  I don't know the name of this little park but in has a good buvette and restaurant. The Restaurant Reposoir serves drinks, ice cream, snacks and meals on some very comfy sofas.

The beach  is some sloping concrete but none the less you can paddle.

I've added a new tag Lake Side for playgrounds on the lake.

Fly the Plane in Petit-Saconnex

This plane and climbing frame are in a school in Petit-Saconnex so visit out of school hours. Nearby is probably the oldest restaurant in Geneva, fondue of course. Just past the playground is an impressive vegetable shop also.

The Icosikaioctagon at Bois-de-la-Bâtie

Bois-de-la-Batie is some woodland right in the middle Geneva affectionately known as Batty Woods. The climbing frames are big, there's an Octopus, a wooden train and a paddling pool with fountain frogs. Within the woods there is an extensive animal park with goats, rabbits, wild boar, chamois, peacocks, .... On a practical note, there isn't a cafe at the park that we know of, so if you are planning to stay a while bring a bait box.

Springy Bull-rushes at Parc de Mon Repos

Parc de Mon Repos is the park by the lake on the way to the botanic gardens from Geneva. It looks to be good for summer with water channels and dams. There is also a recently renovated paddling pool.

As well as a strap in swing there are some springy bull-rushes, which actually look a lot better than they really are.

The nearby History of Science Museum is a great place to visit with children.

Bouncy Castles at Palexpo

Palexpo is the Geneva exhibition centre near the airport normally reserved for the likes of the Geneva Motor Show. In the winter months, however, one of the halls is taken over by Espace Junior.

The room is filled to bursting with bouncy castles, I counted at least 20 in total. There are also trampolines, battery go-karts and self propelled vehicles for the younger ones. This year the charge was 12 CHF for each child and adults were free, the go-karts require an extra token. There's a small shop selling ice-creams, coffee and beer. They have tables and benches to allow you to bring your own food or even host a children's birthday party.

Certainly this place has to be visited at least once over the winter season.

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.