Switzerland offers a wide variety of leisure activities for beautiful sunny days as well as rainy days. There are also many options for winter activities, such as skiing, snowshoe walking and much more.

The Wildspitz Mountain

Spend the day hiking up to the highest point in Canton Zug (1580m). Hike from either Unterägeri (drive to Restaurant Halsegg), Walchwil or Steinerberg. There is no cable car, but you can drive up quite far from Steinerberg, park the car and walk the rest of the way, but the hike from Halsegg is easier and less steep. There is a very large, modern restaurant at the top and amazing panoramic views of surrounding area.

Mount Pilatus

Take the world’s steepest cog train from Alpnachstad (near Lucerne) or the cable car from Krienseregg to the Pilatus Kulm (2132m). Enjoy the panoramic views, restaurant at the top. At Fräkmüntegg (1416m) there is a summer sledge run for the kids – longest in Europe – a playground and a rope park, as well as a picnic area.

Mount Rigi Switzerland

Mount Rigi

This is an absolute must – the views from Rigi really are second to none. Take the train from “Goldau” to “Rigi Kulm” (1800m) and you’ll be nearly at the summit. There is a hotel and restaurant up there and you can walk down to the next station to “Rigi Kaltbad” and then either take the same train back down to “Goldau” or take the cable car down to “Weggis”

Sattel Hochstuckli

Take the rotating cable car up to the top to “Mostelberg” and let the kids run around. There is a great children’s play area in summer – buy a ticket at the bottom – for the “Stuckli Jump” with bouncy castle and trampolines galore. You can also walk along the road to the back to “Herrenboden”, where there is another great restaurant with a playground and Zoo. Alternatively, take the panoramic hike to “Engelstock”. A new attraction is the hanging bridge – 51m above the ground at its highest point. Enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the mountains and of Aegeri. In winter you can of course ski here. It is the closest ski station to Zug and a great family ski destination.

Museum in der Burg, Zug

The castle in the old town of Zug houses a very interesting museum about the town. It is well worth a visit and there are drawing and crafts available for children. On Sundays entrance is free.

Verkehrshaus, Lucerne

Boat Switzerland

This is a firm favourite on a rainy day – go and look at the transport museum full of cars, planes, trains. There is also a planet room and much more. It has just been renovated and is now much bigger and better than ever before. The children can scoot around on scooters and learn the highway-code on electric cars or even have fun being a builder. The multimedia section in the main building is great for older children who want to try their hand at being news presenters or giving a radio show.

Tierpark Goldau

A lovely animal park where you can have a long walk and feed the free roaming deer. It is possible to take a picnic and grill something at one of the well-equipped barbeque areas if you want to. There is also a café and a nice playground for the kids, who always love it here and it is great at all times of the year, come rain or shine! www.tierpark.ch Tierpark Langenberg, Langnau am Albis (ZH) This is a zoo with no entrance charge. It is about half an hours drive from Zug, an hour from Lucerne, 20 mins from Zürich. You don’t see a huge amount of animals, but it is still worth a visit and you can have a relaxing walk around the grounds and let the kids play in the wonderful playground. There are deer, bears and wolves to name but a few. You can either take a picnic, grill sausages at an appointed barbeque spot or have lunch in the café.

Alpamare, Pfäffikon

This is a suitable destination for older kids. There are some gentle and some breathtakingly wild water slides, heated outdoor pools to relax in (for the adults) a wave pool and wellness areas. Kids who love crazy water slides will love it here – it isn’t suitable or recommended for smaller children or toddlers.

Technorama, Winterthur

The Technorama museum is a hands-on experience of an exhibition about natural sciences, technology and perception. Everything here is meant to be explored and researched. This is paradise for curious children!

Dinosaur Museum, Aathal-Seegräben

Travel back to prehistoric times. The stars here are dinosaurs, especially the skeleton from an excavation in Wyoming, USA

The Rheinfall, Schaffhausen

This is one of Switzerland’s magnificent sites – cascading waterfalls – just outside the centre of Schaffhausen. You can even take a boat ride to beneath the waterfalls themselves. Schaffhausen town is well worth a visit, too. There is an old fortress up above the town and the views of the Rhine and town are lovely.

Rheinfall Schaffhausen Switzerland