Kid-friendly places in Lausanne

15 places in Lausanne, Switzerland, where children are actually welcome — what each one is, what it costs, and what to watch for. 15 carry a warning worth reading before you go.

Play cafés
Sports
Classes
Adventure

Play cafés3

Café du LoupPlay cafe
A charming little café-restaurant with a warm, vintage-inspired atmosphere (antique furniture, a children's library and board games) designed to make you feel at home, with homemade, original and delicious food and good vegetarian options, ideal for families; ~2km north

Closed Mondays
Halte Jeux La GrenettePlay cafe
One of the best free places to spend time with kids right in the centre — lots of children's activities (running scooters outdoors, DIY crafts and original handmade toys indoors), a welcoming vibe and friendly English-speaking staff, and you can even leave children 3+ for a couple of hours while you visit the market

Free but spots for the drop-off depend on availability; closed Mon and Sun; split midday hours
Kids Fun ParkIndoor playground
A brilliant, well-built soft play with lots of varied fun areas big enough for 2-3 hours (recently refitted), a small fee for kids with parents free, a food corner with drinks, and little themed rooms for kids' birthday parties, with friendly helpful staff and buses timed to the trains; ~20km west (Etoy)

Best for ages ~3-8; food is basic; you can't drop kids and leave; a drive/train from the city

Sports7

Bowl de VidySkate / BMX / roller
One of the best skateparks around, in a beautiful lakeside facility, good for beginners and experts with a big bowl (multiple drop-in points), a street area with boxes and rails, and inline-skate rental, plus basketball and beach-volleyball courts alongside; ~3km southwest

Gets busy with scooters on sunny afternoons (tough for park flow); looks a little dated
Grimper.ch Lausanne-BeaulieuClimbing
A spacious central bouldering gym in a big hangar with plenty of varied blocks that change regularly, a well-equipped fitness/warm-up area (shared with a weightlifting club), a Kilter board, a nice bar-café, minimalist design and friendly staff, great for kids too; ~1km northwest

Moves lean dynamic/competition-style and can feel repetitive; toilet is upstairs; parking is charged on top of entry
LE CUBE Escalade & BarClimbing
A very spacious bouldering gym with blocks of all levels and styles (long, varied sessions), a special kids' area that's great for birthday parties or keeping little ones busy while you climb, food on site and a nice terrace with good beer; ~4km north (Le Mont)

Lacks fresh air/ventilation (can smell); some holds are polished; easier routes could be better set
Skatepark La FièvreSkate / BMX / roller
A wonderful, ever-evolving indoor/outdoor skatepark right in the middle of the city, good for all ages, cheap, with helpful friendly staff and skateboards, BMX and scooters to borrow; ~1km northwest

Closed Mondays; afternoon/evening hours
TOTEM Escalade EcublensClimbing
A spacious bouldering gym with original, fun problems for every level, routes renewed very often (twice a week), one of the cleanest boulder gyms around (good with a baby/kids), a small upstairs gym, a pleasant lounge and lovely helpful staff; ~7km west (Ecublens)

Almost always overcrowded after 5pm and lacks proper ventilation (feels stuffy then)
The Jump SpotTrampoline park
An amazing, unexpectedly big trampoline park with a large variety of jumping spots, parkour, airbags and acrobatics, new equipment and excellent service, plus a dedicated 13+ zone so older kids aren't crowded by little ones and a mezzanine for parents to relax; ~2km west

No air conditioning — very hot in summer; basic facilities (no wifi); grip socks ~3 CHF; afternoon-only on weekdays
École de Cirque de LausanneAcrobatics / aerial
A wonderful circus school (from age 3) in a beautiful venue with fun, stimulating classes and a truly professional, attentive and caring team, kids love it and keep coming back; ~4km west (Renens)

Closed Sundays

Classes3

Atelier Céramique SismiqueArt
A lovely, well-equipped central ceramics studio radiating wonderful energy, where Sofia is a chirpy, talented teacher with all the equipment, materials and glazes to try every technique, running weekly classes and superb kids' birthday parties full of laughter and fun; ~1km east

A class/studio — book ahead; pieces collected after firing
Company AlbertineMusic
A lovely music school where Flora has a real understanding of children and a passion for music, with welcoming premises, suitable equipment and a diverse range of activities (workshops for little ones and older kids) that children love and discover so much through; ~1km west

Close to a road; contact ahead for the class schedule
Conservatoire de LausanneMusic
A beautifully renovated central conservatoire with excellent early-childhood music education (kids ask to go every morning!), dynamic virtuoso teachers, high-quality Steinway rooms with great acoustics, a breathtaking lake view and extracurriculars like Christmas concerts

A large institution — studios are scarce/booked; check the junior enrolment

Adventure2

Association FermexplorePetting farm
A gem of an educational farm with a warm welcome, a well-organised concept and lots of animals to pet plus playing in the hay, where kids help with the animals and learn about farm life (great for birthdays and school visits), with delicious local products; ~15km north (Bournens)

The facilitator's tone can be brisk with very active groups; ~190 CHF for a party; contact ahead to book
Ferme de la Fondation St-BarthélemyPetting farm
A great, free little farm-zoo within the foundation (birds, deer, emus and more) in a beautiful, peaceful setting, lovely to stroll among the well-maintained, spacious enclosures with small kids, with a coffee/snack on site; ~15km north

Open weekdays only (closed weekends and holidays — check ahead); booking recommended for the café

Other cities

Every place here is in the Kindering app too, on one map with the rest of Lausanne, sorted by how far each one is from you.

Missing a place, or one has closed? Tell us.