The Swiss Alps offer a wealth of kid-friendly activities for families seeking adventure, breathtaking landscapes, and memorable experiences. Whether it’s exploring playgrounds, enjoying scenic hikes, or thrilling rides like the Gelmerbahn mountain rollercoaster, there’s something for everyone. Our family’s two trips to Switzerland focused on the Berner Oberland region, with Lauterbrunnen as our base, providing easy access to everything the Swiss Alps have to offer. All the activities we highlight below are easily accessible via car, train, bus, or gondola.

Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen: Family-Friendly Accommodation with Stunning Views

If you’re looking for the perfect family accommodation in Lauterbrunnen, we highly recommend this wonderful rental apartment. It’s centrally located, offering easy access to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and surrounding attractions. The apartment features:

• A full kitchen for family meals
• A washer/dryer for convenience
• A balcony with breathtaking views of Staubbach Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Switzerland

Check out more photos and details about renting this apartment on the property’s VRBO listing for your family’s stay in Lauterbrunnen.

Picture of the apartment (left), View of Staubbach Falls from the balcony (right)

Best Playgrounds in the Swiss Alps

Switzerland’s playgrounds are a great way for kids to have fun while enjoying the stunning scenery. During our time in the Swiss Alps, we discovered some fantastic playgrounds that were perfect for our children, from zip-lines to sandboxes. Here are a few of the best:

• Alpine Playground (Männlichen)
• Allmendhubel Playground (above Mürren)
• Spielplatz Gimmelwald (in Gimmelwald)
• Spielplatz Staubbachfalls (Lauterbrunnen)

These playgrounds are well-equipped and designed to engage both younger and older children. Our kids particularly enjoyed the zip lines and sandboxes—perfect for letting off some energy during a day of exploring!

Gelmerbahn: The Ultimate Mountain Rollercoaster

For a unique adventure, the Gelmerbahn funicular is a must-do! Located about an hour from Lauterbrunnen, the Gelmerbahn takes you up one of the steepest cable railways in Europe. Once at the top, you’re only a few meters away from the beautiful turquoise lake.

While the ascent and descent can be nerve-racking, the views of the surrounding mountains make it an unforgettable experience. We spent about two hours enjoying a picnic by the lake and exploring nearby hiking trails (best for older children). Make sure to book your time slot well in advance, as it can get busy, especially during peak travel months like August.

Family-Friendly Hikes in the Swiss Alps

1. Lieselotte Trail (Männlichen to holenstein)

This child-friendly trail is a fun and engaging experience for kids. It can be accessed by taking the gondola up from either Wengen or Grindelwald to Mannlichen. The trail features 13 activity stations based on the story of Lieselotte, a cow on vacation in the Alps. Kids can ring a cowbell, spot marmots with binoculars, and even try a long jump.

As you complete each station you punch a letter onto a guide. These trail guides can be found at the gondola ticket office and in the restaurant in Mannlichen. You can also find the trail guide online. Once the guide is completed you can get a prize at the end of the hike. If you are in this area of Switzerland, this trail is a must-do with kids as it is an interactive way to explore the mountain and everyone entertained.

2. Royal Walk (Männlichen)

Starting at the Männlichen Gondola Station, the Royal Walk is a moderate, uphill hike that takes about 30 minutes. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the mountain peaks and the Lauterbrunnen Valley, including views of Lauterbrunnen and Wengen.

3. Mürren to Gimmelwald (Easy Downhill Hike)

This scenic downhill hike from Mürren to Gimmelwald is perfect for families. The trail is a paved road and offers beautiful views of the Swiss Alps, with opportunities to see cows grazing and passing by mountain farms. It takes about 45 minutes to complete.

4. Lauterbrunnen to Trümmelbach Falls (Flat, Easy Hike)

This flat and easy hike leads to the spectacular Trümmelbach Falls, one of the most impressive subterranean waterfalls in Europe. The trail is great hike to take whether the weather is sunny and beautiful or rainy out. It is also a short (about an hour) and easy hike to navigate, making it suitable for families with younger children.

Day trip to explore the Stunning Oeschinensee Lake

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly hiking adventure and a stunning Swiss alpine lake, a visit to Oeschinensee near Kandersteg is a must. Whether you’re traveling by car or public transportation, this breathtaking destination is easy to reach and perfect for families seeking outdoor exploration and scenic beauty.

How to Get to Oeschinensee

We opted to take the train from Lauterbrunnen to Kandersteg, a scenic and easy way to reach the lake. Our journey started early in the morning, arriving in Kandersteg by about 9 AM. From the train station, we took a 15-minute, flat hike to the gondola station, which brings you up to the Oeschinen Station. This walk is suitable for families with young kids and offers a chance to stretch your legs while enjoying the beautiful alpine scenery.

Hiking to Oeschinensee: A Scenic and Easy Trail

Once at the Oeschinen Station, we continued our hike to Oeschinensee itself. The trail is paved and gently slopes downhill, making it a perfect family hike. This 30-minute walk passes through scenic pastures with grazing cows, offering spectacular views of the Swiss Alps as you descend toward the lake.

As you reach the end of the trail, the sight of Oeschinensee is absolutely breathtaking. The turquoise waters of the lake, framed by snow-capped peaks, create one of the most picturesque scenes in Switzerland. It’s an experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression on both adults and children.

Other Hiking Trails Around Oeschinensee

While there are other hiking options around Oeschinensee, we chose to spend our time near the lake as some of the additional trails were better suited for older children or more experienced hikers. However, if your family enjoys more challenging hikes, there are longer trails available for exploring the surrounding mountain landscapes.

Things to Do at Oeschinensee

• Rodelbahn (mountain coaster): Located at the Oeschinen Station, you take a thrilling ride on a toboggan (mountain cart) down the mountainside. Kids have to be ages 3 and up to go on the ride and ages 8 and above can ride by themselves. You can buy tickets at a kiosk on-site and kids under 8 are free as you pay per cart/ride not per person.

• Rent a Rowboat: Paddle across the lake for breathtaking views of the waterfalls cascading into the lake. Pro Tip: Make sure to go early to have a better chance at reserving a boat without a long wait.

• Wading in the Lake: While the water is cold, the lake offers a refreshing place to cool off, and the surrounding mountains provide a picturesque backdrop.

First Area Activities Above Grindelwald

The First area, accessible by gondola from Grindelwald, offers a variety of family-friendly activities, including the First Cliff Walk. This thrilling walkway juts out over the cliff and winds along the mountainside. At the end of the walk you get to make your way out onto a platform that takes you even further out and up to offer breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps

Other activities in the First area include:

• First Flyer (a zip line experience)
• First Glider
• First Trottibike Scooters
• First Mountain Cart

If you’re planning to try any of these activities, we recommend booking in advance, as spots fill up quickly.

Waterfalls in the Swiss Alps

1. Staubbach Falls (Lauterbrunnen)

This iconic waterfall is one of the tallest in Europe, and it’s an easy walk from the center of Lauterbrunnen. You can even walk behind the falls for an exciting experience—just be careful and wear good shoes as the rocks can be slippery!

2. Trümmelbach Falls (Lauterbrunnen Valley)

Trümmelbach Falls is a series of stunning subterranean glacier waterfalls that are accessible by elevator and foot. The falls are incredibly impressive, and it’s an experience the whole family will enjoy. Of note, children under 4 years old aren’t permitted, so keep this in mind when planning your visit. We actually had to have proof of age for our 4-year old son when we went, so I recommend that if your child is around 4 years old to make sure you have their passport with you (or at least a picture of it) for this excursion.

Conclusion: Family-Friendly Adventures in the Swiss Alps

The Swiss Alps are a fantastic destination for families with kids. From playgrounds and gentle hikes to thrilling funicular rides and alpine lakes, there’s no shortage of activities to keep children engaged. Lauterbrunnen served as a perfect base for our family, with easy access to everything the region has to offer.

We hope this guide helps you plan your own family adventure in the Swiss Alps! Have you experienced any of these kid-friendly activities? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!