If I am perfectly honest, playgrounds aren’t my jam. But the playgrounds in the Jungfrau Region? They completely changed my mind.
With jaw-dropping mountain backdrops and mountain restaurants just steps away, these aren’t your average suburban swing sets — they’re destinations in their own right.
Mountain playgrounds are scattered all over Switzerland, but the Jungfrau Region has the best concentration of them. While your kids congratulate you for bringing them to an awesome playground, don’t tell them you secretly brought them here for yourself. Pssss there is often an adorable mountain restaurant not far away too.
On our last visit to the Bernese Oberland, each day brought a newly discovered playground. And yes we used these playgrounds as motivations on long hikes, but also to keep them entertained so we could sit back and enjoy the view take another dreamlike photo. While it is usually the kids who throw a tantrum when it is time to leave, this time it was me, wanting to always linger a little longer.
If you’re planning hikes up to mountain playgrounds or alpine restaurants, layers are non-negotiable — even in July it can be 10 degrees cooler at the top of a gondola than it was in the valley. Our guide to what to wear in summer in Switzerlandcovers exactly what to pack.
So on your next visit to the Bernese Oberland why not check out these 6 “playgrounds with a view” ….
Allmendhubel Flower Park Playground, Mürren
Located above the car-free village of Mürren, the flower playground at Allmendhubel is one playground neither you or the kids will want to leave. To the backdrop of the regions three giants, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the kids run through tunnels, down slides and sail across this fun playground. There is even a little water play. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy or indulge in a meal at the restaurant overlooking both the playground and those alpine views.
It is easily accessed by funicular from the centre of Mürren or by leg power. The hike up from Mürren takes about an hour (depending on how little those legs are) which passes by tip three on the way.
Winteregg Playground, Mürren
Located about half-way along the mostly flat gravel path from the Grütuschalp to Mürren, is the Winteregg, a mountain restaurant, home to another playground with amazing views. While not as high as Allmendhubel, the panorama is quite similar, just a different perspective. Enjoy a meal or drink on the sunny terrace as the kids enjoy the wooden animals, slides and sandpit. The playground is inside the restaurant’s terrace area, so grab at least a drink while you’re there. As you leave, check out the local alpine cheeses and ice cream at the farm next door. The Grütschalp – Mürren train also stops by this playground.
P.S. You pass the Winteregg playground while on the Detective Trail treasure hunt.
The Swiss German word for playground is Spielplatz — handy if you’re asking locals for directions. And if you hear someone say de Spielplatz obe, they mean the playground up the mountain. Now you know.
Hidden Playground Above Mürren (on the path to Allmendhubel)
This playground takes a bit of leg work to get to, being just above the village of Mürren. While it is much smaller than other playgrounds, come here for some peace and quiet. We passed by this small playground twice on our hike up to Allmendhubel and only once did we see a family grilling their sausages here. It’s located in a clearing near the forest so look out in late summer for the wild blueberries. From the centre of Mürren follow the signs to Allmendhubel and you will stumble across this gem.
Bort Alpine Playground, Grindelwald-First
With views like this, you can see why the Bort Alpine Playground, located at the second gondola station going up to Grindelwald-First, is hugely popular and much busier than the playgrounds around Mürren. This playground is just a small part of an entire activity-filled area, a something for every age destination. Bring a picnic and enjoy the views while the kids play, head up higher for more of an adrenaline kick or if you dare (and trust those brakes!) rent a scooter and make your way down to Grindelwald village. At Bort, you will also find a restaurant and a kiosk selling take-away snacks.
Männlichen Alpine Herdsman’s Playground (the Giant Cow!)
The kids will love sliding out of the mouth of the huge cow, yes you read that correctly, a cow, at Männlichen’s Alpine Herdsman’s playground. The 8.5 m tall wooden cow stands proudly as the playground’s centrepiece, but there are outdoor bowling and balancing ropes too. From Männlichen, you have a closer more up-close view of the Eiger but can see over to Mürren and Schilthorn also. A sizeable self-service mountain restaurant serves hearty alpine cuisine as well as drinks warm and cold to sit and enjoy the peace while the kids play. With the playground not attached directly to the restaurant, there is no reason why you can’t bring a picnic. Männlichen is accessed from both Lauterbrunnen via Wengen by cable car or Grindelwald by gondola and is also the starting point for hiking down to tip 6!
Holenstein Playground (between Männlichen & Grindelwald)
Take the longest gondola in the world from Grindewald to the top of Männlichen, taking a detour via tip 5, before hiking the Lieselotte themed path to my next suggestion – the Holenstein playground. As your eating options are back up at the Männlichen restaurant or down in Grindelwald, so bring a picnic. If you would prefer to skip the hike entirely, pop off at the Holenstein middle gondola station on your way up from Grindelwald.
September is my favourite time to visit these playgrounds — fewer crowds, golden light, and still warm enough for a full day outside. Just don’t underestimate how quickly the temperature drops once the sun disappears behind a mountain. Check our guide to what to wear in autumn in Switzerland before you go.
FAQ
Yes, all the mountain playgrounds are free to use. The cost is in getting there — you’ll typically need a gondola or cable car ticket unless you hike. Kids under 6 usually travel free, and the SBB Junior Travelcard (CHF 30/year) lets kids under 16 travel free with a parent.
Allmendhubel Flower Park in Mürren is my top pick for little ones. It has age-appropriate equipment, water play features, and a restaurant right next to it where you can keep an eye on the kids. The funicular ride up is also a hit with toddlers.
Allmendhubel (via funicular), Winteregg (via train), Bort (via gondola), and Männlichen (via gondola or cable car) are all stroller-accessible from their respective stations. The playground above Mürren and Holenstein require hiking on uneven paths, so not ideal for strollers.
The mountain playgrounds are open from roughly mid-June to mid-October, depending on snow conditions and lift schedules. July and August are peak season with the best weather but biggest crowds. September is my favourite. Fewer visitors, golden light, and still warm enough for a full day outside.
