If I am perfectly honest, playgrounds aren’t my jam. Although I enjoy the fresh air, I am not patient enough to sit around and watch as my little kid goes does the slide for the hundredth time. While a visit can be made better by good company, I would much prefer another location for a catch up.
But Switzerland has a solution to my playground blues!
I like to call it “Playground with a view”.
These playground gems are dotted all over the country, often in locations where you would least expect it with the top of mountains being the most unique location. 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.
So on your next visit to the Bernese Oberland why not check out these 6 “playgrounds with a view” ….
1. Allmendhubel “Flower Park” Playground
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. 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.
2. Winteregg Playground
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. Due to its location inside the restaurant’s fence, I suggest grabbing at least something cold to drink if not a meal or dessert, although there is no sign stating picking isn’t welcome while using the playground. 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.
3. Above Mürren walking up 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.
4. Bort Grindelwald
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 breaks!) 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.
5. Männlichen
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!
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 suggestions – the Holenstein playground. Bring a picnic if you plan to stay awhile as your eating options are limited to back up the top of Männlichen or back down in Grindelwald. If you would prefer to skip the hike entirely, pop off at the Holenstein middle gondola station on your way up from Grindelwald.
7. Other playgrounds in the area we’ve yet to try:
- The new Lily’s Alpine Playground at Schynige Platte
- The playground at Pfingstegg Bergrestaurant also includes a toboggan ride