Zurich Family Days by Age and Weather

October 29, 2026

Families in Zurich can plan around two things: how old the children are and what the sky is doing. Several of the best places cost nothing for the youngest, and the few outdoor water options are closed for the season, so the list below starts with age. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF) and the secondary-sourced ones are marked “about”.

Under 6

Young children go free: under 6 at Zoo Zürich and the Technorama science centre, and under 7 at the FIFA Museum. The zoo is on the Zürichberg at Zürichbergstrasse 221 (tram 6 to the Zoo stop). Its Masoala Rainforest hall is warm and humid year round, with lemurs and fruit bats moving about under a canopy walkway, which makes it a sensible winter stop. The Kaeng Krachan elephant park has underwater windows, and the Lewa Savanne has giraffes, rhinos and zebras. There is no sea lion show. At the lake, the Blatterwiese playground at Zürichhorn has wooden climbing castles and water pumps and is free, though you should check access and season. The small free aviary near Bürkliplatz is a quick stop.

Ages 6 to 12

Zoo tickets are about CHF 18 for this age group, and a family day pass is about CHF 85 for two adults with their own children. Confirm both on zoo.ch. Technorama in Winterthur, roughly 30 minutes by train, is about CHF 21 for a child of 6 to 15 and offers hundreds of experiments to touch and turn. The Lindt Home of Chocolate charges CHF 10 for ages 8 to 15 and nothing below 8, with unlimited tasting stations and a tall chocolate fountain. Book timed entry online ahead. The Limmat boat is a short ride on electric glass-roof boats, around CHF 4.60 for adults and CHF 3.20 reduced, from April to October. It can be suspended in low water, so check zsg.ch.

Teenagers

The FIFA Museum at Seestrasse 27 is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and displays the original World Cup trophy, with a pinball-style kicking game and commentary booths. Adult entry is about CHF 26 and children 7 to 15 about CHF 15, and the Zürich Card makes it free. Teens aged 13 to 17 pay about CHF 27 at the zoo.

A rainy day shortlist

Masoala at the zoo, Technorama, the FIFA Museum and the Landesmuseum are all under cover. The Landesmuseum is closed on Mondays, costs CHF 13 for adults and is free for under-16s now, with the age rising to under-18 from 5 January 2027 when the adult price goes to CHF 18.

Water safety

The Limmat has a strong current and swimming is banned in the city stretch, so keep children away from the water’s edge, landings and weirs. The river and lake badis are closed until next summer. Children should only swim at an official badi with supervision, and the city warns that the current at the Unterer Letten river bath is not suitable for children.

Getting around

A 24-hour city ticket (zones 1 and 2) is about CHF 9.40, rising to about CHF 9.60 on 13 December 2026. The Zürich Card is CHF 19 for a child aged 6 to 15 for 24 hours, and children under 6 are free.

Opening details are at zoo.ch and fifamuseum.com . For an organised family outing, the Zurich kids tours on GetYourGuide show current options.