Top Toddler Activities in Zurich: Classes, Soft-Play, Playgroups, and Play Cafes 🇨🇭

The next in our guide to playgroups in other cities takes us to Zurich. Because of the large English-speaking community in Zurich, I found that there were far more classes and groups that I expected. Not only this, but we found several places to eat that had soft-play areas too. Public transport is easy to navigate and get on and off with a buggy and people are considerate for when you need to sit down (although we never found the trains or trams particularly busy).

All the groups and classes below are great for English speaking parents in and around Zurich. If your German is good, then it's worth keeping and eye our for local 'Krabbelgruppen' or 'Spielgruppen' listings in town listing sites and community centres. Although note that these terms (like the word 'playgroup') can sometimes mean a drop-off childcare group, so do check carefully that they're actually a stay-and-play.

Drop-in Baby/Toddler Classes and Playgroups

I actually managed to find an English speaking toddler class or playgroup for each day of the week we were in Zurich. We loved attending classes at Tiny Talk Zurich (held in a couple of different locations in the city) as well as the toddler sensory class at Academicas, near to Zurich Enge station. Both of these lasted around an hour with time to chat with other parents over tea and coffee. It's was a great way to meet the ex-pat community and hear other local tips about where to go.

If you're looking for unstructured stay-and-play groups we had a great time at Happy K's English Playgroup in the Seefeld area of Zurich, taking place on Fridays. No website, but here's a photo I took of their flyer with the organisers contact details on.

If you're in Zurich (and especially Zug) on a more permanent basis, then look into joining the International Parent and Kid Club. It's a parent-run organisation that has a permanent playroom just outside the centre of Zug (there is a frequent, direct train from Zurich). There is an annual membership to pay which allows you into three playgroups a week, sorted according to your childs age. It works out at fantastic value for money, and the group also host lots of other events.

Note that prices for drop-in baby/toddler classes and groups - like much else in Switzerland - are higher than the UK.

Play Cafes and restaurants in Zurich with play areas

Here are some suggestions to tie in a place to go to for lunch with under 5's if you're out visiting one of the groups above for a morning or afternoon

The first place to look is KinderRegion, a directory from the Zurich Tourism board. It has a brilliant list of cafes with play areas not only Zurich but in other cities around the country. I wish every government made a site like this!

Out of these we most frequented Bridge, a hip indoor foodcourt conveniently located next to Zurich Hauptbahnhof (the main train station). It had a small but well stocked play area with a bowl of free fruit too. There are few a toys and books and we usually got an hour of play before my daughter wanted to move on. The advantage here is that there is a good variety of food to order from surrounding stalls. It's very popular with local office workers so theres a nice (but busy) vibe around lunchtime. As a bonus you can even order from the tables in and around the play area via a QR code, and the food is bought to you. Good coffee is served from a stall downstairs, and we found the quietest times where 9 - 10.30.

Hanging out at the play area at Bridge food court

The multi-story Co-Op on Bahnhofstrasse (Bahnhofstrasse 57, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland) also has a good play area in the dining area on the fourth floor. The food is self-service canteen style and is actually reasonably priced for Switzerland, with kids options too. The eating area is large and informal, so a toddler tantrum won't be too noticeable!

Soft Play Areas

Again, KinderRegion has a brilliant list of all the soft play areas in the region. We loved two in particular. The first was Spiilrum in Zug (at the back of the huge Frieruum); complete with food court and massive play area.

The second was Kids PlayLand in Zurich, a 12 minute bus ride from Zurich HB on the number 31, which leaves from right outside the station. Like Spiilrum above, it was better than any indoor soft-play we get in the UK. Complete with dedicated dolls house area, ride-on car area, and arts and craft corner, we could have easily spent all day there. The shopping centre next door is also good to walk around in with a toddler on a rainy day, with a decent Co-Op food court on the first floor.

Other Activity Suggestions

If your toddler can last an hour journey, the ferry on Lake Zurich operates three different cruises around the lake (which serve commuters too). It's a really fun trip and the ferries are just about large enough to walk around in. Most have food on board with great changing facilities.

We also spent a good 45 minutes at the Zoological Museum (part of the University of Zurich). Whilst there wasn't a dedicated kids area like many museums in the UK, my daughter loved seeing all the animals. It's a large, bright space too which means plenty of room to run around. Entry is free too.

Walking around the Zoological Museum

Outside Zurich Hauptbahnhof you'll also find a large toy shop called Franz Carl Weber (Bahnhofpl. 9, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland) which is fun to spend some time in especially if you have time to kill before a train. It's got a great book selection, along with a huge slide spanning two floors for older kids.