It’s finally starting to warm up for spring and we are now happily able to spend plenty of time playing outside! However, during the winter we had plenty of chances to visit some of the indoor play areas around the Zurich area. Carter absolutely loves going to these play areas! They really are a great way to let your kids burn off some extra steam when it’s too cold or rainy to play outside!
These three play areas are all a quick drive outside the city. You could also take public transportation, but we used the car so I don’t know exactly how to get to them via train. We loved going to these play areas, but one negative for them is the hours. They are open all day on the weekends, but during the week most of them don’t open until 1:00 or 1:30 in the afternoon, although Formel Fun does open a little earlier.
Starbie Spielhalle
The first place we visited was Starbies. Starbies has a huge climbing area, which is all enclosed so your kid wont fall out. They have trampolines, two inflatables to climb on, electric cars and a small play area for babies. Pros for Starbies include free admission for parents and a parking garage right under the building, which is only CHF 5- when you visit Starbies.
One thing I liked about this place is that it was never super crowded, so the kids got plenty of turns on the cars, trampoline and other things they wanted to do. There also wasn’t a bunch of kids running around bumping into each other. A con for Starbies is that the cafe is kind of closed off, and you can’t bring food into the play area so there is no way to enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee while you watch your kid play. You also cannot bring outside food, so it’s a bit limiting.
Trampolino
My son insists on calling this place “trampolini world” and after a few times correcting him I just let it slide! Trampolini does have trampolines (as expected) but it is really so much more! As you can see from the photo, they have a huge inflatable climbing mountain, climbing area, trampolines, cars, slides and other rides. The place is huge and it’s really easy to lose your kid in the chaos, although I was never worried that he was really lost since there’s only one way in and out.
Trampolino costs a bit more money because parents have to pay to get in, however, you can bring your own food and drink so it balances out a little. A major con is that it’s very hard to find parking. They have a tiny parking lot in the back of the building with maybe 10 spaces. Everyone else has to find street metered parking, or park in one of the shopping center garages and walk a bit. Of the three, this place has the most to do, but was also the most chaotic and crowded. It can be hard to find a good seat, because they reserve the best tables for the birthday parties, of which there were plenty!
Formel Fun
The smallest of the three, Formel Fun, was also a favorite of my son because he loved the maze and castle you could climb in. I think him and his friends felt like it was a little clubhouse just for them. We went here for a birthday party so I’m not sure about the cost, but there was free parking! The birthday party food they had was really good, but we didn’t try to cafe otherwise.
Formel Fun has a smaller climbing area, electric cars, trampolines, maze and castle. They also have a disco room, which the kids loved, black light putt putt golf (we didn’t do this) as well as some smaller play things scattered throughout. My son really loved this place because of the maze and keeps asking to go back there, so we’ll have to try it out again one day for a non-birthday party visit!
There are plenty of other play areas in and around Zurich, these are just the three we visited several times this winter! If you’re traveling with kids to Zurich and your kids need a play break, head to one of these play areas!
If you live in Zurich, which play areas have you been to and which one is your favorite?
