things to do with kids free of charge in Zurich

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Hi,

I am a nanny in Zurich, however I don't live there so I don't really know the city yet. Can you please advise on things that I could do with kids that are free of charge? Are there any museums that you don't have to pay to get in?

Many thanks for all the suggestions.

2
You can get free bike rentals ( including electrobikes with a kid tandem ) in Wädenswil ZH.

Place a deposit and a valid ID card and get it all back once you return the bike in the same condition before the end of day ( 20:00 ).

For CHF20, you can get public transport and entry to all Museums and more with the Zürich Card , valid for 24hrs ( or 72 hour option ).

3
Zoological museum

http://www.focusterra.ethz.ch/ - an earth exhibit. Good for an hour or so

Polybahn is fun but not free as you will need a zone 10 ticket to use it

Looking at books in the Childrens section of the Pestalozzi library in Altstadt

The Landesmuseum is not free but there is an interesting model of a famous Swiss battle near the cloakroom. This is free. There are little binoculars as well so you can see close ups of the details models. My boys love it.

4
also this website lists playgrounds in Zurich with pictures etc and can be used in english

http://zuriplay.ch/de/

5
Congratulations for this good question, I'm sure as a parent I would be happy to have an active au pair interested in showing the kids interesting and culturally significant things in their surroundings!

ALL the University Museums and the Botanical Garden are free of charge and have specific kids programms and guided tours.

(the Zoological being probably first choice for small children)

http://www.uzh.ch/services/museums.html

in most museums kids under 16 go for free - you will have to pay, but I'm sure the parents will be more than happy to pay for your entrance if you take the kids (I would!)

for instance at the Landesmuseum, great for all ages

http://www.landesmuseen.ch

a good idea in the warm season is to buy a Badi-Abo for very little money (90 francs for adults, 60 for kids if booked before the season starts) and enjoy every warm day in a different badi in zurich!

finally, have a look at the Kidscorner link for excursion ideas, some of them certainly for free

http://www.kidscorner.ch/ausflug/index.html

6
I would ask the employer if they can organise a travel pass for you (if they haven't already) and if you live within a reasonable distance of the zurich zoo, ask them if they would be willing to get you and the child an annual pass, it's not very expensive and there's heaps to see and do - some of the kids I teach go there weekly to see a few animals and play in the playground, and with the animal houses and masaola rainforest, you can go rain-hail-or snow...

Oh, and the other suggestion is to take a visit to the Stadtgartnerei near tram stop 'Hubertus' - they have two greenhouses and a nice outdoor garden. In one of the greenhouses there are birds and a pond with fish and turtles, and it's usually very quiet and a relaxing place to be.

City Gardens Zurich: http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/stadtgaertnerei

The other suggestion is near the lake - near Bürkliplatz there is the bird hospital - most people don't realise there is a big aviary on the far side of the area where people go to eat their picnics - don't go inside the bird hospital unless the kids are able to stay quiet (they have baby birds in there that get stressed by noise) - but you can see many of the birds from outside, and it's a nice walk around the lake area...

Bird Hospital: Voliere Zurich: http://voliere.ch/WordPress/?page_id=19

7
hi there

for inspiration - i really love this blog - http://momstotszurich.blogspot.ch/

and i admire the mom who writes it - great ideas!

good luck

8
we need a sticky on this sort of thing as the question gets asked a lot but gets lost in all the other threads.

we love the momtotszurich and reference it a lot.

9
absolutely, I was going to suggest it! there are so many cheap or free ways to enjoy Zurich, not ALL is expensive! the more we share, the better. and for kids all ages, not just toddlers please!

here are two more suggestions as we go along

Orell Füssli , both regular stores and the English Bookshop has regular free events for children

- "Märlistunden" every last saturday of the month Filiale Frauenfeld 10.30 am

- "an hour full of stories, fun and activities" every first saturday of the month 10 am at The Bookshop, Zürich

or check their events calendar for specific activities and readings for kids all ages, mostly free of charge:

http://www.books.ch/home/veranstaltu...ken=cMV8h9jl9w

at the Kunsthaus entry is free for all on wednesdays. fantastic collection even for small children. I just visited with my 2-year-old-nephew, he loved it! so many colourful paintings and funny animals like Giacometti's DOG, a children-friendly masterpiece

they have a Young Guide to listen to while visiting and plenty of materials distributed for free.

if you read german, the interesting guide "Zurich zum Nulltarif" has excursions and tips free of charge, many ideal with children

http://www.nzz-libro.ch/zuerich-zum-nulltarif.html

The Wildnispark Zurich in Sihlwald is a perfect and more authentic alternative to the expensive zoo visit: a freely accessible and a lovely forest zoo with forest animals from all over europe, including moose, wolves, bison and bears. They have many free activities at weekends and even a "klangkalender" on their homepage to hear the sounds of the forest and its more or less noisy inhabitants

http://www.wildnispark.ch/f_e/f_e/

10
wow, thanks everyone for the information. Checking it all out just now. You have given me a few good ideas- really thankful! :0)

11
at the annual Zürich liest literature festival (25-25 october) some of the children's events are free (or cheap).

http://www.zuerich-liest.ch/english/