Family days out

Free days out

Walks, gorges, lakes and a free museum: great days without paying an entrance fee.

17 ideas

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  • Museum

    Natural History Museum

    Fribourg · Sarine

    Stuffed animals, minerals and temporary exhibitions designed for children. Entry is free.

    The museum is preparing to move: some rooms are already closed. It leaves its current site in 2027 and reopens at the end of 2028 on Route des Arsenaux.

    • Indoors
    • All ages
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free
    • Pushchair OK

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: © Musée d’histoire naturelle de Fribourg

  • Walk

    Gottéron Gorge

    Fribourg · Sarine

    A cool path along the bottom of the gorge, with footbridges and small waterfalls, starting right in the Lower Town.

    The path may be closed in winter or after heavy rain. Sturdy shoes recommended.

    • Outdoors
    • Ages 5+
    • Half day
    • Free
    • Mainly in summer

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: GFreihalter, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walk

    Jogne Gorge

    Charmey – Broc · Gruyère

    A path through the gorge between Charmey and Broc, with footbridges and views of the Montsalvens dam. Return by bus.

    Path closed in winter and sometimes after storms.

    • Outdoors
    • Ages 6+
    • Half day
    • Free
    • Mainly in summer

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Jérémy Sauterel from Suisse, CC BY 2.0

  • Walk

    Schwarzsee (Lac Noir)

    Plaffeien · Sense

    A mountain lake with a flat walk around it of about an hour, picnic spots and swimming in summer; sledging and a frozen lake in winter.

    • Outdoors
    • All ages
    • Full day
    • Free
    • Summer and winter
    • Pushchair OK

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Türke Andras, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walk

    Murten old town and ramparts

    Murten · Lac

    Walk along the ramparts’ wall-walk with views over the rooftops and the lake, then go down to the water’s edge.

    Steep stairs up to the ramparts.

    • Outdoors
    • All ages
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walk

    Mont Vully

    Mont-Vully · Lac

    Paths between vineyards and forest with views of Lake Murten and Lake Neuchâtel. Picnic at the top.

    • Outdoors
    • Ages 4+
    • Half day
    • Free

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Raph egg, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walk

    Grande Cariçaie nature reserves

    South shore of Lake Neuchâtel · Broye

    Switzerland’s largest lakeside wetland: trails, hides and birds to spot. Bring binoculars.

    • Outdoors
    • All ages
    • Half day
    • Free

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Odile Gardiol, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walk

    Les Paccots and Lac des Joncs

    Châtel-Saint-Denis · Veveyse

    A small family resort: a walk to Lac des Joncs in summer, sledging and snowshoeing in winter.

    • Outdoors
    • All ages
    • Half day
    • Free

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: apollo13, CC BY 3.0

  • Leisure

    La Gouille ice rink (Estavayer-le-Lac)

    Estavayer-le-Lac · Broye

    Ice rink a stone’s throw from the lake, free entry. Times shared between free hockey and public skating. Public skating times on winter.kaldo.ch (in French).

    • Indoors and outdoors
    • Ages 3+
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free
    • In winter

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 29 October 2026

    Photo: © Fribourg Région

  • Museum

    Electrobroc

    Broc · Gruyère

    Groupe E’s electricity centre, inside a real working hydroelectric power station. Free guided tour of about 1½ hours, easy to combine with the nearby Maison Cailler.

    Guided tours only, book at least one day in advance.

    • Indoors
    • Ages 8+
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Roland Zumbuehl, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Leisure

    Ependes Observatory

    Ependes · Sarine

    Look at the Moon, planets and stars through a telescope with the club’s astronomers. Free public evenings on Fridays, and solar observation on some days.

    Booking required the week before, 5 people at most per booking.

    • Indoors and outdoors
    • Ages 6+
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Martignoni, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walk

    University Botanic Garden

    Fribourg · Sarine

    A large garden in the city, with tropical greenhouses that stay warm even in winter: carnivorous plants, cacti, ponds. Open every day, free entry.

    • Indoors and outdoors
    • All ages
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free
    • Pushchair OK

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Bobo11, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walk

    La Madeleine Hermitage

    Düdingen · Sense

    Caves dug by hand into the cliff above Lake Schiffenen more than 300 years ago: a chapel, kitchen and corridors to explore, at the end of a short forest walk.

    Cliff and stairs: hold little ones by the hand.

    • Outdoors
    • Ages 4+
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free
    • Mainly in summer

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Хрюша, CC BY-SA 3.0

  • Walk

    Ogoz Island

    Pont-en-Ogoz · Gruyère

    The ruins of a castle on an island in Lake Gruyère. In spring, when the lake is low, you can walk there (about 1 hour there and back); from May to October, by boat with a guided tour on Sundays.

    Only reachable on foot when the lake is below 668 m: check the level before you go.

    • Outdoors
    • All ages
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Leisure

    MEMO, library and toy library

    Fribourg · Sarine

    The city library and toy library under one roof: books for all ages, games to borrow and corners to read and play on site. Open Tuesday to Saturday.

    Game loans with a membership.

    • Indoors
    • All ages
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free
    • Pushchair OK

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: © Fribourg Région

  • Walk

    Witch’s Trail

    Schwarzsee · Sense

    A 2-hour walk around the Schwarzsee with seven legends of the Sense district, games, riddles and a dragon by the water. Witch kit available at the tourist office.

    • Outdoors
    • Ages 3 to 12
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free
    • Mainly in summer
    • Pushchair OK

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: Lutz Fischer-Lamprecht, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Leisure

    Jeuss animal park

    Jeuss · Lac

    A small free park that is always open: deer, wallabies, emus, alpacas, goats and geese, with a playground and a cafeteria in the afternoon.

    • Outdoors
    • All ages
    • 1 to 2 hours
    • Free
    • Pushchair OK

    Official website ↗ · link checked on 30 October 2026

    Photo: © Tierpark Jeuss

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