Indoor kids' birthday party ideas in Vaud and Geneva

Trampoline parks and indoor play centres

For children who need to move, trampolines are a safe bet. At The Jump Spot in Lausanne, you book jump sessions online with no minimum group size. Jumpark in Yverdon offers two hours (one jumping, one at the table) for CHF 90 plus CHF 10 per child aged 7 and over. Gravity Park in Meyrin, Airloop in Geneva and Jumpland in Aigle also have birthday offers.

For younger children, indoor play centres work well. Kids Fun Park in Etoy reserves a party hut for two hours at CHF 26 to 44 per child (minimum 7 children). Yatouland in Les Acacias charges CHF 299 for 10 children, Miniville welcomes ages 2 to 6, and Urba Kids in Orbe charges CHF 35 plus CHF 14 per child, with your own cake allowed.

Laser tag, escape rooms and team games

From age 7 or 8, laser tag is a hit on grey days. Laser Game Evolution Lausanne costs CHF 18 to 48 per person, Laser Game Genève CHF 429 to 519 for 10 children, and LaseRed (Lausanne, Etoy, Nyon, Geneva) advertises from CHF 500 for 10. For escape rooms, Evade in Lausanne and Vernier, Get Out in Vevey and Dreams Factory in Gland, which has formats from age 3, all host birthdays.

Geneva also has several team-game centres: Quiz Room, styled like a TV game show (CHF 30 to 42 per person), CUBE Challenges with its 18 challenge rooms, SENSAS with sensory challenges, and Virtual Room, where children play a 45-minute virtual reality mission without parents (CHF 42 per child).

Indoor climbing and circus

TOTEM climbing gyms offer about two hours of party: 90 minutes of climbing with an instructor, then a snack. In Gland and Vevey it costs CHF 350 for up to 10 children from age 4, shoe rental included; in Meyrin, Vernier and Versoix the price is on request. Planet Climbing in Lancy and Plan-les-Ouates, and Kids Up Genève in Meyrin with its circus workshop from CHF 490, complete the list.

Creative workshops, cooking and science

A workshop turns a rainy afternoon into a keepsake. KLAYIT in Lausanne and Geneva has children shape a clay bowl (CHF 470 for up to 8), Ceramic Kanvas offers ceramic painting (CHF 460 for up to 10) and Atelier Aikoo figurine decorating (CHF 47 per person). ColoRoom in Les Acacias has immersive painting rooms, and Atelier Ardesia in Pully offers canvas painting.

For little chefs, Le Fraisier in Lausanne (CHF 35 per child) and the Alimentarium in Vevey, where children prepare their own party snack (CHF 350 for up to 12), are ideal. For science fans, X Labs in Lausanne and Geneva runs dry-ice experiments, and EXPLORiT in Yverdon offers themed birthdays at CHF 25 to 38 per child.

Museums, castles, cinemas and bowling

Museums offer dry and affordable parties. The Château de Chillon (from CHF 350, book at least a month ahead), Fort de Chillon (CHF 300 including cake), the Musée du Léman with its aquariums in Nyon, or the Swiss Museum of Games (CHF 180, book two weeks ahead) all run lovely themed birthdays.

Cinema is a classic: Pathé Flon in Lausanne from CHF 149, Arena Cinemas at La Praille with popcorn, cake and a cinema tour (CHF 33 per person), and Cinérive on the Riviera. At Bowling de la Praille, the kids' package costs CHF 18 on Wednesdays. Just across the Valais border, Aquaparc offers CHF 259 for 5 people with a party room.

Bring the entertainment home

Rather stay in? A magician or clown can transform your living room. MagicAnim (Mistigri) mixes clowning and magic, Clown Ernesto offers shows of one to three hours from CHF 250, and Magou Magic starts at CHF 375. Bricks 4 Kidz runs a LEGO party at home for CHF 490, ATELIER Pastel a creative workshop for CHF 440 for up to 10 children, and Kubiq Room rents a boxed escape game from CHF 250.

Plan B when the party was meant to be outdoors

If you had planned an outdoor party, check the rain conditions in advance. KIDLOC-GE cancels a bouncy castle rental free of charge in bad weather. The pirate party at the Bains des Pâquis moves into a yurt in winter, and the Pro Natura centre at Champ-Pittet only hosts parties from mid-March to October.

When the forecast changes at the last minute, you need a free slot quickly. On KidsConfetti, one free request goes to up to 3 venues or entertainers per category, so you do not have to call each one. Include the children's ages, the number of guests and any allergies in your request.