Exploring Zug with Children: Family-Friendly Highlights, Tips & Hidden Gems
- Camilla
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
We finally made it to Zug — and it completely exceeded our expectations! We spent 48 wonderful hours discovering this lakeside gem with our children, and it quickly became one of our favourite family getaways in Switzerland.
Friday Evening: A Warm Welcome at Park Hotel Zug
We arrived at the Park Hotel in central Zug on Friday evening. We had a long drive so we dropped off our suitcases and headed downstairs to the bar. The staff at the bar and restaurant were amazing!
Mo made us all our own personalised cocktails (including paper umbrellas which Alba loved) and the energy and atmosphere was just what we needed. We ate in the hotel restaurant which is called Aigu and offers French themed food so Jean was delighted about. The food was excellent and we were all made to feel very welcome.
After a good night’s sleep, we were up early and ready to enjoy the breakfast buffet, which offered a generous selection of sweet and savoury favourites.
Saturday Morning: History Comes Alive at Museum Burg Zug
Our plan for the morning was to visit the Burg Zug museum which was a short walk from the hotel. Generally the word “museum” is not a hit with the children but they soon changed their minds when we arrived and saw the suit of armour on display alongside a box of replica versions they would try on. We managed to talk Jude out of the chain mail before exploring the rest of the museum. It’s a really beautiful building, packed full of historical artefacts relating to the history of Zug. We loved discovering more about our surroundings and there was plenty to keep the children busy.
We had a bit of time after our visit so we strolled through the town and had a coffee in the sunshine on the shores of the lake. It’s a bustling town which a lovely market and beautiful scenery everywhere you look.
Saturday Afternoon: Lake Views and the Zugiblubbi Adventure Trail
We made a quick stop at the hotel to get ready for the net part of our day, which was a hike to Zugiblubbi adventure trail. We parked the car then took the Zugerberg Bahn up to the top where there are lots of different trails to follow. We followed the Zugiblubbi path which had lots of fun stations for the children to keep them motivated. It’s a beautiful path through fields and forests and we all really enjoyed it. Back at the station and we decided to have a bite to eat before heading down to the car on foot (but you can of course also take the cable car.
Saturday Evening: Dinner and Fun at Freiruum
For dinner, we were trying the Freiruum which is a huge warehouse kind of space packed with food stalls, cool music and places for children to play. It was such a fun evening and between us we managed to try sushi, pizzas and crepes. It’s definitely somewhere you must visit while you are in Zug.
Sunday Morning: Exploring the Magical Höllgrotten Caves
Sunday arrived all too quickly and we checked out of the hotel in our hiking gear and set off for the magical Höllgrotten caves. It’s a short (rather steep) walk to the caves which are beautiful and a really fascinating place to visit with children. There is something otherworldly about being underground in these ancient caves steeped in history that makes you forget everything for a moment. Back outside and we followed the trail to see visit the Schlaufensteg footbridge and Schwarzenbach waterfall before heading back to the car.
Sunday Afternoon: Lake Cruise on the Zugersee
We had time for a quick change before heading down to the port in Zug where we were embarking on a Zugersee cruise :-). The boat is gorgeous with plenty of seating both indoors and out. We were eating lunch on board so we headed straight for the restaurant. There is a good menu with plenty of choice for everyone.
The scenery all around is absolutely stunning and we were really lucky to have had beautiful sunshine which really enhanced the experience. On board, there is an adventure trail for the children to find so Jude and Alba were busy solving puzzles to find the password and win a prize. This is a really good idea for little travellers and it kept them nicely occupied. The boat trip is a great way to explore the area and we spotted lots of other beautiful little towns we would like to come back and visit. It was a beautiful way to end a truly magical weekend.
Zug is a gorgeous place which combines the bustle of a busy town with the incredible access to mountainsides and lakes within a few kilometres. We felt slightly abashed that it has taken us so long to visit but we will certainly be back.
Information
Zug Tourism
Bahnhofplatz
6300 Zug
+41 41 511 75 00
Places mentioned in this article:
🚠 Zugerberg Bahn – www.zbb.ch
⛴️ Zugersee-Schifffahrt – www.zugersee-schifffahrt.ch
🏰 Museum Burg Zug – www.burgzug.ch
🌋 Höllgrotten Caves – www.hoellgrotten.ch
🍽️ Aigu Restaurant (Park Hotel) – www.parkhotelzug.ch/en/restaurant-aigu
🎡 Freiruum – www.freiruum.ch
💙 Zug Tourism – @inlovewithzug – www.zug-tourismus.ch
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway from Zurich or exploring more of Switzerland with kids, Zug is the perfect destination for families. With its lakeside charm, mountain views, and plenty of fun things to do for all ages — from the Zugiblubbi Adventure Trail and Höllgrotten Caves to boat cruises and cozy restaurants — this small city offers everything you could want for a relaxing and memorable family trip. Zug may be one of Switzerland’s hidden gems, but it’s one we can’t wait to visit again.
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