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Arosa with kids: a summer family guide to the Swiss Alps
Arosa sits at 1,775 metres at the head of the Schanfigg Valley and holds the official Swiss "Family Destination" quality seal. It runs a free supervised children's programme called the Bear Gang and bundles most of its summer activities into a single guest card that costs nothing for overnight visitors. For families staying at Hotel Altein, an Arosa holiday with kids works on two levels: the children get a programme built for them, and the parents get genuine downtime without an extra invoice at the end of the week.
Why Arosa works for families
Arosa is compact, walkable and high enough that summer temperatures stay comfortable. The village runs along a ridge between two lakes, the Obersee and the Untersee, with the Bear Sanctuary up on the mountainside and the bike trails dropping back into the valley from Hörnli. A family with a four-year-old and a ten-year-old can plan a day that covers the lake, a gondola ride and the playground without anyone needing a car.
The Bear Gang gives parents a real break, the Arosa Card removes the constant ticket-buying that drains the budget on a typical alpine holiday, and family-focused hotels like Hotel Altein make those benefits free for guest children rather than a paid add-on.
The Arosa Card: what families actually get
Every guest staying at least one night at an Arosa hotel, holiday apartment or campsite receives the Arosa Card free of charge from reception. It is availiable from 13 June to 25 October 2026 (valid for the stay) and covers the things families spend the most on during a summer holiday in the Alps.
Free with the card for every member of the family:
Reduced with the card: Bear Sanctuary entry at CHF 5 for adults and CHF 3 for children, and 30% off bike transport on cable cars. For a family of four, the card easily covers several hundred Swiss francs of activity costs over a typical week.
Summer activities to do with kids in Arosa
Visit the Arosa Bear Sanctuary
The Bear Sanctuary, opened in 2018, was the first of its kind in Switzerland. Bears rescued from cages and circuses are given a permanent home in a natural mountain enclosure. For children, it is a chance to see real bears at close range while learning why they ended up there. The sanctuary sits below the Weisshorn middle station and is reached by gondola, free with the Arosa Card. On site there is a visitor platform, a children's playground, bear minigolf and an adventure trail. Guests of Hotel Altein should ask at reception on arrival, as free entry tickets are often available.
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Splash at Lido Untersee and Obersee
The two village lakes give you two different experiences. Lido Untersee is a small alpine bathing lake with traditional 1950s-style changing cabins, a grass beach, a heated children's pool and an on-site restaurant, free with the Arosa Card. Obersee, the larger lake, has the pedalos and rowing boats (also free with the card), a lakeside playground and the Ochsenbühl sports area with its pump track.
Walk the Squirrel Trail
The Eichhörnliweg is a 1.7 kilometre loop where children can feed semi-wild red squirrels along the way. With stops, it takes most families one to two hours. Arosa Tourism produces an interactive puzzle booklet that turns the walk into a small adventure, and the trail works in light rain because most of it runs through forest.
Ride the Weisshorn gondola
The Weisshorn cable car runs to 2,653 metres and is free with the Arosa Card. From the top, easy meadow walks fan out and you can ride the gondola back down rather than walking.
Mountain biking with kids in Arosa
Arosa is part of the Bike Kingdom region and has invested heavily in family biking.
The Bike Skill Centre at the Hörnli-Express valley station is free to use and includes four graded practice trails, a conveyor belt that takes riders back to the top, a family area, a pump track and small dirt jumps. Most families start here before tackling the longer downhill trails.
The Hörnli Trail is the area's signature family flow trail, with 113 banked curves and four rest stops. It is recommended for families with some biking experience. For younger children or first-timers, the Ochsenbühl pump track next to the Obersee playground is a better warm-up. Its asphalt surface works for mountain bikes, scooters and inline skates.
The Arosa Bike School runs the Bear Bike Gang for ages 3 to 14. Its season ticket also covers the Bear Gang children's programme, so one purchase covers two activities across the week. Bike transport on the cable cars is not free with the Arosa Card, but card holders receive a 30% discount at Arosa cash desks.
When parents need a break: the Arosa Bear Gang
The Bear Gang (Bärenbande) is Arosa's supervised children's programme, running in July, August and October. Mornings are open from age 4 to 5 with indoor crafting, games and storytelling. Afternoons are for children from age 6 with outdoor activities: hut building, BBQ, bear safaris, fire brigade and police visits, baking sessions in a hotel kitchen. On Mondays, the group takes the fairy-tale train to Langwies and back with a storyteller on board (CHF 5 per child).
For guests of Hotel Altein, this matters: as an official Bear Gang partner hotel, the entire programme is free for children staying with us. Other accommodation pays a small fee. Registration is by phone between 10.00 and 10.45 each day, and a hot lunch can be added on request. For parents, this is the difference between a busy family holiday and an actual break: drop the children in the morning, head out for a long hike or a spa session, and meet them at the end of the day with stories from the alpine kitchen.
Practical planning
Getting to Arosa. From Chur, the Arosa Express runs roughly hourly through the Schanfigg Valley to Arosa station. The journey takes about an hour and is itself an event for children. The Arosa Card includes the Lüen-Castiel to Arosa section during your stay.
When to go. Summer activities run mid-June to mid-October, with the Bear Gang in July, August and October. July and August are warmest for the Lido. September and early October are quieter and ideal for hiking with older children.
What to pack. Layers, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, a rain shell, and a drinks bottle for children joining the Bear Gang.
Plan your Arosa family stay
The free Arosa Card removes the running cost of an alpine summer, and the Bear Gang gives both children and parents space to enjoy the holiday on their own terms. Hotel Altein sits within easy walking distance of the lakes and gondola stations, with family rooms, a 950 m² wellness area and Bear Gang partner status that makes the kids' programme free for our guests.
Explore more Arosa experiences
Frequently asked questions
What is the best age to bring kids to Arosa in summer?
Arosa works for ages 3 and up. The Bear Gang accepts children from age 4 in mornings and from age 6 in afternoons. Younger children enjoy the lakes, pedalos, Squirrel Trail and Bear Sanctuary without needing the structured programme.
Is the Arosa Card really free?
Yes, for any guest staying at least one night in an Arosa hotel, holiday apartment or campsite. You receive it at check-in, with the cost built into the local tourism tax. Day visitors pay CHF 50 per person.
Can you mountain bike with young children in Arosa?
Yes. The free Bike Skill Centre at Hörnli has dedicated practice areas with a conveyor belt for kids, the Ochsenbühl pump track works for very young children on balance bikes or scooters, and the Arosa Bike School runs supervised lessons for ages 3 to 14.
What if it rains?
The Squirrel Trail runs largely through forest and is fine in light rain. The Lido Untersee has a heated children's pool. The Bear Gang's morning programme is indoors.