Ice skating in Zurich with kids: Dolder, Heuried, and Oerlikon
Ice skating in Zurich with kids: Dolder, Heuried, and Oerlikon
Where to skate in Zurich this winter, what it costs, and how to rent and sharpen skates for kids.
The short version
Where: Zurich has three main public outdoor rinks: Dolder, Heuried, and Oerlikon. All three are open from October 17, 2026, to March 7, 2027.
Cost: Entry is CHF 8 for adults and CHF 4 for kids aged 6 to 15. Renting skates costs CHF 6 at Heuried and Oerlikon, and CHF 8 at Dolder.
Free days: On Sunday, November 8, and Sunday, February 7, entry and skate rental are free at all three rinks, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For beginners: All three rinks rent stakes, skating aids, and helmets.
Sharpening: CHF 15 at the rinks or at Decathlon.
Before your first time
How it works. Public skating, or Schlittschuhlaufen, is walk-in in Zurich. You pay at the entrance, rent skates if you need them, change, and go on the ice. There’s no booking and no time slot. Heuried and Oerlikon have a deposit for rentals, so bring cash or ID.
What to bring. Dress everyone warmly, and put the kids in snow pants: they’ll fall a lot at first, and snow pants keep them dry and padded. Gloves are a must, and a helmet is a good idea. All three rinks lend helmets for small kids for free (Heuried and Oerlikon take a deposit), so you don’t need to bring one unless your kids are older. Pack snacks and a thermos of something warm, because cold kids on skates lose interest fast. If your kids are new to skating, rent a skating aid at the rink that they can hold onto while they find their balance. Bring a padlock if you’re going to Oerlikon.
What ages it’s best for. For the youngest skaters, the city rinks rent the Rutscherli, a beginner option for toddlers, plus skating aids to hold onto. At Dolder, kids under 10 need an adult with them.
Renting, season rental, and sharpening
Renting at the rink. Every rink rents skates, so you don’t need your own to start:
| Heuried and Oerlikon | Dolder | |
|---|---|---|
| Skates | CHF 6, plus a deposit | CHF 8 |
| Rutscherli for toddlers | CHF 3, plus a deposit | CHF 4 |
| Skating aid | CHF 3, plus a deposit | Eisbär (polar bear) learning aid, CHF 6 |
| Helmet for small kids | Free, against a deposit | Free while stocks last |
Season rental. If you’ll skate often, you can rent skates for the whole winter instead. Both options below let you change sizes during the season, which helps when kids grow.
- Decathlon rents skates for the season, and you can swap sizes during the winter. If you book by November 10, the early-bird offer takes 20% off.
- dance&glamour, a figure skating shop in Zurich, rents skates from CHF 90 for the season, plus a CHF 100 cash deposit. Size changes during the season are free, and the skates go back by March 31.
Sharpening. Blades need sharpening every so often. You have three options in Zurich:
- Dolder: CHF 15 at the rink.
- Heuried: CHF 15 at the rink, but it takes about a week.
- Decathlon: CHF 15. Call your store first to check that it sharpens skates.
The rinks
Dolder Eisbahn
A big outdoor rink above the city, with a terrace restaurant and the most events
| DatesOct 17, 2026–Mar 7, 2027. Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 9 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Wed 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.–5:45 p.m. | SettingOutdoor | EntryAdults CHF 8, kids 6–15 CHF 4. Family ticket CHF 50 (2 adults and up to 3 kids under 16, skates included) |
| RentalSkates CHF 8, kids’ helmets free | Best forFamilies who want a day out | |
Dolder is the one to choose for a weekend outing. It’s a large rink on the hill above the city, and the self-service restaurant has a terrace overlooking the ice, with Älplermagronen, fondue, and bratwurst. The family ticket is the best deal in the city if you’re renting skates for everyone.
It’s also the rink with the most going on. On Sunday, December 6, Samichlaus is on the ice from 1 to 5 p.m. and hands out treats. There’s a Christmas tree on the ice from November 29 to December 31. On Saturday, January 23, the ice disco has a “Frozen” theme with face painting from 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Good to know: Take tram 2 or 3 to Römerhof, then the Dolderbahn funicular to the top, and walk about four minutes. The rink can close early in bad weather. Kids under 10 need an adult with them.
Official website: doldereisundbad.ch/eisbahn · On our calendar: Dolder ice rink
Kunsteisbahn Heuried
The city rink in Wiedikon, open late most evenings
| DatesOct 17, 2026–Mar 7, 2027. Mon 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Tue 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Wed 9 a.m.–10 p.m., Thu 9 a.m.–7:15 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–7 p.m. | SettingOutdoor | EntryAdults CHF 8, kids 6–15 CHF 4 |
| RentalSkates CHF 6, Rutscherli and skating aids CHF 3, toddler helmets free | Best forAfter-school and weekend skating | |
Heuried is a straightforward neighborhood rink with long hours, including late evenings on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Public skating is on the outdoor rink. The indoor rink is mostly used by clubs.
On Sunday mornings from 10 to 12, half the outdoor rink is set aside for parent-and-child hockey for kids up to about 14. If yours want to try a stick and puck, a hockey stick costs CHF 5 to rent. The restaurant, Vrenelisgärtli, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Good to know: Heuried sharpens skates for CHF 15, but it takes about a week, so drop them off well before you need them.
Official website: stadt-zuerich.ch, Heuried · On our calendar: Heuried ice rink
Kunsteisbahn Oerlikon
The city rink in north Zurich, open mostly during the day
| DatesOct 17, 2026–Mar 7, 2027. Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Wed 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m., Sat noon–7 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | SettingOutdoor | EntryAdults CHF 8, kids 6–15 CHF 4 |
| RentalSkates CHF 6, Rutscherli and skating aids CHF 3, toddler helmets free | Best forDaytime skating with small kids | |
Oerlikon has the same prices and rentals as Heuried, but public skating finishes earlier on weekdays, so it works best for daytime skating with kids who aren’t in school yet. On Sunday mornings from 10 to 12, a third of the outdoor rink is used for parent-and-child hockey.
The restaurant is the Stadiönli. There’s a wheelchair ramp from the parking lot, and the rink rents a wheelchair ice glider for free.
Good to know: Bring your own padlock for the lockers.
Official website: stadt-zuerich.ch, Oerlikon · On our calendar: Oerlikon ice rink
Special days this season
- Free skating: Sunday, November 8, and Sunday, February 7, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Dolder, Heuried, and Oerlikon. Entry and skate rental are free for everyone, so expect queues.
- Swiss Life Arena: On Sunday, February 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., you can skate for free in the main arena where the ZSC Lions play. There’s no rental, so bring your own skates. Use entrance T.
- Samichlaus on Ice at Dolder: Sunday, December 6, 1 to 5 p.m.
- Kids’ speed race at Dolder: Saturday, November 14, for kids born 2011 to 2019.
- Christmas Eve skating at Dolder: Thursday, December 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- “Frozen” ice disco at Dolder: Saturday, January 23, 4 to 10 p.m., with face painting from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Kids under 6 need a VIP ticket, which you book online.
- Afterwork on Ice: On the first Wednesday of each month, 6 to 10 p.m. at Heuried and Oerlikon, entry is free and rentals are cheap. Fondue is by reservation only. It’s more of a grown-up evening, but it works if your kids are older.
Skating lessons
Most kids’ courses in Zurich are run by clubs, not the rinks, and they fill up early.
- ECZ Kunstlauf, Dolder: Figure skating courses on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings, from late October to early March. Fifteen lessons cost CHF 240. The beginner course for kids from age 4 is already full, but there’s a waiting list.
- ESCZ, Oerlikon: Courses for kids from age 4 are full for this season.
Before you go
- Warm layers and snow pants for the kids
- Gloves for everyone
- A helmet for older kids (small kids can borrow one free at the rink)
- Snacks and a thermos of hot chocolate or tea
- Cash or ID for the rental deposit at Heuried and Oerlikon
- A padlock for the lockers at Oerlikon
- Book a season rental at Decathlon by November 10 for the early-bird discount
- Drop off skates for sharpening at Heuried a week before you need them
- Mark November 8 and February 7 for free skating