Whether you’re looking to travel with babies, toddlers or teenagers, or fancy enjoying a multi-generational vacation to remember, Germany is a fantastic family-friendly destination, thanks to its rewardingly rich mix of history, culture, nature, and fun attractions for all ages. Like the sound of that? Keep reading for more on the subject of visiting Germany with kids. As a bonus, here we also share a suggested 7-day family-friendly Germany itinerary to kickstart your adventures.
Boasting safe cities, friendly villages, excellent infrastructure, and countless family-friendly attractions, Germany is a breeze to explore with children, and a breeze to get around.
With attractions ranging from castles that seem conjured from a fairy tale, fun interactive museums, and thrilling amusement parks, Germany is also loaded with stunning natural landscapes that are ripe for outdoor adventures, for all ages and abilities.
Take your pick from easy walks in the family-friendly Black Forest, or enjoying more high-octane adventures in the Bavarian Alps, for just a couple of examples.
Also pretty affordable if you take the time to research accommodation, and arm yourself with travel cards, Germany’s hearty-style food is also likely to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Visiting Germany with kids can be an absolute joy! Black Forest © Shutterstock
From deciding when’s the best time to visit Germany with kids, to what to eat, and unique experiences to consider including in your itinerary, here are our top ten tips for traveling to Germany with kids
The best time to visit Germany with kids is during late spring (May–June) and early fall (September). These periods offer pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and plenty of seasonal festivals and outdoor activities.
While summer (July–August) is also lovely, and weather is never really too hot, theme parks can be crowded and hotels are more expensive.
Also note that December is a magical time for families — think Christmas markets, twinkling lights, and seasonal treats that delight kids and adults alike.
Conversely, the least favorable time to visit Germany with kids is January-March, when the weather is cold, grey, and many outdoor attractions are closed or less enjoyable.
That said, winter sports destinations like the Bavarian Alps may appeal to skiing families.
While we still vote for spring or fall, the best time for you to visit Germany with kids depends on what, exactly, you most want to do!
Kids might just get into currywurst during your vacation! © Shutterstock
Germany has an excellent transport system, which means getting around Germany with kids is easy, safe and very efficient.
Trains are one of the best ways to get around, with the Deutsche Bahn (DB) rail network connecting all major cities and many smaller towns.
Families can use high-speed ICE trains for long distances, or regional trains (RE, RB) for shorter trips.
Children under 15 travel free with a parent on many routes, and there are family areas and quiet zones on board.
Public transport in cities, including the U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (commuter rail), trams and buses, is safe, affordable, and largely stroller-friendly.
Family day passes are available and offer great value.
For greater flexibility, especially if you plan to explore rural regions like Bavaria or the Black Forest, renting a car might make sense. Roads are well maintained, and rest stops are family-friendly, with clean facilities and play areas.
Cycling is also an option in many towns, with excellent bike paths, bike rental schemes and child-friendly trails.
Floating tram, Wuppertal, Germany © Shutterstock
Germany is very safe, but here are a few practical tips to stay extra safe when traveling to (and around) Germany with kids.
While most German cities are clean and secure, keep a close eye on kids in crowded areas, and teach them to spot uniformed staff or police if they get separated.
Always use designated pedestrian crossings and teach kids not to step into cycle lanes.
On public transport, validate tickets as you board, and keep children seated or safely positioned.
When exploring Germany’s awe-inspiring outdoors, always stick to marked trails in forests and mountains, and be mindful of steep paths or cycling routes in hilly areas and near water.
While it can be tempting to pack as much as possible into your vacation, we suggest resisting the urge to over-stuff your itinerary.
Tired kids (and grown-ups) are likely to get fed up and irritable, putting paid to your best-laid plans.
Our tip is to factor in plenty of time to rest and relax. For example, include generous buffers around your schedule, and leave some days entirely free from the dictates of a schedule.
In addition to traveling slow, look to include a range of Germany’s most child-friendly attractions and experiences in your itinerary (more on those a little later).
It’s also a good idea to alternate sight-seeing with enjoying fun activities that are likely to have more appeal for the younger members of your family.
Also, while planning where you’ll sightsee, check maps to locate nearby parks, playgrounds and cake/ice cream shops.
Berlin, Germany © Novikov Aleksey/Shutterstock
While Germany is well-equipped for family travel, with a wide range of comfortable, safe, child-friendly accommodation across the country’s cities, towns and rural areas, be sure to check places have exactly what you need for the ages of your kids.
For example, you might want to look for spacious family rooms or suites with multiple beds or a separate sleeping area for kids. Or maybe you need a crib and high chair for very little kids, or you want an on-site play area to keep older kids happy. The key is to expect nothing, and check everything!
To make your trip to Germany with kids all the more memorable, we also suggest checking out special places to stay.
For example, Germany’s Kinderhotels (specialized family resorts) offer playgrounds, kids’ clubs, pools and plenty of activities.
You could also look to stay in a real castle (e.g. Burg Colmberg or Schloss Hornberg) for a magical fairy-tale experience, with farm stays (Bauernhofurlaub) also having huge appeal for kids.
To help you narrow down your search, read our guide to the best places to stay in Germany.
Most restaurants offer child-friendly dishes, often with the likes of mini schnitzel, sausages, or spätzle (a soft noodle kids tend to love).
Pretzels are a great snack to stock up on, and German bakeries are loaded with treats to everyone happy!
Germany has over 20,000 castles, but some are especially fun for kids.
You could, for example, focus on the likes of Burg Eltz, Neuschwanstein, or the Playmobil FunPark’s castle replica.
if your kids are a little older, consider planning your trip around family-friendly festivals.
For example, Munich’s Oktoberfest is family-oriented in the daytime, Carnival (Karneval) is a fabulous extravaganza of parades and costumes, especially in Cologne, and Germany’s legendary Christmas markets are loaded with rides, festive fun and seasonal sweets!
Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, this themed road trip links towns tied to fairy tales like Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty, with storybook towns and interactive museums.
For more pre-trip advice, dive into our guide to how to plan a trip to Germany.
Bremen is on Germanys fairy tale route © Shutterstock
Including some of the best things to do in Germany, here are some of the best things to do in Germany with kids on a vacation that mixes entertainment, outdoor fun, and cultural discovery.
While the sky’s limit when it comes to configuring a family-friendly Germany itinerary, the following suggested 7-night option has a focus on Bavaria.
Combining city culture, castles, and nature, and featuring a mix of hands-on museums, open spaces, and fun activities for kids, we’ve kept travel times manageable (mostly 1–3 hours) across three bases — Munich, Nuremberg and the Black Forest.
After arriving in Munich, settle into your family-friendly hotel — you might want to wise up on the best area to stay in Munich.
Rest up if you need to before heading out to stroll the magnificent Marienplatz. After watching the celebrated Glockenspiel do its fun, musical thing, grab ice cream and soak up the square’s lively vibe before heading to a traditional beer garden for dinner. Many have playgrounds for kids)
Day two will surely turn out to be a much-treasured highpoint of your trip, thanks to visiting the fairy-tale-esque Neuschwanstein Castle
We suggest you take the trai the Füssen (it takes around two hours) and then ride up to the castle in a horse-drawn carriage.
Take your time exploring the castle and its scenic surroundings — there are plenty of family-run, family-friendly places to eat around these pretty parts — before heading back to Munich in the late afternoon, allowing time to relax that evening.
Neuschwanstein, Germany © Shutterstock
Day three is devoted to doing a deeper dive into Munich’s museums and green spaces, starting out at the Deutsches Museum, which is packed with child-pleasing interactive science exhibits.
Given that you’ll have been cooped up indoors for a few hours, spend the afternoon in the English Garden. Pack a picnic, rent pedal boats, and watch the river surfers.
Alternatively, head to the BMW Museum, or spend a few hours in the Sea Life Aquarium.
Like the sound of Munich? Read up on how many days you need in Munich.
On day four, take an early one-hour train to Nuremberg — a family-friendly medieval town that conjures old-world magic, not least thanks to its charming Old Town and castle.
After visiting said castle, be sure to head to the Toy Museum, perhaps stopping for snacks at a bratwurst stand.
A shift in scenery and pace awaits on day five, when you’ll travel to the beautiful Black Forest region.
We suggest basing yourself in Triberg or Titisee-Neustadt, both of which can be reached in around three hours from Nuremburg.
Here you can enjoy forest hikes, toboggan runs, and nature trails, visit Triberg Waterfalls, and see the world’s largest cuckoo clock!
This region is also rich in family-run guesthouses and farm stays.
Traditional Christmas market, Frankfurt, Germany © Shutterstock
Spend day six exploring Freiburg — a welcoming family-friendly town with canals and a great open-air market.
Alternatively, you could head to Lake Titisee, which boasts pedal boats, safe swimming zones, lakeside cafés and forest walks.
Day 7 is departure day, so rise early to make your way to Frankfurt (2–3 hours) for your homeward flight.
If time allows, stop at charming Heidelberg en route.
If your flight is late in the day, you could take a take a short river cruise on the Main or visit the Senckenberg Natural History Museum before heading to the airport.
Keen to enjoy a vacation in Germany with your kids? Browse our Germany itineraries for more inspiration before taking the plunge and booking your vacation.
Alternatively, to forgo all the hassle of planning, have our local Germany travel experts curate your perfect family vacation for any duration.
written by
Joanne Owen
updated 26.03.2025
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for visiting Germany
