Frankfurt, Germany
Going on vacation in a big city means there’s plenty of entertainment on hand for the whole family, but it can be a challenge to strike the balance between sightseeing and family activities, while keeping everyone happy. Whether you’ve got teenagers to impress or youngsters to keep amused, here are some ideas for fun things to do in Frankfurt with kids.
1. Spend a day at the museum
Frankfurt has a huge range of museums, many of which offer free or discounted entry for children and interactive exhibitions that appeal to all ages. Top of the list is the aptly named Frankfurt Children’s Museum, an offshoot of the Frankfurt Historical Museum specially designed to engage young minds and offers a variety of hands-on exhibitions and workshops.
Other good choices include the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, where you’ll spot everything from dinosaur skeletons to Egyptian mummies; the nearby Science Center, with ample interactive science exhibits; and the Deutsches Filmmuseum, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at filming, editing, special effects and music, with lots of multi-media displays and interactive stations.
2. Explore the urban outdoors
Hire a bike and pedal around the vast Grüneburgpark, visit the playground in the City Forest, spot parrots and cockatoos at the Vogelburg nature park or explore the beautiful Palmengarten botanical gardens. Alternatively, get up close to more than 4,500 different animal species at Frankfurt Zoo, Germany’s second-oldest zoo, or organize a day trip into the Black Forest.
3. Visit a theme park
Plan a day trip to the enormous Europa-Park, Germany’s largest theme park, or Phantasialand, both around 2 hours driving from Frankfurt, where the rides include everything from steep roller-coasters to log flumes to spinning teacups. Closer to the city, the Taunus Wunderland has roller-coasters and free-fall rides, plus lots of rides, activities and play areas for younger kids. Also consider the Kurpfalzpark, which has a summer toboggan run, boating lake and adventure playground.
4. Liven up your sightseeing
Sightseeing doesn’t have to mean guided walks and tours of historical monuments – instead, choose attractions that the whole family can enjoy, like climbing to the top of the Kaiserdom Steeple or taking in the views from the 200-meter-tall Main Tower, Frankfurt’s highest skyscraper. A hop-on hop-off bus tour of Frankfurt, a ride on the Apple Wine Express tourist train, or a scenic cruise along the Rhine river are all good ways to liven up a day’s sightseeing. Or consider a day trip to the spectacular Atta Cave or Neuschwanstein Castle, the real-life Sleeping Beauty castle. Finish with a visit to the famous Das Spielzimmer toy store to pick up some kid-friendly souvenirs.
- Contributed by Zoe Smith
Things to Do in Frankfurt With Kids from Germany Things to Do
