11 Best Family Things to Do in Munich

As one of the best ranked zoological parks in Europe, Hellabrunn Zoo is a great place to take your children for a lovely day out. Covering 40 hectares, 5 km south of Munich downtown, it’s home to over 18,000 animals of over 750 species. Founded in 1911, it introduced the Geo-zoo concept: animals living together in large, open-air spaces designed to resemble their native habitats. With 3 restaurants, 6 ice cream kiosks and 1 crepe kiosk, you can comfortably spend the day at Hellabrunn Zoo.

Munich Town Hall Glockenspiel is a very popular attraction on Marienplatz. Built in 1908, the 2-level mechanical theatre involving 32 life-sized figures re-enact events from the 16th century on a daily basis. The Duke Wilhelm V’s wedding happens in the top part and the Coopers’ dance is in the lower part. The daily show lasts about 12 minutes and ends right after the rooster crows 3 times. You can watch the show from the terrace of one of the many cafés that line the square.

The Englischer Garten (English Garden) is a 3.7 sq km public park near the center of Munich. A 78 km network of paths meanders through large patches of lawn and wooden areas, giving cyclists, joggers and strollers plenty of room to enjoy themselves. You’ll find a large kids’ playground just next to the Japanese Teahouse Kanshoan. If you’re into surfing, you can have a go at riding the artificial wave at the southern end of the Eisbach stream. The park also hosts restaurants, a couple of beer gardens and ice cream kiosks.

The Bavaria Film Studios is a 300,000 sq m complex 8 km south of Munich city center. Used both for television and films production, it’s one of the largest film studios in Europe. A guided tour takes you through a range of movie sets including those for Asterix & Obelix, The Neverending Story and Das Boot, just to name a few. With a green screen and 4D Motion Simulation Movie theater, you’ll learn a lot about how movies are made during this captivating tour.

Known as the Spielzeugmuseum in German, Munich Toy Museum is settled in the old Town Hall on Marienplatz. Embark for a tour of a small exhibition that takes you through a short history of toys. Housed on 4 floors, you’ll see the evolution of the Teddy Bear through the year, as well as many vintage toy cars, animals, ships, military figures and more. Mind the spiral staircase to reach the ticket desk as it’s pretty steep, but you can then take the lift to get to the other floors.

The Deutsches Museum is the place to go if you and your children are interested in science and technology. Established on an island in the middle of the River Isar, a walk away from the city center, this museum takes you for a fascinating ride through the history of humanity through its great inventions. From natural sciences to energy and from mechanics to physics, you’ll learn a lot in this huge, interactive museum. You can easily spend the whole day at the Deutsches Museum, especially as it has an excellent cafeteria.

BMW Museum displays over 100 models by the renowned automobile company, including motorcycles, sports cars, and commercial vehicles. The museum itself features a futuristic concept, resembling a gigantic, silvery bowl and its iconic logo is visible from any high-rise building in Munich. The museum is also directly connected to the BMW Welt, a futuristic-themed showroom displaying the latest vehicle models. Guided tours are available in English and German from 10.15am to 4.30pm.

Munich’s Palaeontological Museum is an excellent option for families with dinosaur-loving little ones in tow. Conveniently located in the city centre, this intriguing 3-storey museum showcases an array of pre-historic fossils. Other exhibits cover plants, animals, and human evolution to broaden the educational experience.

The museum primarily caters for school-aged children, and some easy-to-digest information is provided in English. Budget travelers will be delighted to hear that the entry is free (a small donation is always appreciated). A guided tour of the grounds (in German only) runs on the first Sunday of the month.

The Museum of Man and Nature (Museum Mensch und Natur) occupies the north wing of Munich’s iconic Nymphenburg Palace. It has various exhibits dedicated to natural history, along with interactive activities catered for families with kids.

Guided tours for children usually take place on Fridays, while Sundays are dedicated to earthquake simulators. One of its most popular displays is JJ1, a taxidermied brown bear. Kids aged 18 and younger can enjoy free admission to the Museum of Man and Nature.

Munich’s Olympic Park (Olympiapark München) was home to the 1972 Olympic Games. It has now been transformed into an enormous green space for walking, biking, sports, and many activities. It is easily accessible as it has its own metro station.

Meet friends at Olympic Park for a stroll to the top of the hill to enjoy a breathtaking view of sunrise or sunset over the city. Take in panoramic city views from its tower. Families will enjoy the funfair with rides and games of chance. Photographers will love the spacious grounds perfect for capturing unique shots while sporty types can take advantage of zip-lining, indoor pools, an ice rink, mini golf and inline skating.

Freizeitpark Märchenwald is an amusement park in the Bavarian town of Wolfratshausen. Your family will love the magic created in this whimsical park where German folk tales are animated with moving figures like talking trees. Younger children will be enthralled by the tipsy-topsy houses, toy trains, and playgrounds. Older children will love the excitement of rollercoasters and high slides.

Freizeitpark Märchenwald offers plenty of parking and there are many options for food and beverages. The well-laid-out design is easy to follow with the provided map. The entry fee includes access to all rides within the park.