If you’re planning a family city break in Germany, then Munich with kids should be on your radar!
This Bavarian beauty is a fantastic destination, packed with child-friendly activities, gorgeous green spaces, and a laid-back, welcoming vibe.
With everything from world-class museums to fairytale castles, huge parks, and epic playgrounds. Munich has plenty to keep the kids entertained (and the adults, too!).
Read on to discover all the top tips and must-visit attractions that will help you plan your perfect Munich family getaway.
How to Get to Munich
Flying to Munich
You can fly directly to Munich from the UK in just under 2 hours. Munich International Airport (MUC) is located about 40km (25 miles) northeast of the city centre. The airport is one of Germany’s busiest, with flights arriving from all over Europe and beyond.
From the airport to Munich city centre, you can take a taxi, which will cost around €70 and take about 45 minutes. You can also take the S-Bahn trains (S1 or S8), which run every 10-20 minutes and take about 45 minutes to reach central Munich. The Lufthansa Express Bus takes you directly to the main train station in around 45 minutes.
Munich Airport to the city centre via direct train takes 45 minutes and costs around €11 for a ticket.
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Trains to Munich
Munich’s Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station) is a major railway hub, with direct trains arriving from cities like Vienna, Zurich, Prague, and Paris. Deutsche Bahn (DB) operates the majority of services, and the ICE high-speed trains are the quickest way to travel.
You can take the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels by train. You could always stop in Paris or Brussels for a few days before continuing on to Munich! If you’re coming via Paris, you’ll need to make your way to Gare de l’Est, a 10-minute walk from Gare du Nord, to catch a high-speed TGV train to Munich.
This leg of the journey takes around 5 hours and 40 minutes, whisking you through the French and German countryside at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
If you’re travelling via Brussels, hop on a Thalys or ICE train to Cologne, where you’ll transfer to a high-speed ICE train that will take you directly to Munich in about 4.5 hours.
Where to Stay in Munich with Kids
Munich has many options for a family stay, and we found the quality standards of Munich city centre hotels to be great.
If you are looking for a family-friendly budget hotel, a convenient aparthotel for the family or a luxury experience, then a city break in Munich covers all these options with style.
Budget: H2 Hotel München Olympiapark
H2 Hotel München Olympiapark is in a great location in central Munich. It offers excellent value for money and is highly family-friendly. The hotel is close to the Olympiapark and the BMW Welt/Museum.
The rooms are modern and there is a lovely sun terrace, a coffee shop, and a restaurant on site.
Mid-Range: Citadines Arnulfpark Munich
Citadines Arnulfpark Munich is located 2km from the old town, close to many Munich family attractions. There are separate living and sleeping areas, as well as a modern kitchen.
You can get a continental breakfast on-site or visit the many cafes/restaurants nearby. Cots are free on request, and there is a small charge for extra beds.
Splashing Out: Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor
Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor is a 5-star luxury hotel nestled between the English Garden and the Olympic Stadium. The hotel has a spa, fitness area, swimming pool, and a rooftop bar with a fantastic panoramic view of Munich and the Alps.
There are three restaurants and a café at the hotel that serves incredible food and room service if you want to relax after a busy day in Munich. Cots and extra beds are available on request.
Top 10 Things to Do in Munich with Children
Munich offers many things to do with kids and great attractions. There are unique museums, huge parks, fairytale castles, royal palaces, and many family-friendly cafes and restaurants.
Explore the Deutsches Museum
Hands-on, interactive, and totally captivating, the Deutsches Museum is a great spot to keep young minds engaged.
Known as the world’s largest science and technology museum, this place is jam-packed with fascinating exhibits, from historic planes to space exploration displays and even a dedicated kids’ zone.
The Kinderreich area offers little explorers the chance to build, climb, and experiment — perfect for burning off some energy while learning.
Glockenspiel
Munich’s Old Town is stunning, and the 100-year-old Glockenspiel is a unique attraction for kids to enjoy. Every day at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., there is a 15-minute show at the clock, where figurines dance and a golden cuckoo appears at the end.
The old and new Rathaus (City Hall) buildings where the clock is located are beautiful, too, and there is an excellent café in the courtyard.
SEA LIFE Munich
This is an amazing science and technology museum with interactive areas for kids to fly in the air, sit at the wheel of a fire engine, and play a giant guitar.
Admission is free to children under six.
Hellabrun Zoo
Munich with kids would not be the same without a trip to Hellabrun Zoo. This zoo is more like a safari park, home to 19K animals from all over the world and with different habitats across 99 acres.
This is a perfect day out with many play areas, information points and several cafes to visit.
The highlight for the kids was the penguin parade when we visited. There is also a petting zoo, pony and camel ride to enjoy in the summer months.
English Garden
As part of your weekend in Munich, visit one of the most extensive urban gardens in the world, located in the centre of Munich. The kids can explore the 78km of wooded paths, enjoy the playground, rent a paddleboat, and feed the ducks.
The park overlooks the River Eisbach, where you can watch surfers ride the river waves! You can take a Munich city walking tour to learn about Munich’s garden and historic city.
Why not try this guided walk of Munich and the English Garden
BMW Museum
The BMW welt museum houses around 125 cars, motorbikes and engines, and the newest range, so it’s perfect for a rainy day. The building itself is spectacular and very futuristic, so the kids were impressed before we even went inside!
You can take guided tours, and there are also workshops for kids and teens on programming and design, photography and sustainability.
Olympia Park
Built-in 1972 for the Summer Olympics, the park offers ice skating, tennis, mini-golf, swimming and cycling. You can climb the Olympiaturm tower (290m high) and admire the view over Munich.
When I visited, the SeaLife attraction looked very popular.
Kids over ten and adults can take the 200-meter-long zip line from the Olympic Stadium’s roof. Munich city bus tours also run from Olympia Park, perfect for tired legs!
This is how I saw Munich the first time I visited. I generally stayed on the bus but got off at Olympia Park.
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Fairytale Fun Park (Freizeitpark Märchenwald)
Perfect for visiting Munich with toddlers, this fairytale-themed amusement park is in a forest setting in Wolfratshausen near Munich.
Many rides, playground areas and interactive fairy tale exhibits of famous fairytales such as Snow White, Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin. There are many dining options, or you can take a picnic.
Nyphemburg Palace
This huge Baroque-style palace is beautiful. It is located just outside the city centre and is one of the best places to visit in Germany with family. Take the grand staircase to the ornate royal apartments, and the carriage/coach house is not to be missed.
The surrounding park/gardens are enormous, including fountains, lakes, a walled garden, a maze and a bathing pavilion.
Hirschgarten
Hirschgarten is extremely family-friendly and a great way for the family to relax after sightseeing. There is a deer park, playground areas, skate park and cycling paths that the kids can enjoy.
The beer garden serves authentic Bavarian beer for the adults to try, and the food here is excellent too, including traditional German sausages, huge pretzels and apple strudel.
Play at the Kinder- und Jugendmuseum
Looking for a rainy-day activity? The Munich Children’s Museum is a haven of creativity and exploration for kids. With its constantly changing hands-on exhibits, this place encourages little ones to touch, play, and discover in an engaging way.
Themes range from building and experimenting to arts and crafts — so it’s a perfect spot for curious kids who love to get stuck in!
This fun museum really made is appreciate our trip to Munich with kids.
Family Day in Munich with a Local: Private and Personalised Tour
Enjoy a Personalised Private Tour in Munich with a local. This family-friendly tour is a great way to explore Munich with kids, tailored to your interests as a family. Locals always know the hidden gems
This is a walking tour with a meeting point at your hotel and kids under 12 go free.
Book your family-friendly Munich tour here!
Where to Eat in Munich for Families
Germany with kids is a great option as the country is very family-friendly, and Munich with kids is no exception. Families will find plenty of places to enjoy great food, with the bonus of outdoor playgrounds, drawing activities and indoor play areas at many cafes and restaurants.
- Vits Kaffeé – Located near the Isartor city gate, this is a great café serving breakfast and lunch, in particular, the soup and cake selection were amazing. There is also an indoor kids play area with toys, books and colouring activities.
- Preysinggarten – Serving excellent German and European food and located in the north east part of Munich this restaurant is well worth a visit. There is an outdoor courtyard and playground so the kids can let off some steam and you can enjoy lunch, brunch or dinner.
- Mr Pancake – Fun and tasty pancakes are always a hit with the kids, and Mr Pancake offers both sweet and savoury options. We tried the breakfast pancakes, which were delicious and super filling. The kids enjoyed their fluffy pancakes with Nutella, bananas and blueberries.
When is the best time to go on a Munich City Break?
Are you planning a city break to Munich with kids and wondering when’s the best time to go? Munich is a great destination year-round, but your experience can vary greatly depending on when you visit.
Whether you’re after festive Christmas markets, experiencing Oktoberfest, or enjoying Olympic Park in nice weather, the best time to visit depends on what you plan to do.
May
May is one of the best months to experience Munich at its finest. With the chill of winter long gone and the heat of summer still a month away, temperatures hover comfortably around 15–20°C. It’s the perfect time to explore the city’s beautiful parks, such as Englischer Garten or the lovely Nymphenburg Palace Gardens.
May brings festivals like the famous Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival), like a mini-Oktoberfest — but with fewer crowds and more local flair!
December
If you’re a fan of European Christmas markets, visiting one in Germany is a must! The city transforms into a winter wonderland. Wrap warm and head to Marienplatz, where you can try local mulled wine, shop for handmade gifts, and watch the Rathaus (Town Hall) light up.
2 Days in Munich with Kids Itinerary
Munich is a beautiful city, with amazing architecture, interesting museums, castles and palaces as well as many outdoor activities for the kids to enjoy.
There are so many places to enjoy delicious food and drinks as well as lots of events throughout the year experience. Here are some ideas so you can make the most out of your city break with the kids.
Day 1: 24 Hours in Munich with Kids
Morning: Head to Marienplatz and take a Munich city walk to admire the amazing architecture, including the new and old city halls (Rathaus) with huge Munich city flags hanging from the buildings.
There are cafes, shops and street artists to enjoy. At 11 am or 12 pm, see the famous Glockenspiel show.
St Peter’s Church has a large tower that you and the kids can climb to look across Munich, and the Viktualienmarkt (farmers market) is in this area.
Afternoon: The Museum of Science and Technology is one of the world’s largest science and technology museums.
The exhibits cover aviation, astronomy, physics, mining and shipping, to name a few.
The museum is located on a small island in the River Isar, about 10 minutes from the centre of the old town, so you can take a walk and admire the view from the bridge over the river.
Enjoy some amazing coffee and cake at Vits der Kaffee, only a five-minute walk from the museum.
Day 2: 48 Hours in Munich with Kids
Morning: Head to Olympia Park
The kids can let off some steam in the spacious park with many sporting activities. Take a guided tour of the stadium, climb the Olympic Tower at Olympic park to admire the amazing view over Munich and take the zipline from the roof of the Olympic Stadium.
Afternoon: Next to Olympia Park is BMW Welt and the museum, where you can take a guided tour, jump in/on the cars/motorbikes, try out the car simulator, and the kids can complete short courses on car design, programming and sustainability if you book in advance. There is a great cafe and gift shop too.
3 Days in Munich with Kids Itinerary
Morning: Jump on the tram and head over to Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens. The building is breathtaking, and you can explore the opulent staterooms, apartments and carriage collection.
The gardens surrounding the nymphenburg palace are also beautiful to see, with many pavilions, lakes, waterfalls, statues and a wooded area with a small hunting lodge.
Afternoon: Take a short taxi ride over to visit the English Garden so the kids can have fun at the many playgrounds, take a boat out on the lake, watch the surfers and relax at the many cafes, restaurants or beer gardens across the park.
There are also interesting buildings, including the Chinese Tower and Apollo’s Temple, to see and cycling paths and walking trails through forested areas.
4 Days in Munich with Kids City Break Itinerary
Book a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, one of Germany’s most picturesque attractions.
The castle is situated high above the quaint village of Hohenschwangau, and the journey from Munich through the stunning Bavarian countryside is not to be missed. You can also combine this with a visit to nearby Linderhof Castle and Oberammergau, famous for the Passion Play and Christmas-themed shops.
Try this Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace Day Tour from Munich
5 Days in Munich with Kids Itinerary
Visit Hellabrun Zoo for a perfect day out with the kids.
There are 19K exotic and domestic animals to see, petting zoo areas, playgrounds, vintage train rides and go-karts.
You can hire pull-along carts for smaller children at rental booths near the zoo entrance area.
The zoo offers guided tours, workshops, animal training sessions and daily animal feeding, so there are lots to enjoy for the kids. The zoo is easily accessible by public transport, including U-Bahn (U3), S-Bahn (S8) or MetroBus (Line 52) to Thailkirchen.
Day Trips from Munich with Kids
The location of Munich is perfect if you wish to explore the Bavarian region and even take a day trip to Austria, which is only about an hour and a half away via train. You can enjoy an active day at fantastic amusement parks, visit fairy tale Bavarian towns, and Austria is on your doorstep.
Rothenburg is like something out of a fairytale. There are walls around the town that you and the kids can explore, cobbled streets and lots of quaint buildings.
There are many Christmas shops and a museum that children will love visiting whatever the season.
Try the local delicacy Schneeballen, a sweet pastry coated in sugar and shaped like a snowball. This tour will take you to Rabia’s Nördlinger Ries, Harburg Castle, and Rothenburg!
Bayernpark
It’s great for a family day trip from Munich in warmer weather. The park has amazing family rides (for toddlers to teens), whitewater rafting, playgrounds, wild animals, and special events throughout the year.
Located about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Munich via hire car or travel by train from Munich to Dingolfing station and a shuttle bus can transport you to and from the park in just over 2 hours.
Austria – Salzburg and Innsbruck
Germany with children is great, but Munich also offers opportunities to take a day trip to Austria. Visit the beautiful city of Salzburg in only 1 hour 30 minutes by train or Innsbruck, which takes only 15 minutes longer.
Visiting Munich with kids means you can make this easy day trip to Austria, furthering their horizons,
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is a bit out of Munich, but it’s a must-visit!
One of the best places to visit Germany with kids is this magical castle, which inspired the infamous Disney castle. It’s one of the best landmarks in Germany and is often called Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
When we visited Munich with kids they were so excited to experience such a magical trip. There were many questions about who built it and who lives there.
Built by Ludwig II in the 19th century and located in the Bavarian countryside, the castle has beautifully decorated rooms, a walled garden and even an artificial cave!
With transport included, why not use a professional guide to give you in-depth knowledge of this beautiful, historic building and surroundings?
Getting Around Munich
Munich has a great public transport system, including trams, underground (U-Bahn) and overground (S-Bahn) trains, as well as metro buses. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn are ideal for covering longer distances and quickly zipping around the city, while trams and buses are great for shorter trips.
The integrated ticketing system means that a single ticket allows you to switch between all public transport forms seamlessly.
You can buy tickets at station vending machines or via the MVV app. Consider getting a day ticket or a CityTourCard, which offers unlimited travel for one or more days and discounts at major attractions.
Many of Munich’s key attractions are within walking distance of each other, especially in the Altstadt (Old Town) area. Wander through Marienplatz, visit the nearby Viktualienmarkt, and stroll to the English Garden, all without needing any transport.
We hope you have found our guide on Munich with kids helpful, it really is a beautiful city with so much to offer.
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