Baden-Württemberg is a federal state in southwestern Germany bordering France and Switzerland, anchored by the automotive capital Stuttgart. The state combines the dense forests and thermal spa towns of the Black Forest, the shimmering shoreline of Lake Constance, the Renaissance and Gothic old towns of Heidelberg, Tübingen, and Ulm, and world-renowned engineering heritage at the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums. Vineyards, half-timbered villages, and Europe's largest theme park round out a region prized for both culture and outdoor recreation.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Europa-Park
Germany's largest theme park, with more than 100 rides across themed European 'countries' and the adjoining Rulantica indoor water world.
Wilhelma Zoological-Botanical Garden
A combined zoo and botanical garden in central Stuttgart with over 1,000 animal species and historic Moorish Revival greenhouses.
Sea Life Konstanz
A themed aquarium tracing water from the Alps to the sea, with sharks, rays, and interactive touch pools — a good rainy-day option on the Bodensee.
Tripsdrill
A historic amusement and adventure park blending classic wooden roller coasters with an adjoining wildlife park.
Mercedes-Benz Museum
A striking spiral-designed museum tracing automobile history, with interactive stations and a dedicated racing cars section for children.
Baumwipfelpfad Schwarzwald (Black Forest Treetop Walkway)
A treetop walkway with a 40-metre observation tower and a long tube slide back to the forest floor.
Ravensburger Spieleland
A theme park built around the Ravensburger puzzle and games brand, designed with gentler rides and a dedicated toddler area for young families.
Black Forest Open Air Museum (Vogtsbauernhof)
An open-air museum of historic Black Forest farmhouses with working watermills, a sawmill, and traditional crafts demonstrations.
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Europa-Park Hotels (Colosseo, Castillo Alcazar, and others)
Family features: Themed family rooms, early park entry for hotel guests, kids' entertainment programs, direct shuttle to the park entrance
A&O Stuttgart City
Family features: Family rooms for up to 4–5 persons, cots on request, central location near Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof
Ibis Styles / Novotel Stuttgart properties
Family features: Children eat free or at reduced rates with a paying adult in many locations, family rooms, some with pools
Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa
Family features: Spacious suites suitable for families, extensive parkland grounds for children to explore, spa facilities (some with age restrictions), high level of service
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Kindermenü (children's menu) is standard at most Gasthaus-style restaurants across Baden-Württemberg, typically €6–10 for a main course
Swabian specialities like Maultaschen (a filled pasta similar to ravioli) and Spätzle are usually mild and popular with children
Self-service beer garden sections are family-friendly and a relaxed, affordable place to bring children of all ages
Bakeries (Bäckerei) sell affordable, child-friendly snacks like pretzels and fruit-filled pastries throughout the day
Farm shops (Hofläden) around the Swabian Jura and Black Forest sell fresh, kid-approved produce and dairy products for picnics
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Baden-Württemberg-Ticket (€27 for one, plus €5 per extra traveller up to 5) is well suited to a family day trip by regional train to Heidelberg, Freiburg, or the Bodensee
Europa-Park is best visited on a weekday outside German school holidays to reduce queue times significantly
Wilhelma's Family Ticket (parents plus all children under 18 for a flat rate) is a strong value option for a full family group
Children under 6 generally travel free on Baden-Württemberg public transport, with reduced fares for ages 6–14
Strollers work well on Stuttgart's S-Bahn and U-Bahn, most of which have lifts at modern stations, though some older Black Forest and Swabian town centres retain cobblestone streets
Pack layers for Black Forest day trips even in summer, since temperatures there run noticeably cooler than in Stuttgart or the Rhine Valley
Lake Constance's shallow, sheltered bays near Meersburg and Friedrichshafen are among the safest and most popular swimming spots for young children