The mountainous Black Forest with its forests and rushing waterfalls, the fairytale castles and mills of the Swabian Alb, the “land of 1,000 hills” Kraichgau-Stromberg between the Rhine and Neckar and in the middle of it all the much busier regions of Stuttgart and Heilbronn – Baden-Württemberg is a country of Diversity is full of varied holiday regions made for families.
Leo Lustig is the mascot of family holidays in Baden-Württemberg. If you feel like it, you can here Download coloring pages to get you in the mood ©TMBW
And how could it be different with this multi-faceted holiday setting: the excursion destinations between Odenwald and Taubertal in the north and the turquoise Lake Constance in the south are also a colorful surprise bag of family experiences. We’ll tell you the most beautiful family highlights in Baden-Württemberg and introduce you to the state from its natural, cultural, but also sporty and active side.
The suspension bridge is part of the Magic Trail in Todtnau, a children’s hiking trail with play stations, carvings, a bat cave, a barbecue area, etc. ©TMBW
Water march: The most beautiful adventure pools in Baden-Württemberg
Fast-paced slides, water playgrounds, bubbling whirlpools and exciting current channels… No matter whether you want to have wild water fights or just let yourself drift – one of the many adventure pools and outdoor pools in Baden-Württemberg definitely belongs on every bucket list for your family vacation in this region.
Water world The idler
One of our favorites is this Water world Rulanticaright next to Europa-Park and not only because of this is known far beyond the borders of the Black Forest. Look forward to numerous pools in 14 different themed areas, tropical temperatures, exciting slides, lively play options and, and, and… An adventure pool in XXL!
A water park of superlatives: the Rulantica water world ©TMBW/Hans-Joerg Haas
Black Forest bathing paradise
Another guarantee of fun: this Black Forest bathing paradise at Titisee with adventure pool, palm oasis, spa and sauna world. Here the grown-ups can relax wonderfully while the little ones plow through the waves and prove their daring on the 23 indoor slides.
Outdoor swimming pools in Baden-Württemberg
There is a large number of beautiful outdoor pools in Baden-Württemberg, one of them: the Münsingen outdoor pool ©TMBW/Stadt Münsingen
Anyone traveling to Baden-Württemberg in summer also has a large selection of outdoor swimming pools, such as this Münsingen outdoor pool in the Swabian Alb, that Baiersbronn outdoor swimming pool with adventure pool, giant slide, lazy river, gargoyle, waterfall shower etc. or that Natural beach bath Aquastaad in Immenstaad on Lake Constance.
Over hill and dale: The most beautiful hiking trails and adventure trails for families
Whether there are hands-on stations and playgrounds along the way, suspension bridges, fantastic views or wild animals that can be spotted with a little patience – if you want to hike with children, you have to come up with something. How good that the people of Baden-Württemberg did exactly that. Adventurous ones wind their way through the various holiday regions Adventure trailswaterways, treetop paths at dizzying heights and – in the cold season – family-friendly circular hiking trails for snowshoeing and winter hiking.
There are many beautiful hiking trails for families in Baden-Württemberg, some are even suitable for strollers ©TMBW/Christoph Düpper
Magic trail on the Hasenhorn in the Black Forest
There’s this, for example Magic path on the Hasenhorn in the southern Black Forest, a four kilometer long children’s hiking trail with waterfalls, play stations, bat cave and suspension bridge. An absolute magnet for children: the Hasenhorn Coaster at the mountain station, a three-kilometer-long summer toboggan run (also runs in winter).
The supposedly most spectacular toboggan run in Germany is located on the Hasenhorn in Todtnau ©Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH
Farmer’s path in Kressbronn on Lake Constance
On the 2.5 kilometer long Kressbronn farmers’ path At Lake Constance, your children are guaranteed to go along without a complaint, especially when they hear that there is a corn maze halfway along the route.
Culture for children: Museums and worlds of discovery in Baden-Württemberg
Culture is really boring? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! In Baden-Württemberg there are numerous museums, exhibitions and adventure worlds that will teach your children better. A great holiday program that is smart and fun, not just on bad weather days.
Open-air museums in Baden-Württemberg
For example, there are four open-air museums in Baden-Württemberg that are certified as family-friendly. One of them is this Black Forest open-air museum Vogtsbauernhofwhere you and your kids can experience the culture and history of the region up close, for example in the stable with old breeds of domestic animals, in the black kitchens and of course in the faithfully furnished courtyards, the mill and the day laborer’s house. A vivid journey through history!
The Black Forest open-air museum Vogtsbauernhof offers many activities especially for families ©TMBW/Hans-Joerg Haas
Climate Arena in Sinsheim
What can we do about climate change? How do you recognize sustainable clothing? What could a city of the future look like? And how can we make our own diet more climate-friendly? In the Climate Arena in Sinsheim Visitors young and old explore these questions in a playful way and learn everything about the climate, nature conservation and sustainability.
Science Center experimenta in Heilbronn
In this museum, touching is expressly encouraged. You don’t have to be quiet here and if your children run from one experiment to the next, it won’t bother anyone. The experimenta is a hands-on museum, Germany’s largest science center, which clearly explains the world of natural science in four different discovery worlds with over 270 stations. How is a rainbow created? What does it feel like to be in the center of a storm? Can the AI be tricked into thinking we are a computer? Through your own research and experimentation you will find the answers here.
Fun and games: action-packed excursion destinations for families
Of course, we could now rave to you about the many theme parks in Baden-Württemberg, such as Europa-Park with over 100 attractions and shows or Ravensburger Spieleland with its fast-paced rides and colorful themed worlds. Or we could get you and your kids excited about the Traumland amusement park in the Swabian Alb or Tatzmania, a mix of amusement park and zoo. But let’s not do that, because you probably know these popular family classics in southern Germany anyway. Instead, we’ll tell you three insider tips that will probably make your kids pretty happy on vacation.
The perfect amusement park for families with children between 2 and 12 years: the Ravensburger Spieleland ©TMBW
Adventure Golf Park Hochschwarzwald
You can cross the Black Forest in many ways: on foot, by bike, on horseback… But did you know that you can also explore the Black Forest by playing mini golf? This is possible Adventure golf park in Lenzkirch. Germany’s largest adventure golf course measures an impressive 10,000 square meters and consists of 21 lovingly designed themed holes. The latter, of course, revolve around the history and sights of the Black Forest. And so you not only swing your golf club in a mine, a brewery and a glass factory, but also hit a mill wheel and roll your ball across a powder-sugar-white winter sports track.
Over 10,000 square meters in size and with 18 themed rides: the Adventure golf park in Lenzkirch ©Adventure Golf Park Hochschwarzwald
Climbing and high ropes courses in Baden-Württemberg
Climbing monkeys watch out! Anyone who likes to climb to dizzying heights and would like to marvel at the holiday region of Baden-Württemberg from a bird’s eye view can pay a visit to one of the many climbing gardens. For example, we recommend this Kressbronn Adventure Park with its themed course and beautiful climbing elements (suitable for children aged 5 and over). It also provides a feeling of exhilaration Get High Ropes Course in Schramberg.
Mainau Island in Lake Constance
The island of Mainau – an insider tip? Hardly! But most of you probably think of this island more as a sea of flowers than as action – after all, the third largest island on Lake Constance is rightly considered a flower island. But the island can do more than tulips, daffodils and lush rhododendrons.
In the butterfly house on the flower island of Mainau you can marvel at more than 120 species of butterflies ©TMBW
For example, there are the many playgrounds on the island. The absolute attractions are the huge “Water World” with suspension bridges and cable ferry, the “Dwarf Village” for the very little ones and “Blumies Shore World”. Also must-visits for families: the butterfly house, the marble run and the Mainau farm with lots of cuddly ponies, miniature donkeys, rabbits and other breeds of domestic animals. Our tip: Be sure to go on a free children’s treasure hunt through the beautifully landscaped gardens – because a day trip to the island of Mainau doesn’t work without flowers.
More information about family holidays in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is fully prepared for family holidays: Lion Leo Lustig shows the way to the most beautiful places, accommodations, etc. for parents and children.
