Awesome Things to Do in Munich with Kids

If you’re curious if there are things to do in Munich with kids, you’ll want to keep reading. Munich is one of our all-time favorite family vacations! The capital of Bavaria in southern Germany, Munich is the kind of place where locals welcome you with open arms! It’s an absolutely beautiful place with tons of fun things to do with kids.

This city is pleasant for adults and families alike, with year-round festivals, outdoor beer gardens, and stellar tourist attractions. Whether you choose to stroll the cobblestone streets of Old Town or make use of the city’s excellent transportation system, one thing is for sure, the sights and sounds of Munich will appeal to visitors of all ages!

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Best Places to Visit in Munich with kids

The city is an easy place to navigate and entertain the kids. whether your family heads to Munich for the Christmas markets or wants to explore the city in the summer months. There are world-class museums, Europe’s largest city park, and delicious local food! I promise, a family trip to Munich doesn’t disappoint. Here are some of my favorite things to check out in Munich with kids.

1. Marienplatz

It seems every visitor to Munich wants to see Marienplatz (the town square at the center of the city) and its famous glockenspiel. Located inside the Neue Rathaus (New Town Hall), the glockenspiel has a performance every day at 11 AM, 12 PM, and 5PM. Just keep in mind that the 5 PM show doesn’t happen from November through February.

Children love watching the figurines come out and parade around the clock tower! Expect them to be mesmerized by the 12-minute spectacle as it tells the story of a royal wedding and a jousting tournament.

While you’re at Marienplatz, take some time to check out the shops and eateries surrounding square. For a spectacular view of the city, you can climb the tower of the Rathaus or the nearby Peterskirche, the oldest church in Munich.

2. Deutsches Museum

The massive Deutsches Museum is a must-visit when you’re in Munich with kids! This technology museum showcases how things work and kids of all ages will love the interactive exhibits. It houses full size replicas of ships and submarines, an underground mine, and a re-creation of the Altamira cave.

Little kids will love the downstairs area known as Kids’ Kingdom. It has over a thousand hands-on activities, including a giant hamster wheel, a water play area, and a music studio. I suggest setting aside 3-4 hours inside the 6-level interactive German museum, because it is fairly certain that your children will not want to leave!

3. Olympia Park

Built for the 1972 Olympic games, Munich’s Olympia Park has been transformed into a recreation area for visitors of all ages. Families will love exploring this area of Munich. There’s a roof top Olympic stadium tour providing stunning views of Munich and the Alps. And if you’re brave, you’ll enjoy the Flying Fox that takes visitors on a zip line tour over the stadium when the weather is good!

Others might prefer a guided tour of the venue or strolling the grounds and surrounding gardens. There’s also a SeaLife Aquarium on the property and the BMW Museum (see below) is just across the road.

4. Munich Residenz

The Residenz is located in the city center, and it’s a must visit for the whole family. This stunning castle complex was begun in 1385 and was the home of the Bavarian rulers for over 400 years. It’s also the largest city palace in Germany.

With one hundred thirty rooms, ten courtyards, a church, and more, the Residenz is one of the best places to learn about Munich’s history. This might be a better fit for older children, with the lavish decor and sheer enormity of the palace. But don’t rule out this stop if you have younger children!

5. Englischer Garten

One of the largest public parks in Europe, locals and visitors alike flock to the English Garden when the weather is nice. Families can enjoy bike rides, walks, playing soccer, and picnics. Some might even try surfing on the Eisbach River. This is a popular year-round activity in Munich.

6. BMW Museum

Our kids loved visiting the BMW Museum and seeing the history of cars through the years. There were so many unique exhibits, including the motorcycles of BMW and the MINI vehicles.

There are plenty of interactive displays to keep smaller children interested. It’s a great spot for some unique photos and a must visit for car enthusiasts.

7. Schloss Nymphenburg

Nymphenburg Palace is located outside the city centre of Munich, but it is easy to reach with public transportation. This 17th-century palace was commissioned to celebrate the birth of Max Emanuel, the son of the Bavarian Elect, for Ferdinand Maria and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy. The summer palace and its gardens easily rival Versailles.

Schloss Nymphenburg is fabulous to visit on a clear day, but it’s just as easy to explore on rainy days. Start with the Marstallmuseum, which has an amazing collection of historical carriages. Touring through the palace hallways, there’s beauty everywhere. From the elaborate ceiling frescoes to the Rococo design, it can be hard to know where to look!

There’s also the Museum Mensch und Natur, an impressive natural history museum. It’s a good place to visit when you’re visiting Munich with kids! There’s a long list of permanent and rotating exhibits, including animal dioramas, dinosaur fossils, gemstones, and more.

After exploring the interior rooms, make sure to leave plenty of time to explore the manicured green spaces. You and the kids will love the massive fountains and the graceful swans in the central canal. If everyone’s up for more, you can also visit the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg nearby.

8. Munich’s public pools

This beautiful city continues to impress with huge and impressive public pool complexes! Admission is a few dollars and is open to everyone. There are lockers available, and the locker rooms are ultra-modern and clean.

Plus, the outdoor Prinzregentenbad has a stone wading area with sprinklers and a playground for small children. It also has slides and whirlpools for bigger kids and a lap pool. Bring lunch or buy it there and picnic on the large lawn.

Naturbad Maria Einsiedel is a similar complex near the zoo. The bracing Isar River feeds one of its pools.

Or try the indoor Cosimawellenbad on bad-weather days. Kids come running when the buzzer sounds, signaling the waves are about to start in the main pool! For pre-swimmers, there’s a wading pool with a slide. And adults can enjoy the indoor/outdoor heated pool with spa jets and whirlpools.

9. Hellabrunn Zoo

The Munich Zoo was built in 1911. Fun fact: it was the world’s first zoo where animals were placed in habitats according to their geographic origins!

Young explorers will love the petting zoo, playgrounds, and Kinderland with its vintage train rides. With over 19,000 inhabitants, there are plenty of animals to see on your visit.

10. Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle

Several tour companies offer a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle (we booked this tour through Viator that included Oberammergau and Linderhof Palace). This is the castle you read about in fairy tales, and it is one of the best castles in Europe.

The best way (and easiest way) to reach the castle is by a horse-drawn buggy. If you want a good workout, you can climb the hill and be rewarded with the magnificent castle at the top!

Neuschwanstein was completed in 1879 and was the residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. When he passed away, the castle was opened to the public. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany.

Be sure to take a walk to Marienbrücke, a bridge over a waterfall that offers some of the most stunning views of Neuschwanstein.

Where to Eat in Munich with kids

Food Markets in Munich

Germans are famous for their sausage and beer halls, but in Munich (and most German cities) they have amazing outdoor food markets. Not only are these markets excellent cultural experiences when you’re visiting Munich with kids, but their variety of offerings is perfect for picky eaters!

One of the best is the Viktualienmarkt, an outdoor market where you can find all the necessary provisions for an afternoon picnic. This is not your typical farmers market as it’s much larger.

With its large variety of fresh produce, fish, butchers, bakeries, and florists, it’s a great place to grab groceries or lunch. The square is filled with food stalls, inviting you to sample their goods. And you should!

Munich Beer Gardens with Kids

There are kid-friendly beer gardens throughout Munich. On a nice day, head to the sprawling Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) in Englischer Garten, popular with tourists and Münchener alike. The cafeteria style café is budget friendly; kids and their parents will love the roast chicken and sausages. And while parents enjoy their meals, kids can run in the park.

Made-to-order Palacinken (pancakes) are a sweet treat and the kids will enjoy watching them cook. The large coins you get with your beer represent the deposit you made on your glass.

Bavarian Restaurants

For indoor dining try the cozy Glöckl Am Dom, known for tiny bratwurst served with fresh horseradish. Schneider Weisse, famous for its weisswurst with pretzels and weisse beer, is a Munich must. Kids go for the mild white sausages and “bretzie.”

If you are looking for some German beer halls, we recommend Ratskeller München and Augustiner Klosterwirt. 

Kaffee und Kuchen

Germans love their sweets and take time out for kaffee und kitchen (coffee and cake) most afternoons. There are plenty of places around the Marienplatz to indulge in the marzipan-laden and seasonal fruit-topped cakes the locals favor. My favorite food in Munich is a rich-but-not sweet pastry cream and poppy seeds.

Try the classic but casual Café Rischart. With kids old enough to appreciate a pinkies-up afternoon tea head to DallMayr’s famous fancy food store and upstairs café.

Looking for more ideas? Don’t miss these best restaurants in Munich.

Book Your Next Trip Munich with Kids

As you can see, there are many things to do in Munich with kids. Many people speak English, the food is delicious, and the city has plenty to explore. The difficult part will be knowing where to begin!

Doing for other articles about Germany? Don’t miss German Christmas markets with kids and Why You Will Love Germany with Kids.

Book Your Flights – You can find discounted fares using sites like Momondo or Skyscanner. If you want to keep an eye on discount fares, we suggest signing up for Scott’s Cheap Flights, a daily newsletter with flight sales around the world.

If you travel frequently, consider investing in a Priority Pass for airport lounge access. It’s nice to have a space where you can relax before your flight.

Book Your Accommodation

We regularly use Expedia.com and Hotels.com to find lodging when we travel. It’s a great way to compare vacation rentals, hotels, and resorts.

If your family knows they want to stay in a vacation rental, we recommend looking at VRBO and Plum Guide.

Book Your Transportation

For rental car agencies, try Rentalcars.com. We tend to use Hertz simply for the quality of service. If you need airport transfers, we recommend Welcome Pickups.

When traveling in Europe, we use AutoEurope to make our bookings. They find the best rates and allow you to compare different car rental agencies. Europcar is another option.

Book Your Tours and Travel Photos

We regularly used companies like Viator and GetYourGuide to book tours when we travel. Both have great communication and a large variety of activities that work for all ages. Other companies to look at include Tours by Locals and Withlocals.

If you’re visiting a city with multiple attractions, be sure to check out a discount pass, such as CityPASS or Go City. Both are worthwhile investments.

Context Travel is another option and they offer more educational-based activities. The former teacher in me loves their tours. For unique, curated activities, check out Headout.

One of our favorite things to do annually is taking photos with Flytographer. They have photographers around the world and we’ve used them on four separate occasions. This is our favorite travel souvenir.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

With the state of travel these days, it’s important to have some type of travel insurance to cover any unforeseen accidents, illnesses, threats, or cancellations. We always travel with insurance and would recommend SquareMouth, Travelex, or Medjet as good options. And if you want to compare different insurance options, use Travel Insurance Master or World Nomads to find the best policy for your group.