9 Fun Things to Do in Munich with Kids

Bring your kids to Marienplatz, the central square in the heart of Munich’s Old Town, for a beautiful tradition. Every day, visitors gather in front of the impressive Rathaus (City Hall) which houses a 100-year old Glockenspiel. This old clock chimes twice (at 11:00 a.m. and noon) with 32 life-sized figures reenacting Bavaria's historical events. Tell your children to look out for the golden bird that chirps three times to mark the end of each show.

Let your kids run free in Munich’s Englischer Garten (English Garden), which is even bigger than New York's Central Park.

Munich’s green heart is a wonderful place to explore. Rent a paddle boat, don't mind the nudes, stroll along wooded paths, visit a playground, feed the ducks or watch the surfers on the currents of the river Eisbach.

There is no better way for kids to spend a rainy day in Munich than to explore the German Museum (Deutsches Museum) one of the oldest and largest science and technology museums in the world.

The museum offers a plethora of interactive exhibits for busy hands, and there is a whole section dedicated to curious children. At “Kid’s Kingdom,” young explorers can sit behind the wheel of a real fire engine, fly into the air, or play on a giant guitar—just to name a few of the 1,000 kid-friendly activities at the German Museum. Children under 6 are free.

If you are traveling with little movie buffs, take them to the Bavaria Filmstadt (Bavaria Film Studios), Munich’s answer to Hollywood.

In Europe’s largest filmmaking center, kids can take a ride on Falkor the dragon from The NeverEnding Story (Die unendliche Geschichte in German), while parents can experience the submarine of Das Boot. Kids will also be fascinated by the stunt show, which includes fistfights, fire, falls and a 92-feet deep plunge. Guided tours of the studio sets are available in English.

Can you take your little ones to a traditional beer garden? Definitely. Munich’s beer gardens are very family-friendly and keep the kids happy while you enjoy a traditional Bavarian beer. Most beer gardens have a playground or at the very least a sand box. The beer garden at Hirschgarten even features a small deer park.

Kids will love the beer garden food, too: Sausages, potato salad, pretzels and apple strudel.

The bustling Viktualienmarkt is Munich’s oldest and best open-air farmers market, dating back to 1807. There is a lot to see and sample: kids can marvel at booths decorated with garlands of sausages, mountains of fresh vegetables, and pyramids of fruits. The market has everything from meat, and cheese, to bread, pastries, and freshly squeezed juices. Buy some treats for the whole family and enjoy them right then and there or at the beer garden in the center of the market.

A visit to Munich’s zoo, Tierpark Hellabrun, is a fun outing for the whole family. Laid out on 89 acres, the park is more like a nature preserve than a traditional zoo.

Its 5,000 animals from all over the world are grouped according to their regions and roam the park in their natural habitats. There’s also a petting zoo, pony and camel rides in summer, and a penguin parade in winter.

The Spielzeugmuseum (Munich’s Toy Museum) is housed in a narrow clock tower of Munich’s old Town Hall. Opened in 1983, the museum spans four floors (there is no elevator), full of unique historical toys from Europe and the United States. There are dolls, teddies, toy trains, and vintage Barbies. This is not an interactive exhibition and the toys are only for viewing so it is probably best for older children

For something your kids can touch and even take home, take your kids on a shopping spree at Obletter Spielwaren, Munich’s largest toy store. Obletter Spielwaren is a treasure trove for kids of all ages located in the center of Munich’s Old Town.

Spread over several levels, the store offers everything from stuffed animals, dolls, and wooden toys, to games, books, and musical instruments.