Two weeks from Frankfurt to the Bavarian Alps: the Senckenberg Museum, Heidelberg Castle by funicular, walk-in aircraft at Sinsheim and Speyer, Wilhelma and Tripsdrill near Stuttgart, Hohenzollern Castle, Europa-Park, Legoland Deutschland, Munich's museum and zoo, and Neuschwanstein to finish.
Southern Germany is a road trip of castles on hills, museums where children can walk into aircraft, zoos with petting areas, and two of the country’s big theme parks. It ends in the Bavarian Alps at Neuschwanstein, the castle many children already know from picture books. This guide sets out a two-week route from Frankfurt to the Alps, with the booking rules, free-entry ages and practical details that matter on the day with children.
Every attraction here has its own page on JuniorTravelClub with details from its official website. Distances are straight-line figures worked out from each place’s coordinates. Roads are longer, so check each driving day.
The route at a glance
- Start: Frankfurt
- Stops: Heidelberg, Sinsheim or Speyer, Stuttgart, Hechingen, Rust, Günzburg and Munich
- Finish: Füssen and Neuschwanstein
- Length: about two weeks
- Works for: all ages. The museums and zoos suit young children, the castles suit walkers.
Before you go
Book these ahead
- Neuschwanstein: the castle can only be visited on a guided tour at a set time, and tours start punctually. Small children and toddlers need their own ticket, added when you buy.
- Hohenzollern Castle: online tickets are for a set day and a one-hour arrival slot. On busy days, tickets can sell out on site, and they can’t be cancelled or rebooked.
- Erlebnispark Tripsdrill: tickets are dated and cheaper online.
- Europa-Park: the park recommends booking online because capacity is limited.
Some places are flexible: the Technik Museums at Sinsheim and Speyer guarantee entry without a time slot, and Hellabrunn Zoo’s online tickets aren’t tied to a date.
Free for the youngest
Children up to 5 are free at the Senckenberg Museum and the Deutsches Museum. Children under 6 are free at Wilhelma. At Therme Erding, children up to and including age 3 enter free. At Linderhof Palace, under-18s enter free with proof of age.
Day by day
Days 1–2: Frankfurt
At the Senckenberg Museum, children do experiments themselves in the Aha?! research workshop, and almost every exhibition has tactile models to touch. A 50-minute family highlights tour is included. Children aged 15 and under must be with an adult. On day two, visit the Opel-Zoo in Kronberg, where keeper talks happen daily at a different enclosure and children up to 6 can ride a pony.
Day 3: Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg is about 80 km south of Frankfurt in a straight line. At Heidelberg Castle, children get the castle in stages: a funicular ride up the hill, a real castle courtyard, a trip down into the barrel cellar, and a garden for running. You can’t drive up to the castle; take the Bergbahn funicular. The courtyard is coarse cobbles, hard going with a pushchair.
Day 4: Technik Museum Sinsheim or Speyer
Both museums are about 20 km from Heidelberg in a straight line, and at both some of the big exhibits, aircraft among them, can be walked into rather than just looked at. The Technik Museum Sinsheim is open every day of the year with no booking needed. The Technik Museum Speyer has free lockers in the foyer. Both have baby-changing rooms in the toilet areas of the restaurants.
Days 5–6: Stuttgart
Wilhelma is a zoo and botanical garden on the same grounds, with designated petting enclosures for younger children. Children under 6 go free. You can bring your own handcart, but none are rented. Stadtbahn lines U13, U14 and U16 stop right in front of the main entrance.
For a theme park day, Erlebnispark Tripsdrill is about 30 km north of Stuttgart in a straight line, with 4,000 free parking spaces and Swabian food at the Gasthaus zur Altweibermühle.
Day 7: Hohenzollern Castle
Hohenzollern Castle near Hechingen is about 55 km south of Stuttgart in a straight line. A shuttle bus, included in the ticket, climbs the hill from the car park to the Eagle’s Gate. From there it’s about 350 m uphill, partly on cobbles, to the courtyard, and there’s an elevator a few metres from the gate. The free castle app works as an audio guide for older children.
Days 8–9: Europa-Park and Rulantica
Europa-Park in Rust is about 90 km west of Hohenzollern in a straight line. It’s laid out in quarters themed on European countries, with food spread through them. Book online. On the second day, swim at Rulantica, where food may not be brought inside.
Day 10: Legoland Deutschland
Legoland Deutschland in Günzburg is about 190 km east of Europa-Park in a straight line, so this is a long driving day. The park is built with pushchairs in mind: there’s stroller parking, every toilet has a changing station, and there’s a Baby Service with a breastfeeding area. Children aged 2 and over need their own ticket. Check its closing days before you go.
Days 11–12: Munich
Munich is about 100 km east of Günzburg in a straight line. The Deutsches Museum has the Kinderreich for ages 3 to 8, where exhibits are made to be handled. Children under 12 must be with an adult, and bags larger than A4 aren’t allowed inside. At Hellabrunn Zoo, petting zoos are open all day, there’s a toddler play area at Café Rhino next to a large adventure playground, and a water playground for summer. Take the U3 to Thalkirchen.
On a cold or wet day, Therme Erding, about 30 km north-east of Munich in a straight line, is open all year. Its Galaxy slide world keeps its own hours, opening earlier on days when Bavarian schools are closed. Book online to be sure of entry on busy days.
Days 13–14: Neuschwanstein and Linderhof
Neuschwanstein near Füssen is about 90 km south-west of Munich in a straight line. With children, mornings work best, and the earlier tours are worth reserving. Strollers can go as far as the courtyard, where there’s a storage room, but not into the castle rooms. The tour has more than 160 narrow, winding steps and a long walk, so be ready to carry younger children. Use the restroom at the courtyard entrance before the tour.
Linderhof Palace, about 16 km east in a straight line, lets under-18s in free with proof of age. Its park of small buildings is fun to explore, but the paths are often steep. Children under 14 must be with an adult.
Good to know with kids
Castles and pushchairs
Castles are hard with a pushchair. Heidelberg’s courtyard is cobbled, Hohenzollern has an uphill walk partly on cobbles, and Neuschwanstein’s tour has over 160 steps. Bring a carrier for castle days.
Rainy days
The Senckenberg Museum, the Technik Museums, the Deutsches Museum and Therme Erding all work in the rain.
Theme park choice
Europa-Park suits mixed ages, Legoland Deutschland suits younger children, and Tripsdrill is a gentler day near Stuttgart. Our European theme park road trip and Legoland comparison have more.
Plan and book
Compare car hire: car hire in Germany on AutoEurope. Mobile data: Germany eSIM on Airalo.
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Tickets & tours for these places
Bookable tours via GetYourGuide. Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to stay with kids in Munich
In Munich, the old town around Marienplatz is the centre of the city and the natural starting point for walks. The Deutsches Museum is on Museum Island, and Hellabrunn Zoo lies in the Isar floodplains, reached on the U3 to Thalkirchen (Tierpark) or by bus 52.
Hotel map by Stay22 with prices from partner booking sites. Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Final thoughts
Book Neuschwanstein and Hohenzollern ahead, bring a carrier for the castle days, use the free-entry ages at the museums and zoos, and keep a museum or Therme Erding for rain. Each attraction's page has the current details.
Frequently asked questions
Is Neuschwanstein suitable for young children?
Yes, with planning. Tours are guided at a set time, and the route has more than 160 narrow, winding steps. Strollers stay in the courtyard. Small children need their own ticket, added when you buy.
Do we need to book Hohenzollern Castle?
Buying online is wise: tickets are for a day and a one-hour arrival slot, and on busy days they can sell out on site.
Where can children walk into aircraft?
At the Technik Museums in Sinsheim and Speyer, some of the big exhibits, aircraft among them, can be walked into. Neither needs a time slot.
Which German zoo is best with toddlers?
Hellabrunn in Munich has petting zoos, a toddler play area and a water playground. Wilhelma in Stuttgart has petting enclosures and free entry for under-6s.
What can we do on a rainy day in Bavaria?
The Deutsches Museum's Kinderreich for ages 3 to 8, or Therme Erding, which is open all year.
Which castles are free for children?
At Linderhof Palace, under-18s enter free with proof of age.
How many days do you need?
Two weeks covers Frankfurt to Neuschwanstein at a family pace. With a week, start in Stuttgart and finish in Munich.
