What can you do in Hamburg with kids?

The river Elbe runs right through the city of Hamburg and is a popular spot for locals. In the summer, you’ll find people grilling sausages and soaking in the sunshine. In the winter, most people will head there for a riverside jog, or to walk their dogs. It’s the perfect place to go with kids for a picnic or to build sandcastles.

It’s important to note, while it’s great for getting sand between your toes, it’s not recommended to go swimming in the water. The shipping traffic and strong currents don’t make it the ideal bathing spot – but perfect for a relaxing day out. But if you go further out of town by the river Elbe, there are more spots for swimming.

Planten un Blomen Park is a 45-hectare park right in the middle of the city – and it delivers on its promise – the plants, flowers are beautifully curated.

There are also lots of places for kids to keep busy. For older, more adventurous kids, there is a jungle gym to climb and swing from. The park also has a minigolf and human-sized chess board. The fun doesn’t stop in the winter, Planten un Blomen is also home to Germany’s largest open-air ice rink for kids to practice their skating skills.

Schmidts Tivoli has many performances for kids. Unlike most other places in town, Schmidts casts the same actors for the kids’ performances as the shows on the big stage. This ensures the performances for children are still at a high level.

From The Jungle Book to Alice in Wonderland, the theater offers new takes on the classics or shows of their very own. Schidmts Tivoli also makes their performances as enjoyable for parents as they are for kids, so you’ll have a fun night out too.

As far as kid-friendly restaurants go, Beach Hamburg has pretty much everything you want. With tables, sunchairs and fake palm trees all placed on a thick layer of sand, this restaurant is an exciting place for kids to go to pretend they're by the seaside. The restaurant offers birthday parties for children, and every Sunday from 10 am offers family brunch with lots of kids’ options.

Hof Eggers is an organic farm with pigs, ponies, sheep and cows and a cozy courtyard café. Head there for one of their filling breakfasts and then explore the farm or go for a walk on the hiking trail that encircles the area. They also have holiday apartments for families that are looking to get away from the bustle city life.

The farm lies outside of town, about a 35 minute drive from the city center.

If your kids love roller coasters – and even if they don’t – most children will appreciate the Schwerelos roller-coaster restaurant.

Here, an extensive rail system winds its way around the restaurant, high above the heads of guests. No waiters needed, this is the transport system for all the food! Parents and kids alike can marvel at the pots, dishes and glasses zooming around the room before landing on your table.

The Niendorfer Gehege is a local wood in the north of Hamburg that covers about 150 hectares and is home to beautiful 200-year-old beech, oak and spruce trees. It’s a relaxing green spot where families can get away from the rush of everyday life, with hiking trails for dog-walking, jogging or cycling.

Kids can even ride a pony through the park, and sometimes – if you’re lucky – you might catch a glimpse of the deer that live in an enclosed forest clearing. The minigolf range is also a highlight for children and parents.

UMP House Hamburg-Stellingen lies close to the Niendorfer nature reserve mentioned above. This trampoline park has 9 different attractions including so-called “ninja courses”, virtual reality games, and classic trampolining areas.

Jumping around is a great activity for older kids, and lets them release any pent-up energy. JUMP House also offers deals for kids’ birthday parties, holiday camps and more.

The original idea behind the Kirchdorf Farm was precisely to provide city kids with the chance to learn more about animals and farmlife. The farm offers a wide range of age-specific classes that teach kids about animals, ecology and nature. Children also get the chance to feed and pet certain animals.

The farm lies on the outskirts of town, about a 20 minute drive from the city center.

(In this photo: Geese and goats at Kirchdorf farm © Kinder Bauernhof Kirchdorf)