The Black Forest with Kids: Best 7 Kid-Approved Things to See and Do

Many think there’s not much to do in the Black Forest with kids, but you are in for a big surprise! The Black Forest is vast as it covers an area of 2,320 square miles and extends for about 100 miles. That means ample opportunities to explore small German villages with traditional clothes, arts and crafts, hiking trails and natural conservation areas, museums, craftsmanship, and even a few amusement parks. 

The Black Forest is also home to many areas worth a visit, including Freiburg and Baden-Baden, and dishes and desserts worth a try, including the Flammkuchen and Black Forest Cake. 

With so many things to see and Black Forest activities to do, you might be wondering where to even start. I’ve compiled a list of my daughter-approved Black Forest family things to do for you to enjoy.

7 Best Things to Do in the Black Forest with Kids

1. Enjoy a day of amusement at Europa Park

One of the best things to do in the Black Forest with kids is to go to Europa Park. Europa Park is one of the largest theme parks in Germany housing 13 roller coasters and around 100 attractions. When we first arrived at Europe Park, we noticed parked cars with license plates from Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and The Netherlands, so we knew it was a must-visit place. 

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by the mouse Ed Euromaus – the park’s mascot and we started on our adventure. The kid (and adults) went on different rides, including the Silverstone Race Track, Spinning Tea Cups, boat rides, panorama trains, whale adventures, and Viking roller coasters. We also saw one of the aerobic shows and ate chocolate delights. Overall, it was a great day.

We recommend that you download the Europa Park & Rulantica app. The park has 9 different sections in the park representing a country, including Germany, Italy, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Russia, Luxembourg, England, and Greece. Each one has its own attractions and shows.

Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm during the summer and Halloween seasons. Winter season from 11 am – 7 pm. Check the site for more information.

2. Go down a water slide at Rulantica

Rulantica is right next door to Europa Park, but you’ll need a separate ticket to enter this waterpark. The Rulantica Waterpark is open all year round. However, there are some exceptions, including maintenance dates, which can vary by year, and any water attractions located outdoors. 

There are different Viking-inspired sections, including the Frigg Tempel, Svalgurok,  Dynstrond, Skog Lagune, Snorri’s Saga, Vinterhal,  Hyggedal,  Trolldal, and Ragnakor. The Snorri Strand is perfect for the little ones, but it’s located outdoors so it’s only open during the summer. Once you and the little ones have enjoyed all of the slides, you sit back and relax in Snorri’s Saga. It is a sort of lazy river that takes you through all of Rulantica. Or you can sunbathe in the Dynstrond while the little ones build sand castles. 

Open daily from 10 am – 10 pm, but there are exceptions. You can find out more at the Rulantica site.

3. Spend a full day at Triberg

Triberg is a small town located in between the big trees of the Black Forest and cute little German homes. It’s full of things to see and do that the little ones will love. It’s better to spend a full day at Triberg to enjoy it as there is so much to do. We stayed at the Hotel Cafe Adler which has a bakery with the best Black Forest cake we’ve ever tasted up to date. 

We started our morning with a yummy and traditional German breakfast provided by the hotel. The hotel’s location was ideal as it is centrally located within walking distance of everything there is to see in Triberg. We walked past a few stores with the famous Black Forest cuckoo clocks and explored those as we made our way to the Black Forest Museum (more on the museum below!). 

Our next stop was lunch and we highly recommend you try the Cafe Restaurant zur Lilie. The potato soup and Schnitzel were a hit for the adults and my daughter (that’s her go-to dish). You will need to stock on energy to visit the Triberg Waterfalls after lunch. The Triberg Waterfalls are only about a 10-minute walk from the restaurant. 

We actually decided to visit the waterfalls in the early evening to avoid the crowds and get some different photo shots. The waterfalls looked beautiful with the different light colors they had in the background. There are also several hiking trails that are easy to do for the little ones. For a break, adults can enjoy watching the kids play at the playground (Spielplatz Am See) by the small pond.

4. See history at The Black Forest Museum

Are you truly visiting the Black Forest with the kids if you don’t get to see the Black Forest Museum? The museum is full of beautiful carvings of famous Black Forest historic clocks, mechanical orchestras, and typical crafts. As some of the displays were interactive, my daughter loved to add the .50 to one Euro into the machines to listen to the (extremely loud) music. 

You’ll also see displays of costumes, including the famous pompom hat (“Bollenhut”), a headdress with woollen red pompoms that Protestant women wore as part of a folk costume. It is also the symbol of the Black Forest and it is represented in the Black Forest cake with its cherries. 

The museum building itself was built in 1834 (mobility is limited) and as you walk up and down the stairs, you’ll hear the loud squeaks, but don’t worry, the stairs are still sturdy.

• Opening hours: April to September daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and from October to March from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
• Rates: Single admission is 5 euros, but there are combined tickets (Waterfalls, Museum, & Triberg-Land from Easter to October) that can cost up to 17.50 euros for family admission.

5. Take a walk among the high trees with the Treetop Walk (Baumwipfelpfad)

The Baumwipfelpfad (treetop walk) is by far one of our favorite activities to do in the Black Forest with kids. This treetop walk is located in Bad Wildbad and has a length of 1,250 meters and about a height of 20 meters, so the family can take a walk among the trees. You’ll see beech trees, firs, and spruces along with beautifully carved birdhouses in different shapes and sizes. 

My daughter loved the balance beams and the little (and moving!) obstacle course throughout the treetop walk, the activity stations with information about the trees and forest, and watching the squirrels steal food from the birdhouses. 

As a travel/landscape photographer, I truly enjoyed all the views along the treetop walk, and upon arrival at the observation tower, I couldn’t believe the never-ending sight of trees. It gets windy at the top too, so hold onto anything that may fly away!

Also, don’t worry about making your way down the observation tower on foot. It has a spiral ramp that goes up to 40 meters high from the ground, so you can slide down the spiral tunnel slide (if you have a little one under 6, a parent/guardian must go down the slide with them). The only downside is that it is closed during the winter months. You’ll end your treetop walk by the gift shop and clear sight of a playground your kids will surely want to explore.

Opening hours: January to March from 9:30 am to 4 pm. April from 9:30 am to 6 pm. May to September from 9:30 am to 7 pm. October from 9:30 am to 6 pm. November to December from 9:30 am to 4 pm.

6. Dare to walk the Wildline Suspension Bridge

After you’re done with a walk among the trees, you can check out the Wildline Suspension Bridge in Bad Wildbad. The suspension bridge offers amazing views of the Black Forest and you’ll be literally walking above and on top of the trees. The bridge is about 380 meters long and 60 meters high from the ground. 

Will it jiggle as you walk? Absolutely! Is it worth it? So worth it!

Your adrenaline will be pumping and due to its arch, you won’t see the end of the suspension bridge until you’re about midway through. My daughter loved it so much that we had to cross it twice which is why I included it in this list of the best things to do in the Black Forest with kids.  

Opening hours: Open daily in the summer from 9 am to 7:30 pm. For more information about tickets, parking, or opening hours, you can visit wildline.de.

7. Check out the Alpine Coaster at Steinwasen Park

One of the cool things to enjoy in the Black Forest with kids is Steinwasen Park. It is a “small” theme park in Baden-Wurttemberg with a small petting zoo full of peacocks, deer, ferrets, domestic rabbits, wild boars, donkeys, and sheep to name a few. Not to mention the actual attractions, including the adventure playground, Alpine coaster, and a toboggan in the Black Forest.

Don’t worry too much about going down the Alpine as adults (and kids!) can control the speed of the coaster.  You’ll take twists and turns as you head down the valley and between the trees. A definite must-do activity in the Black Forest with kids. There’s also a suspension bridge, a panorama room, and a castle (because it’s Germany after all!) theme playground. There’s also a cafe/restaurant and snack bars/kiosks with reasonable prices.

Location: Steinwasen 1, 72954 Oberried, Germany ~ Opening hours: daily from 10 am to 5 pm. More information at steinwasen-park.de/en/

Have you been to the Black Forest with kids? Share with us your favorite activities, places, and things to see and do!

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