Heidelberg With Kids on Dry and Wet Days
A family trip to Heidelberg goes better when you plan two lists: things for dry weather and things for rain. Most of the open-air options sit outside the Old Town, so the wet-weather list is worth having ready.
Dry-weather days
Zoo Heidelberg. Entrance is at Tiergartenstrasse 3, and it opens daily, all year. In the winter tariff, which applies from 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, an adult ticket costs €13 and a child aged 3 to 17 pays €6.50. Between March and October the prices become €16 and €8. A family card for one adult and up to four children is €22.50 in winter and €28 in summer, and the two-adult version is €35 or €43. The zoo’s elephant group is made up of young bulls. See the zoo’s prices and hours page .
The Königstuhl. The funicular climbs the hill in two stages, and a family fare for two adults plus one child on the full Panoramaticket is €36, with €3 for each further child. Upper-section family fares are €22 and €2. Birds of prey are flown at Falknerei Tinnunculus, Königstuhl 2a, from April to October, and the falconry is closed on Mondays. Younger children may prefer the Märchenparadies amusement park on the same hilltop, which closes its 2026 season on 11 November and has not yet posted 2027 dates (maerchen-paradies.de ).
Castle gardens. Children run freely in the castle garden, which is open in daylight, and the Great Tun makes a quick stop. The castle ticket for ages 6 and over is €5.50 until the end of 2026, then €6.
Wet-weather days
- Castle interiors. A family guided tour costs €15 and takes you through rooms that are otherwise closed. The German Pharmacy Museum is also inside the castle and is included in the castle ticket.
- Studentenkarzer. Cells covered in drawings and verses make a short visit that older children tend to enjoy. A combined ticket with the University Museum costs €7.50 for adults and €5 reduced.
- Kurpfälzisches Museum. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
- River cruise. The 50-minute sightseeing boat from the Stadthalle pier starts at €19 per person.
Winter treats
The Christmas market runs from 23 November to 22 December 2026, and the ice rink on Karlsplatz sits beneath the castle.
Practical points
The Old Town is pedestrian, so use the flat riverside for pushchairs and keep small children off the Schlangenweg and Himmelsleiter, which are steep and slippery when wet. On the HeidelbergCARD, children aged 5 and under travel with an adult at no charge.
Read more: Heidelberg attraction tours and the five-day itinerary . To explore guided options for families, try a Heidelberg family search on GetYourGuide .