When thinking of family travel to Germany, Munich and Berlin are likely two cities that come to mind. But these cities draw many tourists, meaning more crowds. Why not instead head to Hamburg? This underrated city is rich with culture, history, parks and art, great for families.
For starters, most families travel in the summer when schools are out, but this means the inevitable warm weather that has become increasingly problematic for European destinations. Fear not in Hamburg, as this city has lower summer temperatures than other popular European cities like Rome, Paris and Madrid.
© Hamburg Tourism
Hamburg teems with family-friendly attractions, too. Head to Miniatur Wunderland, a model railway world immersing visitors in the world of trains. The city is also home to Hagenbeck Zoo, a planetarium and a museum solely dedicated to chocolate. The Hamburg Police Museum, meanwhile, showcases 200 years of policing in the city, a great way to educate the kids on forensic methods and criminal cases.
For your dose of art, Hamburger Kunsthalle, one of the largest art museums in Germany, spans seven centuries of European art, with permanent collections highlighting North German paintings. If your kids like spooky things, Hamburg Dungeon delves into the city’s dark history through an actor-led, interactive experience.
Sandtorpark © Hamburg Tourism
In addition to these many attractions, Hamburg also boasts plenty of green space for kids to get their energy out. In fact, Hamburg is the greenest metropolis in Germany. And, for a day out on the water, Lake Alster offers boating and other experiences to soak up the summer sun.
Where to stay? The Fontenay, a 5-star hotel, is a family-friendly property that even offers a family package with a discounted second room, complimentary baby cots or extra beds, arrival gifts for kids and more. The hotel also features an on-site restaurant serving creative children’s dishes, as well as a library including a selection of children’s books.
Read This Next
Why You Should Explore Boston This Winter
Destinations / North America
Oct 22, 2026#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Oct 14, 2026LEGOLAND® California Resort Unveils Plans for Christmas Bricktacular
A holiday wonderland will await family travelers to LEGOLAND California Resort. The resort transforms with festive fireworks, interactive brick builds, dazzling light paths, holiday entertainment and special seasonal characters, perfect for families with children ages 2 to 12.
Sponsored Content
Celebrating 25 Years of The Peninsula Chicago
June marked The Peninsula Chicago’s 25th anniversary, commemorating a quarter century for the hotel as a pillar of luxury on North Michigan Avenue.
Multigenerational
Oct 14, 2026Ideas for Skip-Gen Trips
Traveling with a grandchild is a priceless opportunity to develop your own special relationship with them. Shared experiences create a strong bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and those experiences will become lasting shared memories.
Hotels
Oct 13, 2026Howl-O-Ween is Back at Great Wolf Lodge
Family travelers are in for a real treat (or was it a trick?) at Great Wolf Lodge this holiday season. The return of its beloved Howl-O-Ween celebration is in full swing at all 22 U.S. lodges, where family travelers are invited to some fright-free fun and festive programming.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
North America
Oct 12, 2026TradeWinds Resort Opens Shelldon’s Discovery Cove
Family-friendly TradeWinds Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida, not only introduced a new mascot, but also more robust family programming than ever before. The new family program, Shelldon’s Discovery Cove, offers experiences and activities for kids, tweens and teens.
ShareThis