Family Experiences in Heidelberg, Germany

What child wouldn’t love a town with a huge, semi-ruined castle looming overhead — especially when the best way to get there is on a funicular railway? Heidelberg has this and more for family travelers.

The castle is a good place to begin, after a short ride on the Bergbahn, a funicular railway that climbs from Kornmarkt in the heart of Heidelberg. Between June and August, the castle grounds host Heidelberg Castle Festival with theater performances, and music that can include chamber orchestras, jazz groups, folk music, opera and chorale groups.

The castle interior, which you can tour, has little to interest young children, but, after a stop to look around, get back on the funicular to the next stop. There, board a 1907 wooden car that takes you to the summit of Königstuhl (King’s Seat).

From this lofty point, the views stretch all the way to the Rhine Valley, but kids won’t want to spend much time looking at the view when they discover the Walderlebnispfad, Forest Adventure Trail (they’ll have fun trying to pronounce it).

Beginning at a small playground; this nature-themed route is lined with wooden play structures designed to encourage kids to experience the forest with all their senses while climbing, balancing and playing. The gentle route is just more than a mile, and the path is suitable for strollers.

Also at the top is a small, very quirky play park, Märchenparadies, with self-powered rides, miniature houses kids can enter, animated puppets, a caterpillar ride and other amusements to appeal to the under-8 set. It’s colorful, whimsical and agreeably cool on a hot summer day. Be sure to have cash for entry because cards are not accepted.

Below, alongside Neckar River, Heidelberg Zoo contains more than 150 different animal species from all over the world. Kid-pleasing favorites are the red pandas, Sumatran tigers, Asian elephants and Berber lions. Younger kids can climb towers and board the large Ark, a play ship. On summer days, the zoo’s water park is a great place to cool off.