3. Meet the Monkeys at Hellabrunn Zoo
Tierpark Hellabrunn is one of Europe’s finest zoos, begun more than 100 years ago, and was the first zoo in the world to show animals grouped by their place of origin. The 89 acres of land it covers gives the zoo space to replicate as closely as possible the native habitats, where its more than 1,900 animals roam in large open spaces.
Polar animals have their own building with a controlled climate, and birds can fly in a giant aviary. The zoo has walking paths, playgrounds for children, camel rides in the summer, and places to picnic along the river. The whole atmosphere is more like a nature reserve than a zoo.
Address: Tierparkstraße 30, Munich
4. Get Hands-On at the Deutsches Museum
Germany’s most popular museum is brilliantly designed to appeal to all ages and interests as it delves into everything from Arctic explorers to zeppelins. Hundreds of the exhibits in this sprawling facility on an island in the Isar River are designed for younger children, with plenty more for adults and teens.
One section, Kids’ Kingdom, is designed for children ages three through eight and is filled with hands-on activities that explore computers, light, music, ships, water, sound, astronomy, and more. Kids can «drive» a real fire truck, climb inside a giant guitar to feel the sounds when it’s strummed, discover forces of physics and energy with giant building blocks, and learn about power with pulleys, treadmills, and levers.
Every means of transportation is covered, with special attention to flight craft. In the warm weather months, you can tour a lifeboat on the grounds outside.
Address: Museumsinsel 1, Munich
