The 10 Best Things to Do With Kids in Dresden

If a city has a zoo, that’s one day out with the kids sorted. And luckily, Dresden has a great zoo. It has been a favorite family destination since 1861 and today is home to over 1,700 animals across 270 species. The zoo is divided into several sections, namely South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and Tundra, with native animals from these regions housed in them. Hours melt away unnoticed while children giggle at the antics of the orang-utans, marvel at the penguins, see koalas munching on leaves, and get up close to many other amazing animal and bird species.

The most unique attraction of Großer Garten is an adorable steam rail(Dresdner Parkeisenbahn) that takes travelers on a nostalgic journey through the charming park, passing the zoo, a palace and a lake in around 30 minutes for a small fee. The most special aspect of this train is that it is operated by children and teenagers in their spare time.

Children, adolescents and adults interested in automobiles can’t help being fascinated by the Transparent Factory. Owned by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen, this factory offers guided tours wherein visitors gain interesting information about the world of electromobility through audio and video, and witness the production and assembly of automobiles. Visitors can also purchase an automobile fresh off the assembly line! The factory also offers a tour especially designed for children, which includes a small present and a snack. Anybody above the age of 20 and holding a valid European license gets to go for a test drive in an e-car.

Dresden boasts one of the two suspension railways in Europe (the other one being in Wuppertal, Germany) and it is also one of the oldest in the world. This hanging monorail is a unique mode of transport and a lot of fun for adults and children. As a bonus, travelers get to enjoy panoramic views of the stunning Dresden Elbe Valley from the viewing platform located in the upper station.

The Saxon Folk Art Museum is a great way of familiarizing yourself and the kids with Saxon art, culture and heritage. Over three floors, lots and lots of interesting items related to Saxon traditions and customs are on display: wooden handicrafts, glass objects, metal forgings, pottery, lace, bobbin cloths, furniture traditional toys, and costumes. The most popular section of the museum is the historic puppet theater, with its unbeatable collection of puppets of various kinds.

The Technische Sammlungen (Technical Museum) is especially designed to appeal to the inquisitive minds of schoolchildren and adolescents. The museum aims to teach interesting facts through experiments, videos, photographs, audio clips, games, and a hands-on approach. The mathematics section is an especially big hit with children, thanks to the walk-in musical instruments, soap bubbles, and climbing frames, and a special corner full of interesting activities for children aged from three to eight.

The unique concept of the Hygiene Museum is a magnet for tourists and invariably appeals to adults and teenagers alike. It imparts wisdom about health, hygiene, body, mind, sex, lifestyle, and thoughts, through the use of over 1,300 objects and a free audio guide. Many of the displays are interactive and require a hands-on approach. The Hygiene Museum has an extremely interesting children’s museum, which is scheduled to remain closed for renovation until March 2018. Children of up to 16 years can visit for free.

Waldseilpark (Forest Rope-Park) is the ideal place in Dresden for active families to blow off steam. The park, open from April to October, offers climbing courses for various age groups and of varying difficulty levels. There is even an easy but super-exciting course for three- to six-year-olds. Apart from that, there is a toboggan that spells exhilaration for the whole family and a fun treasure hunt complete with maps and compass. The park also has barbecue facilities.