GERMANY
BIELEFELD
Closest Airport
Düsseldorf [DUS]
A small, lovely, bucolic town, we have family who live here and were gracious hosts! We were able to enjoy a wonderful week and had a great time going to farmers markets, grocery stores, local shops and seeing the alpacas at a neighborhood farm. Beyond that, there are some great things to see in the area as well!
Beach Park:
The most relaxing place to enjoy an evening, this park rings a lake with old trees offering great shade, multiple playgrounds and a beach area complete with sand volleyball, tiki bar and lounge chairs to hang out. The kids could run around in a fenced area while we hung out and enjoyed the laid back vibe.
Meine Tierpark Olderdissen (Zoo):
This sprawling set-up had a great mix of animals native to the area. Birds, mammals, reptiles that you would find in this part of Germany was a great mini-lesson for our kids. Their habitats were very nature-based vs. cages and it was a bit of an eye-spy game to see them all. There was also a large park with shady spots to sit that entertained the girls for a long time as well.
Link: https://www.bielefeld.de/tierpark
Closest Airport
Düsseldorf [DUS]
COLON (KOLN)
Closest Airport
Düsseldorf [DUS]
Downtown:
There are many places to eat and shop. It did not feel overly touristy once you walked beyond the cathedral. Parking was easy to navigate in underground lots (though spaces are narrow). We could not use the stroller easily due to the cobblestone, we had the Doona and folded it up to carry it for several parts as it was too rumbly for our 6mos old otherwise. I wore her the rest of the time and it was much easier to get around.
The Cathedral:
The Cathedral is incredible. Massive and awe-inspiring. It juts up from the middle of the city which has grown up around it. You have to pay to go all the way in. Our daughters weren’t feeling it totally so we just did the outer vestibule and looked into the main area. The ceilings were incredible. It was very busy and bustling, both inside and outside, even on a Tuesday afternoon so plan to keep littles close.
Closest Airport
Düsseldorf [DUS]
DUSSELDORF
Closest Airport
Düsseldorf [DUS]
We didn’t spend any time in the city, we used it as an airport to fly in and out of and it was very easy to navigate.
Closest Airport
Düsseldorf [DUS]
RHINE RIVER
Closest Airports
Koblenz:
A popular cruise ship stop, this beautiful little town sits on a bend in the Rhine River and is central to some of the more incredible castles and scenery in the region. We stayed in an Airbnb with two bedrooms to give our kids sleeping space, knowing the time change would be brutal (and it was!). But we were within walking distance of the downtown which was much bigger than we expected. It had a whole shopping district, several squares with great places to eat and a historic riverfront that was fun for our daughter to run along. We used strollers and they got used to the bumpy paths (it wasn’t true cobblestone, but it was stone pavers so still bumpy). Not everywhere had English available so we used Google Translate to order when we didn’t understand the words.
Bakeries:
The German bakeries are one of the many amazing things this town has. Pastries lined the windows and not one disappointed. We don’t typically let our kids have sugar, so this was a special treat and we all enjoyed the delicacies and flaky deliciousness as we strolled the city.
Cable Car:
There was a cable car that went across the River up to the historic fort. We didn’t brave that with the kids given the fort required paths that were not as stroller-friendly, but it is a very prominent part of the city.
Statues & Fountains:
One of our daughters’ favorite parts was posing with the various statues and fountains throughout the town. The artwork is beautiful and adds to the charm of the city. See photos for a few examples of our favorites.
Small Train:
A small train took tours through Koblenz however we had trouble finding the schedule on certain days. It was a cute little electric train that drove through the streets.
Closest Airport: