Day trips Bavarian Forest with kids from Waldmünchen

Day trip destinations in the Bavarian Forest for kids: 9 outings from Waldmünchen with distance, age and time needed.

Why Waldmünchen is the perfect starting point

Waldmünchen lies in the Upper Bavarian Forest, right on the Czech border. And that is exactly what makes the place so handy: from here you can reach lakes, animal parks, open-air theatres and the national park as day trips. Without hours in the car, without stressed children on the back seat.

From the Sonnenhotel Bayerischer Hof you set off in the morning after the breakfast buffet, are at your destination by midday and back in time for the dinner buffet. That is what a family holiday without rush looks like.

We have put together the best day trips, sorted by distance. Let's start right on the doorstep.

Perlsee: the home outing (1 km)

Age: all ages Time needed: 2 to 4 hours

The Perlsee is not a day trip in the classic sense. More of a gift. Five minutes on foot from the hotel and you are standing on the shore of one of the most beautiful bathing lakes in the Bavarian Forest.

In summer: swim, hire a pedal boat, laze on the lawn. The lake has a shallow entry, perfect for small children. The kiosk sells ice cream and drinks. In autumn the loop trail (2.5 km) is ideal for a stroll with a stroller. And in winter? When the temperatures are right, the lake turns into an ice rink.

Tip: bring water shoes. The shore is pebbly in places.

Open-air festival Waldmünchen: theatre under the stars (in the village)

Age: from 6 years Time needed: 3 hours (evening performance) Season: July and August

Every summer, the open-air stage in Waldmünchen turns into a theatrical world. Knights, dragons, adventures. The Trenck Festival tells the story of the Pandur Franz von der Trenck, who actually wreaked havoc in Waldmünchen. Local history, big spectacle.

For children from age 6 it is a real experience. Over 100 amateur actors, horses on stage, fire effects. This is no dusty school play, but proper entertainment.

Tip: book tickets early. The popular dates during the school holidays sell out fast. Bring blankets, evenings get chilly.

Wildgarten Furth im Wald (15 km)

Age: from 3 years Time needed: 3 to 4 hours Driving time: 20 minutes

The Wildgarten in Furth im Wald combines an animal park and an adventure playground. Wild boar, lynxes, otters and birds of prey live in enclosures shaped to feel close to nature. Plus a large water playground, a maze and a barefoot path.

Little children love the petting enclosure. Older kids climb on the adventure playground. And you have time for a coffee on the terrace. Half a day is enough, but a full day works too.

Tip: pack rubber boots in case you want to try the barefoot path after a rainy day.

Furth Drachenstich (15 km)

Age: from 5 years Time needed: 4 to 5 hours (festival weekend) Season: August (festival week around the second weekend of August)

The Furth Drachenstich is Germany's oldest folk play. For over 500 years, the battle of the knight against the dragon has been performed here. And the dragon is impressive: 15 metres long, four tonnes heavy, fire-breathing. The largest four-legged robot in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Around the spectacle there is a festival with rides, stalls and live music. A highlight for kids from 5 years. The little ones might be startled by the fire breathing.

Tip: come early to get good seats. The performance takes place on the festival ground; standing areas fill up quickly.

Bavarian Forest Animal Park Lohberg (50 km)

Age: all ages Time needed: 3 to 4 hours Driving time: 50 minutes

The Bavarian Forest Animal Park in Lohberg showcases the wildlife of the Bavarian Forest. Wolves, lynxes, bears, European bison, wildcats. More than 400 animals along a circular trail through the forest. No concrete cages, but spacious open-air enclosures.

The pace is family-friendly. The loop is about 1.5 km long, easy to walk, also with a stroller. Children up to 3 years enter free. There is also a playground and a small snack bar.

Tip: combine the visit with a detour to the Kleiner Arbersee (5 km further). Children find the floating islands there fascinating.

Glassworks in Bodenmais and Zwiesel (60 to 70 km)

Age: from 5 years Time needed: 3 to 4 hours Driving time: 60 to 75 minutes

The Bavarian Forest is traditional glassmaking country. In Bodenmais and Zwiesel you can watch the glassblowers at work. Glowing furnaces, liquid glass shaped by breath. For kids it is like magic.

At Joska Glasparadies in Bodenmais there is an experience world with a glass museum, a glass art garden and the chance to blow your own glass ball (from 8 years). At the Poschinger glass manufactory in Frauenau, you can visit one of the oldest glassworks in Bavaria.

The Frauenau Glass Museum (free admission for children!) covers 3,000 years of glass history, presented interactively.

Tip: Bodenmais works well as a combined stop with a short hike up Silberberg (mine and summer toboggan run).

Pullman City (80 km)

Age: from 4 years Time needed: 5 to 6 hours (full day) Driving time: 75 minutes

Pullman City is a Western town in the Bavarian Forest. Sounds quirky, but it works. Saloon, sheriff's office, gold panning, pony rides, Western shows with stunts. Kids dive into a world of cowboys and Native Americans (the operators now use that term).

The shows are entertaining, also for adults. In between there is a falconry, a petting zoo and a Native American village to explore. Plan a full day; half a day is not enough.

Tip: Wednesdays and Fridays are quieter than weekends. Check opening times in advance, Pullman City runs seasonally (April to November).

Bavarian Forest National Park and treetop walk (90 km)

Age: from 4 years (treetop walk), from 6 years (hikes) Time needed: full day Driving time: 90 minutes

The Bavarian Forest National Park is the oldest national park in Germany. And one of the wildest. Real primeval forest is regrowing here. The wildlife area (7 km loop) shows wolves, bears, lynxes and elk in vast enclosures. Free admission.

The highlight for families: the treetop walk near Neuschönau. 1,300 metres long, up to 25 metres high, with an egg-shaped lookout tower at the end (44 metres). The path is largely barrier-free and passable with a stroller. Children love the wobbly bridges and learning stations.

The Hans-Eisenmann-Haus (visitor centre) has an interactive exhibition on the forest. Free admission, well done, kid-friendly.

Tip: start early. The drive takes 90 minutes and you want enough time for both the treetop walk and the wildlife area. Pack snacks; on-site catering is limited.

Our recommendation: how to plan your week of trips

For a week-long family holiday, we recommend three to four day trips. The rest of the time is best spent at the hotel: pool, Sonnenwolfi kids' club, Perlsee.

A weekly plan could look like this:

Day 1: arrival, explore the hotel, Perlsee
Day 2: Wildgarten Furth im Wald (half day)
Day 3: hotel day with kids' club and pool
Day 4: national park and treetop walk (full day)
Day 5: hotel day, explore Waldmünchen in the afternoon
Day 6: Pullman City or glassworks (full day)
Day 7: departure

That way you have enough variety without getting stressed. And the kids also have days when they can simply play.

More tips on the region in our Bavarian Forest Guide.

Out into the Bavarian Forest

Whether the Perlsee around the corner or the national park on the horizon: the area around Waldmünchen has more to offer families than fits into one holiday. And that is exactly the point. You will come back. Promise.

Check out the available dates and plan your family holiday in the Bavarian Forest. Book your family holiday now and discover the best day trip destinations together.