Family Days Out in Heidelberg: Zoo and Castle
Heidelberg works well for a family weekend because the biggest draws are compact and several are free or low cost. This page is organised around what to do in each season, using prices checked in November 2026.
Winter, from November to February
The zoo is the main year-round option. Its winter tariff, from 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, is €13 for adults and €6.50 for ages 3 to 17, and small family cards cost €22.50 for one adult with up to four children or €35 for two adults with up to four children. Doors open at 09:00 and close at 17:00, except on 24 and 31 December when the zoo shuts at 13:00. The zoo is on Tiergartenstrasse in the Neuenheimer Feld district, and its young Asian elephant bulls are among the residents. Current rates are posted on the zoo website .
From 23 November to 22 December 2026 the Christmas market fills six squares in the Old Town. Entry is free, and the ice rink on Karlsplatz sits below the castle.
Spring to autumn
From March the zoo moves to its main tariff: €16 adult, €8 child and family cards at €28 or €43. The Königstuhl above the castle then becomes the second family stop. Falknerei Tinnunculus at Königstuhl 2a runs flight demonstrations from April to October and is closed on Mondays. The Märchenparadies amusement park for children is on the same summit. Its 2026 season finishes on 11 November, and the 2027 calendar is posted at maerchen-paradies.de .
The funicular for families
A Panoramaticket for two adults and one child costs €36 return, and each extra child adds €3. For the upper section only, the family return is €22 and each extra child is €2. These fares rise in January 2027.
Castle visit with children
The courtyard and the Great Tun suit children best: the cask is huge, and the garden has room to run. Children aged 6 and over pay the reduced castle fare, which is €5.50 until 31 December 2026 and €6 from January. A family guided tour costs €15.
Easy days out
Schwetzingen palace gardens are about 30 to 40 minutes away by bus 717. From 29 March to 24 October a family ticket costs €22.50. On the river, the 50-minute Weisse Flotte sightseeing cruise starts from €19 per person.
Practical advice
- The Old Town is pedestrian, and the flat riverside is easiest with pushchairs.
- The Schlangenweg cobbles and the Himmelsleiter steps are steep and uneven, so skip them with young children.
- Children aged 5 and under travel free on a HeidelbergCARD when with an adult.
Read more: Heidelberg attraction tours and the four-day plan . To compare family tours, browse Heidelberg tours on Viator .