Accessible family holidays Volcanoes, orangutans and new lakes
Carefree travelling: For families with children or parents in wheelchairs, this is not a matter of course. Yet. We are fighting to make it one soon. That's why we're paving the way, removing obstacles and showing examples of accessible family holiday experiences in Germany. These are our tips for the summer holidays!
Riding a handbike around new shores in the Lusatian Lakeland
Landscape change: this is the major theme of the Lusatian Lakeland, a young holiday destination in the east of Germany. A few decades ago, the Lusatian Lakeland was still a mining region. Today, it is on its way to becoming Europe's largest man-made lake landscape. The metamorphosis is spectacular and best experienced by bike or handbike. The cycle paths around the new lakes are tarmac, mostly car-free and flat: ideal for tours with children.
One highlight is the tour around Lake Senftenberg. The new barrier-free beach access in the family park, which is due to be completed in summer, or the barrier-free marina in the harbour camp are great places to stop off. There is even the option of ending the day with a raft tour. At Geierswalder See, families can combine their bike tour with an alpaca hike and at Bärwalder See, it's worth stopping off at the barrier-free Nochten boulder park. Handbikes, e-bikes and children's bikes can be hired from Iba-Aktiv-Tours in the family park on Lake Senftenberg.
Handbike tours in the Lusatian Lakeland
accessible holidays in the Lusatian Lakeland
Watching wolves on the Southern Wine Route
Active experiences are also on the summer holiday programme in south-west Germany. On the Southern Wine Route, families can hike on barrier-free trails through romantic vineyards and charming wine villages or with llamas through the Palatinate Forest.
A new top destination for people with limited mobility is the Silz Wildlife and Hiking Park. It was made barrier-free last year. More than 400 animals are at home here. The 15 native European species include wild boar, stone martens, mouflons, mountain goats, eagle owls and arctic foxes.
An accessible path leads from the entrance via the petting enclosure to the observation stations. The exciting highlight of the day is the feeding of the wolves, which can be experienced daily at 11 a.m. between March and October. There is also a barrier-free mud area on the grounds, where children in wheelchairs can also play thanks to a level path.
accessible holidays on the Southern Wine Route
Discover orangutans and polar bears in Rostock
The north also promises exciting animal encounters: The Hanseatic and university city of Rostock is not only a popular holiday destination for families because of the barrier-free and barrier-friendly beaches in the seaside resorts of Warnemünde and Markgrafenheide, but also because of its award-winning zoo. In 2022, the zoo took first place in the ‘Best European Zoo Award’ competition for the third time in a row! 6,500 animals can be experienced in the extensive, easily wheeled park landscape. In the Darwineum, more than 150 animal species illustrate the theory of evolution. The centrepiece is the tropical hall, home to gorillas and orangutans. In the Polarium, home to penguins and polar bears, visitors go on a voyage of discovery to the North and South Poles. Visitor wheelchairs and seats on the barrier-free Zoo Express can be reserved by telephone.
Other family-friendly excursion destinations in Rostock include the IGA Park on the banks of the Warnow and the barrier-free Shipbuilding and Maritime Museum, which is located in a barrier-free ocean-going freighter on the grounds of the park.
accessible holidays in Rostock
Experience adventure in the volcano in the Eifel
Volcanism: this fascinating topic becomes a holiday adventure in the Eifel in western Germany. Up until around ten thousand years ago, there were huge eruptions in the region. The eruptions left behind huge funnels that filled with water over time. This is how the maars were formed. The Ulmen maar gallery, which is accessible without barriers, was created in the Middle Ages. It connects two maars and takes visitors on a journey into the interior of a volcano. Here, children can discover glittering rock fragments and different layers of sediment.
A visit to the gallery can be combined with a three-kilometre barrier-free tour around the Jungferweiher pond. On level paths, the tour takes you around the lake and its nature reserve, which is a resting and nesting place for numerous birds. There are several stops along the way on the digital Ulmen discovery tour. Visitors can use their smartphones to watch videos, some of which are also available in sign language and easy-to-read.
Barrierfreier Urlaub in der Eifel
Immerse yourself in the history of technology in Magdeburg
The state capital of Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg, takes families into the adventure world of the Elbauenpark. The area, which was created as part of the 1999 Federal Garden Show, is more than just a conventional park with flowerbeds and plant halls. More than 200 butterflies, geckos and giant snails can be observed in the butterfly house, which is also accessible for children in wheelchairs.
The Elbauen-Express, an electric bus, is a convenient way to explore the park. In summer, dance groups, musicians and comedians perform on the lakeside stage, which also has seats for wheelchair users. The sports fields and water playground are also designed to be accessible. The landmark of the Elbauenpark is the Millennium Tower with an exhibition on the history of mankind and technology. The lowest level is also accessible for children in wheelchairs.
Accessible family holidays
Further offers for families and children