The best things in life are free! And since we’ve been giving you weekly updates on what’s happening in Cologne over the weekend —and have already covered free activities for adults and listed great (though mostly paid) activities for kids —here you can discover the best free activities for families with children!
Cologne Central Library Children’s Section
The City Library offers countless picture books to browse through and interactive STEM hands-on stations where children can discover technology and science through play. It’s a wonderful place for families to spend time when the weather is bad, listen to storytime sessions, and play together.
📍 Josef-Haubrich-Hof 1, 50676 Cologne (near Neumarkt)
📆 Monday through Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
⏳ 1–3 hours
💵 Free (visiting, reading, and trying things out on-site is possible without ID)
ℹ️ More info
Lindenthal Zoo (See animals in the city forest)
In this spacious park in the heart of Cologne’s Stadtwald, children can observe fallow deer, donkeys, sheep, and goats up close. It’s an idyllic retreat where city kids can experience nature firsthand and feed the animals.
📍 Marcel-Proust-Promenade 1, 50935 Cologne
📆 Open daily from 8 a.m. (closing times vary by month between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.)
⏳ 1–2 hours
💵 Free (pet food from vending machines costs about €1)
ℹ️ More info
Finken’s Garden (A Nature Experience for the Senses)
This beautiful nature discovery garden is designed specifically for preschool and elementary school children and invites them to smell, taste, and touch plants . The beehive, the tree telephone, and the barefoot trail are especially great adventures for kids.
📍 Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 49, 50996 Cologne
📆 Open daily from sunrise to sunset, free admission
⏳ 1–2 hours
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
Motorworld Cologne-Rhineland (Marvel at Formula 1 cars)
Car enthusiasts will be in heaven in the former aircraft hangars, where historic sports cars and Michael Schumacher’s private Formula 1 collection are on display . The expansive exhibition is excitingly designed and lets families immerse themselves in the fast-paced world of motorsports.
📍 Butzweilerstraße 35–39, 50829 Cologne
📆 Daily 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
⏳ 1–2 hours
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
Friedenspark Construction Playground (Building huts and doing crafts)
At this supervised adventure playground in southern Cologne, children can gain hands-on experience with wood, hammers, and nails and build their own little structures. In addition to building huts, there are also fire pits for baking bread on a stick and plenty of space for climbing and running around.
📍 Hans-Abraham-Ochs-Weg 1, 50678 Cologne
📆 Monday through Friday, 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (often starting at 12:00 p.m. during school breaks)
⏳ 2–4 hours
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
Cologne Flora and Botanical Garden
At Cologne’s magnificent Flora, families can discover exotic plants, giant palm trees, and colorful flower beds while taking a stroll. The exhibition and tropical greenhouses, in particular, feel like a real little expedition into the jungle for children.
📍 Am Botanischen Garten 1, 50735 Cologne
📆 Daily from 8:00 a.m. until sunset (greenhouses: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m./6:00 p.m., depending on the season)
⏳ 1–2 hours
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
Playground in the Volksgarten
On warm days, this spacious playground is the perfect spot for a refreshing break right in the heart of Cologne’s Südstadt neighborhood. With climbing structures, water pumps, and plenty of sand, kids can build dams to their heart’s content and have a blast splashing around in the mud.
📍 Volksgartenstraße 27, 50677 Cologne (in the Volksgarten)
📆 Open during the day from April through October, weather permitting
⏳ 2–3 hours
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
KAP 686 Skatepark at Rheinauhafen
This modern skatepark is located right on the Rhine and is a great hangout for active kids who want to practice their tricks on a skateboard or scooter. But even just watching the many talented skaters against the industrial backdrop is an experience in itself.
📍 Agrippinawerft 30, 50678 Cologne
📆 Open to the public at any time (illuminated until late in the evening)
⏳ 1–2 hours
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
Dünnwald Wildlife Park (Discover Forest Animals)
The wildlife park in Dünnwald on the right bank of the Rhine is home to wild boars, mouflons, and Scottish Highland cattle in spacious natural enclosures. Right next door is a large arboretum and a beautiful forest playground where children can play afterward.
📍 Dünnwalder Mauspfad 230, 51069 Cologne
📆 Open to the public at any time (year-round)
⏳ 2–3 hours
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info
