Family holidays in Essen

WATER SPORTS IN ESSEN – TOTAL RELAXATION AT BALDENEYSEE
Baldeneysee , which is located in the southern part of the city, is the perfect spot for a canoe trip. Simply hire one or two boats – the hire station in Essen-Kupferdreh opens at 10 am. You can either hire Canadian canoes or kayaks and life vests are also on offer at the hire station.

Whether you are on the water or in the water, you will be surrounded by a varied and beautiful natural and industrial cultural landscape at Baldeneysee, which makes it an ideal spot for a family day out.

If you don’t really want to paddle for yourself, we’d recommend you take a tour with Weiße Flotte Baldeney or, outside the water, a trip on the historic Hespertalbahn . The railway starts in Essen-Kupferdreh or Haus Scheppen. We’d also really recommend visiting Seaside Beach Baldeney . On the paradise beach, which is 250 m long and features palm trees and a bathing area, the kids will have plenty to do and, as a parent, you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy life whilst sipping a cocktail.

GRUGAPARK ESSEN – LOTS OF SPACE TO DISCOVER, PLAY AND LET OFF STEAM
Grugapark , which is in the city district of Rüttenscheid, is one of the most spacious and beautiful city parks in Europe, comprising around 60 hectares, and draws in over 1 million visitors a year. Thanks to its large grass areas, botanical gardens, palm house and numerous playgrounds, Grugapark is a true all-rounder and a popular leisure destination for both locals and tourists. As well as the playgrounds or the labyrinth, another major highlight for children is the farm experience. In addition to historic livestock breeds, such as Bentheim black pieds, Coburg fox sheep or pied German ‘Edelziege’ goats, around 500 animals live in the entire park. This also includes exotic animals, such as flamingos, eagle owls and fallow deer.

The best way of exploring the park for the first time is with the Grugabahn. The small train does one lap of the park and you can get off at any time, for example to get a snack at a kiosk or in the restaurant. If you still aren’t done with trains after this trip, you’ll enjoy the OKtoRail, which features 460 m² of model railway.

CYCLING IN ESSEN – EXPERIENCE THE GREEN SIDE OF THE CITY
Ride around 260 km through Essen... with the perfect cycle path network, most of which is away from traffic, cycling around the city is no problem as a family with children. The ideal way to discover industrial culture, parks, forests and fields, as well as vibrant city life, is on a bike. The majority of the cycle paths have been constructed on disused railway lines, which were being used to transport coal and steel until a couple of decades ago. You can also explore the Ruhr area around Essen in the same way as the cycle paths don’t stop at the city boundaries!

Our tip for a day trip: The nature route – a 16-kilometre route that connects the New Emscher Valley with the Ruhr Valley and shows you the greenest spots in the city.

You can find more cycle routes here

You can hire bikes here

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE ZOLLVEREIN – FOR YOUNG AND GROWN-UP EXPLORERS
In Essen, visiting the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex , now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an absolute must. In the past, this area was a mine, which was loud and hot, and it was a place in which no housewives wanted to hang out white washing in their garden in the area around the mines. It is totally different now. A tour of the World Heritage Site, the cokery and a visit to the Ruhr Museum will give you a really fascinating insight into times gone by, though! This is a highlight because the former pitmen are not dry tour guides by any means and they place emphasis on fun.

Do you prefer something more sporty? Then why not take a look at the soccer golf (a mixture of football and golf) site, which comprises around 100 hectares and is free for the whole family.

There are also cafés and restaurants at the site, where families with children are always welcome.

Scenic tour of Essen in a double-decker open-top bus

After exploring so many highlights on foot, on the fifth day it’s time for a scenic tour from the comfort of your seat. RevierTouristik’s bright red double-decker open-top bus is at your disposal for this. In around two hours, it takes you to the most exciting sights Essen has to offer, including Villa Hügel – with 399 rooms, the largest listed detached house in Germany – the garden city of Margarethenhöhe and, of course, the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site. The great thing is: with a pair of headphones and a smartphone, the tour becomes a children’s tour. All you have to do is scan the QR code on the back of the seat in front of you on the bus, and you’ll hear entertaining, child-friendly commentary on the attractions you’re passing. Meanwhile, the grown-ups can listen to the recorded commentary of the classic “Essen Discovery Tour” through the speakers. So there’s something for everyone.

At the end of your fifth day in the Ruhr region, there has to be a grand finale. You need a proper bite to eat! In the Ruhr region, the true home of the currywurst, it has to be just that: currywurst and chips! Whether with or without mayo, or even Schranke (red and white), is of course entirely up to you. Fortunately, there’s a good chip shop on every corner in Essen. Bon appétit!

ISENBURG RUINS & RUINS OF BURG ALTENDORF – THE MIDDLE AGES IN ESSEN
Almost every child has dreamt of living in a castle at some point as a knight or lord/lady of the castle. You can take two journeys into the past in Essen at any one time.

High above Baldeneysee , in the Stadtwald district, you can see the ruins of Isenburg , which date from the Middle Ages, jutting out of the landscape on a rocky protrusion. 750 years ago, this was the largest and most important fortification in the region. A historic experience trail provides information about the history and the life of the castle and its residents.

In the south-eastern part of the city, in the district of Burgaltendorf, you can find the romantic ruins of Burg Altendorf , which was built in the second half of the 12th century. In the summer months, you can visit the outer bailey and inner bailey and their walls, which are well-preserved, on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 pm to 5 pm. Tours are also possible. If you fancy a second helping afterwards, you’ll need to head to Hugenpoet Castle in Kettwig (a 5-star superior castle hotel with the gourmet restaurant ‘1831’), Schloss Oefte (golf course) and Schloss Landsberg (Thyssen Krupp meeting and seminar location).

SWIN-GOLF, FOOTBALL GOLF and ADVENTURE GOLF at the Rutherhof

On the final day, we head to the idyllic Ruhr Valley in Essen-Schuir. This is where the Rutherhof is located, where you can try your hand at golf with the whole family. Don’t worry, this isn’t traditional golf, but three straightforward and action-packed variations. First up is Swin-Golf. This is played with simplified rules and a bit less fuss on the 11-hectare site featuring 18 fairways. Football golf involves getting the ball into the target on 18 holes with as few kicks as possible. This could be a barrel in the ground, a net or even a large tree trunk. The fun is rounded off by adventure golf. Here you can expect creative obstacles, changes in elevation, ramps and loops. What makes it special is that each of the 18 holes represents a landmark or symbol of the Ruhr region. This turns the game into a mini-tour of the Ruhr at the same time. As sport is known to work up an appetite, you can treat yourself to a delicious meal at the Ruhtherhof restaurant at the end of the day.

There are numerous highlights in the area around Essen which you can get to quickly on public transport or by car. We’ve made a list of a couple of them for you here:

alpincenter Bottrop

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Oberhausen

SEA LIFE in Oberhausen

ZOOM Erlebniswelt in Gelsenkirchen (only in German)

Railway Museum Bochum

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