City breaks are great for experiencing a lot and learning something about a metropolis and its inhabitants. A survey shows what parents value on such a trip and which travel destinations are particularly popular.
Explore a lot, experience a lot, have fun: City breaks are among the most popular forms of travel. But not only singles or couples want to discover the metropolises in Germany and Austria. Families have also discovered this form of travel for themselves.
A survey commissioned by Jufa Hotels asked 1,500 parents of children aged three to 14 about their city break plans. The parents were asked about destinations in Germany and Austria.
City trip – what is important to parents when it comes to hotels
Half of those surveyed are planning a city trip with the family with at least one overnight stay this year. The vast majority want to make such a trip as an independent trip (70 percent), only a quarter of the parents surveyed can imagine a city trip as part of a round trip.
When choosing a hotel, child-friendly catering (almost 43 percent) and different room sizes (around 42 percent) are the most important. Only around twelve percent of parents expect a hotel to offer childcare. When choosing accommodation for parents, it is much more important that it is centrally located and that the city center can be reached quickly (around 53 percent).
But not every city is equally popular with the parents surveyed.
Families would like to travel to these five cities in Germany
placement | City | How many of the respondents would like to travel here |
1 | Hamburg | 50 percent |
2 | München | 36.1 percent |
3 | Berlin | 36 percent |
4 | Leipzig | 30.2 percent |
5 | Köln | 16.7 percent |
Inspiration for trips with children in Hamburg
It is not for nothing that Hamburg made it to number 1, after all the Hanseatic city in northern Germany is one of the most beautiful cities. The many ships on the Elbe, the stand-up paddlers and canoes on the Alster and the numerous canals impress young and old alike. Whether it’s a trip to one of the numerous parks, watching ships on the banks of the Elbe or a visit to a museum – families will certainly not get bored in Hamburg. Of course, Hamburg is known for its Michel and Hamburgers have a love-hate relationship with the Elbphilharmonie.
We have collected three tips for things to do with children:
Enjoy a round of mini golf and nature
© Saha Waldcafé
Surrounded by trees as far as the eye can see, there is a little gem hidden in Hamburg-Niendorf: Das Saha Waldcafé. This is where Syrian matzah, i.e. small warm and cold dishes, meet the classic Mini golf. What may sound like a strange combination at first glance fits together perfectly. And of course, in the summer, you can also get a popsicle here! Visitors can try their luck on a total of 18 lanes – and some lanes are quite tricky. Visitors can enjoy nature around the café, the children can romp around in the mushroom playground and a walk along the Rahwegteich is also fun!
Mini golf course Niendorf, Burgunderweg 23, 22453 Hamburg
Season start 2023: from April
More information can be found here.
A must: watch ships and take a ferry
© romrodinka / Getty Images
Die HADAG ferries are part of local transport in Hamburg and can be used with the HVV ticket. A particularly good route to enjoy Hamburg flair: line 62. Families can board at the Landungsbrücken – it goes down the Elbe to Finkenwerder. The ship sails past the famous Fish Market, the Cruise Center Altona and Dockland. A good point to disembark: the museum harbor Övelgönne. From there it’s a quick walk to the Elbe beach, where you can sit in the sand and watch the hustle and bustle in the container port. Not only children are impressed by this.
Start: Landungsbrücken, bridge 3
Timetable and further information can be found here.
Experience the whole world on a small scale
© Markus Scholz / DPA
The Miniature wonderland is not one of the most popular museums in the Hanseatic city for nothing. And we promise: In the Speicherstadt, families will find more than just a boring model railway system here. In the Wunderland you can go out into the wide world without leaving Hamburg. Entire cities have been recreated here with great precision. In Scandinavia, visitors can learn about the ebb and flow and in the USA it’s off to the wild west. Of course, a whole section is dedicated to Hamburg.
Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg, Kehrwieder 2-4 / Block D, 20457 Hamburg
More information can be found here.
Parents also have a clear favorite in Austria.
The top 5 destinations in Austria for families
Rang | City | How many of the respondents would like to travel here |
1 | Wien | 66.1 percent |
2 | Salzburg | 51.8 percent |
3 | Innsbruck | 25.1 percent |
4 | Graz | 21.2 percent |
5 | Linz | 15.1 percent |
What families with children can do in Vienna
It is not surprising that many parents want to explore the Austrian capital with their children, after all Vienna combines art, culture, nature and cuisine in a unique way. Anyone who strolls through the streets of Vienna actually only looks up and discovers one imposing building after the other. There are many sights to discover such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hundertwasser House or the Prater. Our three tips for activities with children:
Immerse yourself in the world of Sisi
© Peter Widmann / Imago Images
Schönbrunn Castle is probably part of every visit to Vienna. The baroque palace was the summer residence of the Austrian imperial family from the mid-18th century until the end of the First World War. Even the building and the gardens are huge and very impressive.
Im Children’s Museum of the castle, children are allowed to slip into royal robes. Unlike in other museums, the rule here is: touching is allowed! So off we go to find out what the Empress and Emperor ate and how they lived. Those who still haven’t had enough will have fun in the maze of Schönbrunn Palace. Children can really let off steam with the water games!
Schönbrunn Palace, Schönbrunner Schloßstrasse 47, 1130 Vienna
More information can be found here.
Eat a pancake and ride a zip line
© Panthermedia / Imago Images
How about a trip to the most famous market in Vienna: the snack market. There, children can snack on a Palatschinken (pancake) and at the 120 stalls you can also do the shopping for a picnic! On Saturdays there is also a junk sale at the Naschmarkt.
Not far away is hiding in Alfred Grünwald Park a beautiful green area with a sloping climbing frame and a cable car. Rocking fans and slide fans will also be happy here. Especially in summer, the water play equipment with hills, fountains, streams and weirs are great for playing. On one of the meadows you can enjoy a nice picnic with the family. Alfred Grünwald Park is in the sixth district.
Naschmarkt, Wienzeile, 1060 Vienna
You can find more information about the Naschmarkt here and about the park here.
Get to know the original cattle
© Volker Preußer / Imago Images
In the west on the outskirts of the city there is a piece of Vienna Woods – the Lainzer Tiergarten. The former hunting ground of the imperial family is criss-crossed with streams and ponds. Here families can observe the original cattle and explore the approximately 2400 hectare area.
On the forest nature trail, visitors can learn everything about the different types of trees and shrubs in the zoo – a lot is explained about the trees on display boards. And almost in passing you can pay a visit to the fallow deer and mouflon. A total of six playgrounds are available here.
Lainzer Tiergarten, Lainzer Tor: Hermesstrasse, 1130 Vienna
You can find more information about the Lainzer Tiergarten here.