Wiesbaden, Mainz, Darmstadt and the Rheingau with Kids, 7 of 8
Open todayDay Trip
Messel Pit Fossil Site
- Open today
- 10am to 5pm
- Price
- Under 6 free, from €5
- Setting
- Indoor & outdoor
Wiesbaden, Mainz, Darmstadt and the Rheingau with Kids, 7 of 8: Messel Pit Fossil Site
Messel Pit Fossil Site
Day TripMessel
Area
Messel
Good for
5–14
Cost
Under 6 free, from €5
Setting
Indoor & outdoor
Updated
Oct 30, 2026
What you need to know
- Sturdy, flat shoes required on every pit tour under mining rules, and only a few rental pairs are kept on site
- GRAB'MAL fossil splitting, a supervised 45-minute session where kids crack open oil shale to look for fossils
- The 1-hour pit tour works with strollers, while the 2-hour tours need an off-road stroller and it can get hot down in the pit
About
A former oil shale quarry where fossils from 47 million years ago survive with skin, feathers and even last meals intact. The pit itself is open only on guided tours, on foot or by electric vehicle. The museum shows original fossils and a film on the site's history.
Outside, a free area has themed play equipment, a sandpit for digging up fossils, a viewing platform and picnic spots.
IndoorOutdoorEnglish Friendly
Under 6 free, from €5
Museum: adults €7, ages 6-17 €5, family €17. Short pit tour (1h): adults €10, ages 6-17 €8, family €24. Tour plus museum: €14, €11, family €35. Under 6 free. Outdoor area free.
Until 15 Nov
Open10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
From 16 Nov
Wed-Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays in winter
Share with another parent
Location
Messel Pit Fossil Site
Roßdörfer Str. 108, 64409 Messel, Germany
