Easter in Bavaria means painted eggs, village fountains dressed in eggs and greenery, and the Easter bunny hiding treats in the garden. The two-week school break around it is made for spring outings, with animals, greenhouses and old farmhouses back in season. Here's what we checked, from giant bunnies at the Olympiapark to the cactus hall at the botanical garden.
Every Easter Sunday the Olympiapark turns the grounds around the Olympic Tower into a family festival. Giant Easter bunnies wander the crowd with baskets of treats, kids make crafts at the big craft stands, get their faces painted and hear stories in the fairy-tale tent.
A clown magician, a vintage carousel and a radio stage show fill the rest of the day. Best for preschool and primary-age kids.
Hellabrunn sits on the Isar river meadows and was the world's first geozoo: since 1928 its animals have lived grouped by continent, so kids can walk from the African savanna to the polar world in a few steps. More than 500 species live here, from elephants and tigers to penguins and polar bears. A new jungle world covers Asia, and there's a petting area and playgrounds along the way.
Freilichtmuseum Glentleiten is an open-air village of almost 70 historic farmhouses, workshops and mills from Upper Bavaria. Kids can look inside old parlors and workshops, meet rare-breed farm animals in the pastures, build dams on the water play trail in the mill valley, and send balls down the forest marble run.
The old houses give cover in rain or strong sun.
A 21-hectare botanical garden, opened in 1914, beside Nymphenburg Palace park. Indoors, a chain of greenhouses runs from a tall palm house to a giant cactus hall, a tree fern house on lava rock, an orchid house and the Victoria house with its huge water lilies.
Outside, kids can follow paths through an alpine rock garden with over 2,000 species, an arboretum and pond areas.
The Krone-Bau is the permanent home of Circus Krone, which tours Germany in summer and comes back here for its winter season. Shows fill the ring under a 3,000-seat roof, mixing classic circus (acrobats, clowns, animal acts) with modern routines.
A life-size statue of the clown Charlie Rivel stands at the entrance. Outside circus season, the building hosts concerts and other productions.
Easter in Bavaria means painted eggs, village fountains dressed in eggs and greenery, and the Easter bunny hiding treats in the garden. The two-week school break around it is made for spring outings, with animals, greenhouses and old farmhouses back in season. Here's what we checked, from giant bunnies at the Olympiapark to the cactus hall at the botanical garden.
Every Easter Sunday the Olympiapark turns the grounds around the Olympic Tower into a family festival. Giant Easter bunnies wander the crowd with baskets of treats, kids make crafts at the big craft stands, get their faces painted and hear stories in the fairy-tale tent.
A clown magician, a vintage carousel and a radio stage show fill the rest of the day. Best for preschool and primary-age kids.
Hellabrunn sits on the Isar river meadows and was the world's first geozoo: since 1928 its animals have lived grouped by continent, so kids can walk from the African savanna to the polar world in a few steps. More than 500 species live here, from elephants and tigers to penguins and polar bears. A new jungle world covers Asia, and there's a petting area and playgrounds along the way.
Freilichtmuseum Glentleiten is an open-air village of almost 70 historic farmhouses, workshops and mills from Upper Bavaria. Kids can look inside old parlors and workshops, meet rare-breed farm animals in the pastures, build dams on the water play trail in the mill valley, and send balls down the forest marble run.
The old houses give cover in rain or strong sun.
A 21-hectare botanical garden, opened in 1914, beside Nymphenburg Palace park. Indoors, a chain of greenhouses runs from a tall palm house to a giant cactus hall, a tree fern house on lava rock, an orchid house and the Victoria house with its huge water lilies.
Outside, kids can follow paths through an alpine rock garden with over 2,000 species, an arboretum and pond areas.
The Krone-Bau is the permanent home of Circus Krone, which tours Germany in summer and comes back here for its winter season. Shows fill the ring under a 3,000-seat roof, mixing classic circus (acrobats, clowns, animal acts) with modern routines.
A life-size statue of the clown Charlie Rivel stands at the entrance. Outside circus season, the building hosts concerts and other productions.
