Destinations / Black Forest and Europa-Park
Black Forest and Europa-Park with kids
Rust holds Europa-Park, one of the largest theme parks in Europe, and Rulantica, a water park that is open all year, with six themed hotels and a western-style village on the same site. Families can run a pool-and-rides break in any season, then drive east into the Black Forest for waterfalls, farm museums and family hotels with childcare. Everything is within a short drive of the French and Swiss borders.
Black Forest and Europa-Park
Which ages it suits
Ages 0–2 · Good
Children aged 0–3 enter Europa-Park and Rulantica free; a few resort areas suit toddlers, but long queues and heat are hard with babies in prams.
Ages 3–6 · Great
Rulantica has areas for small children and Europa-Park has themed lands with gentle rides; the Feldberger Hof childcare takes from 6 months.
Ages 7–12 · Great
The sweet spot, with coasters opening up as they grow and Rulantica's slides and Vikingløp racing slide.
Ages 13–17 · Great
Europa-Park's big coasters and the Rulantica slides work well; the forest days need a hook such as the Feldberg or Triberg falls.
When to go with children
Weather for kids and school-holiday crowds together. Best: April, May, June, September, October, December.
- January · 4°C
- Cold, and Europa-Park runs a winter season with reduced rides; Rulantica stays open and is the draw.
- March · 11°C
- Europa-Park Pre-Opening Weeks run 7 to 19 March in 2027 with special offers, and the park may not have every ride running.
- July · 26°C
- Hot and crowded across German and French school holidays; Rulantica is busy and queues for coasters are long.
- October · 16°C
- Autumn brings lower crowds and Halloween events; the park's Halloween season ran 23 September to 7 November in 2026.
- November · 9°C
- HALLOWinter runs 2 to 27 November in 2026 with Halloween and winter themes combined; Europa-Park is open continuously through November.
- December · 4°C
- Christmas in Europa-Park and the forest villages is a draw, but New Year's Eve is booked well ahead and priced up.
Parks and days out, by car
Typical minutes by car from Rust, Europa-Park hotels. School-holiday traffic can add a lot.
A big park of country-themed areas with roller coasters and family rides; adults pay about 67–76 euro online for a 1-day ticket, children 4–11 about 56–65, and ages 0–3 enter free.
Best for 3–15 · Adult day from about $75 · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
A Nordic-themed water park open all year, with over 50 slides and attractions; day tickets run about 41–54 euro for adults and 38–51 for children 4–11, and capacity is limited, so book ahead.
Best for 2–14 · Adult day from about $50 · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
A city-run animal and nature park on the edge of Freiburg, listed as barrier-free; entry cost and hours were not confirmed here, so check before you go.
Best for 2–10 · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
A farm museum with historic Black Forest houses and animals; open daily 9am to 6pm from 21 March to 7 November in the 2027 season, so it is closed in winter. Admission price was not confirmed.
Best for 4–12 · Tickets on GetYourGuide · Official site
Germany's best-known waterfall path, with steps and steep sections that suit kids who can walk; reported as free under 6 and about 8 euro for adults in summer (third-party sources, not confirmed).
Best for 5–15 · Adult day from about $10 · Official site
Where to stay
Rust (Europa-Park Resort)
On-site hotels with early park entry, a free resort shuttle and pool access across all six themed hotels.
Feldberg and Hochschwarzwald
Higher in the forest for family hotels with childcare, hiking and skiing in winter.
Freiburg area
A walkable university city and the Mundenhof animal park, half an hour or so from Rust.
Family resorts we checked
A Nordic museum-style hotel directly linked to Rulantica, with a Deluxe room that suits four.
Roman theming with 6-bed rooms and suites that sleep up to 6 or even 8.
A lighthouse-themed hotel of 225 rooms with 6-bed standard rooms and a lighthouse suite for four.
The cheapest of the themed hotels, with a castle theme and larger Comfort rooms for five.
Childcare for all ages is included, including babies from 6 months, in a hotel at the foot of the Feldberg.
Log cabin rooms from about 164 euro a night for four, five minutes from Europa-Park.
⚠ Information about periods when night-time quiet cannot be guaranteed because of events is published by the hotel.
A 7-night trip, paced for kids
Rulantica
Start at the water park the day you arrive, using hotel early entry if you are staying on site. Take a slow evening in the hotel pool.
Europa-Park
Two days in the park, starting with the rides under your kids' height limits. Break midday in the hotel pool.
Rest day
A late start, Freiburg or the Mundenhof, with an early night.
Forest leg
Move to the hills for Triberg and the Vogtsbauernhof if it is open, or stay on the Feldberg for the childcare week.
Good to know
- The catch
- Parents book on-site themed hotels per person, then add room upgrades; a family of four can pay far more than the headline 'from' price.
- Flights
- Fly to Basel-Mulhouse (BSL) from London in about 1h30 or Zurich/Frankfurt on longer routes, then 1 hour or so by road; from the US East Coast, Frankfurt or Zurich with a rental car or train is typical.
- Jet lag
- UK: 1 hour ahead; US East Coast: 6 hours ahead, so start with a slow first day.
- Health
- Tap water is safe; tick-borne illnesses are present in the forest, so check kids after walks.
- Safety
- UK FCDO and US State Dept advise normal precautions for Germany.
- Getting around
- Europa-Park hotels share a free resort shuttle; a car is needed for the forest and the museums, and car seats are required for children under 12 or 150 cm.
- Budget
- About $310 a night for a mid-range family room for four, $620 for luxury, plus about $280 a day for food, transport and outings.
Pairs well with: Paris, Tyrol, Netherlands
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