Advertisement: This guide contains affiliate links (marked with *). If you book or buy through them, we earn a commission – at no extra cost to you.
At a glance
- Region
- Münsterland and Ruhr area, Germany (Münster, Hamm, Dortmund, Oberhausen, Haltern am See)
- Best for
- Mainly toddlers from about 3 and school kids
- Cost
- From a free museum to theme-park tickets – check prices with the provider
- Tip
- On rainy weekends, set off early or book timed online tickets
Grey skies, drizzle and kids with too much energy: especially in autumn and winter you need good indoor ideas. We've picked eight places that are easy to reach from Münster or the Ruhr area. Opening hours and prices change – please check them on the provider's website before you go.
Münster: dinosaurs, stars and a mammoth
LWL Museum of Natural History with Planetarium
Dinosaurs to marvel at and a planetarium with special shows for children. Plan the museum and a planetarium show together – shows have fixed start times.
Geomuseum of the University of Münster
Right in the city centre and free of charge: a mammoth around 43,000 years old greets you here. Ideal for a shorter visit combined with a stroll through town.
Monkey Town
Climbing frames, ball cannons and slides: Monkey Town has centres in Münster, Dortmund, Essen and Gelsenkirchen, among others. According to the German motoring club ADAC, it is designed for children aged 1 to 12.
Pack non-slip socks for indoor playgrounds – and a water bottle for yourself. It gets warm in there!
Hamm & Dortmund: slides and hands-on fun
Maximare – Erlebnistherme Bad Hamm
Leisure pool with slides, plus brine pools and a sauna area for the grown-ups. Baby-changing facilities, a restaurant and step-free access are available. After swimming, the little ones are guaranteed to be tired.
DASA Working World Exhibition
A huge exhibition about the world of work where children can try lots of things themselves. Children and young people most recently had free admission – check current conditions on the DASA website.
Oberhausen: build bricks and walk beneath sharks
Next to the CentrO shopping centre in Oberhausen, two indoor classics are just a few metres apart – enough to fill a whole rainy day.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Building zones, a ride, a 4D cinema and a Miniland with landmarks from the Rhine-Ruhr region. Kids aged roughly 3 to 10 enjoy it most; allow about two hours. Important: adults are only admitted with a child.
SEA LIFE Oberhausen
The highlight is the underwater tunnel through a large tank with sea turtles, rays and sharks. On quiet days you'll spend about an hour and a half. On rainy weekends it gets busy – timed online tickets are usually cheaper than at the desk.
Haltern am See: indoors and out
Ketteler Hof
Mainly an outdoor adventure park, but with covered play areas and themed worlds – a good choice for showery days when the kids still want to get out. Check the seasonal opening times.
How to keep a rainy day relaxed
- Start early: when it rains, everyone heads indoors. Arrive at opening time and you'll have more space for the first few hours.
- Book a time slot: at SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre an online ticket saves queueing.
- Spare clothes: after a ball pit or water park, everyone appreciates dry clothes for the drive home.
- Snacks: check in advance whether you may bring your own food – many indoor playgrounds don't allow it.
FAQ
What can you do with kids on a rainy day in the Münsterland?
For example the LWL Museum of Natural History with Planetarium in Münster, the free Geomuseum of the University of Münster, indoor playgrounds such as Monkey Town or the Maximare water park in Hamm.
What age is LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Oberhausen for?
Kids aged roughly 3 to 10 enjoy it most. Adults are only admitted with a child.
Are online tickets for SEA LIFE Oberhausen cheaper?
Timed online tickets are usually a little cheaper than at the desk and save queueing – especially on rainy weekends.
Are there free indoor attractions in Münster?
Yes, the Geomuseum of the University of Münster in the city centre is free to visit.