Just get out and about: it's worth discovering North Rhine-Westphalia - at the weekend or during the vacations. The varied nature, fascinating sights and unusual places offer children and parents numerous opportunities to be active together. There are attractive destinations for all tastes and ages, which can be reached on foot, by bike or by bus and train.

Are you looking for suggestions for all-round successful excursions with your children without having to move the car? You can find tips here.

Hiking in NRW - in the countryside or in the cities

Countless hiking trails meander through the countryside. But many cities and their surrounding areas are also waiting to be discovered. The internet offers an almost unmanageable amount of information. Here are just a few examples of what you can do.

Discover NRW with children

The Discover NRW portal from the NRW Foundation for Nature Conservation, Heritage and Cultural Preservation takes you and your children to the most adventurous places in our state. Exciting background information, discovery tasks for children and handicraft instructions will turn your family trip into something special right from the start.

The routes themselves will inspire your children and (perhaps) turn them into true fans of discovery and hiking. The tours usually start in the immediate vicinity of stops and train stations and are therefore easy to reach by public transport.

Mobil.NRW inspires varied hiking tours: from prehistoric rocks in the Teutoburg Forest to historic castles on the Lower Rhine and hip street art in Cologne. The routes have been tested to meet the needs of families. All start and end points are accessible by bus and train, and rental bikes and e-scooters are also included.

The free brochure "Discover NRW" from Mobil.NRW is available from the customer centers of transport companies, tourist information offices or hiking clubs and at many tourist destinations in the state. Hiking fans can also find the relevant tours and information as an e-paper.

Hiking with children

The Hiking with children page from Tourismus NRW e. V. also has numerous tips for great excursion destinations and day trips. Whether adventure trails, hiking with animals or themed routes - adventurous experiences and variety are guaranteed. A digital travel guide with exciting audio guides is also part of the offer here.

Nature parks in NRW

Enjoy the landscape, get to know plants and animals: parents can enjoy pure nature and children can run around as much as they want: 12 nature parks invite you to do just that in North Rhine-Westphalia. They make up almost a third of the state's area. The website of the Verband deutscher Naturparke e. V. also provides comprehensive information.

Cycle tours in NRW: family-friendly routes

Varied cycle tours tailored to the needs and abilities of children get young and old going. There are cycle routes all over NRW that are easy to master with children and are therefore particularly suitable for family excursions.

Former railroad lines and river cycle paths offer low-gradient cycling fun and many cycle paths are full of adventure. There is something to suit every taste. The portal Biking with children from Tourismus NRW e. V. presents some of them.