Coburg.Rennsteig with kids – a family-friendly hidden gem in Germany
Recently, we were invited to visit the Coburg.Rennsteig region – and I have to admit, I knew very little about this corner of Germany before. What a shame, because it turned out to be not only beautiful, but also packed with fascinating history. Nature, culture and delicious food – that’s exactly what always draws me to new places, and Coburg.Rennsteig delivers all three.
Sitting right on the border of Franconia and Thuringia, the region combines the best of both worlds: from the picturesque Rodach Valley, through the former “world toy capital” of Sonneberg, to the famous Rennsteig trail in the north. Fairy-tale castles rise above endless forests, medieval towns charm with half-timbered houses, and the landscape shifts from peaceful and idyllic to mysterious and mystical. We spent three wonderful days there, and I can already tell you: if you’re looking for family holidays in Germany off the beaten path, put this region on your list.
Coburg.Rennsteig with kids: top things to see and do
Sonneberg – the World’s Toy Capital
Our base for the trip was Sonneberg, and it’s hard to imagine a better fit for a family holiday – this little town in Thuringia was once nothing less than the toy capital of the world. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the region grew into one of Europe’s main toy-making centres, and by the early 20th century, Sonneberg’s toy merchants dominated the global trade, exporting dolls, teddy bears and wooden toys to every corner of the world. That playful heritage is still everywhere you look.
Spielmeile – a play trail through the town
The best way to feel it? Walk the Spielmeile – a wonderful play trail leading from the train station all the way to the German Toy Museum. Along the route, there are 12 interactive stations where kids can play, move and learn about the region’s history at the same time. History coming alive through play – what a brilliant idea! Our girls loved hopping from one station to the next, and for us parents it was a lovely, relaxed way to explore the town.
Deutsches Spielzeugmuseum – the German Toy Museum
The trail ends at the Deutsches Spielzeugmuseum, founded back in 1901 – and what a wonderful place it is! The collection includes over 100,000 objects, among them around 60,000 toys from all over the world: delicate 19th-century Thuringian porcelain dolls, some of the earliest Käthe Kruse dolls, technical toys, wooden toys, and even ancient toys from Egypt, Greece and Rome.
What I appreciated most as a mum: this is not a “don’t touch anything” kind of museum. Throughout the building there are play islands and play stations where children can actually play, so the little ones stay happily busy while you admire the beautiful exhibitions. There’s also a free audioguide (you can even download it at home before your visit, in English too), and during school holidays the museum runs open workshops and creative programmes for kids.
Lauscha – the town where glass Christmas ornaments were born
From toys to glass: our next stop was Lauscha, and honestly, the story of this little town fascinated us. The Thuringian Forest is one of Central Europe’s most important glass regions – glass has been made here since the 12th century, and Lauscha was home to the very first glassworks. But the town’s real claim to fame came around 1860, when local glassblowers invented the glass Christmas tree ornament. Yes – the baubles hanging on your Christmas tree were born right here, and this craft is now part of the UNESCO cultural heritage!
Museum für Glaskunst – the Museum of Glass Art
At the Museum of Glass Art you can discover over 400 years of glass history – from early forest glass, through ornate vessels and glass toys, to modern glass art. We were completely absorbed by the stories the museum guide told us. Did you know that Lauscha still produces artificial human eyes to this day? We had no idea, and the kids’ jaws dropped! What impressed us most were the intricate little glass artworks – delicate, masterful pieces that you could admire for hours. It’s amazing how such a small town shaped an entire craft that travelled around the world.
Glassblowing Workshop at Atelier SpissKist
But the absolute highlight in Lauscha was trying glassblowing ourselves at Lauscha Glaskunst – Atelier SpissKist. It was our first time ever blowing glass and let me tell you – it’s not as easy as it looks! But we laughed so much and had an absolute blast. A huge part of that is Rita, the owner – what an incredible character! Funny, full of energy, and bursting with fascinating stories about the craft and the region. In her authentic workshop, you work right at the flame and get a real feel for this centuries-old art.
It’s a fantastic activity for families – and don’t worry if you’re coming with younger children, because Rita has prepared creative activities for them too. Our daughters made beautiful suncatchers and were so proud of them. And here’s the best part: at the end, you can take your blown glass shapes with you, and Rita will turn them into Christmas baubles – the most personal souvenir you could possibly bring home.
Hiking the Rennsteig – Grenzenlos Wandern
No visit to this region would be complete without hiking the Rennsteig, one of Germany’s most famous ridge trails. We joined the guided hiking event “Grenzenlos Wandern” (“hiking without borders”) starting from Friedrichshöhe in the Thuringian Forest Nature Park and took on the Blessberg tour – about 12 km with 420 metres of elevation gain, winding through the beautiful Franconian-Thuringian hills.
And what a gorgeous walk it was! Stunning views, unspoiled nature, and a guide who told us wonderfully interesting stories about the region along the way. The route mixes some more challenging climbs with rewarding viewpoints, mostly on comfortable forest paths – doable for active families with reasonably fit kids.
For our children, though, the absolute highlight was something else entirely: the forest was bursting with wild berries! Wild strawberries, raspberries, blueberries – we ate our fill and then some. Add a welcome snack, a shared lunch with regional food on the trail and coffee and cake at the finish, and you have a pretty perfect hiking day.
SonneBad Sonneberg – cooling off, family style
On our last day we cooled off at SonneBad Sonneberg, a modern leisure pool conveniently located right next to the Spielzeughotel. The pool isn’t huge, but it’s lovely and really well organised. There’s a proper swimming pool, a slide, a “wild river” current channel, and areas for both younger and older kids.
In summer, there are animations for children every single day – and they’re great fun! You can jump into the water from a rope (endless entertainment!), get inside a giant inflatable ball and roll your way into the pool, or put on a mermaid tail and feel like you’re in a fairy tale for a while. There’s also a sauna area with indoor and outdoor sections, with an Aufguss (sauna infusion ritual) every hour for the grown-ups. In winter, the ice rink next door opens too.
And one little detail I absolutely loved: in the food area, every table is a board game! While you wait for your meal, you just grab the pieces and play. Such a simple, brilliant idea – more places should do this.
Funtasy World Rödental – action-packed grand finale
We ended our trip at Funtasy World in Rödental and… wow, what a place! I only wish we had something like this in Berlin. It’s a huge indoor adventure world – around 4,400 m² spread over four levels – and you could easily spend a whole day here. The attractions include trampoline areas, a ninja parcours, a high ropes course, climbing walls, laser tag and a big adventure labyrinth.
Our kids had the time of their lives in the climbing area, and the whole family had an absolute blast playing laser tag together. I lost, as usual – but hey, someone has to! It’s the perfect mix of movement, adrenaline and pure fun, and a great option for a rainy day (or as a grand finale, like for us).
Coburg.Rennsteig with kids – where to eat?
When we travel, I always love trying regional flavours, and this trip was no exception – we ate some truly delicious things. Both places we visited have a kids’ menu, so eating out with children is completely stress-free here.
Hotel Schieferhof – GlasLUST
The restaurant at Hotel Schieferhof – GlasLUST on the Rennsteig was a real treat. It’s considered one of the best restaurants in Thuringia, serving fresh, gourmet-style cuisine built on honest craftsmanship and prepared with incredible attention to detail, accompanied by carefully selected wines – often from regional winemakers. And the setting is just as special as the food: the hotel combines historic charm with modern design, full of artistic touches like pop art, porcelain art and glass objects from nearby Lauscha. A lovely way to see the region’s glassmaking story continue right onto your dinner table.
Gasthof “Der Grosch”
For authentic Franconian food, head to Der Grosch in Rödental – a family-run inn, brewery and hotel under one roof, with over 600 years of history! The menu combines classic recipes with modern ideas – from hearty roasts to seasonal and vegetarian dishes – and everything tastes even better with their homemade beer, brewed on site in their own brewery. It’s a central part of the whole experience.
The atmosphere is cosy and wonderfully traditional, whether you sit in the historic dining rooms or in the beer garden. And here’s what makes it perfect for families: apart from the kids’ menu, there’s also a small playground outside – so the little ones can play happily while the grown-ups finish their beer in peace. It was delicious, relaxed and simply fun.
Coburg.Rennsteig with kids – where to sleep?
Spielzeughotel Sonneberg
We stayed at the Spielzeughotel in Sonneberg, and I couldn’t imagine a more fitting place to sleep in the world’s former toy capital – a town once known as “Santa Claus’s workshop”!
The whole hotel is one big love letter to toys. The reception is designed like an old railway station hall, the 24 cosy themed rooms are styled like railway carriages, and throughout the hotel you’ll find illuminated display cases with beautiful historic dolls and teddy bears, plus charming murals on the walls. Our kids were enchanted before we even got to our room!
Beyond the theme, it’s simply a lovely place to stay: friendly, welcoming staff, comfortable rooms and apartments (there are 7 apartments – perfect for families), and a central location that made it easy to explore both the town and the region. Every morning, a rich breakfast buffet is served in the “Puppenstube” (doll’s parlour) – and the breakfasts were delicious. Bonus for families: the SonneBad pool is located right next door, so relaxation is literally on your doorstep.
Coburg.Rennsteig with kids – final thoughts
Coburg.Rennsteig surprised us in the best possible way. In just three days we blew glass, hiked one of Germany’s most famous trails, travelled through the history of toys, jumped into pools and played laser tag – all without crowds and without long drives between attractions. It’s exactly what family travel should feel like: a mix of nature, culture, history and plain old fun.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly destination in Germany that’s still a bit of a hidden gem, Coburg.Rennsteig should be high on your list. We’ll definitely be back – there’s still so much left to explore!
Our visit was the result of a collaboration with Coburg.Rennsteig. As always, all opinions and impressions are our own.
