The top 10 leisure tips for the Lower Rhine

Image source: Adventurepark Xanten

The Lower Rhine offers a wide range of varied excursion destinations that will make your family holiday even more unforgettable. Here are our top 10 in unsorted order.

The Kleve Zoo is an absolute must-see. It combines the character of a zoo with a landscape park, allowing visitors to stroll around in beautiful surroundings and observe exotic and native animals in a largely natural environment.

The Irrland in Kevelaer is a huge adventure park that is open from the end of March to the beginning of November. With its countless slides, climbing frames, water attractions and mazes, it offers adventure and fun for families with children up to the age of 12.

In Neuss, the Children's farm, where children can experience farm animals up close and learn a lot about life in the countryside. Here they can stroke goats, feed ponies and even do small gardening jobs.

Not far away, the Alpine Park Neuss even in midsummer for unadulterated winter fun. Here, skiers and snowboarders can ski on real pistes, take part in ski courses and put their skills to the test. Children especially love the toboggan runs where they can whizz down the slopes.

One destination that combines art, nature and architecture in a unique way is the Museum Island Hombroich. Thanks to the extensive grounds, the island is ideal for walks and exploratory tours. Works of art are often presented freely accessible so that children can move around freely, explore the surroundings on their own and engage with art and nature in a playful way.

For the adventurous, the Adventure Park Xanten a great offer. With a clear view of the Xantener Südsee, the high ropes course can be climbed on 33 elements in the high ropes course and 30 elements in the low ropes course. Thanks to a continuous belay system, there is no need to re-climb throughout the high ropes course, so even the youngest children can join in.

Right next door is the Xanten Leisure Centre. Wakeboarding, diving, surfing, sailing or simply cruising across the lake in a pedalo - almost all water sports are available here. Of course, you can also just take a dip and relax in the adjacent natural outdoor pool.

Another highlight in Xanten is the LVR Archaeological Park, where visitors can discover the remains of the Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The park offers exciting insights into the life of the Romans and impresses with reconstructed buildings and interactive exhibitions.

The journey is the destination? Then we recommend a Cycle tour through the Lower Rhine. More than 2,000 kilometres of cycle paths await you here, connected by the longest network of signposted cycle paths in the whole of Germany. You can easily explore many excursion destinations as well as natural landscapes and nature reserves by bike.

If you fancy a change of perspective, you can also experience the Lower Rhine from the water. The best way to do this is on a canoe tour on the Niers. Various providers offer tours on different sections of the Niers - by kayak, canoe or rubber dinghy.

Youth hostels on the Lower Rhine

Fancy a family holiday on the Lower Rhine? The youth hostels in Xanten, Kleve and Neuss are close to many excursion destinations and look forward to your visit. You can even save a lot, e.g. with the 3 or 5-day family break or the Promotional prices 3-for-2 of the Neuss and Kleve youth hostels. In 2025, Xanten Youth Hostel will once again be offering various Active holidays for families where you can learn to sail, surf and dive.