These are fun activities to get to know and appreciate our local area with your family or visitors.
Beethoven Birthplace
Bonn’s main claim to fame is that it is birthplace of Beethoven. You can visit the house and see the room he was born in, but most of the rooms are fairly empty or have only a couple of items labeled in German. The shop is a nice place to get local gifts as there aren't many places which sell 'Bonn' or 'Beethoven' objects. They also organize small concerts/
Drachenfels (Dragon Rock!)
View from DrachenfelsYou can take a cog railway (or a horse drawn cart) up to these ‘Dragon Rock’ ruins. The views of the Rhine are spectacular.
Rheinaue
RheinaueThink the Central Park of Bonn. It is a large park with jogging trails, lake, restaurants, paddle boats and a variety of smaller gardens and several playgrounds. It also plays host to the largest flea market on this side of Germany on the third Saturday of the month from May until October and to many other festivals and events such as Rhein in Flammen (fireworks and big rides the first Saturday in May), International Beer festival in July, and one of the largest free Rock concerts in Europe. It is along the Rhine just south of the center.
Botanical Gardens/Botanische Gärten
As it is sponsored by the university, it can definitely be a learning experience for kids as it explains plant varieties from around the world. There are indoor and outdoor sections, but the indoor section has extremely limited hours, so check the web site before you go. It sits on the grounds of the old palace in Poppelsdorf (just south of Bonn center), and its main claim to fame is the big stinky flower that grows to 2 meters tall and burst into a giant stink bomb every few years. Entrance is free, but donations are requested.
Rhine Picnic
Rhine BeachWhen the weather is nice, grilling on the banks of the Rhine is a nice way to watch the sunset. On the east side there are large beach areas with protected areas so kids can wade in the water, but warning - swimming in the Rhine is DANGEROUS as the currents are strong and the ship traffic causes dangerous eddies and suction
