Deep in the woods, an hour’s drive north of Munich, you’ll find the Dinosaur Museum Altmühltal. Here you can follow a circular trail and discover 400 million years of Earth’s history. Encounters with more than 70 life-size animals take you back to prehistoric times, and world-class original fossils are also on display. It’s a day-trip tip for the whole family that works whatever the weather.
- Woodland adventure trail
- Museum hall
- Hands-on hall
- A break in the greenery
- Getting there from Munich
The 1.5-kilometre circular trail leads you through the geological eras, from the Palaeozoic through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods to the Cenozoic. More than 70 life-size dinosaur models are dotted among the trees, including the colossal Brachiosaurus, the enormous Diplodocus and the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex. Best of all, visitors are even allowed to touch the animals. Information boards also explain the scientific background: Who lived when? How big, how fast and how strong were these giants? And what really happened when the dinosaurs died out?
Good to know: The entire trail is step-free, with the exception of access to one exhibit.
Here you can marvel at original skeletons and fossils – you really can’t get any closer to the giants of prehistory. Among them is an original fossil of Archaeopteryx, the primitive bird, which offers a glimpse into the Jurassic birdlife of the Altmühl Valley. “Dracula” (not to be confused with the famous vampire) also calls the hall home: the largest pterosaur ever discovered, recreated at life size. The exhibition “Treasure Chamber in the Heart of Bavaria” showcases unique fossil finds from nearby Painten, while “Ammonite Masterpieces” devotes more than 100 original fossils to the beauty and diversity of ammonites. Current highlights also include the long-necked sauropod “Arapahoe”, a 25-metre skeleton on loan from the Natural History Museum of the University of Zurich, which has been assembled in the museum hall.
The hands-on hall is a treat for budding palaeontologists, as it brings science to life. You can prepare fossils yourself, hunt for ancient shark teeth and chisel minerals out of rocks. At further stations, you can measure how you would fare in a race against a dinosaur.
Good to know: The hands-on activities are not included in the admission price.
If you get hungry or simply need a breather, head to the lakeside restaurant, whose lovely woodland beer garden sits in a peaceful clearing. The food is regional and almost entirely organic, with a number of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Two large playgrounds are each within sight, so even the grown-ups can relax. Then pop into the museum shop, where fitting souvenirs await dino fans back home, and your visit is complete.
By car: About 1 hour via the A9 towards Nuremberg, exit Denkendorf. Free parking is available for cars, motorcycles and coaches, as well as 20 charging points for electric vehicles.
By train and bus: Just under 1.5 hours by regional train to Kinding (Altmühltal), then onward by bus to the “Dinopark, Denkendorf (Oberbayern)” stop. Timetables at bahn.de.
Opening hours: From November to March, daily from 10am to 4pm, though there are additional closing days to bear in mind. From April to October, daily from 9am to 6pm, including bank holidays and school holidays. Day tickets are available at the entrance ticket office.
