20+ Cheap or Free Things to Do Near Kaiserslautern, Germany

Nestled within the scenic embrace of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Kaiserslautern area in Germany beckons with its rich blend of history, natural beauty, and modern charm. Whether you’re a history aficionado, an outdoor explorer, or a culture enthusiast, this region offers an array of captivating experiences of all price ranges.

I know moving to Germany and the KMC, or Kaiserslautern Military Community, can be an expensive and exhausting transition for all of us, but there is so much here to experience and explore. One tip to keep in mind when planning anything is to always check the business website or Facebook page for up to date information with closures, prices, and events. From ancient castles to vibrant markets or museums, here are 20+ things to do in or near Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Gulliver Welt

Only 30 minutes from the KMC, Gulliver Welt offers famous miniature statues from around the world. If you’re unable to visit each of these exquisite monuments while traveling abroad, you’re able to see a smaller version of each one in a single place.

Gulliver Welt is free of charge to visit and there is a parking lot across the street from the park. There is also a small playground for children to play on.

Address: Niederbexbacher Str. 65, 66450 Bexbach, Germany

Picking Fresh Flowers

Many of the villages surrounding the KMC have fields to picking fresh flowers in season. Look for the sign, “Blumen selbst Schneiden” meaning “Flowers pick yourself.”

They go by an honor system of putting money and change in the box for the amount of flowers you’re going to cut. They also usually leave one or two knives near the box to use.

The amazing thing about the flowers is they change by the season. In March and April, you’ll find tulips. You can also find dahlias and sunflowers during the fall, with other flowers throughout the season. This is one of my favorite things to do around the villages.

Burg Nanstein

Between the 13th and 15th centuries, it was an imperial castle owned by a castle community with numerous owners. The castle was blown up and destroyed in 1668 and 1669, but starting in 1869, parts of the castle were renovated again.

Nanstein Castle offers beautiful views of Landstuhl to the North Palatinate mountains. There are QR codes scattered throughout the castle to learn more about the history.

Also, be sure to check out the restaurant outside the castle, you can buy a beer and something to eat while enjoying the views.

Admission: Adults €4.00, Children €2.50, Family Ticket 1 (1 Adult/Children) €4.00, Family Ticket 2 (2 Adults/Children) €8.00

Hours:

• April – September: 9:00am – 6:00pm
• October – March: 10:00am – 4:00pm
• Closed on Mondays (except public holidays) and in December

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden of Kaiserslautern offers a place of peace within the center of the city. With ponds, waterfalls, stone lanterns, and tea houses, these gardens will absolutely teleport you to another area.

Throughout the season, they celebrate numerous events, such as the cherry blossoms in April and Middle Autumn Festival Tsukimi end of September. Check out their website for more events.

Admission: Adults €6.50, Children below 11 free.

Hours:

• March, April and October: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
• May – September: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
• November – February: Winter opening hours with reduced admission of €5.50
• Closed on Mondays, except on holidays and bridge days

Gartenschau Kaiserslautern

Kids, and adults, who are in their dinosaur loving phase will love Gartenschau Kaiserslautern as there are life-sized models of dinosaurs all across the park.

There’s also a mini golf course, skate park, a cactus garden, numerous colorful flowerbeds, and quite a few playgrounds for children.

In the building of the old spinning mill, there has been a Lego exhibition since 2015. My husband, who is a HUGE Lego fan, was highly impressed with the displays. Gartenshau also hosts numerous events throughout the year.

During the fall, they decorate the park with numerous pumpkin displays. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed inside the park.

Admission: €8.00 adults, €4.00 for children 6-17, below 6 is free + family rates available

Hours: April to October, daily from 9:00am – 7:00pm

Homburg Caves

Also known as Homburg Castle Hills, these caves were dug below the ruins of the Homburg Fortress on the Schlossberg. One of Europe’s largest colored sandstone caves could potentially date back as far as 1449 with the death of last Count of Homburg.

After the caves were forgotten for some time, another entrance was built in the 1930’s and used during WWII as protection during air strikes.

There are guided tours offered in English, German, and French. And keep in mind that it’s quite chilly in the caves, as low as 10° C, so make sure to wear suitable clothing.

Admission: €7.00 adults, €5.00 children and pupils, children under 6 free

Hours:

• April – October: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• November-March: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Closed December and January

Gate 99

Located right in the Kaiserslautern, Gate 99 Kaiserslautern offers numerous activities for you and your family. From laser tag, to glow in the dark mini golf, to an escape room, Gate 99 has everything to offer.

Save this for a perfect rainy day. Make sure to check their website for up to date information as they change their hours for the summer and some German holidays.

Admission: Laser tag starts at €8.00 per adult and €7.50 per child. Gleam golf is €11.00 per adult and €9.00 per child starting at age 5. The escape room is €15.00 per person.

Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 3:30pm – 10:00pm and closes 12:00am on Friday
• Saturday: 10:00am – 12:00am
• Sunday: 12:00pm – 10:00pm

Burg Lichtenburg

Lichtenberg Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in the Palatinate. Originally started as two separate castles, growing into one single castle.

In the history of the castle, it has never been taken by the enemy. While visiting the castle, you can also visit the two museums on the property or eat at the restaurant.

Both museums and the restaurant are closed on Mondays. The castle is free of charge to explore and the museum does cost around €2.00. Make sure to climb the tower for amazing views. Check out their Facebook page for all the events that take place at the castle.

Address: Burgstraße 17, 66871 Thallichtenberg, Germany

Kaiserslautern Zoo

The Kaiserslautern Zoo is a great activity in the KMC that offers over 600 animals from 110 different zoo species. From zebras, to llamas, to camels, take a walk around the zoo to see them all.

The park’s lush surroundings provide a serene environment for both visitors and animals. Additionally, the zoo offers a petting area for goats and sheep, and you’re able to feed them for €1.

Admission: €10.50 per adult, €7.50 children 4-17, €2.50 for dogs

Hours:

• February – March: 10:00am – 5:00pm
• April – October: 9:00am – 6:30pm
• November – January: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Fun Park Kaiserslautern

Fun Park Kaiserslautern is another exciting activity to do with your families, as it is an indoor trampoline park with more than 80 trampolines. They also offer escape rooms for an additional fee, birthday parties, and events for companies.

Admission: €8.50 for 60 minutes/€13.50 for 120 minutes ages 3-6 years old, €13.50 for 60 minutes/€23.00 for 120 minutes ages 7 and up. They also offer a family package and birthday party packages. Jumping socks are an additional fee.

Hours (May Change Per Season):

• Monday – Thursday: 1:30pm – 7:00pm
• Friday: 1:30pm – 9:00pm
• Saturday: 12:00pm – 7:30pm
• Sunday: 12:00am – 6:00pm

Tea & Scones

One of my favorite things to do in the KMC is to indulge in tea and scones at a local Bed and Breakfast, B&B Dressings Traumgarten. For only €15.00 per person, you can arrange for a group of friends to either sip tea inside in his tea room, or enjoy the scones on his patio weather permitting.

Honestly, these are the most fantastic homemade scones, with clotted cream from the UK and homemade strawberry jam. The tea and scones are endless and you can have as much as you like. The host is truly a fantastic human as well.

To reserve a date and time, you need to send a WhatsApp message to Bernd to see when he is available. His number is: +49-1515-469-2647. He’ll need to know how many people in advance so he has enough scones baked for everyone.

Address: Opelstraße 123, 67661 Kaiserslautern, Germany

Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern

If you’re an art enthusiast, make sure to visit Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern, which offers a large gallery featuring paintings, sculpture & graphic art.

The building itself was built from 1875-1880 according to plans by Karl Spatz in Neo-Renaissance style. There are events, such as yoga, offered, as well as concerts. You can visit their events page for more information.

Admission: €3.00 for Collections, €5.00 for Special Exhibitions, €6.00 Combination of Collections and Special Exhibitions

Hours:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday – Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
• Thursday: 11:00am – 8:00pm
• Closed on Mondays

Zweibrücken Observatory

Zweibrücken Observatory of the Natural Science Association, is a public observatory in Zweibrücken, Germany, about 30 minutes outside of the KMC. Its dome was painted to resemble the Star Wars character R2-D2 in 2018.

You can go inside to view the stars on cloudless Friday nights. Depending on the months, you can view between 7p and 9pm. Due to the short nights from May until August, the observatory is closed, with exceptions only to certain circumstances or by appointment.

Address: Amerikastraße 11, 66482 Zweibrücken, Germany

Burg Hohenecken

Venture into the ruins of Hohenecken Castle, perched atop a hill, to enjoy panoramic views and a glimpse into the area’s medieval history. Hohenecken Castle was believed to be built in the 12th century, following the establishment of the Palatinate in Kaiserslautern by Friedrich Barbarossa. The castle was finally destroyed in 1689 by French troops in the Palatinate War of Succession.

Visiting the castle is free of charge. You can find parking in town and hike about 15 minutes to the castle ruins. Make sure to pack some food for a picnic to enjoy. Dogs are also allowed.

Address: Schlossstraße 35A, 67661 Kaiserslautern, Germany

Kaiserslautern Ruins & Tunnels

There are two sets of ruins located right across the street from the mall in downtown Kaiserslautern, Barbarossa Kaiserpfalz and Casimirschloss. The history of the two buildings come alive during guided tours of the area as well as through the underground corridor.

Guided tours in English and German are on select Saturdays during the year and last about an hour and a half. If you’re a bit claustrophobic, keep that in mind because you’ll have the option to go through the tight tunnels until the end or turn back.

If you’re interested in a guided tour or have any questions, you will need to email [email protected] with your preferred date, number of people, and your language. You can also call 0631 365-2317 for more information.

Admission: €7.00 for adults and €6.00 for children

Hiking Trails

One amazing thing about Germany is the amount of hiking trails, walking pathways, and biking pathways that are offered. Right in Kaiserslautern, you can walk through Mehlinger Heide, or hike up to the Humber Tower. You can even hike up to and around Burg Nanstein in Landstuhl.

Being outside and taking in all the scenic landscapes is absolutely free! Check the All Trails app for all the best hikes in the area. Another option is to join the KMC Trail Adventures Facebook group for more ideas.

Watch a Movie at Broadway Kino

Broadway Kino is a beautiful movie theater that plays movies in both German and English. The movie theater is not far from Ramstein. They offer all the new movies, and their theater is always extremely clean. They also offer a variety of snacks, such as sweet or salty popcorn or candy, soft drinks, and wine and beer.

Address: Merkurstraße 9, 66877 Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany

Admission: Adults €11.00, children under 11 before 7:00pm €7.00, children after 7:00pm €8.50, families with children under 11 and before 7:00pm showing rated G or PG €8.00. Additional charges may apply for certain movies, 3D movies, and 3D glasses.

Wildpark Betzenberg

Also called Betzenberg Wildlife Park, this is a lovely hike you can take with your family. Wildpark Kaiserslautern was first established in 1970, as it was a location where people could come to see what kind of species could be found in the area’s hunting grounds. The park now plays a role in protecting some species that are in danger of becoming extinct.

The Wildpark is free to visit. There is free parking right across the street from Gasthaus & Biergarten Quack Am Wildpark. About a kilometer slight uphill walk, you will enter the park and can see all the animals there to find. You can take some fresh vegetables with you to feed the animals, but be cautious of the animals you cannot feed via the signs.

Address: 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany

Seewog Park & Lake

Seewog is a lovely park and lake area right in Ramstein-Miesenbach. You can grab a drink or snack on the water at their Kiosk. The kiosk offers a range of food items from flammkuchen, French fries, and currywurst, with drink varieties of German beer, wine and cocktails.

There is also a large playground for children with hiking and biking trails nearby, as well as areas to rent for a fire pit. If you’re hungry for a delicious Italian meal, check out Am Seewoog Holzofen Pizzeria across the street.

Address: Waldstraße 47, 66877 Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany

Professional Soccer Game at Fritz Walter Stadium

You may be surprised to see this on a list for cheap or free things to do around the KMC, but tickets for games are as low as €10.00 each! With the stadium right in Kaiserslautern, make sure to check out FC Kaiserslautern play one of their home games with over 40,000 loud Red Devil fans.

One great thing about the game is that your ticket includes a free ride on the train into Kaiserslautern, right to the bottom of the hill before walking up to the stadium. I highly recommend if you choose to go to the game, head over early to get in on time.

Swimming Pools

Although this is only a summer activity, the pools in the area are a great way to spend your summer. There are quite a few pools located around the KMC area and they’re all amazing. Make sure to check out their websites or Facebook pages for more information regarding any changes to opening times or closures.

Two pools I love nearby are Waldwarmfreibad Bruchmühlbach-Miesau and Naturerlebnisbad Landstuhl.

Pumpkins and Fall Activities

Keeping up with seasonal activities would be all the fall activities we get to experience in the area in September and October. From seeing the pumpkin displays at Gartenschau or Ludwigsburg Palace and Gardens, or tasting and drinking all pumpkin delicacies from Sunshine Pumpkin Farm and Hitscherhof.

Majority of the places and events are either free to attend or less than €10.00 per ticket for adults. The only spending would be for any food and drink items you choose to purchase, as well as any fall souvenirs and pumpkins. You can read more about all the Fall Activities to do in Germany.

Christmas Markets

Another seasonal activity, but by far one of my favorites, is visiting all the Christmas Markets. Christmas time is honestly my favorite time a year, and what better than attend all the local markets. The markets can be as inexpensive as you want them to be. They are free to attend, but you spend your money on any food, drinks, and any gifts you choose to purchase.

Food and drink range from €4.00 – €10.00, and you pay a deposit on your glass in addition. You can return the glass for the deposit back, but many people love to collect them from all the villages. I have quite a few myself that I have collected from a few local cities.

Some Christmas markets in the area include Kaiserslautern, Ramstein, Saarbrücken, Homburg, Sankt Ingbert, Sankt Wendel, as well as all the smaller villages hosting their own markets.

The Kaiserslautern area is a treasure trove of experiences that cater to a diverse range of interests. From exploring historical sites to indulging in outdoor adventures, immersing yourself in cultural events, and savoring local flavors, this enchanting region promises an unforgettable journey. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a family, or a couple seeking a romantic date night, the Kaiserslautern area offers an array of free or inexpensive activities that will captivate your heart and leave you with cherished memories for years to come.