WichtelWerk Play Centre

Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, Blutenburg Castle, the Asam Church, Schleißheim Palace — Munich has a huge number of iconic sights that attract tourists from all over the world.

But are palaces, castles and military museums of any interest to young children? In most cases the answer is no. As well as being boring, museum tours can be a real test of strength for young children. They are not allowed to make any noise, run around or touch the exhibits, and they have to listen in silence to what the guide has to say about the ancient artefacts, architectural complexes and historical monuments of the Weimar Republic. What kind of child can put up with that?

Fortunately for family travellers, there are plenty of places in the Bavarian capital to keep the youngest visitors to Munich entertained. Let the kids do their own thing — play and have fun.

One such place is the WichtelWerk, an indoor play centre for children aged 0 to 10. Here they can jump, run, laugh, make a lot of noise and burn up all their energy! The Witch's Workshop has 2,800 m2 of games and attractions for children. The play areas are both indoor and outdoor.

The interior of WichtelWerk is full of bright colours and colourful pictures on the brick walls that children will love. WichtelWerk's mascots, the lovable characters Finn and Fine, can also be found throughout the play centre. And sometimes life-size puppets pay the little ones a visit. Visitors to the play centre will recognise Fine by her pink dirndl and blonde braids, and Finn by his quill cap and green check shirt.

The WichtelWerk area is divided into several separate play areas, each with a variety of attractions and play equipment for children:

1. Wichtel-Wutzal children's area. WichtelWerk has a separate area for the youngest visitors where games and activities are tailored to their age. The playground is a safe place for children who are just learning to walk or are shaky on their feet. The padded floor and walls provide maximum protection against falls.
2. A climbing maze. The centre features a four-storey mesh maze where children can train their climbing skills, develop dexterity, strength, wit and spatial awareness. It's also a way to just have fun.
3. The wave slide. One way to get out of the mesh maze is to slide down a slide with ramps. But you'll need a lot of courage to do this, as the slide is as much as 10 metres high.
4. Bouncy castles. If you find ordinary trampolines too boring, this centre offers children the chance to bounce around in WichtelWerk inflatable castles. Imagine yourself as a knight who has to rescue a princess trapped in the tallest castle tower. Or try to walk quietly past a dragon on an elastic surface that tosses you up every now and then.
5. Karting. For those who can't get enough of Schumacher and Hamilton, this is the perfect opportunity to try on the role of a racing driver. Step on the gas and have your Formula 1 race on the go-kart track in the Game Centre.
6. A soft play ball pool. While adults will never turn down a hot tub, young children love to dive into soft play ball pool. It is a special kind of fun and relaxation that even has a certain therapeutic effect. Dry balls apply pressure to the baby's body at specific points — in other words, they massage the baby's body and get the blood flowing. In addition, keeping your balance in the pool requires you to use different muscle groups, which is also a great workout for the body. The balls are regularly disinfected with environmentally friendly products. So if your child is at the age where they are 'tasting the world', there is no need to worry about their health — the plastic balls are perfectly safe.

7. Donut Glider. Even if it's a hot summer day outside, you can still remember the ultimate winter pastime — tubing down the hill. Grab a rubber tyre and race down the special slide.
8. Slot machines. In the WichtelWerk hall, visitors will find several classic, well-loved slot machines. Not only children, but also adults will be happy to have an air hockey battle.

The WichtelWerk also has an outdoor area that is ideal for a family picnic. There are several wooden gazebos, stylish palette benches, colourful cushions and small tables on the well-kept green lawn. This is a great place for the family to relax in warm weather, or for parents to enjoy the outdoors while the children play in the WichtelWerk.

The play centre has a café with an extensive list of delicious and hearty dishes. Visitors will find traditional dishes (Bavarian or Viennese sausages, chicken, etc.), fast food (nuggets, fries, burgers), a variety of sweets and drinks.

Perhaps one of the most popular services at WichtelWerk is organising a birthday party for your child. It is important to make an appointment in advance so that the staff at the play centre can prepare properly and give your child a great party.

The WichtelWerk offers two birthday party packages: Super Wichtel (from €156) and Mega Wichtel (from €180). Both packages include a festively laid table, a throne for the birthday child, apple cider and water, snacks and admission for 3.5 hours. The only difference is that Mega Wichtel offers a more extensive menu, fruit platters, sweets and ice cream.

Two accompanying adults have free admission. Other adults must pay a ticket fee of 8 euros. The minimum number of children is 6 and the maximum is 12. You can bring your own cake or muffins, but no other treats are allowed. For fire safety reasons, you should also not bring candles or fireworks.

Special birthday invitations to WichtelWerk can be downloaded from the website.

Visitors to the play centre can leave outerwear in the cloakroom and personal items in the safe. But seats may be occupied, as the admission ticket does not guarantee access to the lockers.

• Be sure to bring socks or gymnastic shoes, as it is forbidden to wear shoes in the play area.
• When visiting the play centre, choose comfortable clothes that do not restrict movement, preferably without zips, buttons or other elements that may injure other children or damage the play equipment.
• Remove jewellery and spit out chewing gum before entering the play area.
• No food (except baby food) is allowed to be brought in.
• There is a food court on site where you can get a hearty snack after active games. However, you should eat strictly in the cafe, not in the play area.
• Pets should be left at home, as pets are not allowed in the WichtelWerk.Children are only allowed to visit if accompanied by a responsible adult, unless the child is under 8 years of age and the adult (parent, guardian or chaperone) has signed the relevant consent and release form.
• There is video surveillance throughout the WichtelWerk. If you have lost any items or become a victim of theft, please contact the reception — the staff at the play centre will watch the video and find the missing items.
• Smoking in the WichtelWerk is strictly prohibited, so adults who smoke should look for designated smoking areas.
• Follow the instructions and rules accompanying the play equipment and attractions as they are designed for your own safety.
• Do not bring toys or other foreign objects (especially hard, fragile, pointed objects) into the playground.