Children’s museum in Dortmund’s Westfalenpark: a playful journey around the world to discover culture, nature and sustainability; free admission (park admission applies).
April 19, 2026 – April 18, 2027
Interactive participatory exhibition for children that leads down into the ground: from roots and soil organisms to raw materials. Second part of a series on the theme of connectedness, bilingual in German and English.
The mondo mio! Kindermuseum in Dortmund’s Westfalenpark takes children and adults on a journey around the world. In a playful way they learn how all life on Earth is connected and what consequences our actions have for the environment. Culture, nature and sustainability are explained in a child-friendly way – with objects to touch, rooms for trying things out and ideas for further thought.
As a place of cultural education and global learning, the museum offers workshops for schools, daycare centers and out-of-school education providers that take up central themes of education for sustainable development (ESD). On weekends and during the holidays, creative hands-on activities are added.
The core of the collection is the staging “Basic Needs” by the Indian artist Rajeev Sethi at the Expo 2000 world exhibition in Hanover, which showed art, crafts and everyday objects from around 50 countries. The city of Dortmund took over about 500 exhibits and supported the creation of an interactive exhibition for children and families. The operator is the nonprofit association mondo mio! Kindermuseum e.V., founded in 2004; the museum opened in Westfalenpark in 2007.
A modern new building for the museum is planned in Westfalenpark, in which mondo mio! is expected to reopen in a completely new form from 2029. Until then, there are special exhibitions, weekend activities and holiday programs.
Admission is free.
| Timed-slot reservation on weekends (per person) | €2Voluntary administration fee; does not replace park admission. Cancellation costs €1 per ticket. |
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The museum itself is free of charge, including the family program on weekends. Park admission applies: single admission €4.50 (March 1–October 31, 2026) or €3 (November 1, 2026–February 28, 2027); small group with 1 adult and up to 4 children €9 or €5.50, with 2 adults €13 or €8.50. Children up to age 6 and holders of the Dortmund-Karte have free park admission.
The museum describes itself as barrier-free. Because of the construction site next to the museum, access is not always guaranteed at present.
Great for kids & families
The museum is aimed at children from toddler age to school age. Strollers cannot be taken into the exhibition; they are left at the ticket desk or in covered spaces outside. Diaper changing is available in the women’s restroom. Children’s birthday parties are offered for children from age four; there are also holiday programs and a free weekend program.
Westfalenpark
U 45 and U 49 to the “Westfalenpark” stop, directly at the Ruhrallee entrance; about 10 minutes by transit from Dortmund Hauptbahnhof (main station).
Parking available
Three main car parks at Westfalenpark (operator DOPARK GmbH): F1/F2 at the “Blütengärten” entrance (via the B54) and F3 at the “Buschmühle” entrance (An der Buschmühle). On weekends there is free parking on Florianstraße; additional spaces are near Joseph-Scherer-Straße.
The recommended entrance is Ruhrallee, from which the museum is less than five minutes’ walk away. Because of construction work, a signposted temporary entrance currently applies there (staffed daily 10:00–18:00). Westfalenpark is open daily 09:00–21:00 (Florianstraße entrance) or 10:00–18:00 (Ruhrallee entrance). Bicycle parking at all park entrances. On event and match days it can get crowded.
Get directionsCloakroom and lockers; large bags and backpacks must go into a locker. Eating and drinking only in the entrance area.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
| School programs | yes |
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| Photography | Photography is allowed; please only photograph your own group. |
| Good to know | Adults accompany their children during the entire visit; one adult supervises at most four children. In the exhibition rooms shoes are taken off; grip socks are available for a deposit at the ticket desk. Dogs (except guide and assistance dogs) must stay outside. |
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