Farm holidays in ... with ideal for : Familys

Farm holidays with children: animals, hay and lots of outdoor time

On the farm, children get exactly what they love most: animals to pet, a meadow to run around in, and adults who let them be themselves. Instead of a structured program with set times, there's a typical farm day, and children naturally fall into it.

In practice, it looks like this: in the morning, they go to the barn to collect eggs and feed the rabbits, then spend half the day outside. Things usually quiet down in the afternoon because the children have had quite a lot of adventures. For parents, that's the best part.

Stay for a week or just drop by for an afternoon?

The term "children's farm" means two very different things, and both are popular. Some families want to stay for a week, others are looking for a nice destination for a Sunday afternoon.

The farms on this page are holiday farms. They rent out holiday apartments, flats, and rooms, and children can experience how a farm works over several days. Many farms also welcome day visitors, for example, for a farm tour or to shop in the farm store. Those who only want to come for a few hours can find suitable addresses on the list of farms that offer day trips .

A tip for your visit: Give them a quick call beforehand. On a real farm, the day is dictated by the weather and fieldwork, and together you can quickly find the busiest time. The farming families are always happy to have visitors.

What children experience on these farms

To give you a clear picture, we have counted all 649 farms on this page:

• Play areas: 519 with playground , 315 with table tennis , 290 with trampoline , 210 with playroom for rainy days, 124 with play barn in the hay
• Animals: 521 with cats , 438 with chickens , 376 with cows , 361 with rabbits , 221 with ponies , 215 with goats , 178 with horses , 169 with sheep , 160 with pigs
• Helping out: 430 with feeding, 314 with animal care, 293 with egg collecting, 225 with haymaking, 104 with milking
• Special experiences: 273 with petting zoo , 272 for tractor rides , 166 with pony rides , 154 with horseback riding opportunities
• Into the water: 343 with swimming facilities , 104 with outdoor pool , 74 with bathing lake , 39 with swimming pond
• For the youngest guests: 205 with facilities for babies and toddlers, 51 with childcare.
• Accommodation: 534 with holiday apartments, 240 with apartments, 126 with holiday homes, 115 with room rentals
• Dining: 475 with own kitchen for self-catering , 238 with breakfast, 72 with half board
• And furthermore: 581 in a quiet location , 563 with a hiking trail directly from the farm , 260 with Wi-Fi , 217 dogs welcome

Zieglinde recounted

Two numbers caught my eye, and I really like both of them.

First: 51 of the 649 farms offer childcare. There, children spend the day with the hosts or with trained childcare providers. On the remaining farms, the farm itself provides activities: animals, hay, a sandbox with toys, and of course, other children. You'll be amazed at how reliably it works.

Secondly, 47 of the 50 top farm awards given across Europe in 2026 went to farms that are geared towards families. Almost all the farms with the best guest reviews are therefore family-run. As I always say: where children are happy, the parents are too.

Which farm is suitable for which age group?

Family farms with pool and bathing lake

Water is high on the wish list for families, and an outdoor pool is a classic. Around a hundred farms have one. If you're not set on a pool, the selection becomes significantly larger: a bathing lake, swimming pond, or a nearby public swimming pool also count, bringing the total to over three hundred farms.

Where the family farms are located

The Alpine region accounts for the largest share, in addition to the Italian businesses between South Tyrol and Tuscany and a growing number in the German low mountain ranges.

There is a separate overview of family farms for a total of 104 regions. If your desired region is not listed here, you can find it using the region selection above.

Frequently asked questions about farm holidays with children

Certified family farms and award-winning businesses

If you'd also like to look for a verified standard, two options are worth considering. Certified family farms meet an editorially reviewed set of criteria. And the top farms of 2026 are the establishments with the best guest reviews of the year; almost all of them are family farms.

Find your family farm now

Above you'll find all the farms with pictures, amenities, and guest reviews. Filter by region, animals, pool, or meals, and contact the farming family directly; they'll reply personally. And if petting animals is high on your wish list, farms with petting zoos are the quickest way to get started.