European Capitals of Culture 2025: Chemnitz & Nova Gorica/Gorizia with kids
A European Capital of Culture with kids is a fun way to discover a city you might never have visited: a year full of festivals, open-air shows and family workshops. In 2025 the title goes to Chemnitz in Germany and to Nova Gorica in Slovenia together with Gorizia in Italy. Here is what is on, what suits which age and what else to do with children in both places.
What's on: dates, places and prices
The Capital of Culture year runs all through 2025, starting with big opening celebrations in January and February. Many events are free or low-cost, and programmes are published step by step on the official websites.
| What | Where | When | Ages | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening of Chemnitz 2025 | Chemnitz city centre | 18 January 2025 | all ages | free |
| Opening of GO! 2025 | Nova Gorica and Gorizia | 8 February 2025 | all ages | free |
| Year-round events and exhibitions | both regions | all year | all ages | free to mid-range |
| Industrial and archaeology museums | Chemnitz | all year | 4+ | budget |
| Castle and old town | Gorizia | all year | all ages | budget |
Price per person: free, budget = under about €10, mid-range = about €10–25, premium = over €25. Approximate; check the official website before you go.
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What's in it for kids by age
Small children enjoy the open-air festivals, music and parks, while older kids get more from workshops, museums and the story of the border.
- Toddlers (1–3): daytime outdoor events, playgrounds and the zoo.
- Preschoolers (3–6): music, street theatre and hands-on museum corners.
- School kids (6–12): industrial machines, archaeology and walking across a national border.
- Teens: art, concerts and the history of a city split by the Iron Curtain.
European Capital of Culture with kids: top attractions
Chemnitz offers museums, parks and a big events programme; Nova Gorica and Gorizia combine two countries, a castle and the Soča valley nearby.
Chemnitz
Chemnitz 2025 has the full programme, starting with the opening day on 18 January. The City of Chemnitz website lists practical information for visitors. With children, try the Sächsisches Industriemuseum Chemnitz, where old machines, engines and cars are shown in a former factory. The smac – State Museum of Archaeology Chemnitz tells the story of Saxony from the Stone Age in a modern, visual way. For animals and fresh air, the Tierpark Chemnitz is a small, friendly zoo. Don't miss the giant Karl Marx head in the centre, a favourite photo stop.
Nova Gorica and Gorizia
GO! 2025 is the first cross-border Capital of Culture, shared by Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy, with its opening on 8 February. The square by Nova Gorica station sits right on the border, so kids can stand in two countries at once. On the Italian side, the Comune di Gorizia has information on the medieval castle above the old town. Slovenia tourism has tips for the area, including the Solkan bridge, one of the longest stone railway arches in the world, and the emerald Soča river.
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Practical: parking, prams and baby change
Both destinations are smaller and calmer than big capitals, which makes them easy with children.
- Getting there: Chemnitz is about an hour by train or car from Leipzig and Dresden. Nova Gorica and Gorizia are about an hour from Trieste and Ljubljana.
- Parking: easier than in big cities, but use park-and-ride on opening days.
- Prams: city centres are mostly flat; the castle hill in Gorizia is steep.
- Baby change: museums and shopping centres.
- Weather: January and February are cold, so dress warmly for outdoor events.
Where to eat nearby
In Chemnitz, simple Saxon dishes, pasta and pizza are easy to find, and in the border cities you can choose between Slovenian and Italian cooking in one afternoon. In Gorizia, try a slice of pizza or gnocchi; in Nova Gorica, a bowl of soup and the local strudel. Find kid-friendly restaurants on the Kid.ooo map.
Alternatives if it's busy
If the opening days are too crowded, visit later in the year, when the programme continues with smaller events. Rainy-day ideas are in our list of the best children's museums, and ideas for free culture are in our Europe Day and free museum days guide. If you are combining culture with a city break, our Paris at Christmas guide may also help.
For adventurous family travel ideas, follow @mumpacktravel on Instagram.
More attractions on the Kid.ooo map
Kid.ooo is a free kid-friendly places map where parents share attractions, playgrounds and cafés across Europe. Look up things to do with kids in Chemnitz or Nova Gorica and save a playground and a warm café for your culture trip.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the European Capitals of Culture in 2025?
In 2025 the titles go to Chemnitz in Germany and to the cross-border pair Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy, which run their programme together under the name GO! 2025.
When does the Capital of Culture year open?
Chemnitz opens its year on Saturday 18 January 2025 with a big celebration in the city centre. Nova Gorica and Gorizia open on 8 February 2025, Slovenia's Culture Day.
Is Chemnitz worth visiting with children?
Yes. Besides the Capital of Culture events, Chemnitz has a hands-on industrial museum, an archaeology museum, a zoo and plenty of green space, and it is less crowded and cheaper than many big German cities.
Can you cross the border between Nova Gorica and Gorizia on foot?
Yes. Both cities are in the Schengen area, and the square on the border by the Nova Gorica railway station lets you stand with one foot in Slovenia and one in Italy, which children love.
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