Batnight Munich - Batnight 2025 - Bats in Munich: "International Bat Night"
Acrobats fly through the night! A weekend for bats at the Bat Festival in the English Garden, at Hellabrunn Zoo, and at the opening of Munich's first bat park near the Wittelsbacher Bridge.
August 30 and 31, 2025 - LBV Batnight - The Nature Conservation Association has called for an International Bat Night - Munich is participating! (DEUTSCH)
Munich - English Garden and Hellabrunn Zoo. The LBV Batnight event on August 30 and 31, 2025, will once again be all about mouse-eared bats, horseshoe bats, and noctule bats. It's that time of year again: Batnight is just around the corner. It's not about Batman or vampire stories, but about extremely useful, small, worthy-of-protection flying creatures. In Munich, you can visit the Bat Festival at Rumfordschlössl in the English Garden and "Bat Night" at Hellabrunn Zoo. And attend the inauguration of the newly created bat flower meadow in the spring gardens near the Wittelsbacher Bridge. All events feature interesting facts about these acrobatic flyers, as well as a chance to hear their language and see spectacular footage. The "International Bat Night" is intended to appeal to bat enthusiasts across Europe and raise awareness of the benefits and protection of these small creatures. The "Bat Festival" in Munich, also known as Bat Night, includes a special bat tour at the Rumfordschlössl in the English Garden.
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International Bat Night - poster in the English Garden, photo: Helga Waess (Pressefotoarchiv)
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Flying mammals that see with their noses
They are nocturnal and usually hang upside down in dark corners, old walls, or treetops – they fly and hunt inaudibly at dusk and at night. These flying mice detect every obstacle and sniff out tiny insects.
In Germany, there are approximately 25 different species of bats and fruit bats. Up close, they are mostly fluffy, large-eared creatures. Bats are strictly protected and are very useful animals. On summer evenings, they keep mosquitoes away from humans.
Munich – Three Destinations for Bat Fans
"Bat Night," the Bat Festival at the "Rumfordschlössl" in the English Garden - near the Chinese Tower
The Night of the Bats begins in the English Garden when the sun gives way to the moon. They hang among the leaves of the trees and catch small nocturnal creatures. The "Bavarian Association for the Protection of Birds" is hosting two bat events:
Around the "Rumfordschlössl," interesting facts about local bats will be told while enjoying organic coffee and cake for adults and craft activities for children.
A cheerful Bat Festival has been announced.
Bat Festival at the Rumfordschlössl:
Saturday, August 30, 2025
from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Games, visual aids, crafts, and lots of fun
- and refreshments
- Admission is free.
Bat tour:
Same day, 7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Bat tour at the Chinesischer Turm bus stop
Meeting point: Chinesischer Turm bus stop (Bus 54 towards Lorettoplatz)
- Use a bat detector to locate the bats
- ... canceled in case of heavy rain or wind
- Registration not required.
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| Rumfordschlössl in the English Garden - near the Chinese Tower - Photo: Helga Waess (Pressearchiv) |
Bats are useful nocturnal acrobats
They fly and hunt, mostly inaudibly to us, at dusk and throughout the night.
They detect every obstacle, even tiny insects. You'll learn how they navigate in total darkness and much more about the lives of these fascinating animals on this evening stroll in the English Garden. With a bit of luck, we'll be able to observe the bats on their hunting flights and capture their calls with a detector.
"Bat Night" around the "Bat Grotto"
at Hellabrunn Zoo - Munich
Hellabrunn Zoo has a "Bat Grotto" where a few fruit bats can be seen buzzing over visitors' heads. Zoo guides will provide information about the bats from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You'll learn, for example, more about the menu of the South American "spectacled bats"
and which native bat species we have here.
A second recommended stop is the zoo's "Jungle World," where these little flying creatures can be perfectly observed:
Indian giant fruit bats can be seen in the turtle house
and the African palm fruit bat can also be seen.
Bat experts will be on hand at an information van to inform visitors to the Jungle World from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Opening of Munich's first bat park
on August 31st, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. - Night Tour
The opening of Munich's first bat park will be a celebration! The City of Munich and the Rosner & Seidl Foundation have helped create a paradise for the silent hunters of the night.
Those who would like to experience the keynote speeches, the unveiling of the sound installation (at 8:30 p.m.), and the bat tour (at 8:45 p.m.) can join us.
Meeting point: newly planted bat flower meadow in the Frühlingsgärten (Spring Gardens)
Near Wittelsbacher Bridge, park entrance at the intersection of Humboldtstrasse and Claude-Lorrain-Strasse (bus stop "Claude-Lorrain-Strasse")
from there, just a few meters straight ahead.
Europe-wide Bat Night dates
The so-called "beauties of the night" can be explored next weekend in over 35 countries during a worldwide Bat Night. This year, NABU's main event will take place in Rhineland-Palatinate, in the "Mayener Grubenfeld" (Mayen Mine Field). This is home to the largest wintering grounds for bats in Central Europe.
Want to observe bats? Bat Night starts on the last weekend in August across Germany, and activities will be offered across Europe.
Batnight dates - Map of Germany for all bat-related event locations:
This link leads to the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) website with all Batnight dates and locations.
- https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/aktionen-und-projekte/batnight/termine.html
