Europe Family Travel - seeking advice

[Kwashiorkor]

My sister is getting married in Mallorca in Spain, first week of September. I went all in on vaca days, figuring I only have one shot to take the the kids to Europe, so we're getting in to Munich Saturday August 15, and we have two full weeks to get to Barcelona from Munich. There are so many options, it's a bit overwhelming.

We're getting into Munich at Noon that Saturday, and will stay one night there, tentatively planning to train into Switzerland for a few days. At the end of those two weeks, I figure we'd get a car for spain, and spend a few days in Barcelona before flying to Mallorca for the wedding stuff.

Any advice for the most valuable stops between Southern Germany, Switzerland, southern France, and Spain? Best trains to take? We have 3 kids: 8, 10, and 12.

Thanks for any intel!!! BJT

 

[GregInPitt]

My sister is getting married in Mallorca in Spain, first week of September. I went all in on vaca days, figuring I only have one shot to take the the kids to Europe, so we're getting in to Munich Saturday August 15, and we have two full weeks to get to Barcelona from Munich. There are so many options, it's a bit overwhelming.

We're getting into Munich at Noon that Saturday, and will stay one night there, tentatively planning to train into Switzerland for a few days. At the end of those two weeks, I figure we'd get a car for spain, and spend a few days in Barcelona before flying to Mallorca for the wedding stuff.

Any advice for the most valuable stops between Southern Germany, Switzerland, southern France, and Spain? Best trains to take? We have 3 kids: 8, 10, and 12.

Thanks for any intel!!! BJT

From Munich I would go to Ludwig's castle, the one that Disney was copied from, and take the tour. It's spectacular and the country/scenery is also worth the trip. When I was there I vowed to get my kids there to see it, but so far have not.

In Switzerland, I would head for the cable cars that go up to the peak/restaurant that was in the James Bond movie. It is spectacular as well. I think it is 3 or 4 cable cars up. When we were there we were looking out level at F16's from the Swiss air force flying between us and the "name" peaks (I'll probably botch the spelling...). Eiger, Jungfrau,....... If I went back I would also take the "train" (it's a tracked small train that climbs up through tunnels...) to an observation spot I believe on the Eiger.

Those are my two must see attractions. We bought lace curtain material in a store in the center of Munich in the late 80's that my wife made into shear drapes for our DR. While my wife and Mom were shopping, my Dad and I had a couple beers in one of the taverns in central Munich. Near the clock that is a tourist site in itself.

Switzerland and southern Germany are a great place to spend time. But it's not too far to northern Italy from there. Lake Como.... but probably more of an adult, scenic area than something for your kids.

 

[psu00]

My sister is getting married in Mallorca in Spain, first week of September. I went all in on vaca days, figuring I only have one shot to take the the kids to Europe, so we're getting in to Munich Saturday August 15, and we have two full weeks to get to Barcelona from Munich. There are so many options, it's a bit overwhelming.

We're getting into Munich at Noon that Saturday, and will stay one night there, tentatively planning to train into Switzerland for a few days. At the end of those two weeks, I figure we'd get a car for spain, and spend a few days in Barcelona before flying to Mallorca for the wedding stuff.

Any advice for the most valuable stops between Southern Germany, Switzerland, southern France, and Spain? Best trains to take? We have 3 kids: 8, 10, and 12.

Thanks for any intel!!! BJT

Depending on what you and your wife like- train travel between big cities may be better than driving. Train system is more robust in Europe than Amtrack.

If you drive on the German autobahn- keep your eyes on the rear view mirror more than you're used to. The passing lane there is for passing- not going 2 mph faster than the slow lane. Cars and trucks will literally run you down from behind and its your responsibility to get out of the way.

Switzerland is very expensive. Lots to see around Munich. Kids may like Neuschwanstein castle. IMO southern Germany is far better than Berlin and the north. Garnish is nice little town. Rothenberg (sp) is a nice town to walk around and still has its medieval wall. Right out of a storybook (but can be somewhat touristy as a result). Easy train ride form Munich to Budapest, Prague, etc.

 

[Jay Scott]

Fussen is the name of city holding "Ludwig's Castle", Neuschwanstein. It's less than 90 minutes from Munich. There are actually two castles (Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau) in Fussen and you can tour both, but you need reservations to tour the "Cinderella Castle".

Based on your kids ages, it would be a nice break to visit a town in Southern Germany called "Immenstadt". There is nice Inn there called "der Krone" run by the Schaffroth family. They have a killer schnitzel in the restaurant. From there, you can hike gentle mountains and drink "Radlers" near the top in the ski restaurants that run a brisk trade in the summer.

Don't forget about Austria. Salzburg is beautiful and as the birthplace of Mozart, it is a must see if you are fan of his music. It's nice to see even if you are not. You will not be far from the Zugspitze, which is the largest mountain in the Alps.

 

[psu00]

Fussen is the name of city holding "Ludwig's Castle", Neuschwanstein. It's less than 90 minutes from Munich. There are actually two castles (Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau) in Fussen and you can tour both, but you need reservations to tour the "Cinderella Castle".

Based on your kids ages, it would be a nice break to visit a town in Southern Germany called "Immenstadt". There is nice Inn there called "der Krone" run by the Schaffroth family. They have a killer schnitzel in the restaurant. From there, you can hike gentle mountains and drink "Radlers" near the top in the ski restaurants that run a brisk trade in the summer.

Don't forget about Austria. Salzburg is beautiful and as the birthplace of Mozart, it is a must see if you are fan of his music. It's nice to see even if you are not. You will not be far from the Zugspitze, which is the largest mountain in the Alps.

Definitely agree with Salzburg- great town to visit. Same with Innsbruck as well.

 

[LionLen]

Garmish - south of Munich -you can get a combination cable car/cogwheel train trip up and down the Zugspitz, the highest peak in Germany. Great scenery and varied combination of getting up and down that would be entertaining for the kids. In the area Mittenwald is a really pretty town to visit.

As said, Neuschwanstein, also south of Munich would be a good family stop. From there you can drive across Austria to get to Switzerland (and be off the autobahn!) You'll actually come out near Vaduz, Lichtenstein. You'll add two countries for the kids this way.

If you get to Zurich and the weather is good go to the train station tourist office. They will sell you a round trip ticket for the day to take the train to Arth-Goldau, then the cable car and cogwheel train combination up to Rigi (a really scenic mountain - restaurant at the top but you can do a picnic up there too) then down to Viyznau where you get the ferry to Luzern (nice place to visit itself) and then the train back to Zurich. Full day but very scenic the whole way and the kids will not be bored doing one thing all day.

Bern. Beautiful old medieval main street with a clock tower that is quite mechanical when it strike the hour (also one in Munich in the Rathaus square). Kids will like it. Also the bear pits at the end of the street will be cool for the kids.

From Bern you can go to Interlachen, then Lauterbrunnen. From Lauterbrunnen you can take the cogwheel train up to Kleine Sheidegg and from there up to the Jungfraujoch. Spectacular scenery (esp. Eiger), ice caves and the like. Or from Lauterbrunnen you can go the other way and take the bergbahn up to Murren then the cable car up to Shilthorn. Shilthorrn is the James Bond movie location for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" . Have the kids watch it before you go if you do this. Also, Clint Eastwood's "Eiger Sanction" would be a good pre-trip flick.

Be aware that Switzerland is terrible expensive right now. They don't do the Euro thing and the Swiss Franc is terribly strong against the euro and dollar. Also if you are driving, stop at a gas station before you get to a Swiss autobahn. The German autobahn is free, but you need to buy a vignette, a sticker that goes on your windshield, to drive on the Swiss autobahns. And yes, they will notice if you don't have one and the fine is not insignificant.

You might consider Cinque Terra in Italy. Five really cool towns that hang on the sides of cliffs overlooking the sea. You go from one to the other either by hiking, on the train or by ferry. Probably neat for the kids to plan the day's itinerary and go from one to another by different ways. Also there are a couple of beaches there where you can sit on the sand and swim (not free, but what is?). Might be a nice change-up for the kids. Great restaurants there. If you drive to CT from Zurich you can go through the St Gotthard tunnel (12 miles or so) or drive up over the pass to get to Italy. Either would be exciting for the kids. Beaches can be found on the lakes in Northern Italy. Northern part of Lake Garda e.g..

Lots of small towns/cities in southern France to visit on the way to Spain (e.g. Avignon, Orange, Arles). Lots of Roman ruins and restorations in this area. BTW, French autobahns are toll, pay as you go.

Hey take out another mortgage and go for it. Your family will never forget it.

 

[SCBlueFan]

Regarding trains vs. cars -- with the 5 of us, the car was more economical. Trains in Europe are absolutely fantastic, and I much prefer them to driving; but with 5 tickets for every little day trip, the car was a better deal for us and may be for you -- try Sixt for car rentals in Europe. I have found them to be the best for price by far and they had great choices for vehicles. I got an Audi A4 up on the Autobahn for a few days of travel

Rotenburg ob der Tauber is a fantastic little medieval town, as is Dinkelsbuhl, nearby. We did them both in a day trip from Munich, and it was well-worth it.

I'll second the Neuschwanstein recommendations and the nearby HohenSchwangau castles. Fabulous!

My wife is a big fan of Salzburg, and it is a relatively short drive from Munich. We took the "Sound of Music" tour out of Salzburg (we have three girls) and it was a really great trip as well, going into some of the country nearby. We also learned of a cable car that took us up one of the Alps south of town a bit -- I want to say it was "Untersberg". The Hohensalzburg castle sits above the main part of Salzburg and is a great place to take in a concert, if you like classical music. Our kids loved it, but they were a little older than yours at the time we went -- 11, 14, 17.

BTW, I will be in France for a couple weeks with my family this Summer and went with "airbnb" for lodging. I got a complete 3-bedroom house for less than a hotel room for a week, and then a beautiful chateau north of Paris for about the same as a moderately priced hotel room. It's my first time using airbnb, but friends I know have done it and love it.

Also, I'll second the Cinque terra if you want to go that far South. These are 5 of the most picturesque ocean-side towns you'll ever see. Wine-making is the main trade, and the wines are excellent.

 

[kgilbert78]

The Rheinfall (waterfall) in Schaffhausen, Switzerland is fun. The kids might enjoy the German Museum in Munich--a science and technology museum. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is nice but very touristy. DInkesbuhl and Nordlingen, the two towns south of ther on the Romantic Road are a bit less traveled, and Nordlingen's wall is still complete. The black forest is nice, especially if you like boating or hiking. Note that in August, everyone in Germany (almost) is on holiday at the same time, making advance reservations a must. Expect traffic jams and train delays. Museums and many other sites are closed on Mondays, making it a good travel day.

 

[psu00]

My sister is getting married in Mallorca in Spain, first week of September. I went all in on vaca days, figuring I only have one shot to take the the kids to Europe, so we're getting in to Munich Saturday August 15, and we have two full weeks to get to Barcelona from Munich. There are so many options, it's a bit overwhelming.

We're getting into Munich at Noon that Saturday, and will stay one night there, tentatively planning to train into Switzerland for a few days. At the end of those two weeks, I figure we'd get a car for spain, and spend a few days in Barcelona before flying to Mallorca for the wedding stuff.

Any advice for the most valuable stops between Southern Germany, Switzerland, southern France, and Spain? Best trains to take? We have 3 kids: 8, 10, and 12.

Thanks for any intel!!! BJT

One more thing- if you plan to drive in Germany keep plenty of cash on hand. I don't know about Switzerland or France but when I was in Germany years ago if you got pulled over by the police for some traffic violation they took you to their 'Scooby van' and you had to pay the fine on the spot. I don't know how much of it is a racket vs the norm but be prepared just in case. If you didn't have the money you got to see the inside of a German jail.

 

[Kwashiorkor]

You guys rock, THANK YOU!

BJT

 

[Nitwit]

You guys rock, THANK YOU!

BJT

You guys rock, THANK YOU!

BJT

I've spent 10 days in Majorca and had a wonderful time there. Las Palmas, the capital, is an interesting old city with narrow winding streets, a castle, and old walled in portion from when they were conquered by Nothern African tribes, and also a big yachting center for the rich and famous. Also known for local pearl jewelry which your wife may like. Great beaches on the blue Mediterranean. Mountains in the center of the islands, and quaint towns and villages throughout. Have fun.

 

[Thus Spoke Mainer]

If it's mountain scenery you like too see, the Dolimites in Northern Italy are more impressive than the Alps. Of course this region, South Tyrol, isn't "really" Italy, it's Austrian. It has been "Italy" for almost 100 years now (WW1 concession) but 90% are German speakers and the architecture is pure Austrian. A great village is Toblach (Dobiaccio on some maps) the last summer home of composer Gustav Mahler (my avatar that is pictured)

 

[psusmacko]

I travel very frequently to germany for work and a lot of the guys covered a ton of great advice. I actually spent my weekend here at Lake Garda in Italy and it was fantastic. It might be a little out of your way though. A very similar type experience would be Lake Maggiore on the Italian Swiss border and would be close to your route. I would highly recommend looking into it

 

[fairgambit]

Before you go, watch this documentary....

 

[EdH85]

Great tapas restaurant in Barcelona called Paco Meralgo. Also subway in Barcelona is great.

 

[Columbus_Lion]

Munich is gorgeous...hopefully you go to Salzburg. Beautiful city and great site seeing. "The Eagle's Nest" is an incredible experience, being that high on the mountain.

Agree about the Dolomites south of Innsbruck.