Hey fellow wanderlust parents! Pack your bags and your sense of adventure because we’re off to Bavaria for a whirlwind 5-day family escapade. Don your lederhosen and grab your kid’s favorite screen; this is going to be a trip they’ll remember forever!
Day 1: Touchdown Munich
We landed in Munich and the vibe is just what you’d expect: vibrant, welcoming, and oh-so-German!
- Pick up rental car. Search here for the right size car for you. Make sure you’re thinking of your luggage as well, cars are smaller in Europe (another reason to go carryon only!). Keep special attention to automatic vs manual- most cars in Europe are manual (and cheaper). Here’s what we did:
- Marienplatz: Historic buildings and plenty of spots for an ice-cream break.
- Eat at Hofbräuhaus München: Historic huge Bavarian restaurant with music, schnitzel, and lots of steins of Bier of course! It’s hard to find a table, to try to come off hours or be prepared to wait. the Biergarten is first come first serve. Our kids new favorite food is Schnitzel!
- Shop at the Bayern Munchen gift shops as this is my 13 year old’s favorite soccer (football!) team. If they were in season, we would have definitely caught a game.
Some other options for the day:
- English Garden: A garden so big, the kiddos might just tire themselves out (fingers crossed!).
- Deutsches Museum: Science and technology galore
For lodging, Munich is a huge city with Airbnbs, hostels, and hotels galore. Consider staying near Marienplatz or the English garden since you only have a little time in Munich.
Day 2 and 3: Füssen and A Castle from a Fairy Tale
Grab a rental car, wake up early and head to Füssen, home of the Disney castle inspiration: the Neuschwanstein Castle!
- Füssen Stroll: Cobbled streets, colorful buildings, great view. This street was too cute, and a great place to buy souvenirs, lederhosen, ice cream, and a great meal.
- Neuschwanstein Castle: It’s Cinderella’s castle come to life; tickets book out, but even the hike is well worth the trip. You want pictures of the outside of the castle, not the inside after all. Tickets here.
- Epic playgrounds! We always leave extra time to decompress at a playground.
We opted to stay near the castle for the night in Fussen at the Hotel Schlosskrone and had an epic breakfast buffet included at the hotel.
Day 4 and 5: Garmisch-Partenkirchen and a Mountain of Fun
Just as we were hoping to stay an extra day in Fussen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen proved us wrong. The drive through the breautiful countryside was an extra bonus!
- Partnach Gorge: Waterfalls and rocks, a nature lover’s paradise.
- Zugspitze: Germany’s highest peak and some quality family selfies. This gondola was not for the faint hearted– it was so high over cliffs, though it provided an amazing view. You take a train to the gondola and once up at the top there is an amazing view, a few restaurants, lots of information of this construction marvel. It was fun to see the folks that hiked up and are lined up at the summit.
We stayed at the Hotel Hyperion, close to downtown and to the tram, where there was a little indoor pool, sauna, a bar, and a lovely breakfast. But after eating at this hotel after the Zugspitze, I wished we would have stayed here at the Eibsee Hotel and extended a few nights.
Drive back to Munich for the flight home, with little faces glued to the airplane window, already missing their Bavarian adventure and Schnitzel.
Food and Drink
Have I mentioned the Schnitzel? We were big fans of German cuisine generally- great meat and potatoes kid and adult friendly faire. The sausages are great, the bread and pretzels, and the Käsespätzle was a big favorite of the kids as well- it’s like a cheesy dumpling pasta.
Of course they’re known for beer- hello Octoberfest! And those lovely Haribo gummies, Milka chocolate, and Kinder eggs chocolate. Note Kinder eggs are different in the US because of chocking hazard laws. But as a gin lover, a must try gin is the Black Forest’s award winning Monkey 47. Luckily this is available at select liquor stores back in the US as well.
Prepping for Germany
I always love to get into the local mood before traveling (the kids call it homework :P), so here are some recommendations:
There are countless award winning WWII books and movies, including my favorite: Beneath a Scarlet Sky.
Language: to prep for some basic phrases I prefer Pimsleur, though Duolingo is more fun and gamified. If you want to learn just a few basics, there are many youtube videos as well. Google Translate is an absolute game changer for real time translation of signs and menus.
Traveling with the Little Ones: Some Sparks-Flying Tips
- Book Ahead: Trust me, waiting in line with kids is not fun.
- Keep ’em Busy: Pack those travel games; Uno was our favorite.
- Pack light: We only pack carry-ons, and I recommend a little space to leave for those lederhosen as well 🙂
- Find well rated places on Google or Atmosfy
Final Thoughts
So, fellow family adventurers, Bavaria was nothing short of magical. The history, the nature, the food, and those unforgettable family moments – it’s all waiting for you.
Until our next adventure, keep those little sparks flying!
