Heading to Europe with our 7 yo daughter this year and we know we are going to France and Germany, mainly Paris and Munich. We like to set up a home base and get into the local flow of the days. Neither my husband or I have been back to Europe as adults and we are wondering - in an effort to split our time at least somewhat equally between the two countries, and knowing that we don't want to pack up and change lodging a bunch, is it worth it to try to get up to Berlin from Munich? What if we did 6 nights in Paris, 6 in Munich and then 3 in Berlin? Thanks for any advice!
Posted by
Green Bay
20072 posts
I think it is a great idea. 3 places in 15 days. A nice change from the usual 12 places in 15 days.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you, Sam. I have only been to Europe once before, on a school trip I raised money for over two decades ago - and we did 5 countries in 11 days. It was not the greatest, to say the least!
Would you think that, given travel times between each location, those timelines look pretty good?
Posted by
Washington DC
27093 posts
For me, 6 days would be too long time in Munich and 3 days would be too short in Berlin. However, much of Berlin's interest is in its many (and huge) museums and its World War II and Cold War sites. It's a large, spread-out city, not especially pretty. (Cue people pointing out that the nearby Potsdam is very attractive. I haven't been there.) Six days in Berlin was not enough for me, but looking at it from your daughter's standpoint, I don't know how exciting it would be. There is the zoo, of course (which I also haven't been to).
Munich does have some very pretty (I assume reconstructed) historical buildings.
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
Hi,
What about switching the time allotted for Munich and Berlin? Logistically, very doable within 16 days Paris, Berlin and Munich. I would pick the same places too (or even Vienna in lieu of Munich).
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for your feedback, acraven! We were just going to do Paris and Munich but thought we'd try and squeeze Berlin in, too. I think a lot of our "plans" involve walking out the door and seeing what everyone else is doing, plus visiting exchange student friends, so we are less focused on particular sights this time around (that may be the trip we save for when she is a bit older). But I do appreciate your points on the highlights of each city; I will remember those as we get further into planning!
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Fred, thanks for that idea! I think we are still trying to settle between the two - part of what is going on is celebrating my husband's 40th birthday while we are there, so where he wants to be on that date will play a role. ;) He was an exchange student in Munich 20+ years ago and his exchange student family is still there.
Posted by
Washington DC
27093 posts
I'm a wanderer, too, but for me Berlin is more a place where I basically went from museum to historical site to museum. I think for a young person like your daughter, Berlin isn't going to be as instantly grabby as other places. Unless the adults in the party have a strong interest in Berlin, I suggest leaving it for another trip and spending time in one or two picturesque smaller towns instead. You know, the Old World Germany, rather than the obliterated-during-the-war Germany. For example, there are some lovely towns on the Bodensee.
If your daughter were a teenager, she'd probably appreciate the liveliness and youthfulness of Berlin. As it is, I am doubtful. But I have no children, so...
Posted by
Green Bay
20072 posts
As for 6 days in Munich, I love the fact that you can use the Bayern Ticket and other Regio tickets for day trips that are pretty cheap. Garmisch, Salzburg, Nuremberg, and everybody's must-see, Fuessen and Neuschwanstein.
So think about how much time you want to be in Berlin re what you want to do and see and put in the appropriate number of days. It takes a bit more than 6 hours to get to Berlin on the train, so factor that in as well.
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
@ kristin....You're welcome. I can understand you husband has definite personal reasons such as that you mentioned and may want to visit or extend the stay in Munich. If not, then Berlin is well worth adding the extra time. Since hubby was an exchange student, I'm assuming he speaks German, even better. If you intend on getting a rental car for the purpose of seeing outlying villages in the Greater Berlin area, those in Brandenburg, (the old Mark Brandenburg), where you get the feeling that time stopped. I would suggest that for historical and cultural purposes. Speaking the language is essential to visiting these places. It's an insight into rural life in Brandenburg that tourists don't see or care to see.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
You could choose Wurzburg for a few days and explore smaller historic towns.
Day
1-6. Paris (6 nights)
7. Train to Frankfurt (1 night)
8. Train to Wurzburg (3 nights)
9. Day to Bamberg
10. Day to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
11-15. Munich (5 nights)