Germany, Switzerland and Paris in 10 days (12 days total but two are travel days)

When are you going? What are your interests in Switzerland?

We are going in the middle of March. Not sure what to do in Switzerland. We wanted to originally stay at the Honegg hotel with the fantastic view but they are sold out for 4 people. Trying to decide if we still go to Switzerland or if we just skip it and do the Salt mines in Austria.

Start by being honest with yourself.

Germany, Switzerland and Paris in 10 days (12 days total but two are travel days)

Are you counting the day you arrive in Europe? (I'm guessing you are). Yes, of course, you can't count the day you leave from North America. But you also shouldn't count the day you arrive, either. Because, at best, you will arrive late in the morning (more likely mid-day), you will be exhausted, cranky, and disoriented, you'll get lost, and won't exactly be efficient at finding your way or doing much of anything - especially with 2 kids in tow.

Then, with your (probably) 9 days, you are planning to spend time in 4 locations. Every time you change locations, you lose most of a day (if you are super-efficient and it's a short train trip, maybe you can shave that to half a day....if this is your first trip to Europe, then it will take longer).

With 9 full days, I would limit myself to 2 or maybe 3 locations tops.

Thank you! I appreciate your information. Yes, I was counting the day we arrive. Our flight gets in at 6:45 in the morning. So what if we just did Germany and Paris. Do you have some recommendations for Germany? I think I left off that we will be flying out of Paris back home.

From the Frankfurt airport, catch a train to the Rhine river valley. Mainz is about an hour north and Bacharah, where I stayed with Letti is great. We walked around town to get rid of jet lag the day we landed. The next we took a river cruise to St. Goar to visit Reinfels castle and then went back. Spend two nights in the Rhine River Valley, then head to Paris. You can day trip to the Loire Valley for Castles, daytrip to Brugge Belgium, amazing little city. I must for Paris is the palace of Versailles, it is a short trip to the outskirts of Paris but a nice half to full day with beautiful gardens to wander around in and the amazing palace.

Best to count nights on the ground rather than days. A night is definitely a night, but a day can range from 2-14 hours of available sightseeing time.

I think it's wise to limit yourselves to one area of Germany and then several nights in Paris.

"We are going in the middle of March."

csu15269 mentions Mainz and the Rhine Valley, then Paris, a plan I would support. You get to see an interesting part of Germany without putting a lot of miles on your trip. But you need a little more than just 2 nights for Germany! In mid- March you are unlikely to find the river boats in operation - they typically don't start until late March. And Bacharach is deadsville in March - I would stay in MAINZ instead. Mainz is only 25 minutes from FRA by train - so head there first for 2 nights. See what you can of Mainz on Day 1. On Day 2 do your day trip to the scenic part of the Rhine. Let's assume you're using the train for the moment. Marksburg Castle in the attractive east-bank village of Braubach is open year-round for tours. So I suggest taking the train to the attractive east-bank town of Rüdesheim first - spend a couple of hours there - then board a train north to Braubach for the castle tour (this is a real, intact medieval castle that was never destroyed.) On this train trip you'll spot dozens of castles on the way. You can later return to Mainz via the WEST bank train line... Braubach to Koblenz takes 10 minutes - change there and catch a train south to Mainz and you'll get a different perspective on the river. If there's time left, you can get off the train in Bacharach on the way to Mainz for an hour's look-around. It's an attractive town.

So you wake up on Day 3 in Mainz. I suggest packing your bags and traveling to TRIER for 2 nights. It's Germany's oldest city and there's a lot you can see easily in a short time - it's not such a big place. The train takes you along the scenic MOSEL River on its way to Trier.

From Trier, Paris isn't far, and you'll have 5 nights there.

We have traveled Europe a lot with our two boys, started when they were 8 and 10, and just got back from a Christmas Market trip and they just turned 12 and 14.

We were supposed to hit Nuremberg last month, but due to a flight cancellation ended up in Munich instead (we had been before, but they do really like Munich). In Nuremberg, they were interested in the rock cellar tour, stadium tour and we had tickets to a FC Nurnberg soccer game, and the Documentation center (we were only there 2 nights....) - next trip!

I agree 2 destinations, with side trips. Maybe 3 if they are close together, under 3 hours on the train. Here are things my boys like in general - have you taken yours to Europe before?

They like: bike tours, segway tours (yes we just did one in Bratislava and it was 27 F!! brrr), castles somewhat, anything active like a game (we did our first escape room in prague and they are hooked), some sightseeing (historical especially)
They hate: "walking around looking at things" (though when it is a tower or something to go up, they like it better)

Of course we balance that, for example in Prague we went to see the Slav Epic (they were mildly interested) and then did the escape room in the afternoon.

Do you already have tickets into Frankfurt and out of Paris? I would be tempted to go to Nuremberg (or Munich), then maybe Strasbourg? We haven't been but the Europa Park amusement park is nearby and I would definitely take mine there for a day to break up sightseeing.. Then on to Paris. Those are all easy train rides I think. You can fit 3 (I doubt 4...) of those places, give me your exact flight days /imes and I'll see if I think it would work - need to see the timing and I will tell you if I would do it.

Not sure if you have traveled with them before, but we have taken ours 4 times and it was confirmed on this last trip, that the first 2-3 days are ROUGH. At least for us. We have good moments in those days, but we struggle behavior-wise quite often in the first two days. :)

Kim

Can't recommend Switzerland in March. Too much ground to cover in a short time. Is this your first trip to Europe? Train, plane, or car? Have you located child interests in Nuremburg? I would have chosen Amsterdam/Cologne/Paris maybe.

I second Russ's suggestion of spending a couple of nights each in Mainz and Trier. I have been to Mainz several times as I always stay there on my last night in Germany if I am flying out from Frankfurt. I also enjoy Trier a great deal. I have been there perhaps a dozen times (I used to work only 30 - 45 minutes east) and always found the Porta Nigra, the Roman baths, Roman bridge, the Cathedral and Konstantin Basilika , as well as the main platz quite pleasant. I believe you will be able to very easily fill two days of sightseeing in each of these cities.