Hello, I’m traveling with my family of four, two kids ages 13 and 11 and need itinerary help. Our flights are into Berlin and out of Vienna for 13 days in late March/early April next year. I figured two to three nights for each of those cities but need help with all the in between! It’s our first time taking the kids to Europe and I’d like them to see some beautiful landscapes and experience a little adventure such as luge rides, mountain gondolas or scenic train rides. I’d love to pop in two Switzerland if possible and am willing to fly into a city for times sake. Any help on itinerary? I’d like to fit in Lake Halstadt or Salzburg and we’re willing to skip Münich if we can get a Swiss alpine town into our trip!
Posted by
Paris
7304 posts
Austria and Germany have a good chunk of the Alps too. Switzerland adds a significant detour, and significant costs.
I'd suggest Zugspitze near Garmisch-Partenkirchen (south of Munich) for your scenic train/mountain view fix. You could visit Neuschwanstein castle from there too (not sure about logistics).
Garmisch is a 5.5 hour train ride from Berlin, and from Garmisch, it is easy to reach Salzburg (3.5 hours), then Vienna.
Skipping Munich altogether, the route could be, counting nights:
3 Berlin
3-4 Garmisch-P
2-3 Salzburg
4 Vienna (there's a lot to see!)
Posted by
Berlin
3009 posts
3 nights Berlin is extremely short, add minimum 1 night.
And Switzerland ... why not if you do not care for long ways. There is a Nightjet train between Berlin an Zürich; good chance to sleep and travel. Also an adventure for the kids. From there I would ask for a scenic way in Austria and Switzerland forum.
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1389 posts
End of March/early April you are at the end of the ski season. Depending on where you travel the lifts/gondolas and associated mountain Almhütte will be pausing for the season. The second to third week in March seems to have some charm with good weather in Tirol. Maybe a ski school for the kids? I concur the Zugspitz Arena area (Austria) may be worth your time in March. For Switzerland this time of year the Swiss Forum may have better answers.
https://www.zugspitzarena.com/en
https://www.zugspitzarena.com/en/activities/further-winter-activities
Posted by
OP
7 posts
I am grateful for the suggestion of Zugspitze! Though I’m afraid of how cold it will be at that time I’m sure we’ll get the mountain experience I was looking for! And also thinking of the expense to try and make it to Switzerland i won’t focus on trying to see it. Now I’m looking at Lake Constance and wondering if it’s worth it to try and incorporate it into the trip. And should I see Lake Hallstatt as a day trip from Salzburg or stay there en route to Vienna?
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1389 posts
I think Hallstatt is worth a visit. Hallstatt is no longer the idyllic quiet village shown in tourist videos from 10-15 years or so before. It is now overrun by bus loads of world wide tourists every day of the year, so be prepared for that. The location is beautiful and unique though. Lake Constance in Mar/Apr will also be in the off season, but I'm sure you can find things to see and do. An alternative might be the Chiemsee and a visit to the Schloss Herrenchiemsee. A relaxing day in the off season (overnight in Prien?) without the thousands of tourists. You would have to look into the boat times and Schloss opening times.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
HI everyone! I updated my draft itinerary and added some notes after doing some research. I'd appreciate any feedback you might have! (I also posted this on Austria forum)
We're taking our kids to Europe for the first time over their spring break, during the last week of March into early April. My son will turn 14 over the trip and my daughter is 11.5 and they're well traveled, just not to Europe! We're flying into Berlin and back from Vienna (I got a great deal on the flights so those are set in stone). We pack light and would like to utilize trains whenever possible because I know that kids are sometimes free (true for buses too?). Also my husband would rather not drive if he doesn't have to, especially since we're crossing into another country.
I want a good mix of great food, museums, palaces, castles, nature and adventure so I put the following itinerary together and am hoping for some feedback. I know it's tight but I'm not planning on really visiting museums or doing tours outside of Berlin. We're interested in experiences and creating memories and I'm trying to plan my stops w/out huge travel times between cities. This is what I came up:
Berlin - 3 nights (museum, sites, food, high speed train to Nuremburg to get to Rothenburg?)
Rothenburg od de Tauber - 1 night (medieval town, night watchman, what's best way to GP?)
Garmish Partenkirchen - 2 nights (Zugspitze, day trip to Neuchwanstein?, Partnachklamm Gorge, Bavarian town)
Salzburg - 2 nights (day trip to waterfall? Krimml or Bad Gastein)
Lake Halstatt - 1 night (do I go here before Salzburg?)
Vienna - 3 nights (palaces, opera, Spanish riding school?, food)
Halstatt is kind of a non negotiable must see for us, and we'd like to stay for a night to have some reprieve from the crowds. Should crowds be of concern during this time of the year? And where should we go for salt mines and a luge ride? I was thinking Garmish-P would be good for that but seems tight w/two days. Is that even a good base? Zugspitze is another thing we really want to see. What's the funnest way up the mountain? Can we do sledding there? I've heard of the night watchman in Rothenburg which I thought would be neat for the kids. Is the one night worth it just for the medieval scenery?. As far as Salzburg goes, none of the Sound of Music stuff is important to us. So is two days there too much?
I realize that 12 nights is not enough to truly experience Germany, Bavaria, Austria, etc. but it's the most time we have and I'd like to get a taste of the area with the idea that someday we'll return. I know Prague is also really common to include when you're talking Berlin & Vienna but we felt strongly about keeping our trip to a two country minimum!