Germany/Austria with Children

We took my kids to Germany last year and they loved it. They were 12 and almost 15 at the time, so just a bit older than yours. We went to Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Bacharach in the Rhine region. Their favorites were Rothenburg (super fun, I know its touristy but we all loved it) and the Rhine valley-it is gorgeous, and so much to do there, biking, hiking, boat rides, castles, etc. Also it was not very crowded, which was nice after Prague (super-crowded). There is no shortage of castles and cute towns/villages in Germany, especially Bavaria and Franconia. We didn't do many museums in that part of the trip except the German National museum (which was very cool) because we also went to Prague and Amsterdam and did a bunch of museums there. Kids (and adults) can get museumed out. Let me know if you want to know about anything specific, I am sure you'll get lots of feedback/suggestions. We found Germany to be very kid-friendly-they want to go back again and see more of it. Have fun planning (it's my favorite part!)

TravelMan, thanks so much! I would love to see the itinerary if it’s not a hassle for you!

We were in Paris last summer and found that my youngest (almost 6 then), was treated like royalty by the French! So friendly and accommodating with our children.

And yes, totally agree about the importance of traveling with kids. We’ve been trying to do an every other year trip to Europe, with the other summers being in the US. This summer is a road trip out west to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Black Hills/Mount Rushmore, etc!

Ferrin, thanks for the great tips! Rothenburg o.d.t. Is definitely on my list too! Looks like fun and I’m sure my kids would enjoy the night watchman tour. I love planning too! It’s just a bit overwhelming at first, especially since this area to new to both me and my husband! Looking forward to any and all advice!

On our previous trips we did a lot of Airbnb rentals because of difficulties finding a hotel room for a family of five. Wondering if we should do the same here.

I'm not sure if Koblenz fits your definition of southern Germany or not, but the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress has a children's museum in addition to its other attractions. It can be reached from the Deautsches Eck by cable car which ought to be a fine adventure in its self.

On the outskirts of Salzburg is Hellbrunn Castle with its "trick fountains." The fountains tour should be a real hit with the kids...
Also, adjacent to the castle grounds is the Salzburg Zoo. While its not a huge zoo, its a worthy stop when visiting the castle and you have the Salzburg Card.

Outside Salzburg is Hohenwerfen Castle (Where Eagles Dare fame) which has many exhibits geared towards children. In addition to the Falconry show and exhibit, there is a very nice somewhat interactive Leonardo Da Vinci museum.

We spent 3 weeks in Germany, Austria, Slovenia @ Italy with our boys (age 11 & 14). Here are some highlights in the areas you mention:

Boppard (3 nights): Burg Eltz, Burg Reinfels, train to Bacharach then boat back to Boppard. Loved wandering early in the morning to pick up breakfast from the bakeries. It wasn’t crowded mid June.

Rothenburg (2 nights): Loved the Nightwatchmans tour and walking the wall. Get up EARLY (before 7 am) and enjoy an empty town. It’s magical.

Salzburg (5 nights): We actually stayed outside of Hallein at Landhaus Armstorfer (2 br/2 ba apartment). It was fabulous. Highly recommend if you have a car. I LOVE Salzburg! Went paragliding with FlyTandem above Salzburg. Day trip to Hallstatt, including Salt Mine. Went to Eagles Nest in Berchtesgaden. The Red Bull museum was a hit with my boys. They also loved stopping at the oldest bakery in town (near the water wheel at the abbey). Went on the sommerrodelbahn near Hallein twice. Big hit with the kids. I also recommend the fortress in Werfen. Lots of public pools and water parks near Salzburg.

Munich (3 nights): loved the street musicians all over town. Day trip to Dachau - maybe the most important site of the trip. We listened to a holocaust surviver prior to the trip to help prepare the kids. Loved the V. Market. Go to a beer hall in the evening - it’s quite a scene!

Mittenwald - we just stopped for lunch and a little tour of the town. Would have loved to stay a night or more. Stunningly beautiful area.

There’s a water adventure park near Innsbruck that we found out about after the trip. That would be fun!

We made it our goal to have lunch someplace with a great view every day. Made for some amazing experiences, even if I can’t remember the food.

When I was very young we lived near Stuttgart for 3 years with the military. I was much younger than your children (4 months to 3 years). One of the few things I remember was Neuschwanstein Castle.

As an avid zoo visitor I can tell you from my own planning that Munich has a very large zoo. It was the first zoo to organize their collection by geography. Salzburg has a small but not tiny zoo. Some of my favorite zoos are small so don’t let its size dissuade you. If you’re going to Vienna their zoo is medium sized and is the oldest continuously operating zoo in the world. Vienna also has an aquarium housed in a WWII flak tower. All of these institutions are accredited by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums so they are top notch facilities with high standards of animal care and an emphasis on education and conservation.

I haven’t researched the zoo and aquarium in Berlin as I’m not going this time around but have been told they are excellent.

One of the posts suggested visiting Dachau, but your children are too young to do this.

Look for some open-air museums or a fun forest. Castles are everywhere and medieval towns are too. Add in Esslingen if you are near Stuttgart.

We just got back with our two 8-year-olds, and since you mentioned southern Germany, I'll only focus on that bit (let me know if you also want some suggestions for Rhine Valley). We stayed in Fussen for five nights, and rented a car, however, a couple of our days out we did not use the car since the local buses got us to our destination for free with the use of a Fussen card (which your hotel provides or at least ours did for a nominal cost). The kids enjoyed going up in the Zugspitze cable car (we went up from the Austrian side) and hanging out up there, any luge course would be fun and we enjoyed doing the Tegelberg luge most (could ride multiple times for a relatively low price) and the one near Biberwier in Austria once (fun but more expensive), Linderhof Palace, a hike from Tegelbergbahn station to Neuschwanstein Castle (we did not go in the castle) via the Pollat gorge trail (fairly flat and quick until the gorge hike which is steep but so pretty you don't mind it so much), and walking around Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Fussen. We did go to Dachau with them, however, they did not go inside the museum section which include images not appropriate for younger than 13 year olds and walked the grounds instead (the crematorium was tough for them to grasp but I think it lead to some good discussions). They really enjoyed all the dinners and they discovered a drink called Spezi (which they were allowed to drink because they were on "vacation").

Watch the "Sound of Music" with them before you leave and take them on the "Original Sound of Music Tour" in Salzburg. There are numerous Sommer Rodelbahn "Summer Toboggan" runs in Southern Germany and Austria. I think the kids would really enjoy one of those. There are also quite a few zip-lines.

Thank you so much to all who have given me some great ideas so far! We are definitely planning to see Ludwig's castles in Bavaria. I also think my kids would love going to the top of Zugspitze and trying out the luge. We will have about two weeks to play with in Germany and Austria. As I'm just in the very beginning dreaming/planning stages, if anyone has any recommendations of other areas of Germany to explore (a couple people have mentioned the Rhine area), feel free to share! I love seeing other people's ideas and itineraries.

We do like to try and stay at least 2-3 nights in an area. We've found it helps to get settled in and not feel so rushed. We will have a car (but not in big cities). Also, we'll be coming from Paris... already beginning to think about a plane ride vs. train ride. We enjoy train travel in Europe and it's great fun for my kids as we don't travel by train anywhere here at home. Any recommendations in this area - and where in Germany would be best to arrive via train/plane from Paris would be great!

Thanks again! Love these travel forums!

Also, we'll be coming from Paris... already beginning to think about a plane ride vs. train ride. We enjoy train travel in Europe and it's great fun for my kids as we don't travel by train anywhere here at home. Any recommendations in this area - and where in Germany would be best to arrive via train/plane from Paris would be great!

The TGV (high speed French train) goes from Paris to Munich, and this makes the most sense if you prefer train travel and given the hassle of dealing with CDG for flights. If you buy tickets for your dates as soon as they come available, it shouldn't be too expensive. And your kids will love wizzing by the French countryside at ridiculous speeds.

The TGV also goes to Stuttgart, which I have to rep as my adopted city, and does have a handful of family-friendly attractions, such as the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums, the very unique Wilhelma zoo and botanical gardens, and the previously mentioned city of Esslingen, which was the medieval powerhouse of southwestern Germany with the undamaged buildings and fortifications to show for it, plus nearby places like Hohenzollern castle (as impressive for pictures as Neuschwanstein but unlike the latter a little bit of it is actually old) and Lichstenstein.

All that said, with 2 weeks with 3 kids, I'd focus on 2-3 specific areas to base in and build a few day trips out from there. And Bavaria is pretty much perfect for families. If I were planning your trip, I'd spend a couple nights in Munich and move to the a base city near the alps for 5 nights, then Salzburg or even Halstatt, or throwing this out there - the Bodensee/Lake Constance, which was a variety of attractions and castles but also offers relaxing swimming days in crystal clear waters with views to the Alps.

Regardless of what you choose, Munich as a starting point from Paris via train makes a lot of sense in my book.

Great thread. Saving this. Germany is where we may take our 10 and 12 yo grandsons next summer. We've lived in Germany and some places/activities I think they would like are biking along the Mosel, Burg Eltz, a Rhine boat for a few hours, Rothenburg, the birds of prey show in the castle near Heidelburg, a summer luge, Partnachlamm, Zugspitze, Munich (Viktualiemarkt, surfers, walking history tour), Mittenwald for a base in Bavaria, and Salzburg. Will focus mostly on outdoor activities and smaller towns.

When you're in Salzburg you want to check out the Red Bull Hanger 7. If they like soccer (football) check the Red Bull FC schedule for a local game.

In Munich forget Dachau and spend some time at Therme Erding. Think water park, spa, and beer hall all rolled up into one. The kids will thank you. Also if your boys like cars the BMW museum is a must. Another good Munich thing is the mine exhibit in the Deutsches Museum. It's a long subterranean tunnel under the museum proper; kids seem to love playing down there.

In Rothenburg you may want to consider the Medieval Crime Museum.

Nuremberg has a good toy museum, but I think the German National Museum is better. And if they like trains the DB museum is only a block from the train station.

Just up the road from Rothenburg is Bad Windesheim, which has a great open air museum.

To get them out in the air, check on the local Volksmarch calendars. Nothing like a short walk in the woods followed up by a snack in a beer tent to make a good morning better.

Not on the normal tourist track, but your kids may like them are Pappenheim, which is a really pretty little town with a great castle, and Solnhofen, where you can do some fossil hunting and they have a really good museum with dinosaurs.

You should also check around for local fests. Every small town has one, and they are extremely family oriented. Ask at the hotels, and I'll bet someone can tell you where to go.

I do not see the time of year referenced, maybe I missed it? My take... Get them into the Alps everywhere, German and Austrian National Parks, Bayrishewald. Schwartzwald, Tirol, etc. Hike, and then some more hiking, visit the Alm, get some traditional food and drink, see the cows, hear the bells. Give your kids a lust for nature and appreciation of the culture and the land. Get out some, the people are friendly and can speak English. Teach the kids how to snow ski. How about some summer paragliding? Look beyond the every day tourist.