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Help fill in gaps from Berlin to Vienna - Tropical Islands extra

Posted by on

We are taking our kids on their first European vacation over spring break, late March/early April. I need some help filling in our itinerary. We're flying into Berlin, out of Vienna, we have 13 days/12 nights total. Here's what I have so far:
Nights 1-3: Berlin
Nights 4-5?: Rothenburg ob de Tauber (staying overnight to do nightwatchman tour). One or two nights?
Nights 6-?: We want to see the castles, Zugspitze, the Partnachklamm gorge and take the kids on a luge or tobbagan run.
Night 8-9?: Lake Halstatt
Nights 10-12: Vienna
Day 13: travel home

I'm not sure if we should stay two nights in Lake Hallstatt and Rothenburg (I realize this is probably my longest leg). I'm trying to avoid multiple one night stays. If I have to have one I'll settle on it but two seems like too much. I'd prefer day trips. Also, the kids would be interested in visiting Tropical Islands outside Berlin. Though I am not, this trip is about them not me! Ha! So visiting the largest indoor water park in the world sounds too cool to pass up. So I'm not sure if I should tack on a night in Berlin for this or go on the way to Rothenburg. We prefer trains/bus vs. rental cars. Any advice you can give would be great! I am hoping to achieve the following: history (Berlin), medieval town (Rothenburg ob de Tauber), nature and fun (Zugspitze, Gorge, luge, etc), small town vibe (Lake Halstatt) and culture (Vienna). Can I have it all is the question?

Posted by
28102 posts

How old are your children? For an all-adult trip I'd press very hard for more than 3 nights in Berlin. It's a very large city with a lot of museums and historic sites (especially WWII and Cold War). Those places tend to be time-consuming to visit and they're scattered all over the city. As your first stop, Berlin will be affected by jetlag and possibly sleep-deprivation for some if not all of you, so I'd count 3 nights as just 2 days. However, having children along may substantially lessen your interest in a lot of Berlin's sights.

I haven't been to Vienna recently; if I had, I imagine I'd also think your time in Vienna is too short.

Posted by
2589 posts

Before March 30, the night watchman tours are only on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Posted by
5623 posts

I was just in Rothenburg, as I love that little medieval town. Perhaps stay two nights there, arriving later in the first day.
Do the Night Watchman Tour, AND walk on the town wall, AND climb the crazy steps of the Town Hall for a 360 degree view of the area.

Regarding Hallstatt, I think you could cover the area with a one night stay, as it is very small. The Salt Mines Tour is very worthwhile, the kids should love sliding down the mines' "horizontals", and once again, the view from the mines area, 4,000 ft above the lake , is incredible.

Safe travels and have a wonderful trip!

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