Itinerary, first time to Germany with 4 children

Hi, welcome.

Just a thought - I'm not clear on when your trip is but I'm guessing summer? And don't know which country you're from but guessing USA?

I'm only asking because I've been to Munich many times and with kids 10-16 and my experience of the English Garden. Are you aware of the surfing on the river? Are you aware that in the summer on a nice day you may see lots of sunbathers on the grass and some or more may be wearing fewer clothes than normally seen on sunbathers in the US?

It is a lovely place and the food and drink at the Chinese Tower is excellent IMHO, and there is nothing to be alarmed about with the sunbathers, just wanted you not to have a surprise.

On the other hand, you may be European and no surprise at all...

Sounds like the kids have good ideas.

Thank for helping me clarify my post with time of travel and from what country I’m traveling from.

We are traveling from the USA at the beginning of June.

I am aware of the river surfers as I have been to Munich only own a few years ago. I didn’t venture out very far from the city center though. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t they remove the cinder blocks that created the waves for the surfers?

I was not aware of the potential “sunbathing” in English Garden. I don’t think my kids would even care, but I will make sure to give them a heads up just in case.

The surfing wave collapsed last October when they did their yearly cleaning of the river bed - still unclear why, and they somehow patched it artificially, but it is closed for surfing atm.

Indeed, sunbathing naked or semi-naked is quite common - Germans rarely ever notice that, but if you are not used to it, it is good to be prepared…

8 days in Garmisch should be fun. If there are clouds around the Zugspitze don't go up. Be advised that in June you may not be able to go out to the high point, because of snow. It was that way last June when i took family around the area.

You can do the castles, you'll have time. Take the kids to a Rodelbahn. Take a day trip to Innsbruck.

In Munich definitely the Deutsches Museum.

Consider a day trip by train to Nuremberg. It's got a great castle, with tours for kids. It's very different from Munich or G-P, and it's just an hour by train. Easy to walk, the Bahnhof is directly across from the old city gates. Good toy museum, good train museum, good history museum, great open air markets every day. Very popular with my family.

completely agree with KGC - an excursion to Nuremberg is a delight for kiddoes, and I agree with what they recommend.

See if they can find the huge Dürer hare. I keep a copy on my fridge.

I used to sleep in that magnificent castle - well, the DJH (youth hostel, in the castle stables, had a great time) - I love Nuremberg

Great for adults and kids.

I agree about Rodelbahn rides too, and for adults as well as kids.

I prefer the kind which uses wheels which wrap around the guide tubes - sort of like a modern mini roller coaster with good braking - over the concrete or aluminium or aluminum gutter type with free rolling sleds. I lost a lot of skin on my arm when I had to react on the gutter type near Neuschwanstein when somebody walked across the route in front of me.

Sounds like a great trip! Flying in and out of Munich is good. Easy and quick to take a S1 or S8 UBahn to the center of Munich. Ubahn station is in the airport lower level. If your flight out of Munich is very early, we usually spend the last night at the Hotel Maisberger in Neufahrn. It's next to the train station and just 2 stops to the airport. Not much in Neufahrn, but we have a very nice meal at the Maisberger

From GP you can take a short scenic train ride to Mittenwald and go up the Karwendelbahn cable car to the mountain top. Check the weather and/or webcams beforehand to be sure the weather is clear.

In Munich, two other museums to check out online: The Hunting and Fishing Museum is a short walk west from the Marienplatz. The Toy Museum is in a small tower on the east side of the Marienplatz. The Deutsches museum is gigantic, look at a map to figure out what parts interest you most.

For your train travel, look into the DB pass for 30 days (58 Euros), or another DB railpass. Lots of info on this forum about buying them.

Do have a rental car in Garmisch?

If yes I recommend a daytrip to Füssen with the Castles and Lakes 1 hr drive from Garmisch
You can do a loop via Ehrwald -Reutte -Füssen-Halblech-Steingaden -Oberammergau back to Garmisch 2,5hrs driving time and a lot to see

The Castles in and near Füssen
Cable car trip with Tegelbergbahn near Füssen
Summer Toboggan ride near Tegelbergbahn
Boatrip on Lake Forgensee near Füssen
Lechfalls and Gorge near Füssen

And between Ehrwald and Reutte Boatrip on Lake Heiterwang and Lake Plansee

and many more attractions on the way

For Munich

Take the train to Lake Chiemsee oneday 1,5hrs do a boatrip on the Lake visit the two Islands in the Lake one with Palace one with Monastery Nice weather go swimming in the Lake or indoors

Train from Munich to Prien From Prien train station with the Chiemseebahn to the Lake Shore

the summer toboggan ride linked just above has a photo of the gutter type - the exact one where I had my incident several years ago

As of right now I am not renting a vehicle. I’m planning on using public transportation to get around. However I could look into renting a vehicle for a day or two if it makes a trip to Füssen from Garmisch or Munich easier.

Thank you for adding links to the locations.

I think my kids will love to go on an alpine coaster as well as go swimming in a lake. I am going to stay away from the “gutter type” alpine coaster. I’m not sure how much they would enjoy a boat ride/short cruise. I would definitely have to get their thoughts on it.

From Munich take a 1 hour train ride on the S bahn to Therme Erding. You may never get your kids to go home.

https://www.therme-erding.de/

KGC,
You’re about that.. my kids would never want to leave. Although that would definitely be a fun way to end our trip the day before heading to the airport.

great fun for the adults too. We are in our 70s and spend plenty time there.

While in GP, I'd recommend visiting Oberammergau for the alpine coaster.

Deutsche Museum was pretty good.

My kids liked floating down the river in the English Garden. There is a rough part and a tamer part. It was very cold in June.

If you happen to be in Garmisch mid June…the mid summers might lighting up of the mountains with fires on them is quite unforgettable. One of my fav memories of travel as a kid.

Kids also loved the huge water park just north of Munich. It’s giant.

We initially had plans to do the Highline 179 in Reuter and the castle ruins there but had to shift gears.

Believe there is a pool in Garmisch and that is likely fun for the kids too.

I'd suggest a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. It's touristy but teenagers will think it's cool. Then Salzburg or even a train to Nuremberg.