Hi everyone,
I'm curious about side trips or activities for a family with 2 teens. I've read the highlights but curious if there are any other day trips or activities if we are greeted with snow? My wife and daughter are fine shopping while my son like more adventurous activities.
My Teens haven't even seen SOM so Salzburg may be quick...! Can you still visit salt mines in early spring?
Thanks!
Take the teens to Hanger 7 when you're in Salzburg.
Snow is possible, especially higher, but not common that late. Your biggest issue is going to be working around the Easter holidays and the school holidays also at that time. Easter weeekend is going to be a 4 day, and most everything will be shut down. Not as much in Munich as Salzburg, but still...
In Munich you may want to consider Therme Erding, which has pretty much anything water related, as well as a spa, etc. It's a really nice break on grey days. But there's so much to do in Munich it's hard to pick and choose.
If you haven't found something like this, weatherspark historical April weather for Salzburg: https://weatherspark.com/m/75391/4/Average-Weather-in-April-in-Salzburg-Austria
Snow doesn't seem super likely, but rain is always a possibility in Salzburg.
KGC posted as I was typing, but... Red Bull Hangar-7 https://www.hangar-7.com/en/
Salzburg Marionette Theater. It's pretty cool. English subtitles are projected onto either side of the stage. Probably want to be 5 or so rows back to see the subtitles well. https://marionetten.at/en
Yes, salt mines are open. I like the one at Berchtesgaden. You ride a little miniature train into the mine, slide down 2 or 3 wooden slides used by the workers when the mine functioned, and take a brief boat ride across a salty underground "lake" while learning about salt production. https://www.salzbergwerk.de/en
Sunny day activities if you have not discovered:
Königssee (King's Lake) in Berchtesgaden is gorgeous. I recommend the boat ride across the lake to the Salet stop, take the brief walk to the Instagram-perfect Obersee, hike around the right side of the lake to its opposite side where the is a snack hut, ascend to a lovely alpine meadow surrounded on 3 sides by granite peaks, hike across the alpine meadow to Röthbach Watterfall. Then head back the way you came.
Part of seeing Eagle's Nest is the lovely views. I think it works better as a sunny day trip.
Really, really, really off the beaten path: The Salzburg public library. It's in the New Town; most Salzburg visitors don't make it to the New Town. The building looks to me like a dinosaur. The carpet is very, very red. Check out the English section. In "the head of the dragon," there is a very special coffee shop, reached by a horizontal elevator, with great views. The coffee shop offers individuals with disabilities training and preparation for work in the food industry. See how job training works in Austria! Knowing a little German will help visitors negotiate this place better. Across the street from the library is an Interspar Hypermarkt... essentially a European version of Target -- interesting to see the wares and groceries of an Austrian store.
Rain will probably be a factor and honestly worse than snow. Unfortunately i didn’t go up to the mountains because the earth cams showed clouds on the summit.
Bring weatherproof shoes and dress in layers. I usually wore a fleece zipped jacket underneath a windbreaker with lining and hood, plus gloves and scarf.
There are some gorgeous but higher end shopping malls in the old town and there is one with a hanging garden..Clothes prices are usually higher in Europe. I would do a google search on Munich/Salzburg attractions and have your teens help plan.
We traveled with teens in this region and found there was plenty to keep everyone engaged, even with mixed interests.
If weather is gray or rainy, Munich works very well. The BMW Museum surprised us and held our teens’ attention longer than expected. Therme Erding is also a great option on bad-weather days — it’s more than just pools and feels like an experience rather than “another museum.”
Around Salzburg, the salt mines are open in early spring and are very teen-friendly. The short train ride into the mountain, wooden slides, and underground lake made it one of the more memorable stops for our family. Berchtesgaden is also a good base for side trips; on a clear day, Königssee is spectacular, and the boat ride appeals even to kids who aren’t usually into scenery.
Hangar-7 in Salzburg is another easy win for teens, especially anyone interested in aviation, design, or engineering. It’s quick to visit and works well between other plans.
One thing that helped us was mixing independent sightseeing with a bit of local insight. As travelers, we found Reimagine Tours to be very helpful for understanding context and logistics, especially when weather forced last-minute adjustments.
Spring weather can be unpredictable — rain is more likely than snow — so flexible planning and layering really help. Letting the teens each “own” one activity also made the trip smoother.
Hope that helps, and enjoy the planning.
Salt mine at Hallein is open every day. We got a combo ticket at the Salzburg train station that was train and bus to mine, mine entrance and return. .check to see if it is still offered
Thank you everyone! It sounds like some exciting suggestions depending on the weather.
By chance anyone have some more Munich options with teens?
Cheers, Gregory
