Hi. We will be spending some time in Germany, Switzerland and Italy with 13 and 15 year old children. Any recommendations on which cities and sites to visit? We will arrive in Frankfurt, head to Geneva to see friends and for sure want to go to Rome. Everything else is flexible. Thank you for your input!
Posted by
Ontario Canada
691 posts
Stephanie
For sure make Venice one of your stops. It is fascinating. Even though the city is decaying there is a lot to see and experience. Your children could read up on it and find out what they want to see while there. Also the island of Murano might be of interest where you can go see glass blowing and explore this unique town. I would suggest you go on line to Venice Connected and maybe buy in advance your vaporetto tickets. A single ride on the vaporetto (which you will need to get to your hotel and back it around 8 euros each way. If you plan to use it more than this then take a look at a 2,3 or 4 day ticket depending on your lenght of stay.
Posted by
Ontario Canada
691 posts
Stephanie
For sure make Venice one of your stops. It is fascinating. Even though the city is decaying there is a lot to see and experience. Your children could read up on it and find out what they want to see while there. Also the island of Murano might be of interest where you can go see glass blowing and explore this unique town. I would suggest you go on line to Venice Connected and maybe buy in advance your vaporetto tickets. A single ride on the vaporetto (which you will need to get to your hotel and back it around 8 euros each way. If you plan to use it more than this then take a look at a 2,3 or 4 day ticket depending on your lenght of stay.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
No argument with that Venice rec! You can also get some ideas from Rick's itinerary for his Family Best of Europe tour. On that trip, they stay in Bolzano, Italy (great Ice Man museum) and Fuessen, Germany (for castles), instead of Munich (which is on the "adult" tours).
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
Venice goes without saying. Rome: I think your kids are at a good age to enjoy the Vatican Museum. I was shocked at the amount of pre-Christian artifacts that were there from the Roman Empire days. Of course, the Forum and Coloseum. You can also (weather permitting) do a Segway tour of the city that they would love. It gets rave reviews on Trip Advisor. I couldn't do it last time because it was pouring rain and blowing about 20 knots~! (March) The Segways are small and able to get down some narrow and charming streets that you can't do on the hop-on-hop off bus. The tour guides are reputed to be fun and informative. The outdoor market at Campo di Fiore in the morning is fantastic! They sell everything from T-shirts to spreadable treats, meats, salami and of course flowers. Get there by 10 am because they pack up and leave at Noon (I think) It is an absolutely beautiful site to behold!
Make sure you stop by the Trevi Fountain so they can throw their coins in to assure them of returning to Rome!