We have 12 days that we are splitting between these 3 areas. My original thought is to spend 5 nights in Wengen, 5 in Garmisch and 1 night in Munich (but our plane doesn't leave until 8:30 PM so we have almost 2 days in Munich). Do you think the # of days I have planned for each place is good?, too much in 1 area vs. another? Garmisch will have day trips to Fussen and to nearby Austria.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16397 posts
Some people will say 5 nights in Garmisch is too much, but if you enjoy hiking then I'd say its fine. There are some wonderful and unique hikes there, such as the gorge hikes through Partnacklamm and Hoellental Klamm. Munich also offers a lot, including the wonderful Deutsches Museum, so you might consider taking a night form Garmisch and adding it to Munich. How old are your kids? That might determine the answer for you.
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OP
Purcellville
22 posts
My "kids" are 22 and 21.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16397 posts
OK. IN that case, you might consider adding a day to Munich---they will find a lot to like there. I've traveled to these same areas with my college age kids. We all had a great time.
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Purcellville
22 posts
Lola, any other suggestions would be appreciated, since you said you've also traveled the area with teenage kids.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16397 posts
We've done 3 multi-family trips to Switzerland with kids (mine, and my sister's) ranging in age from 14 (in 2002) through 30 (in 2007). Two of the trips have included stops in garmisch and Munich as well. In Switzerland we go to the Berner Oberland and other places as well (Kandersteg, Bettmeralp, Zermatt). For your purposes, flying out of Munich, the Berner Oberland makes the bese base and Wengen is a good choice. Hotel Baeren has a little apartment that is a good price if it is available. Their food (breakfast and dinner) is the best we have enjoyed in Switzerland-very fresh and imaginative. We also enjoy staying in Muerren in the apartment in Chalet Fontana which is a good budget option. Wherever we stay in this area, we spend our days hiking. The kids (including the ones in their twenties) have also enjoyed the "Trotti-bikes" at Grindelwald. I've already mentioned the interesting gorge hikes at Garmisch. We also enjoy hiking to the top of Wank to watch the parasailers take off. You can ride a lift up instead of hiking. There is a restaurant at the top, and trails for a nice ridgetop ramble. In Munich, we all enjoyd the Deutsches Museum (I have been a number of times and always find more to see there), riding bikes through the Englischer Garten (and stopping to watch the surfers on the Isar River), and the large Viktuelenmarkt.
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Purcellville
22 posts
Why yes, as a matter of fact, they do!