Planning a week in Germany, week in France with 3 teens (17)in June. Paris (5 days in apt) and Normandy/Bayeux area itinerary was easy. Having trouble deciding where to focus in Germany so that there are educational aspects while world history is fresh on their minds - plus down time. We're tempted to focus on Rhine/Bacharach area and Munich. We keep remembering our unscheduled day in San Gimignano a couple of years ago and don't want to exhaust ourselves "seeing" too much. Hubby and I have been several times. Also need to drop off car near border to minimize train fares to Paris. Suggestions? Thank you.
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Frankfurt, Germany
8950 posts
If you want to focus on the history aspect of Germany, and keep costs down, I think I would base up in Berlin. Just had the anniversary of the "fall of the wall", the city is chock full of historical buildings and museums, apts. are easy and cheap to rent, and side trips are numerous too. Potsdam to see Sans Soucci - home of Frederick the Great, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and Ravensbruck Camp are near to Berlin and each other, Quedlinburg is a Unesco site and the Spreewald and Luebeck are interesting too.
Teens love Berlin, so you can't go wrong with that. There are bike tours and walking tours that emphasise either the Cold War or the 3rd Reich that are reasonably priced too. These kids will come home with a real appreciation for history, especially since they will have just visited Normandy.