amy_torres_sd

Our family of four (with two teenagers) will be arriving (via train) in Munich from Amsterdam on 25 July (around 6 pm) and have six nights before our flight to London. There's so much to do and so little time. We definitely want to see the castles near Fussen and the parents would love to spend a day driving through mountains (Mittenwald is a particular draw.) Rotherburg ob der Tauber is also intriguing. Does anyone have recommendations about an itinerary? Thanks in advance.

bardo1

Sure I'll start:


3 nights in Munich (obviously you can't do all in 3 days, but read up and choose)

Sightseeing: Marienplatz, St. Peter’s Church, Schwabing neighborhood, Englisher Garten, Frauenkirche, Hofgarten, Bier and Oktoberfest Museum, Nymphenburg Palace, Munich City Museum.

Dining (two "don't miss" places):
In town - http://www.andechser-am-dom.de/ BEST beer and Nuremberg sausages.
In suburbs (totally local, excellent, biergarten right on tram line) in a gorgeous natural setting. http://www.menterschwaige.de

Leaving Munich, rent a car and head to:


3 nights in Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is gorgeous and convenient to much in the area. Hotels, dining, parking etc. are about 1/2 what they costs in Munich. Driving is super easy and country roads are relatively empty.

Sightseeing (again, research and choose - many towns/attracations can easily be combined into one day-trip if you have a car - which I recommend):
Garmisch-Partenkirchen itself, Grainau, Eibsee Lake, Zugspitze (could be 2 hours to all day), Mittenwald, Ettal, Oberammergau, Hohenschwangau/Neuschwanstein (take the scenic route throuigh Austria).

After leaving Garmisch-Partenkirchen, drop your car off at Munich airport - about 90 minutes drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. If you have a VERY early flight to London, then consider staying closer to airport your last night.

Underhill

In Munich don't miss the excellent science museum, located on an island but accessible by the subway system. There are a number of interactive exhibits--my husband spent a happy half day looking at everything.

amy_torres_sd

Thank you Bardo; the order of your recommended itinerary makes so much more sense than mine did (basically the same as yours, just reversed.)

Underhill, can't wait to see that museum... I've heard about it from several people and it sounds like a winner.

Does anyone have a recommendation for lodging in Munich? If not a specific hotel, then a neighborhood on which to focus? Munich was not at all on my radar for this trip so I'm learning fast but not fast enough.

longhorn55

With teenagers, I would make a visit to Dachau a priority. The history they will learn from this site cannot be measured.

Dachau can easily be reached from Munich by rail. http://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/directions.html

Underhill

We liked our stay at the Hotel Platzl, near the Marienplatz. I hope Peterhof restaurant is still open; it had the best sausages, along with house-made sauerkraut and fresh mustard daily.

amy_torres_sd

Thank you for the recommendation for the Platzl... it looks terrific (although pricey because we need two rooms.) In searching other threads in Fodor's, I saw recommendations for Hotel Torbrau, which was a wee bit less expensive. I thought London was high! Happily, the German Museum is within walking distance.

bardo1

amy - We stayed in this Munich hotel. Very well located, 5 minute walk to Marienplatz and convenient to all sorts of public transport. Very inexpensive for location. http://www.concorde-muenchen.de/

bardo1

amy - If it's any help mentally, think of your hotel budget in terms of an AVERAGE over your six nights in Germany. For example, if you wanted to spend on average 175E/night (1050E for six nights) and your "country" hotel is is 100E/night for three nights while your "city" hotel is 225E/night for three nights, then your "week" is 975E or still 75E below budget...

Dukey1

Be aware and what I am about to say is VERY controversial on here: unless things have changed the Platzl which is in a GREAT location is NOT air conditioned. People are going to say that you don't need A/C in Munich but;

it is hot and plenty humid in July
if you don't need it then why do so many hotels there HAVE it?

You might also consider visiting the Residenz in Munich (Google it) or the Nymphenburg Palace.

You do NOT need or probably even want a car IN Munich; the public transport system is excellent

catherinehaas

There is a place in Berchtesgaden (south of Salzburg but still in Germany) that is BREATHTAKING! Something for the kids to do is summer sledding (imagine bobsledding but without ice). Super fun!!! Also there is the Eagle's Nest (Hitler's house in the alps). It is about a 2 hr drive from Munich through some really beautiful country and not fully overrun with tourists. It is my #1 spot in Germany!

Have fun and enjoy the beer (Ayinger light is delicious!!!).

Travelforbeer

Amy- since you need 2 hotel rooms you might want to look at apartments in Munich (and other places also). Try Googling Munich apartments, or try these websites http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rentals/germany/munich
http://www.airbnb.com
Http://www.Munich.de

Are you related to Debby T ?

Have a good trip...

Goldens

Other ideas for Munich:
Mike's Bike Tours
Munich Walks (Third Reich tour is very interesting)
Day trip to Salzburg
Hike to Andechs Monastery (beautiful hike and excellent beer garden with views)
Englisher Gardens- don't miss the surfers!

Don't miss the big outdoor market that is located right off the Marienplatz behind St. Peter's Church. They sell all kinds of foods. You can grab a lunch and eat at the picnic tables.

Check out the King's Hotel Center near the train station. There are two King's Hotel. The King's Hotel First Class is a little fancier. The King's Hotel Center has traditional Bavarian furnishings. They are owned by the same group. You could email them and see what kind of a deal they would give you for two rooms. There are a lot of good, safe hotels around the train station. You can also grab a quick, inexpensive breakfast in the station.

Munich has been a favorite destination of my kids since they first went as teens. I hope yours enjoy it.
One thing to note: the Englisher Gardens are definitely a place to visit but be aware there are a couple of places where there is nude sunbathing.

cindy1234

That sounds like a great intinerary and not to jump in on your forum but my daughter and i have 3 night in Munich but had not planned to rent a car. Is it possible to see the castles near Fussen and some of your other excursions by train or bus? Or would you just stay in Fussen?

amy_torres_sd

Thank you for the comments. I was tempted by Hotel Concorde (a savings of $500 over the three days!) but no AC there either. This is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip (our son, 18, is a homebody and not likely to voluntarily journey to Europe again)... so we may as well be comfortable.

Please keep the suggestions coming! Germany hasn't been on my radar for this trip and I haven't visited this area before so I'm woefully uneducated about the region.

Thanks again!... P.S. Hubby is going to be in heaven on this trip, as we're going to Belgium too specifically for the BEER for him(chocolate for me!)

Goldens

We always take the train to Fussen, very easy. It is a 2 hour ride. When you arrive in Fussen, there is a local bus that meets the train and takes you to Hohenschwangau for the castles. It's a very short bus ride.
Look at this website for the castle information:

www.hohenschwangau.de

amy_torres_sd

Re: the apartments.... we have rented apartments for every other stage of this 4 week trip, but I'm coming up short in Bavaria... maybe I'm looking too late (as it's our last week.) Love the ideas of Dachau and the Third Reich Tour. Of course the kids have learned about WWII but how better to explore it further than to see some places first hand with a guide.

Cindy: it's certainly possible to see the castles near Fussen by train and local bus BUT for this segment of our journey (and no others!) we are going to drive. I was waffling between Fussen and Garmisch-Partenkirchen but G-P is more central to the places we want to visit.

Goldens

Amy- then for your hubby's sake check out Andechs monastery. Beer still made by monks and some consider it best in the world. It has been made since 1455. You can reach the little village by a 50 minute S-bahn ride from Munich. Then you can take a bus or taxi up to the monastery on the hill. The best is to take the one hour scenic hike up the hill, you can hike down another route past the lake. It is beautiful.
At the top you can see the church and have food/beer while enjoying the views. The food portions are excellent and huge. Two people can share a plate. A lot of local people also come.

There is information about going there on tripadvisor.

cindy1234

Thanks Amy. I have been waffling between G-P and Fussen also. G-p looks much more picturesque and Fussen just looks like a hub to stay in to visit castles. Where are you staying in G-P? Is G-P as easy to get to by train as Fussen?

bardo1

Re. Golden's comment about Andechs:
There IS one place you can enjoy the beer outside the monastery without leaving Munich - see my post from May 1, 13 at 12:54pm above - - http://www.andechser-am-dom.de/

Also in Belgium, two don't miss beer destinations:

1) In Antwerp - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Province.html

2) About 30 minutes drive from Bruges - http://www.sintsixtus.be/eng/brouwerij.htm