Hello Fodorites,
We are planning to spend the Christmas Season this year travelling through Europe with my family of 3 Adults and 2 Children (9&11). We will fly from Oz to Munich via London arriving in Munich on the 3rd of December and fly home from London on the 6th of January and will be taking in Munich, Nuremberg, Prague, Vienna, Seefeld (for Christmas), Edinburgh (New Years) and London.

I am in the process of putting together our itinerary for Munich and would welcome suggestions or alternatives or if you think the time frames aren't doable:

Mon 3/12 Arrive 10am - get through customs and to apartment/accommodation, explore area, stock up on supplies. Get an early night.
Tues 4/12 Head to Marienplatz, do a walking tour (suggestions for operators), spend the day exploring the town, Marienplatz Christmas Market, early dinner at Hofbrauhaus
Wed 5/12 Morning -Dachau - (is it better to do a self guided tour or through a tour operator). Afternoon/Evening Munich Residenz and Christmas Market
Thurs 6/12 Morning Schloss Nymphenburg Place - Afternoon Deutsches Museum
Fri 7/12 Head to Nuremberg

If possible we would like to try and take in a Bayern Munich game, if timing allows, I understand however that it can be quite hard to get tickets, does anybody have any tips.

Thanks in advance

https://www.viagogo.com/Sports-Ticke...enchen-Tickets The BMW tour is very fun, you can schedule an English tour. We like Augustiner's food. Hofbrau is nothing special except to have a beer.

The Hofbräuhaus can be a bit of a crowded-out zoo. Other places I've off the Marienplatz that I've eaten at and enjoyed (though my experience is only from summer visits) are the Augustiner am Dom (behind the Frauenkirche), Zum Alten Markt (off Dreifãltigskeitplatz, behind the Heiliggeistkirche), and (a bit further down Tal, in Durnbräugasse) Zum Dürnbräu.

Going by train I presume except flights from London to Munich and then to Scotland - book train tickets well in advance at www.bahn.de/en for huge discounts and family rates. But inside Bavaria use the bargain Bavaria Ticket, valid on regional trains all day in Bavaria, which includes Nurnberg - all can ride unlimited regional trains all day at about 30-40 euros total. Buy those tickets at stations on day of travel from machines or at counter. For lots on trains in Europe check www.seat61.com -wealth of info on booking own discounted tickets onine - BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

Thank you very much for your replies. Macross - The BMW Tour was on our list and I would love to do if we can find the time, who doesn't love amazing cars. PatrickLondon I did think that Hofbrauhaus may be a bit touristy so thank you very much for for those other suggestions. My son has a severe food allergy so having knowledge of good restaurants where we can eat definitely helps in the planning for him as we can check in advance if they can cater for him. Food is such an essential part of experiencing a place.

Yes Palenq we will be using the trains for all except London to Munich and Munich to Edinburgh. I had already stumbled across seat61 and it quickly has become my go to, it has already convinced me not to buy a eu-rail pass and instead book ahead saving us hundred of euros. Thanks for the info about the Bavaria pass, I will definitely be doing that.

I am really unsure whether to do an organised tour to Dachau or just go ourselves, I am leaning towards and tour just so I don't have to coordinate 5 of us through multiple transport changes. Can anybody suggest an good tour to go with, Radius tours seem to get good reviews but would love some insight as to what others think.

Thanks

The current EU regulations require allergy warnings to be provided: often on a menu you'll see codes beside each dish, and if you look at the bottom of the page, the codes will tell you which of the 14 specified potential allergens it contains. I notice all of the restaurants I mentioned above have English language menus on their websites (most restaurants will have English language menus), but without the allergen codes (they all also advise consulting the staff about food intolerances and allergies).

Thanks so much, that is great information, very helpful. I have done so much research and we are so lucky there is much more information and awareness now.

Dachau is easy to do by public transit -one simple change from S-Bahn train to bus or a taxi would be easier - maybe two taxis. You can get guided tours on site I believe - anyway with kids that age group tours may not be much fun - and some would say kids that age may not be mature enough to stomach it or whatever. Without a guide you can shield them a bit from the more gruesome aspects.

Not Munich-related, but as your itinerary has you in Seefeld for Christmas, and you have not already done so, I might suggest reserving your accommodations sooner rather than later. The area is wildly popular all year long, but in ski season and especially around the winter holidays the choice lodgings fill early. Also, some of the resorts have a minimum or otherwise time-restricted reservation policy that may impact your itinerary.

Thanks again PalenQ, on further research I do think it will be easy to get ourselves there an back and yes that way we can monitor how each aspect is impacting the kids. I have no doubt it will be an emotional experience for all.

Thanks for the suggestion fourfortravel, I am really looking forward to Christmas in Seefeld and our accommodation is already booked and part paid for. I had worked out that we would need to be on top of that so we wouldn't miss out. We will be there for 7 days which is the minimum booking over that time however I think its great location will afford us the opportunity to do some day-trips and also a good chance to have some downtime after what will be quite a full itinerary up until Christmas. Also hopefully if mother nature allows, give us some fun in the white stuff. In fact I have all our accommodation booked and either fully or part paid. I figured given that time of the year we would need to book quite a away in advance.

Thanks for all your help guys, it is greatly appreciated

Great wisdom Pal. I can only take so much. The WW1 sites were that way in many respects especially at Beaumont Hamel. We went to Compiègne and yes it was where the armistice was signed but stood on those tracks and thought about all the Jewish families that made that trip from Paris to the camps via that route. Munich has hidden history if you go to third Reich in ruins. Shirkers alley in Munich is one thing interesting to read about and then see.

https://www.destination-munich.com/v...dt-museum.html

Next to Deutsches Museum (which is great IMO!) is one of Europe's quirkiest museums with some things kids would love - then Valentin Museum:

https://www.google.com/search?q=vale...w=1253&bih=615