Munich/Venice/Lucerne < 2 weeks?
 

We live in Boston and have kids that will be 15 & 13 in the summer of 2019. They've never been to Europe and we're trying to plan our first trip. It's so hard to narrow down where to go! My son really wants to see Germany so I'm making sure that's part of the trip, but I want to maximize proximity to other countries understanding that this trip is an initial intro to Europe with more trips to come in the future. My daughter wants Swiss chocolate :) I've always wanted to see Venice. Unfortunately we'll only have 10-14 days. A few questions. Is there a better or worse time to go in June/July/Aug (hot and crowded in Aug?)? Is it possible to see each of these places for 2-3 days: Munich, maybe through Salzburg for a night, to Venice, to Lucerne, fly home out of Zurich? Is it possible to drive to all these places to cut down on cost of trains/planes and to minimize travel time (train/plane schedules/waiting/transfers)? Any and all advice appreciated. I know I probably could/should either just stick to Germany or Germany and one other country, but we don't mind moving around and my kids are more go-do-see'ers that will enjoy exploring more than not. Thank you!

You could drive but trains would be better IMO - cars and cities not a good mix - I'd fly into Munich and out of Venice - take train to Salzburg then Lucerne then to Venice and that could work for 2-3 weeks - for lots on trains check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts. In Switzerland I'd go to the Interlaken area after Lucerne - and up to a mountain village like Wengen and be eyeball to eyeball with glacier-girdled soaring peaks - nothing like that in Lucerne area. And trains are best as in mountainous areas cars are often banned.

When to go? earlier in summer better - especially for Venice and Interlaken/Lucerne areas.

It is VERY expensive (and I'm not sure if it is possible) to rent a car in one country and drop it in another. Unless you are planning a round trip I'm not sure you will want to drive from place to place. You are trying to cover a lot of area in 2 weeks. I know when you go over to Europe you want to see as much as you can but ... sometimes it's better to slow down a little and enjoy where you are. I would vote for Germany and Switzerland and save Venice for an Italy trip another time. No matter where you go your kids will love it!

Unless you are willing or able to fly to and from Venice, I would drop it from this trip. Otherwise, you're spending too much time traveling between points. For example, Salzburg to Venice by train is 6 hours, and Venice to Luzern is 7 hours. That's the better part of 2 days lost in transit. Whereas, Munich to Venice by air is a one-hour flight, and Venice to Zurich by air and then train to Luzern would take about 3 hours.

Driving would allow for more exploring and might be faster in an overall sense, but the cost would likely be much higher than you imagine. Large vehicle (4 ppl and luggage), fuel, tolls, overnight parking everywhere, highway vignettes, and a hefty one-way rental surcharge.

Kids I think would love anywhere but love being in the high Alps the most - taking thrilling aerial gondolas and mountain trains - walking to glaciers and thru ice caves like Interlaken area.

I think this is a fine trip idea. But I would do it by train, not rental car.

First of all, I am all in favor of you seeing all three locations. I had both slow trips and fast paced trips with my children before. Both were full of adventures and highly enjoyable (you can click on my name to read some of them if you want).

However you have a bit of logistical transportation conundrum since the Alps and the distances are quite impressive between all three locations. I would not rent a car as it would increase your traveling time. Switzerland and Germany both have an excellent train system that is fun in its own right.

As far as Switzerland is concern, I would urge you to consider Wengen in the Bernese Oberland instead of Lucerne for an amazing Heidiesque experience. Wengen is 2h40min by train to Basel airport. Basel airport has direct flights (1hr) to Venice. I don’t know if it the most efficient way to travel between the Bernese Oberland and Venice but I wanted to give you options.

Look at a map; check Rome2Rio for distances; play with the order of cities. Skyscanner for the intraeuropean flights; train in Switzerland is sbb.com. Maybe it will become clearer.

Those two days in transit add up to 13 hours out of 48...hardly what I would call "the better of two days' AND it isn't as if you won't see anything during those train trips. I would NOT drive this and Swiss chocolate is available all over the place and is hardly a driving reason to go to Switzerland IMO. Why don't you consider starting in Zurich and flying out of Venice?

To know what is doable - the very firs thing you need to do is nail down the actual length of trip. If it is only 10 days home-to-home you will have only 7.5 days free on the ground after accounting for transatlantic travel. With each move eating up a minimum of half a day it becomes clear that three destinations spread over three countries is VERY difficult. You'd spend as much time and money moving around than actually seeing and doing anything.

14 days home-to-home = approx 11.5 days free so three destinations is easier. Trains would be better for most of these areas than driving. And you absolutely want to book open jaw/multi city flights and not a round trip in/out of the same city (otherwise you lose another day/night traveling back to your departure city)

Yes 100% what janisj said: the only way you will be able to see all three destinations is if your trip is at least 14 days long (try to add a day or 2) and if you fly open jaw. You can try an open jaw ticket or 2 one ways (I had luck in the past that it was the cheaper option of the two, especially when you use an european airline such as Norwegian, Wow, Air Italy etc..).

And to answer one of your original question, Salzburg is very close to Munich and it would be very easy for you to see both. The last time I was in Salzburg, we only spend one night on our way to St Gilgen. It was a very fun day with the Sound of Music bicycle tour, walking around and buying giant pretzels for my two daughters, the puppet theater, Mozart's museum (although I liked Mozart's sister Nannerl museum better in St Gilgen), the outside library etc..

Actually if you wanted to simplify your itinerary, you could spend time in the Salzkammergut, a beautiful Austrian area of lakes and Alpine ranges instead of Switzerland. The Salzkammergut is only 1h 30 min from Salzburg (St Gilgen, St Wolfgang, Hallstatt and more): beautiful hikes and swims (although the water is cold).

But if you have your heart set on Switzerland, I understand.

Thank you all so much! I didn't realize a car would be so expensive, difficult and not allowed in the mountains. And I always try to fit too much in! I may have to do Venice another trip. My daughter will leave for college in a few years so I try to fit a lot in while we still have her, but hubby can only take so much time off so it's a struggle. I love all the info on Switzerland. Sounds amazing! Any tips on best sights in Germany with teens?

Teens and everyone loves castles. And Bavaria is loaded with them like Mad Ludwig's fantasy castle Neuschwanstein - a car would be great to tool around Bavaria - Garmisch would be a great base- take train up Zugspitze, highest mountain in Bavarian Alps - think there is a summer luge or something neat to ride. Salzburg and the Sound of Music Country near it would be nice by car too.

Hi Chrissy4,

No, a car would really NOT be useful in Bavaria. I lived in Garmisch for 9 1/2 years without a car, and I got around just fine -- Fuessen (Neuschwanstein), Oberammergau, Ettal, Mittenwald, Zugspitze, Partnachklamm, etc.

Your Garmisch hosts will give you a visitor's card, which will make both the town busses as well as the regional RVO busses free, so all that transport I named above will be free for the whole family.

I also think that travelling by public transport is a lot more fun than being isolated inside your private bubble -- everyone gets to enjoy the scenery (no-one needs to keep eyes on the road or eyes in a map), you can interact with locals and German/Austrian tourists, you don't have to worry about getting lost or turning around in an unfamiliar place with narrow roads, and you get to indulge in some world-class people watching and learn a bit about how a different society works.

And of course it's more green. Folks here in Bavaria are concerned about our melting glaciers, and the fewer cars on the road, the better it is for the air and the scenery.

Have fun as you plan -- and be sure to ask us if you have more questions about public transport in Bavaria!

s

@swandav, can you give a link where I can read more on that visitor’s card? TIA.
Got the link already. Thanks for this Info

Ok, great!

s

Saying that a car is not useful in Bavaria is IMO not right - you may not need a car to get around with superb public transports but with two teens driving can be less stressful and there are always neat places to stop along the way. Munich and Salzburg and large cities no but a car IMO could be nice for a family of 4.

Well, I disagree. Strongly. And I have almost 10 years of personal experience, almost daily using transport, to back me up. And it would be more expensive to use a car, as I noted, all of the trips I mentioned are free.

s

Fly into Venice and out of Munich.
The direct train (with dining car) from Venice to the Lake Lucerne area leaves Venice at 15.20 and arrives at Arth-Goldau at 21.09. Change there to a Lucerne bound train leaving a few minutes later and arriving at Lucerne at 21.41.
Lucerne - Munich goes via Zurich: 3/4 hrs by train plus 4 hr by bus.