Hi,

We are 2 adults and 2 boys (6, 11) flying from US into Amsterdam on July 1st and flying out of Munich on the 15th of July. We really want to spend a few days in Switzerland this time (but the return fares from both Zurich and Geneva were exorbitant).

Here is our planned itinerary.

Amsterdam – 3 nights (July 1, 2, 3)

Munich – 2 nights (July 13, 14, flying out on 15th late afternoon)

Switzerland – 5 nights (3 nights in Berner oberland, 2 nights – Lucerne/Engelberg/Vevey or ? )

For the other 4 nights we are thinking,

Rhine valley and

Bavarian Country side or Salzburg/Hallstatt

Our route ideas

1. Train from Amsterdam to cologne, see the cathedral and drive through Rhine valley to Freiburg(or ?) drop off the car and train to Switzerland. Train from Switzerland to some German or Austrian town and rent a car for another 2 or 3 days before moving on to Munich

2. Overnight train from Amsterdam to Switzerland. From Switzerland train to some German/Austrian town(?) rent a car for 4-5 days, finally to Munich to drop off the car

3. Train from Amsterdam-Cologne rent car for 4-5 days tour Germany/Austria(except Munich), train to Switzerland – train from Switzerland to Munich for final 2 days and fly out

4. Open to other ideas?

This is where we need help. Please help us with the best logical route. Also looking for suggestions on best places to spend the other 4 nights?

What we would like to do –

Spend a night or two in a kid friendly castle (moats, rooms behind bookcases kind of place)

Visit the Neuschwanstein castle – We probably won’t go inside but we would like to see the castle, enjoy the scenery, explore Mary’s bridge, get some pictures…

Visit a Beer Hall with oompa music

Luge ride or some similar fun for kids

Local Music/dance/fun

Farm stay –May be?

Museums – May be, not too keen

Other ‘uniquely Europe’ family fun ideas ?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Cheap flights:
Amsterdam - Basel or Geneva: http://www.easyjet.com/en/
Amsterdam - Berne: http://www.flyskywork.com/
Bern - Munich: http://www.flyskywork.com/

Cheap bus Zurich - Munich: http://meinfernbus.de/

Trains: http://www.seat61.com/citynightline.htm#.VOHDjS4hHsI

Why not museums? Certainly in Amsterdam at least a peek at the Rijksmuseum? Munich has a science museum--and a BMW plant.
Since you say "this time", you've been to Europe with the children before?
What about a Rhine River cruise?

I would simplify things by only having three destinations (four if you count two in Switzerland), staying longer in each place and not renting a car. If you are from the US your kids are probably used to being driven around in a car, so European train travel will be fun. And a car is not really needed for the areas you are considering.

How about:
Amsterdam 4 nights and do a few day trips (by train) - there are quite alot of interesting towns you can easily visit from a base in Amsterdam. Or consider staying in Haarlem which is a 15 minute train from Amsterdam (faster than taking a metro from one place to another in most cities).

Then train to Germany. I would not rent a car for the Rhine Valley. There are tons of castles there, kids would love it. Also great biking paths. The B&B we stayed in (in Boppard) had bikes to loan but I know there are places to rent them in the area. Between biking, castles, and boat ride you could easily fill up 4 days.

Train to Switzerland - 5 days there is just barely enough.

Train to Munich.

With this plan you'd miss Neuschwanstein castle but for kids the age of yours I think the Rhine castles would be more fun (especially for boys). And you can't do everything. You'll go back.

Thank you for your replies everyone. Gretchen, We are not ruling out museums, it would be more of 'as time permits'. This is our first time to this part of Europe. Hoping to experience the local culture, music, food without tiring the kids and ourselves.
We have travelled internationally with kids twice before. As they are getting older they want to 'do' stuff rather than just sightsee.

Isabel, I did think our itinerary had too many checkin/checkouts. Our past experiences told us that moving around with kids was a lot easier with a car than without which is why we were more inclined to rent a car.
Would Rhine valley be more interesting for kids than Bavarian countryside and Austria?

Can I please get some sugestions on Rhine River cruise that would be fun to do with kids. Thanks

The average age of Rhine cruise ship passengers is around 70 years. Other people don't book a cruise, but use Rhine river boats like commuter trains, may be for a journey from Koblenz to Mainz.

There were quite a few boats that went up and down the Rhine, you didn't need to book them in advance (not more than a few hours anyway). While there were plenty of older people on the boats there were some kids as well. But a thrill ride it's not. But it might be interesting for the kids to see the castles from the water.

If you travel light and limit the number of hotels then I still think the train might be better than car. Kids can get up and walk around on the train if they get bored, they can't do that in a car.

Our boys were a bit older than yours, but comments from them included a preference for 3-4 night stays and minimizing long travel days.
However, we did only have 1 night in Fuessen but that fits well with kids, a short ride from Munich, easy bus system that transports the day trippers direct to castles. But you can avoid the crowds a bit and enjoy the landscape (cycling around lake/ lots of great tracks, all flat),the Tegelberg has a luge nearby, plus cablecar and track to walk to castle the back way (really beautiful and easy 2 hr walk). We didn't visit the castle either, but the setting is incredible. Fuessen itself is a lovely town.
We visited Hallstatt from Salzburg and it is beautiful, but a long nearly 3 hr trip by train (3 changes, well coordinated though). An easier option would be 40 min bus to Berchtesgaden, then cruise on Koenigsee, really stunning on a nice day but not so long for kids. And places to stop for cake or ice cream when kids start to wilt. Another cablecar nearby up Mt Jenner.
We all enjoyed Mittenwald, deemed too sleepy by many, but a perfect Bavarian destination for us, picture postcard setting, cablecar, lakes, river, nice walks, incredible ravine (Leutaschklamm) all gentle walks from our apartment, great little stores for our daily needs, easy train ride to Zugspitze which boys loved as they had not seen snow before.
The Bavaria ticket is a really good option for families.
On one trip we took train to Fuessen, 1 night, then easy bus ride to Reutte and train to Mittenwald via Garmisch (really nice scenery). This is all on Bavaria Ticket except the bus as it goes into Austria. From Mittenwald, I pre purchased cheap train tickets to Salzburg via Innsbruck, a bit more expensive than returning to Munich using Bavaria ticket but much more scenic.

Thank you so much for all the great suggestions and information. I have so much to work with.