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Advice for two-week Trip in europe (Munich to Zurich) - Christmas with teen!

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Advice for two-week Trip in europe (Munich to Zurich) - Christmas with teen!

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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 09:12 AM
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Advice for two-week Trip in europe (Munich to Zurich) - Christmas with teen!

Hello, fellow travelers!

We're planning an exciting two-week trip starting, getting into Munich on Christmas eve and flying back from Zurich two weeks after early Jan. Exact 14 days/13 nights. It’s a mother-teenage kid adventure, and we’re looking for some guidance on where to spend our time!

We love history, culture, and authentic experiences, long walks, wandering around, some museums. We also like to try local food along the way, though we’re not exactly foodies, and not into partying/nite life. We are also not planning to skiing, but some snow fun would be fun. We usually travel very light but I guess that's not going to happen in winter!

We realize that the Christmas markets will be winding down in Germany, so we’re open to exploring other destinations. We’re thinking about spending some time in Salzburg and maybe biking around Neuschwanstein castle if that's still possible in winter. We’d love to incorporate one larger city and then explore some charming smaller towns or villages before we get to Zurich. Pretty open to any good suggestion as long as it doesn't involve driving. I would also like to avoid flying it possible. Buses and train will be best!

Any recommendations for places to visit, hidden gems, or unique experiences? Your insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by ladydem
Hello, fellow travelers!

We're planning an exciting two-week trip starting, getting into Munich on Christmas eve and flying back from Zurich two weeks after early Jan. Exact 14 days/13 nights. It’s a mother-teenage kid adventure, and we’re looking for some guidance on where to spend our time!

We love history, culture, and authentic experiences, long walks, wandering around, some museums. We also like to try local food along the way, though we’re not exactly foodies, and not into partying/nite life. We are also not planning to skiing, but some snow fun would be fun. We usually travel very light but I guess that's not going to happen in winter!

We realize that the Christmas markets will be winding down in Germany, so we’re open to exploring other destinations. We’re thinking about spending some time in Salzburg and maybe biking around Neuschwanstein castle if that's still possible in winter. We’d love to incorporate one larger city and then explore some charming smaller towns or villages before we get to Zurich. Pretty open to any good suggestion as long as it doesn't involve driving. I would also like to avoid flying it possible. Buses and train will be best!

Any recommendations for places to visit, hidden gems, or unique experiences? Your insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

I just returned from 5 nights in Munich. I don't have much to offer you, sorry, but you both would probably love seeing the surfers in the English Garten.....we spent about an hour watching them. Not sure ifs they surf in December but you should investigate if interested. I guess a visit to Dachau is not on your list, but if so, very easy to get there from Munich by train, or even taxi.

Which hotel will you book in Munich?
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 10:19 AM
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The surfers do surf in December - we saw them at Christmas one year.

biking around Neuschwanstein castle if that's still possible in winter.

Not going to happen. How about a horse-drawn carriage ride instead?

You might get some ideas here - or not.

The Boomer and the Gen-Zer: A trip of firsts






Last edited by Melnq8; Oct 7th, 2024 at 10:22 AM.
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 12:06 PM
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in case you can be more specific about your interests, it can help us giving more detailed advice: 'history/culture' is slightly generic, so if you have any special interests, even really specific ones: name them, this is the moment when a forum like this one sets itself apart from the guidebooks. ;-)

Christmas markets will not be winding down, they will be gone when you arrive. there will still be an ice skating rink on Stachus in Munich. they sell mulled wine, too.

so if you arrive on Christmas Eve, in case you are not too tired, you might really consider attending a Christmas service. atmosphere will be great, churches will be packed, though, if you do not arrive early you might need to stand for quite some time (e.g. service at Liebfrauen looks to kick off around 9.30pm already with some organ music and should last until after midnight...)

snow fun: many towns have discovered that not everyone wants to ski and are nowadays offering lots of well maintained winter hiking trails, e.g. Mittenwald > Ferchensee > Schloss Elmau is a popular one, but then there are tons more. nearby Partnachklamm gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is spectacular in winter with ice turning into bizarre sculptures, however a lot depends on how cold/how much snow there has been up to that point - and this can vary quite much! you can rent tobbogans, too, yet again: depends on the snow.

a problem with staying in the Alps around that time of the year can be that all those cosy small places in the snow have been booked solid months ago. there may be a few places left, they may charge astronomical sums - it can be easier (albeit probably less enjoyable) to find accomodation in larger cities. (another problem is that in those small towns many hotels/guesthouses are still family run and some are still struggling with going online - so there might actually be vacancies, but they are harder to spot.)

when you are ending your trip in Switzerland anyway, personally I would be intrigued to go on some of those scenic railways like the Bernina Express - which can actually be done quite economically with a few tricks: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-ro...na-express.htm

P.S. since ekscrunchy mentioned Dachau: visits are gut-wrenching and harrowing - that's all right, they need to be. yet with a teen, make up your mind before you go as regards how much you think s/he can stomach.
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 01:45 PM
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It sounds like you only want the area between Munich and Zürich, but two years ago I took my teen daughter to Cologne (amongst other places). She was just shy of 14 at the time we travelled. I have put a link to the thread where we were preparing to go and then a brief trip report just to our visit - too short but we return to Germany often so we will likely go back.

Cologne tips, please

Hope it's useful to you, I did chew on some of those issues like WWII in this thread.

Lavandula
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 09:00 PM
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Originally Posted by ekscrunchy
I just returned from 5 nights in Munich. I don't have much to offer you, sorry, but you both would probably love seeing the surfers in the English Garten.....we spent about an hour watching them. Not sure ifs they surf in December but you should investigate if interested. I guess a visit to Dachau is not on your list, but if so, very easy to get there from Munich by train, or even taxi.

Which hotel will you book in Munich?
Thank you for sharing your experience! Watching the surfers sounds like a unique and fun activity - we visited that areas 10+ years ago but I don't remember seeing them, but then again, we didn't know where to look for them!

As for Dachau, we’re still discussing it. It’s such an important site. In our last trip, we visited Mauthausen - the kid was too young to understand anything but as a teen, the experience will be very different.

I haven’t made a final decision about hotels yet since we don't have our plans finalized yet. If you have any recommendations or favorites, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks again for your tips!
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Melnq8
The surfers do surf in December - we saw them at Christmas one year.

biking around Neuschwanstein castle if that's still possible in winter.

Not going to happen. How about a horse-drawn carriage ride instead?

You might get some ideas here - or not.

The Boomer and the Gen-Zer: A trip of firsts
No biking - I am sad, but at least now I know. Horse-drawn carriage ride - never thought of that. I will have to check if my kid is interested. However, Zugspitze sounds amazing! I love your trip report—what a fun adventure with your niece! It’s great to hear about your experiences and get inspiration for our own trip. Thanks for sharing!
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Nautiker
in case you can be more specific about your interests, it can help us giving more detailed advice: 'history/culture' is slightly generic, so if you have any special interests, even really specific ones: name them, this is the moment when a forum like this one sets itself apart from the guidebooks. ;-)

Christmas markets will not be winding down, they will be gone when you arrive. there will still be an ice skating rink on Stachus in Munich. they sell mulled wine, too.

so if you arrive on Christmas Eve, in case you are not too tired, you might really consider attending a Christmas service. atmosphere will be great, churches will be packed, though, if you do not arrive early you might need to stand for quite some time (e.g. service at Liebfrauen looks to kick off around 9.30pm already with some organ music and should last until after midnight...)

snow fun: many towns have discovered that not everyone wants to ski and are nowadays offering lots of well maintained winter hiking trails, e.g. Mittenwald > Ferchensee > Schloss Elmau is a popular one, but then there are tons more. nearby Partnachklamm gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is spectacular in winter with ice turning into bizarre sculptures, however a lot depends on how cold/how much snow there has been up to that point - and this can vary quite much! you can rent tobbogans, too, yet again: depends on the snow.

a problem with staying in the Alps around that time of the year can be that all those cosy small places in the snow have been booked solid months ago. there may be a few places left, they may charge astronomical sums - it can be easier (albeit probably less enjoyable) to find accomodation in larger cities. (another problem is that in those small towns many hotels/guesthouses are still family run and some are still struggling with going online - so there might actually be vacancies, but they are harder to spot.)

when you are ending your trip in Switzerland anyway, personally I would be intrigued to go on some of those scenic railways like the Bernina Express - which can actually be done quite economically with a few tricks: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-ro...na-express.htm

P.S. since ekscrunchy mentioned Dachau: visits are gut-wrenching and harrowing - that's all right, they need to be. yet with a teen, make up your mind before you go as regards how much you think s/he can stomach.
Thank you for the detailed insights! I really appreciate the tips and suggestions.

To clarify our interests a bit more, we’re particularly drawn to local traditions, art, and maybe even a cooking class or workshop to learn about the local art. We really enjoy chatting with local people and getting to know about their lives and traditions. Some of our best travel memories are meeting amazing people - which is why we love airbnbs, small family-run cafes etc. We also enjoy city walks, hikes and scenic views—especially if they come with a bit of history or folklore! Love architecture and I especially love cathedrals. We enjoy visiting some museums, castles, palaces but I wouldn't say that it's our main focus.

Ice skating at Stachus and the Christmas Eve service; that sounds magical! As for the Alps, we’re open to going anywhere that's accessible. The winter hiking trails and the Partnachklamm gorge sound amazing—adding those to our list of possibilities! And the idea of taking the Bernina Express to experience the Swiss scenery is intriguing.

We have our start in Munich and end in Zurich - in between we are open to anything. After realizing Christmas markets in Germany will be done, I have been looking at Austria and even did a quick check for Italy. I do hope to narrow down our options through so that I can figure out high level itinerary. Thank you again for your help!
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by lavandula
It sounds like you only want the area between Munich and Zürich, but two years ago I took my teen daughter to Cologne (amongst other places). She was just shy of 14 at the time we travelled. I have put a link to the thread where we were preparing to go and then a brief trip report just to our visit - too short but we return to Germany often so we will likely go back.

Cologne tips, please

Hope it's useful to you, I did chew on some of those issues like WWII in this thread.

Lavandula
I loved Cologne! I still remember when I first saw the cathedral right after coming out from the train station! GORGEOUS! I don't think we will be going there again this winter but someday I would like to go back. Thanks for sharing your trip details.
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Old Oct 7th, 2024, 11:18 PM
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Dachau will not allow in anyone under 14
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Old Oct 8th, 2024, 01:06 AM
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they do not forbid, they just advise against visiting for under 13yo (which is rather common sense imo).

yet I think the message is clear anyway: it is recommended to give it a thought beforehand when coming with youths.
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Old Oct 8th, 2024, 06:01 AM
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You know your kid best, but Dachau, teens and Christmas is a tricky combo.

Adult me went back and forth trying to decide if Christmas and the Nuremburg rally grounds were a good mix. In the end I decided to go, but not sure I'd make the same decision with a kid.

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Old Oct 8th, 2024, 06:05 AM
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Dachau allows in anyone over the age of 12.

I wrote this recently but it's mostly about where we ate:and where I looked at food:

Five nights in Munich...first visit since '72 Olympics!

Munich surfing!!! The guy standing on the ledge was the best

Fun to watch them..

Munich river Isar

Last edited by ekscrunchy; Oct 8th, 2024 at 06:10 AM.
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Old Oct 16th, 2024, 09:05 AM
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After giving some more thought, we are sort of narrowing down some options now.

We are thinking of starting with three nights in Salzburg. We will take the train from Munich Airport and connect through either Munich Hbf or Süd for a train to Salzburg Hbf. I thought this would be a great way to soak up some holiday magic before it’s too late!

From Salzburg, we're considering heading to Innsbruck or Garmisch (via Munich) area for some tobogganing and other winter activities (no skiing, though). I really like smaller villages, but I’m a bit concerned about navigating public transport in winter. Which location do you think would be a better base? Any specific snow park that you recommend for public transport?

After that, we’re off to Switzerland for about six nights. I initially thought about Lucerne and Grindelwald for ease of access, but since I’ve been to those places before, I’m exploring other options. I’m particularly intrigued by the Bernina Express and would love to know if it’s feasible to fit that into our itinerary.

Thanks for your help!
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Old Oct 16th, 2024, 12:02 PM
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From Salzburg, you may go to Austrian winter sport areas like Zell am See/KItzsteinhorn
https://www.kitzsteinhorn.at/en
and reach Zurich from there by direct train (5 1/2 hrs) or stop over at Innsbruck.
You might also go by direct train from Salzburg to Landeck (2 1/2 hrs) and change there to a bus to the Swiss winter sport resort of Scuol (1 3/4 hrs more).
https://www.engadin.com/en
From Scuol, the Bernina Express trip would be very easy.

Last edited by neckervd; Oct 16th, 2024 at 12:05 PM.
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Old Oct 16th, 2024, 10:10 PM
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Thanks, neckervd! Scuol looks just perfect and SO charming! There seems to not much options accommodation wise for our dates but I am trying to see if I can make it work by moving my dats around. Do you recommend 2 nights there or 3?

KItzsteinhorn does seems interesting - seems like a proper ski resort area. Given that we are not planning to ski but only up for some light snow fun (perhaps 2-3 hours of toboggan type activity), a place like Innsbruck might work better.
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Old Oct 17th, 2024, 01:26 AM
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Kitzsteinhorn will have snow fort sure in December. That will not be the case for all places.
I mentioned Zell am See for that reason and because there are direct trains from Salzburg to Zell am See and from Zell am See to Innsbruck - Landeck - Zurich.
https://www.outdooractive.com/en/sle...6up,7tz4zu,0,0

Any somewhat important ski resors has sledding runs

Innsbruck is a city with some 330.000 inhabitants.
The best sledding runs are not properly around the city, but rather farther away.
https://www.tyrol.tl/en/leisure-acti...ttens-seefeld/

There are toboccan runs at Scuol too
https://www.engadin.com/en/activitie...ences/sledging
The most popoular toboggan run in the wider area goes from Preda to Berguen, along the Bernina Express line
https://schlittel-bahnorama.ch/en/sledding/

I don^t know which kind of accommodation you are looking for, but you may check booking.com, airbnb.com, agoda.com
https://www.hometogo.ch/search/5460a...-07&duration=4
https://www.engadin.com/buchung/s?ch...2&locale=en-US

Other ski resorts of easy reach in the area: Samnaun, Nauders,Serfaus, Livigno, Samedan, Celerina, Pontresina, St. Moritz, Silvaplana


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Old Oct 29th, 2024, 06:05 AM
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We can suggest staying in Hall in Tirol, near Innsbruck. Our favorite place to stay is the Gasthof Badl.

www.badl.at

https://www.hall-wattens.at/en/active-in-winter.html

https://www.tyrol.tl/en/tyrol/innsbr...hall-in-tirol/

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