I will be going to be in Munich Dec 23 through Dec 30. I will have my family with me (two kids, 6 and 13) and would like to know where you would go if you were visiting the city.

I want to take them to the camps so they can see what happened during WWII and see some great sites while there.

I will be staying at the Hilton Munich City so I will be able to catch a train very easy.

Also, how far would a train trip to Heidleburg be? I remember this town when I was there in the 80's and would like to take them there if it's not too far. Is it better to rent a car or take the train to see it?

Thanks for all the assistance you will be giving us.

Should be a beautiful, but cold time to be there. Hopefully, the Christkindlmarkt will still be on in in Marienplatz. The dolls made out of dried fruits & crystalized fruits are great kid favorites. They would definitely enjoy the Deutsches Museum - one of the best science & technology museums in the world with lots of stuff for kids (great on a bad weather day!), the Stadtsmuseum has a great puppet collection if they like that, there's also the Spielzeug (antique toy) Museum in the Old Townhall. Viktualienmarkt is fun to walk around & sample different foods. The large department stores are fun too - Hertie has great food halls & I'm spacing on which has the best toys. There is a great toy store on Karlsplatz (Stacchus). The train station is fascinating too.

For excursions, my daughter loved the romantic road trip to Rothenberg - their torture museum might be a bit much for your younger one, but interesting for the older. There used to be an excellent toy & doll museum there, but I believe it has closed due to lack of funding. All kids love Schneeballen - a powdered sugar covered pastry ball. There's also a tall skinny house on the outskirts made out of one small room per floor that's pretty amusing & kids love walking the city walls.

We had fun on a side trip to Salzburg & did the salt mine tour on the way - unforgettable, then up to Eagle's Nest, which the kids found fascinating. If they are into the Sound of Music, Bob's Tours does a great personalized tour of the movie sites & Schloss Hellbrun with it's hilarious waterworks, though it probably visited better in warmer weather. If there are no lines, the kids would love Neuschwanstein Castle.

Tons of stuff to do - have fun, but beware lots of things will be closed during the holidays.

German Christmas Markets never stay open past Christmas Eve - and many make the 23rd their last day because everybody wants to be at home Christmas Eve (which is the main part of the German Christmas celebration). Shops etc are open in the morning of Christmas Eve but everything shuts at mid-day which marks the beginning of Christmas in the German tradition.

Shops etc will also be shut on the 26th (and museums too, I suspect) - but unlike here in the UK trains will run over Christmas.

I enjoy train travel in Germany, but for a family group it may be cheaper and easier to rent a car. If you want to go by train you'll find all the information you need (including interactive timetables) at www.bahn.de

We did the Dachau camp in 2002, which is 30 minutes away. Supposedly, this camp was known as the club med of all camps. While thought provoking and poignant, it has been cleaned up and looks not at all like concentration camp.

Thanks for the help. We will be arriving on the 20th and will go on a short trip to Berlin.

Any ideas on how much a train would cost us from the airport to Berlin?

I will also start a thread on this just to make sure it is read.

Berlin is definitely not a short trip from Munich!!

Mrs. SAnger3494 and I are stopping in Munich for two nights. We have never visited this great city. We like to enjoy one good muesum per city and one great dinner per visit. A great Beer Garden would be great. I am sure we can find one or two. Any thoughts for some places to research for my visit. We will be traveling by train from Prague. We are choosing between Munich City or Munich Park Hilton?

Any thoughts

SA

Munich Park Hilton - definitely - much nicer!

Museums - you've got a tough choice - there's the Alte Pinakotek (Old Masters mainly), the Neue Pinakotek (my favorite), the Deutsches Museum, probably the most amazing technology museum in the world, and many more. My favorite small museum is the Lenbachhaus, which is in itself interesting, but I go for their Blaue Reiter collection - if you're into Klee, Kandinsky, Franz Marc, M�nther, etc., you'll love it. It's right by the A & N Pinokoteks. Also very interesting is the Schatzkammer in the Residenz - beautiful jewels & over the top decor.

My favorite church is Theatinerkirche, but the famous Frauenkirche is where the new pope previously reigned. Peterskirche - I think - a block off of Viktualienmarkt towards Marienplatz is very interesting - to see the WWII damage & the embalmed & embroidered & bejeweled bones of various holy people.

Since it probably will be colder & no outdoors beer gardens, I'd do the Weisses Br�uhaus, for atmosphere & fun & good food. Lots of people like Augustinerbr�u also.

What kind of food do you like? Tantris is considered the best - a Michelin 3 star, but I've never been there. I really like the Austernkeller for seafood & more fun atmosphere (kindof kitschy, but cool) & incredible lobster thermidor. Don't miss walking through Dallmayer's gourmet food emprium & a weisswurst breakfast or lunch in the Viktualienmarkt.

You need at least a week, but at least you'll get a taste & be back soon!

Beer garden in NOVEMBER??? Forget it. As soon as you'll get there you'll understand why... The weather will most probably grey, chilly and rainy. So all outdoor pubs will be closed, unless the weather turns extraordinarily fine.

Christmas in Germany: The main event is Heiligabend (December 24) when Santa Claus delivers the gifts. As mentioned already, in the afternoon everything is closed. Families reunite, and there won't be much to do for travellers. If you like going to church, there are special services at all churches ind the afternoon and evening; those at midnight are especially nice.
The museums should be open on Dec 25 and 26, but check.
Christmas in Germany is not party-time but a quiet season of family reunions. If you and your family like classical music, there will be lots of splendid concerts.
Trains are running, but not all of them. The link to the Deutsche Bahn website has already been posted. Getting to Berlin should be no problem; look for a direct and fast train (Inter City Express). As Deutsche Bahn changes their timetable on December 11, the timetables for Christmas are not yet online (should be in October ca.). Make reservations for seats when booking your ticket!!! Trains are overcrowded around Christmas.Train tickets can be booked online by credit card holders.
"Heidleburg" you won't find: The town's name is HEIDELBERG. Approx. 2-3 hours by train from Munich. By car about the same if the roads are clear. Usually they are not (winter weather and holidays). The train is the fastest and most comfortable medium of transport in Germany.
And "Rothenberg" is most probably to be ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER. (Attention, there are several Rothenburgs in Germany.) Yes, it's worth a visit. Can be reached by train, but you'll have to change at least twice. For a day trip it may take too long.

The best-known museums of Munich have been mentioned. Let me add Nymphenburg Palace to the list (although perhaps not that interesting for the kids). I strongly recommend Deutsches Museum as well; not to be missed is the show at the planetary there (but I don't know if they do that in English).

Right now we are trying to determine if we should take the 6 hour train ride to Berlin, spend two days touring there or take the 3 hour trip to Heidelberg or Innsbruck. I think the sights in Austria will be better than Berlin and with short trips to Salzburg, would be a little better.

How about the experts out there? What would you think? I'm leaning towards Austria because of the sights but the wife would like to go to Berlin. I don't want to take a 6 hour train ride after getting off the plane from SAN.

We can take a day trip to Heidelberg and enjoy it so I don't think we need to stay there for two days.

Thanks again for the help in advance.

Well I understand that a six hour ride even on a train that's as comfortable as the German ICE after an intercontinental flight would indeed be a nuisance.

I don't think the sights in Austria are "better than Berlin" - just different. And they are closer to Munich, easier to reach.
There is enough to do and see in and around Berlin for a whole week. Two days would actually be a very short visit for such a city.

My general opinion is: Less is more. Better go to less places and stay longer, get to know them better. There is enough to do and see in and around Munich for a whole week as well.
Perhaps it is better for you indeed to stay in Munich and choose two or three day trips from there.
That way you'll be in Munich while the famous Christmas market is still open (till Dec 23). You'll enjoy it, I'm sure.

If there is snow in the mountains a day trip to Austria or to the Allg�u, perhaps Garmisch-Partenkirchen, would be a nice altrnative.

By the way, the weather in December can be quite uncomfortable. Bring warm, rainproof coats/jackets, scarves, good winter shoes and umbrellas.

Restaurants at Christmas: Many of them will be closed. Others offer special holiday meals but require reservation in advance.

Kathrin,

I would like to thank you very much for the great advise!!! You have answered many of our questions and have helped us to determine what to do. We have decided to go to Innsbruck for three days, then back to Munich for the rest of our vacation.

Is it true we can book day trips at our hotels for a good savings over trying to do it from the US? Is there a company in Germany that I can talk to about day trips they offer from MUC and Innsbruck area? I would like to know what I can do prior to getting there.

This will be my families first visit to Germany. I lived there for 10 years, even a 3 year time in Karlsruhe and Germersheim and loved it very much. Now it is time for me to share all the great things I was able to see and do while I was there.

If there is anything that I may be of help to you for my home area, please don't be afraid to email me and I'll get back to you. For someone who has only posted a few times, I find your answers to be very helpful for someone who has never planned a trip to Germany.

Once again thank you for the great information. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Munich is great even in November. Visited there in November about 6 years ago and it was unusually cold (about -8 C) but it was still possible to have a masse of great beer outside at the Viktualienmarkt (standing up of course) If you are interested in science and technology the Deutsches Museum is a must do(probably the best in the world). You can spend the whole day there. As far as the hotel is concerned have you considered the Le Meridien instead of the Hiltons? Right by the Hauptbahnhof if you are arriving by train. Very modern nice hotel with a great internet rate of 125 Euro including buffet breakfast.

I'd second the Le Meridien. As mentioned, it's close to the Hbf, so you have great access to the intercity and local trains. The price is pretty good, and the breakfast is also good - plenty of food, plenty of space. There are a few very good and reasonable restaurants nearby, and the surrounding area - although it looks a bit seedy - isn't bad at all. I've never had a problem walking around that neighborhood, and in the wintertime whatever pickpockets there are (c'mon, near *any* train station) have likely moved to warmer climates.

Kathrin, the Hilton concierge, located in the lobby, has a vast array of day trips that can be arranged. They will arrange to have you picked up at the hotel at no extra charge.Many trips can be arranged to areas mentioned in this thread. When I was a kid and visiting my grandparents, the Deutsches Museum was indeed one of my favorite places to go. For bad weather I think you have made a good choice of staying at the City Hilton. The trains are directly below hotel and I think that would be a lot easier when hauling kids around