I’m so excited to share our family’s two-week adventure through Southern Germany! The itinerary below details what we did each day, as well as where we stayed, traveling here, and other details that may be helpful for your own visit to Southern Germany.
A Quick Overview of Our Germany Trip
We kicked things off by flying into Munich, and from there, we made our way to our cozy Airbnb in Ruhpolding. This charming town became our perfect home base, allowing us to venture out daily and explore the incredible sights of Bavaria and beyond.
Southern Germany is a land straight out of a storybook, and we have loved immersing ourselves in its enchanting blend of fairytale castles, dramatic mountains, shimmering lakes, and charming villages.
If you’re dreaming of a family vacation filled with captivating history, outdoor thrills, and delicious regional delights, then get ready! This itinerary is your guide to experiencing Southern Germany with kids in tow, guaranteed to create memories that will last a lifetime.
The Complete Itinerary By Day
Day 1: Arrive in Munich & Travel to Ruhpolding
Our German adventure kicked off bright and early with our arrival in Munich!
Travel Tip: Direct Flights to Munich
We were fortunate to fly direct from Charlotte to Munich, which made for an incredibly smooth travel day. If you have the option of a direct flight to Munich from an airport within a reasonable driving distance, I highly recommend it.
While we paid a bit more for these tickets, avoiding connections was a game-changer when traveling with kids. It significantly reduced stress and made the start of our German adventure much more enjoyable.
Customs, Baggage Claim & Rental Cars
Entering customs and collecting our bags was surprisingly easy and straightforward. Perhaps we got lucky, but we didn’t wait in any lines! The customs guard even delighted our kids with small packs of Haribo gummy bears.
My sister-in-law and her family, unfortunately, weren’t quite as lucky, and their bags were delayed for multiple days! So here’s my next travel tip: always pack extra clothing in your carry-on in case that happens to you!
After retrieving our belongings, we headed to the rental car counter. We had booked our rental car in advance and brought our own car seats. A handy tip: most airlines allow you to check car seats for free when flying – just be sure to bring a protective bag!
Make sure to get Euros at the airport! Many places only accept cash so you’ll want to have some on hand.
Getting Around: Driving in Germany
We picked up our rental car right after landing at the Munich airport. Driving in Germany is remarkably similar to the US (same side of the car and same side of the road!), which was a huge relief after an overnight flight. It was a welcome change from our trip to Ireland a few years ago!
I have a few important notes about driving in Germany that I want to share:
- Road Signs: You’ll definitely want to familiarize yourself with the various street signs before your trip. There are many that I didn’t understand – luckily, my husband Alex is used to driving here, so it wasn’t an issue for him. A quick online search for “German road signs explained” before your trip will be very helpful!
- Parking Garages & Streets: Be prepared for tight spaces! Parking garages (and many streets!) are very narrow. I often found myself holding my breath as Alex navigated our rental car, which wasn’t even particularly large, through some of the tighter spots. If you’re used to wider American roads and parking lots, this will be an adjustment!
Our Home Base: Ruhpolding
We settled into a wonderful Airbnb in Ruhpolding, which I’ll link once we return home!
Ruhpolding is a charming, small town that’s easy to navigate.
Despite its size, it offers plenty to see and do: three bakeries for fresh morning treats, a handful of restaurants, tons of hiking opportunities, a playground, a public swimming pool, an alpine coaster, and even a theme park. It truly was the perfect base for exploring Southern Germany.
Day 2: Hike To An Alm
Our first full day in Southern Germany was all about getting out into that stunning natural beauty! We headed out for a hike to Dandl-Alm, which is a super picturesque mountain hut nestled right in the Alps.
You’ll find that Alms usually serve food and drinks, so we even grabbed a little snack mid-hike at one.
The trail itself offered some truly breathtaking views, though it was pretty steep in sections so be prepared!
Our kids are used to hiking since we live in the mountains, but if you have really little ones or folks who aren’t big fans of a strenuous climb, this particular trail might be a bit much.
Once we got there, we absolutely loved soaking in the panoramic views and watching the cows graze. At one point, we actually had to walk right through the herd – it was a mix of exciting and a little terrifying! But hey, that’s just part of the Bavarian charm!
Day 3: Fairytale Forest
Our Germany trip happened to coincide with a heatwave, so our main goal for the day was to stay cool and take it easy while we adjusted to the time change. We opted for a visit to Märchenwald, which translates to “fairytale forest.”
This place truly lived up to its name! It’s a wonderfully shaded and enjoyable trail that felt like stepping right into a storybook.
The four kids (ages 3-7) had a blast climbing on the various rocks and running through the lush, mossy areas. It was the perfect low-key adventure for a warm day.
Travel Tip: Tackling Jet Lag with Kids
Wondering how to handle the time change with kids? Here’s what worked like a charm for our family!
After our overnight flight, where the kids managed to get a little sleep, we made sure they didn’t nap once we arrived. We pushed through until bedtime, and by 7:15 PM German time (which was still only 1:15 PM EST for their bodies), they were ready for bed and slept straight through the night!
I really believe skipping that nap was key. If they had napped, their bodies, still thinking it was daytime, would have had a much harder time settling down for the night. Giving them that push to stay awake until a reasonable local bedtime really helped them adjust quickly!
Day 4: Salt Mine Adventure in Berchtesgaden
By day four, we were well-rested and ready for a bigger adventure! We drove about an hour from Ruhpolding to Berchtesgaden for a fascinating tour of the Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden, one of Germany’s oldest active salt mines.
This isn’t just any old mine tour – it’s a super unique experience, especially with kids! Our adventure began by putting on these cool, thick overalls (which are provided and are actually quite necessary as it’s a constant 12°C/54°F underground). Then, we hopped onto a little mine train that took us deep, deep into the mountain. It felt like we were really going on an expedition!
The highlights for our family were definitely the wooden slides. Yes, you read that right – slides! Miners used to use these to quickly get to lower levels, and now visitors get to experience a bit of that thrill. There are two of them, and going down them was so much fun, with everyone laughing and giggling.
Another truly magical part was the underground salt lake. We boarded a raft and glided across the shimmering, mirrored surface, with cool lighting effects making the salt crystals on the walls sparkle. It was a really memorable experience and a highlight of the trip.
Along the way, our guide (and free audio guides available in many languages!) shared fascinating facts about the history of salt mining, how salt is extracted, and what life was like for the miners.
It was a perfect blend of history, education, and pure fun, making it a fantastic outing for the whole family, rain or shine (it’s always cool underground!).
Day 5: Fun at Freizeitpark Ruhpolding
For day five, we decided to stay close to our home base and enjoy the local Freizeitpark Ruhpolding. And let me tell you, we absolutely loved it! And this is coming from self-proclaimed not amusement park people.
This amusement park truly felt like a fairytale come to life, designed with families in mind, and it was the perfect low-key yet super fun day.
The kids’ absolute favorite part was the water slides. What made them extra great is that you don’t actually get wet on them – a fantastic feature, particularly on a cooler day or when you just don’t want to deal with soggy clothes. They went on them again and again!
One of the things we really appreciated was that, unlike amusement parks back home where you often pay extra for every little game, almost everything at Freizeitpark Ruhpolding was included once you paid for admission. It made the day feel much more relaxed and allowed the kids to freely enjoy all the attractions and games without constant requests for more coins.
And the best part? We hit it on a school day, and with schools still in session, we practically had the place to ourselves. No long lines, just pure enjoyment and endless turns on all the rides. It was a really relaxing and joyful day for everyone!
Day 6: Train Ride, Mammoth Museum & Pool Fun
We decided to keep things relaxed and local for the day, taking advantage of Ruhpolding’s amenities. Our Airbnb provided a Kurkarte for an additional fee, which is a special visitor card offering discounts and even free entry to local attractions. This was a huge perk!
We started by walking to the local train station and hopping on a train ride to Siegsdorf (free with the card.) Our destination there was the Mammoth Museum, which was also free with our Kurkarte. It’s a small museum, and while our kids enjoyed seeing the mammoth fossil and a few exhibits, we were in and out in under 20 minutes.
Unless you have a really keen science enthusiast, I’m not sure I’d pay for entry. Everything is in German so it’s a bit hard to know what’s going on. However, there’s a neat play area out back where kids can dig for gemstones and brush off “fossils,” which added a bit more fun.
After our quick museum visit, we rode the train back to Ruhpolding and gathered our swim gear. The Kurkarte allows one free visit to the local swimming pool per week, so that’s where we headed next.
Since it was a school day, the pool was wonderfully empty until later in the afternoon. We spent a relaxing time enjoying the cool water and eating french fries & ice cream.
The pool itself is massive, featuring a high dive, low dives, a fun slide, and a dedicated splash area for younger kids. It was the perfect way to cool off and unwind!
Day 7: A Whirlwind Day in Munich
For Day 7, we decided on a spontaneous trip to Munich! To make the journey easy, we drove to nearby Rosenheim and caught a train directly into Munich.
Love the colorful outfits? See my guide to the kids’ colorful wardrobe for details!
Our first stop was the iconic Marienplatz. We grabbed a quick bite to eat (a pretzel with butter!) and then popped over to watch the famous Glockenspiel chime at 12:00 PM.
The Glockenspiel chimes at 11am, 12pm and 5pm. Honestly, it’s nothing remarkable. Alex and I have seen it a few times but this was the first time for the kids. I wouldn’t go super out of my way to plan to see it, but if you’re in the area– go for it!
Afterward, we hopped back on the train and headed to the University area to explore the Chinese Garden. It’s a lovely, serene spot, and we grabbed lunch at a nearby biergarten. Honestly, we wouldn’t highly recommend that particular biergarten; it was cafeteria-style with mostly pre-cooked food.
From there, we took a bus to a fantastic store called Spiel und Kunst. This place was so much fun! It had three levels packed with toys and art supplies, and the kids absolutely loved exploring every corner. They each picked out a toy with their euros, and I got them each a journal and a rainbow-colored pencil – perfect souvenirs.
After our shopping spree, we treated ourselves to some ice cream and then headed back towards downtown Munich. We popped into the impressive Frauenkirche (Dom) for a quick look around and then checked out a few shops after that.
My personal favorite stop was a department store to wander through their fancy grocery section – I always love seeing the different offerings in international supermarkets! The kids really enjoyed the Lego Store (no surprise there!)
It was a long day, and looking back, I wish we had planned our Munich adventure a bit better but there wasn’t any time! For future visitors, I’d definitely recommend researching a few restaurants or cafes. We weren’t very prepared!
Day 8: Island Hopping on Chiemsee
On day 8 we enjoyed classic Bavarian experience: a boat trip on Chiemsee, Bavaria’s largest lake. We boarded a ferry in Prien am Chiemsee, enjoying the lovely ride across the “Bavarian Sea.”
Our first stop was Herreninsel (Gentlemen’s Island), home to Herrenchiemsee Palace, King Ludwig II’s magnificent, unfinished tribute to Versailles.
We then explored the grand palace gardens and fountains, letting the kids run and play amidst the impressive scenery.
Afterward, we hopped back on the ferry for a short ride to Fraueninsel (Ladies’ Island). This smaller, charming island is car-free and known for its picturesque fishing village and the historic Frauenwörth Abbey.
We enjoyed lunch at Gasthaus & Hotel Zur Linde and time on the nearby playground, followed by a relaxing stroll before taking the ferry back to the mainland.
Most of the places are seated restaurants, but if you want a fish sandwich on-the-go, walk around the island until you get to Chiemseefischerei Lex. They are on the only places we saw that offered takeout!
Day 9: Majestic Königssee and Mountain Views
Another day, another boat ride! Day 9 took us into the heart of Berchtesgaden National Park for a truly iconic Bavarian experience: Königssee, often called Germany’s most beautiful lake. We don’t disagree– it was stunning!
We started our day with a peaceful boat trip across the emerald green waters of Königssee. These silent boats glide along, offering incredible views of the steep cliffs and the famous St. Bartholomä church with its distinctive red domes.
The boat captain even stops at one point to demonstrate the famous Königssee Echo with a trumpet – my favorite part of the day!
After reaching the far end of the lake, we enjoyed some hiking. A relatively easy path led us to the stunning Obersee, a smaller, mirror-like lake that perfectly reflects the surrounding mountains.
We continued on to the Fischunkelalm, a charming mountain hut where we enjoyed a well-deserved snack amidst the incredible scenery. It’s an intense hike at times and may not be worth it if you’re kids aren’t into it.
Later in the day, we made our way to the Jennerbahn, a modern cable car located near the Königssee. The ride up offered increasingly spectacular panoramic views as we ascended high above the lake and into the Alps. It was free with our Kuhrkarte.
At the top, there are viewing platforms and opportunities for short, easy walks to truly soak in the breathtaking vistas of Königssee below and the surrounding mountain ranges. It was the perfect way to cap off a day filled with natural beauty and alpine grandeur!
Day 10: Sunday In Germany
Here we are, day 10! It’s been really enjoyable writing out this itinerary so far; it truly makes me realize just how much we’ve packed into our trip!
So far today, we took a relaxing walk to our local bakery, and I’ve been working on this post while the kids enjoyed some playground time. We’ll see what the afternoon holds!
Since it’s Sunday, many shops are closed. Speaking of, here’s a key thing to know when visiting Germany: grocery stores are also closed on Sundays, so plan your provisions accordingly!
A few other important notes for your trip planning:
- Afternoon Siesta: Be aware that many shops and even some restaurants close for an afternoon “siesta” every day. It’s always a good idea to check opening hours.
- Holidays: Keep an eye on the German holiday calendar, as these are other days when cities tend to shut down, with most businesses closed.
- Dining Culture: Before you visit, take a moment to familiarize yourself with German dining etiquette, including tipping customs and how ordering typically works. Knowing this ahead of time can make your restaurant experiences much smoother and more enjoyable.
We’re looking forward to whatever spontaneous adventures the rest of this Sunday brings!
