How to Pull Off a Multi-Generational Germany Trip (and Have Everyone Come Home Happy)

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Dreaming about taking the whole family to Germany, grandparents and teens included? Our client Tracy Lavelle did exactly that – and her multi-generational roadtrip in Bavaria turned out to be nothing short of magical.

In this article (and podcast), Tracey takes us through all 8 days on the ground and shares highlights, logistics tips, and her family’s most magical moments. If you’re planning a multi-generational trip to Germany, you’ll love this one! 

This article is also available as the Germany Travel Planning podcast episode 52. Use the player below to listen or continue reading the article below. See episode transcript on Apple podcasts.

Helpful Resources

• Driving in Germany Made Easy from Tripiamo
• Our planning services
• Our best-selling DIY Germany Travel Planner

About Tracey Lavelle

We traveled to Germany on a multi-generational trip. My husband and I, our 3 girls (18,14,&12), and my in-laws. Wanted to do and see as much as we could so I worked with Cate and had an amazing trip!

Planning a Multi-Generational Trip to Bavaria: What You Need to Know

Tracy and her husband are self-described Disney fans who had always felt drawn to Bavaria. The references to Germany in Disney films, combined with a lifelong love of The Sound of Music passed down from her grandmother, made the region feel like an obvious fit. What they discovered on the ground was even better than what they had imagined.

Their group included 5 people across 3 generations: 3 teenage daughters (ages roughly 15 to 18), Tracy and her husband, and her in-laws in their mid-to-late 60s. They spent 8 days on the ground, had 3 home base locations and drove 2 rental cars.

Two Cars vs. One Big Van

One of the first decisions Tracy and her husband had to make was how to handle transportation. A large van felt intimidating, especially given the winding mountain roads and old town parking. So they opted for 2 mid-size rental cars instead. It ended up being one of the best calls of the trip. Parking was rarely a problem and they paid for parking at only one of their 3 hotels.

Tip from Tracy: for anyone traveling with a larger group, it is worth running the numbers: 2 cars plus 2 hotel rooms can sometimes come out ahead of a van plus 1 giant suite, logistically and financially.

Driving in Germany as an American

Neither Tracy nor her husband had driven in Europe before and they were a little nervous going in. What helped most was the driving tutorial we recommend to all of our clients.

They watched the video tutorial before the trip, which covered not just the rules of the road but the cultural expectations, too. German drivers are famously disciplined: everyone pulls to the side for emergency vehicles, speed limits are respected even when posted limits disappear on the Autobahn, and the unwritten rules are (mostly) followed. German driver licensing is notoriously rigorous and expensive, which tends to produce a road culture that is noticeably calmer and predictable than what many Americans are used to.

Tracy said knowing those cultural nuances helped her relax. When everyone around you is doing the right thing, it turns out driving in a foreign country is far less stressful than expected. Apple Maps handled navigation well, and it even flagged when they were approaching a border crossing between Germany and Austria, which happened a few times as they moved between locations.

Stop 1: Berchtesgaden and the Surrounding Area

The family flew into Munich, picked up their rental cars, and drove about 2.5 hours south to Berchtesgaden, their first home base. They stayed at the Hotel Gruenberger, which Tracy described as clean, comfortable, and local-feeling. A bonus: on-site laundry!

The Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus)

Tracy pre-booked tickets for the bus up to Eagle’s Nest. Looking back, Tracy wished they had booked a guided tour rather than wandering on their own. The history of the place is heavy and fascinating, and having someone to help translate the plaques and provide context would have made the experience even richer.

Boat Ride on Konigssee Lake

The afternoon boat ride on Konigssee was pure magic. They got off at both stops, walked to the upper lake (Obersee), and skipped rocks. The boat operator played a trumpet echo demonstration off the cliff faces, which is a fun addition to the scenic ride.

One practical note: the narration on the boat is in German. Tracy had done some basic German study before the trip and was able to pick up bits and pieces. Google Translate had a harder time catching the guide’s voice from the back of the boat, so even a few weeks of language prep goes a long way here.

The Sound of Music Bus Tour (from Salzburg)

The next day, the family booked the original Sound of Music bus tour. If you are a fan of the film, it is absolutely worth it to see the filming locations in and around Salzburg. Tracy’s teens had seen the movie but were not quite at the level of enthusiasm required to fully appreciate a lot of driving between iconic hillsides, so manage expectations if your kids are in that middle zone.

The Jennerbahn Cable Car

After a rest back at the hotel, the group rode the Jennerbahn gondola up to the top of Jenner mountain. Tracy described the views as breathtaking and the ride itself as less scary than she had anticipated. At the top, there are hiking trails, a gift shop, and food. At the bottom, there are small market stalls with local goods. It is a relaxed, all-ages kind of afternoon.

The Berchtesgaden Salt Mines

The salt mines were a highlight that Tracy said she almost underestimated. She was not sure what to expect, but came away genuinely moved. Visitors put on miners’ gear, ride a little train into the mountain, and glide down wooden slides between levels. Inside, there is an underground lake lit from below that is stunning. Tracy liked it so much that she went home and watched documentaries about the history afterward!

Stop 2: Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze Region

After Berchtesgaden, the family drove to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (about 2.5 to 3 hours with summer traffic), where they stayed at Hotel Staudacherhof. The hotel has a Michelin star chef on staff, and the family decided to eat in one night, which they enjoyed.

The Partnach Gorge and Olympic Stadium

Tracy and her family walked the Partnach Gorge, a narrow canyon with a river rushing through it. Along the path, there are little huts selling beers, waters, and snacks. They also walked through the site of the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch.

Lake Eibsee and the Zugspitze Gondola

The walk around Lake Eibsee is one of those understated highlights that’s absolutely worth it if you have time for it. The loop takes a couple of hours and it is absolutely gorgeous. The family stopped for a picnic on the rocky shore about 3/4of the way around.

That afternoon, they took the Zugspitze cable car to the top of Germany’s highest mountain. The views were stunning…and the beer at the summit cafe was, in Tracy’s words, endlessly amazing.

Neuschwanstein Castle

On their last day before heading to Munich, the family visited Neuschwanstein Castle. Tracy’s advice: get there early. Really early. Earlier than you think you need to be.

The family arrived later than planned and had to repurchase tickets to join a different tour time. It worked out, and they got inside, but the stress of missing the original slot wasn’t fun. The castle tours are timed-entry and run efficiently. If you miss your window, you either buy another ticket (if they’re available) for a later slot or you stick to seeing the outside of the castle.

One practical detail: there are a few different ways to walk down the hill from the castle and some are steeper and rougher than others!

Stop 3: Munich

Tracy’s family spent their final 2 nights in Munich, staying at the Hotel Kempinski on Maximilianstrasse, a high-end street just a short walk from the old town, about 2 blocks from the Hofbrauhaus. They chose it largely because it had air conditioning, which matters in Munich in June when it can get very hot in the city.

Walking Tour of Munich

Their first full day in Munich started with a World War II walking tour that they found exceptional. The guide was animated, knowledgeable, and connected the history to present-day politics in a way that invited reflection rather than just reciting dates. The tour ran a bit over time because the group kept asking questions!

Tracy’s 2 older teenagers (ages 17 and 18) opted out of the tour and spent the morning exploring on their own, doing a little shopping and grabbing gelato. Tracy said she felt completely comfortable letting them wander independently. Munich has the energy of a very large, very livable small town: busy enough to be interesting, calm enough to feel safe.

The Hofbräuhaus

That evening, the whole group met up at the Hofbrauhaus for dinner and enjoyed the food, lively traditonal music, and the fun energy. Tracy noted 1 classic German dining quirk: no substitutions. Her father-in-law wanted Schnitzel with fries, but fries were not what came with the Schnitzel he wanted. The answer was simply no. It’s not rudeness, it’s just how it works, and knowing that ahead of time saves a little friction at the table. Just order the fries in addition to the Schnitzel!

Grocery Store Picnics: An Underrated Strategy

One recurring theme throughout the whole trip was stopping at the local Edeka grocery stores. Pretzels, bread, cheese, fruit, beer, and the occasional prepared salad or sandwich made for some of the trip’s best meals. Tracy struck up a friendship with one of the store clerks who helped her practice German, which she enjoyed and appreciated.

Eating at restaurants was also wonderful, but having the flexibility to throw snacks in a backpack and find a nice spot to sit down was one of those small things that made the trip feel relaxed rather than overly scheduled.

Insider Insights for Traveling to Bavaria with Multiple Generations

Tracy’s biggest pieces of advice for families considering a similar trip:

• Book separate rooms for everyone who needs space. Tracy’s group did 3 rooms in each destination: 1 for the couple, 1 for the grandparents, one for the teens. The ability to decompress privately made a huge difference in everyone’s mood.
• Designate a “trip president.” Tracy became the de facto decision-maker for the group, the person who weighed everyone’s input and then made the final call. Having that structure avoided the what do we all want to do now spiral that can derail a travel day.
• Front-load the planning, then stay flexible. Knowing what was available and pre-booking the essentials meant the family could adjust on the fly without scrambling. Having a plan in place made it easy to decide what to skip without feeling like they were missing out on something.
• Learn a little German before you go. Even basic words (enter, exit, please, thank you) opened cultural doors, made locals visibly happy, and helped Tracy follow boat tours and castle guides when the English version was not available.
• Keep your passports on you when driving. The family crossed between Germany and Austria several times navigating between stops. They were never pulled over, but having passports readily available is good practice.
• Bring small portable fans if you are traveling in summer. None of the hotels in the mountains had air conditioning. They didn’t need it at night since they could open windows, but the fans helped keep air moving and made a difference during the warmer evenings.

How would Tracy sum up her Germany vacation? Magical!

If you’re sitting on a multi-generational trip idea and wondering whether Bavaria can actually work for all ages, energy levels, and interests at once, the answer, based on Tracy’s experience, is a very enthusiastic yes.

Plan Your Germany Trip with My Germany Vacation

If you’re enjoying the podcast and getting excited about your Germany trip but are feeling overwhelmed by all the details of planning the perfect trip, we’ve got you covered!

Our DIY Germany Travel Planner and our Germany Trip Planning services help you create a personalized itinerary that fits your travel style—whether you’re dreaming of fairytale castles, scenic train journeys, or off-the-beaten-path adventures.

With custom itineraries, one-on-one consults, itinerary reviews and our DIY Germany Travel Planner, we’ll make sure you feel confident and ready for an unforgettable, meaningful, and FUN trip. 

I don’t even know how we would have cracked the code for this trip without you!!! You are simply amazing and so helpful!! Thank you so much! – Julie

About Cate