A European Family Vacation
Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands
Our family of five and our daughter’s boyfriend traveled through 6 countries in 9 days. During this fast paced trip we got to see many historical places and participate in many activities. The following is a day by day personal account of our European family vacation. I also included travel tips and website links to help you plan your own European family vacation. For more details and a step by step plan, read our article European Family Vacation Planning.
The European Family Vacation
August 8th
The Glockenspiel
We started our European family vacation by flying into Munich. After getting our bags and picking up the rental car we drove to Marienplatz square. Marienplatz is the center of Old Town where we went to see Glockenspiel chime promptly at 5 pm. The square was packed and parking was difficult to find, but it was a wonderful introduction to a historical town. The ornately designed old cathedral, the cobblestone streets, and the dancing figurines and coordinating chimes of the Glockenspiel were amazing.
Hofbräuhaus München Biergarten
After the show, we walked through town and found the local Hofbräuhaus München Biergarten (HB) where we enjoyed a traditional German dinner. The indoor beer garden was busting with activity. Families were seated with other families at long tables with benches while wait staff in Dirndl and Lederhosen were busy all about. Additional staff were selling Bavarian pretzels and large cookies at the tables. The restuarant was so busy dinner took some time, but we did not mind as we were enjoying the atmosphere and Oktoberfest music played by a German band.
Parking was difficult to find because it was busy, so after dinner we had to walk a bit in search of the parking garage. Eventually we found the van next to a gelato shop so, of course, we had to enjoy some gelato before we started our journey to Füssen Germany.
Our evening finished off with a two hour drive to our first hotel. With plenty of light during the drive, we enjoyed views of the German countryside and the Alps.
August 9th
Arriving at Neuschwanstein Castle
We left our accommodation early and drove only 5 minutes to the ticket center for Neuschwanstein Castle. The line was long, but we already had tickets reserved. Unfortunately, the tickets were on my laptop at home and we needed someone from the office to look up our records and print them. Thankfully, there was no wait at the reserved/group ticket line, so we were able to pick up the tickets quickly and before our reservation time.
Tip: Purchasing tickets for the Neuschwanstein Castle in advance is a huge time saver! We reserved our morning slot and did not have had to wait in the long line at the ticket center. You can also purchase tickets for Hohenschwangau Castle and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings or a combination of all three.
The walk up the hill to the castle took us 20 minutes, but usually takes 25-30 minutes. Make sure you allow that extra time for the hike up the hill and time to park beforehand. There was also the option to purchase a ride in a horse drawn carriage. Even though it is a long hike up, the views of the mountains and the surrounding forest are amazing!
Neuschwanstein Castle Tour
Our group tour was informative with history of the castle and King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Designed after Versailles in Paris, the whimsical castle of gold had many similiar features. Neuschwanstein was built on old castle ruins near the village of Hohenschwangau. Construction began in 1869 and continued for 17 years. It was never completed, as King Ludwig II died at a young age, in his early 40s. King Ludwig II only spent 172 days in the castle before his death.
The gold throne room is simply gorgeous with all the gold finishes and colorfully painted walls. Images feature Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles as well as former Monarchy. Additionally, the lavish room features a marble platform for the throne, an elaborate mosaic floor, and a large gold chandelier with crystals. This room is definitely worth some extra time to explore all the ornate details and paintings!
The King’s bedroom with its hand carved canopy bed and carved ceiling was amazing. The Singers Hall with the intricate detailed carvings and handpainted wood wall backdrop on the stage, is amazing, as well.
Alpine Slide
After a walk to the bridge nearby and a hike down to our van, we drove only 5 minutes to the Tegelbergbahn Alpine Slide. Tickets were inexpensive (21,50 EUR for six tickets) and easy to purchase from a vending machine nearby. The ride up and down took about 5 minutes with incredible views of the Alps and the Bavarian countryside below. You can even get a quick view of Neuschwanstein Castle if you look to your right on your way up.
Tip: Tegelbergbahn also offers other fun activities. You can take a gondola ride to the very top of the mountain, para-gliding, hang-gliding, hiking, and mountain climbing. Check out their website for more information: Tegelbergbahn summer activities.
A quick stop in Austria
We limited ourselves to only two rides on the Alpine slide so we could start our next journey to Lucerne Switzerland. During the drive we were hoping to go through the tiny country of Liechtenstein, but the highway just took us along the border. We did, however, stop for a light lunch in Bregenz Austria and the beautiful view of Lake Constantine.
Lucerne Switzerland
A few hours later we arrived at our Bed & Breakfast in Lucerne. After check-in we walked about a mile to the center of town. We found the Chapel Bridge Kapellbrücke that lead us over Reuss River to the restaurants along the boardwalk. We enjoyed a traditional Swiss dinner of Cheese Fondue and Raclette on the boardwalk overlooking the Reuss River.
Tip: If you have more time in Lucerne a Gondola ride up Mount Pilatus, and/or a Lake Lucerne Sightseeing Tour come highly recommended.
August 10th
We had an early rise and started to drive right after breakfast at the bed & breakfast. Our route took us back through the west side of Germany to The Black Forest. We stopped at Ravennaschluct by the Hofgut Sternen Hotel. The hotel is known for hosting Marie Antoinette and her entourage on her bridal path to Paris.
Black Forest
Since I was there some 25 years ago, a few new buildings were added the the area including a glass shop and a cuckoo clock shop. Our visit to the glass shop included a glass blowing demonstration. While at the clock shop we saw the different parts of a cuckoo clock and learned how they were made. Below the clock shop was a cafeteria restaurant where we enjoyed traditional style German entrees and finished off with Black Forest Cherry Cake. There are a couple trails to hike in the area including one that takes you up to to the Ravenna Gorge. The Ravenna Gorge trail starts just behind the hotel and takes you through the arches of the steepest viaduct of Germany’s railway bridge.
Nancy France
The rest of our journey took us up through Germany and into the historical Lorraine region of France to Nancy. Shortly after arriving at our accommodations we walked to the old town of Nancy for dinner. We found a restaurant on Rue des Maréchaux, a street known for having many restaurants with outdoor seating. As it turned out, the street was only a few blocks from the town square.
The square, better known as Place Stanislas is the centerpiece of the city. A statue of Stanislas is featured at the center of the square. Along the edges, the square is surrounded by several historical buildings including City Hall, Opera house, and Fine Arts Museum along with restaurants and shops. Wrought iron and gold gates finish the four corners of the square including two of the gates featuring ornate fountains. After nightfall, the buildings were lit up and we were treated to a short light and sound show.
August 11th
Riem France
After leaving Nancy we drove to Riem France. This was a last minute decision. We wanted to stop for a wine tasting, but all the wineries required an advance booking via email. Even though I tried to contact a few vineyards in advance, I did not hear from any of them. From what I gather, it probably would have been better to book a group wine tour.
Needless to say, we decided to stop in Riem for lunch and find a place for a wine tasting. We were able to walk right into the Charles de Cazanove for a champagne tasting. The tasting was lovely, but it was really hard to understand our host. After the tasting we had lunch and then drove the remaining two hours to Paris.
Arrival in Paris
After our hotel check-in we walked through the lovely Jardin Des Tuileries, found the Louvre, and then had dinner. The kids separated from us to walk around town, while my husband and I walked along the Siene to see Norte Dame. Unfortunately, because of a fire that took down the roof in April of 2019, Norte Dame was under construction and covered with scaffolding.
August 12th
Louvre Museum
We enjoyed a breakfast of crepes at a small cafe a few blocks away from our hotel and then walked over to the Louvre museum. The line for pre-booked seemed long, but it went quick. After check-in we entered the crowded main hall. The crowds, however, quickly dwindled as we started to explore one of the main corridors and further into the museum. Our plan was to view exhibits on the way to the Mona Lisa, aiming to get there before the heavy crowds. The line was still long at the Mona Lisa, but moved swiftly with museum staff directing the crowds.
At lunch we were able to find a deli lunch counter in the main hall. We did, however, had a difficult time finding seats with the ever increasing crowds. I am not sure if it would have made a difference, but we later found a sit down restaurant and a cafe. There were also other restaurants down the exit corridor that lead to a shopping area and the main gift shop.
The Louvre continued to get busier as the day wore on and with so much to view we became overwhelmed and exhausted. There was so much we did not see, but were thankful that we pre-booked our Louvre tickets and arrived before most of the crowds.
Tip: The Louvre is an extremely large museum and, in my opinion, is not possible to visit in one day. If you have an extra day or two in your trip, consider booking tickets for additional days during your European family vacation.
Stranger Things in Paris
Having plenty of time after the Louvre we walked several blocks to The Stranger Things pop-up store. Although it did not cost anything, we did need to reserve a time slot in advance. There was still a small wait outside the store. Inside, the store was set up on two floors filled with merchandise and featured settings. One of the settings was Joyce’s Living Room. A perfect photo opportunity for our European family vacation!
Eiffel Tower
After a quick bite to eat we headed to the meeting place for our guided tour of the Eiffel Tower. Pre-purchased tickets for the Eiffel Tower sell out within days of availability, 3 months in advance. You can, however, purchase tickets the day of and wait in long lines. Since we missed our window to buy tickets directly from the Eiffel Tower, we purchased the Viator Skip the Line, Summit Tour instead. We avoided the ticket line, but still had to go through two security points, and the line for the elevator. It took about an hour to get to the summit but the views were worth it.
Tip: We also found out that you cannot buy Summit Tickets in advance or the day of. They are only available in group tours. They sell out within minutes, on the day of availability, by the tour companies! If you want to do the summit tour, pay a few dollars extra.
The tour also included access to both the 1st and 2nd level. After taking our time, we went down to the 2nd level and 1st floors for more views of Paris. Although we did not stay for long, the 1st level had food vendors, a gift shop, bar, and a sit down restaurant. Tables, chairs, and lounge furniture were set up by the bar so you could enjoy a drink and the view.
Tip: Reservations are required for the Eiffel Tower restaurant.
We made it back down and fought through the crowds to get across the Siene to the Trocadéro gardens for pictures. The Eiffel Tower with all its sparking lights and the moon made an incredible backdrop for our family photos.
August 13th
A day in Normandy France
Our day started with a 2.5 hour drive out to Normandy to see the sights and museums about D-Day. The first stop was the Mémorial de Caen. At the Mémorial de Caen museum two exhibits. The first was a large exhibit with artifacts and a detailed history leading up to and during WWII. The second smaller exhibit gave a detailed account of the plans and the execution of D-Day and the aftermath.
Our second stop was Pointe du Hoc. This was where US Army Rangers, lead by Lieutenant Colonel James E Rudder, climbed the 100 foot cliffs to take over the German bunkers. At Pointe du Hoc we were able to walk the cliff edge and go through the remnants of three bunkers. Along the way, there were many plaques and monuments honoring the Army Ranger servicemen. While there our adult children informed us that Col. James E Rudder later went on to become Texas A&M University (TAMU) president. Our daughter and son, being Texas A&M students, took quite a few pictures in front of the plaques and monuments. Having earned her TAMU class ring, our daughter took pictures showing off her class ring in front of his name, later to be posted on a TAMU website.
Our final stop of the day was the Juno Beach Memorial where the Canadian’s attacked during D-Day. A quick walk around the monuments outside the museum and to the beach was enough for us as we were exhausted at this point.
August 14th
Arriving at the Estate of Versailles
The drive to the estate of Versailles took less than an hour. Like our other plans, we booked our Passport tickets in advance. Tickets were available on site for purchase, but the wait time for entry was much longer. There were many advance tickets options available on the website. Advance options included Château de Versailles, the Château and Gardens, the Passport to the entire estate, Music in the Gardens, the Small Train for getting to the outbuildings, and the evening Light Show. We chose the Passport tickets giving us access to the Château, Gardens, and the Grand Trianon estate.
The Château
In the Château, we were able to load an app which guided us throughout the opulant castle of gold. The tour began near the chapel in the History Gallery and Louis XIV Rooms. In the first room we viewed a short video about the Château when it was a hunting lodge and through each of the phases of reconstruction until it became the estate it is today. We continued following the app through the History Gallery to the King’s State apartments and further through the illustrious Hall of Mirrors. Continuing on, we walked through The King’s Apartments including the King’s Bedchamber, Marie-Antoinette’s Private Apartments, and the Queen’s Suite. In the lower level we viewed the Apartment of the Dauphin, Apartment of the Dauphine, and the Mesdames’ Apartments.
Some time in the middle of the tour, we found the sit-down restaurant and the cafe. We were able to enjoy a light lunch followed by a delicious dessert.
The Gardens, Grand Trianon, and Petite Trianon
There were more rooms to see in the Château, but we went on to the Gardens. We walked through the upper gardens to view the gorgeous Latona Fountain. We continued into The Avenues and Groves, through the tree lined paths to see other hidden fountains. Eventually, we ended up at the Grand Trianon.
The Grand Trianon is a smaller estate where the monarchy would go to escape the crowds and etiquette of the palace. During other periods, the Grand Trianon was used for visiting guests. Although much smaller than the Château, the opulance and decor mirrors that of the castle.
The Petite Trianon, was built nearby as a gift for Marie-Antoinette from Louis XVI on his accession to the throne. Although we did not view the Petite Trianon we know it was quite a bit smaller than the Grand Trianon and features a picturesque English garden.
Leaving the Grand Trianon we walked back through the gardens making our way toward the castle through the south gardens. We came upon the Pond of Swiss where we were treated to a spectacular fountain display choreographed to classical music.
The Great Stables
Outside the main estate we found The Great Stables just across the parking lot. The Large Stable is home to the National Equestrian Academy of Versailles and the Gallery of Coaches. While you need to book a ticket in advance for an equestrian show, the Gallery of Coaches is free. The Gallery of Coaches features an assortment of magnificant coaches and small carriages, from King Louis XIV through Napolean.
The Small Stables are just across the road from the Large Stables. Although the name speaks otherwise, the Small Stables are identical in size and design. They are no longer used as stables, but house the Research and Restoration Centre for Museums of France and the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery. Although we did not visit the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery, the exhibit includes replicas of Greek and Roman sculptures along with original sculptures from the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
August 15th
Antwerp, Brussels for Lunch
After another very busy day in Paris, we enjoyed some quiet time in the van as we drove five hours to Amsterdam. We had planned on stopping in Brussels for lunch, but somehow missed our turn. Our plans were quickly adjusted allowing us to stop in Antwerp instead, as it was still on our way to Amsterdam. It was a short stop as we needed to check in to our hotel in Amsterdam before our scheduled canal tour in the evening. If we had time we would have loved to view the Flemish Renaissance architecture and possibly tour a Diamond District house.
Amsterdam Canal Tour
We arrived in Amsterdam that afternoon and were able to check in to our hotel without a hitch. Having plenty of time we opted to walk to the meeting point for the Captain Jack Canal Tour. Our captain was Mark, not Jack, but the tour was fantastic. The open boat tour took us through many of the small canals and large shipping canals. All the while, Captain Mark talked about the history and architecture of Amsterdam while we enjoyed drinks and light snacks. Rain was in the forcast, but we persevered with the tour boat umbrellas.
August 16th
A Day Trip through Holland
Our Day Trip through Holland Tour started with a bit of a rush getting to the Amsterdam Centraal Station to meet the tour. Parking was not readily available at the station, so my husband dropped us off while we checked in. We walked with the group down by the boat docks to catch the double decker tour bus. Although it took a while for my husband to park and catch up to us, the tour guides had alloted an extra wait time so everyone could make it.
The Windmills of Zaanse Schans
The tour began with a stop at the historic town of Zaanse Schans, known for having original working windmills still in use today. After a walk through town we visited a historic windmill for a live presentation of the working Peanut Oil mill. Following the presentation we were invited to explore the mill and second story for a gorgeous view of the water and Holland countryside from above. Limited free time was given for us to check out other windmills, walk through town, and make purchases at the souvenir shops.
The Fishing Village of Volendam
The tour continued on to the Fishing Village of Volendam. In Volendam we attended a cheese making demonstration with cheese samples in a local cheese shop. Time was given for lunch at one of the many restaurants along the boardwalk and to souvenir shop. We were also encouraged to visit the stroopwafle store for another demonstration and samples of stroopwafles.
The Fishing town of Markum
Our tour took us on a short boat ride from Volendam to Markum, another fishing town. In Markum, we walked through the quaint town to a Clog Making shop. Here we got to see the process of making wooden clogs. The presentation started with the shaping of the wood into a shoe form, then drilling out the inside of the shoes. Afterwards, we were taken into the shop so we could purchase clogs or other souvenirs.
To finish off the tour, the bus took us on the short ride back to Amsterdam Centraal Station. Having ended the tour in the early afternoon, we had extra time to explore downtown Amsterdam on our own.
August 17th
The Rembrandt Home and Museum
On the final day, our flight was scheduled in the evening giving us free time to tour Amsterdam more. On the day of we looked into a couple possible tour options: The Heinken Experience and the Van Gogh Museum. Unfortunately, both were fully booked leaving us time to further explore downtown Amsterdam. Our exploration brought us to the Rembrandt Home and Museum. We spent the afternoon viewing Rembrandt’s home while learning about his life. Rembrandt’s home not only included his furnishings, but also featured his paintings and etchings, as well as works from colleagues and his apprentices. In the adjoining building, we enjoyed viewing more works from other famous artists that were similar to Rembrandt’s style. Our trip concluded with us flying from Amsterdam to Stockholm Sweden.
August 18th
After European Family Vacation – An Extra Day
Our youngest had to start school in Stockholm on the 18th, leaving us an extra day in Stockholm with our older two kiddos and boyfriend, before they headed back to the US. It was the perfect day for spending time outside, so kayaking down the canal by the Island of Djurgården was on the agenda! With plenty of time left, we rented bikes for the afternoon and stopped at my favorite coffee shop, Flickorna Helin, for lunch.
The following morning after dropping our youngest at school we took our kiddos to the airport. After many tearful and heartfelt goodbyes they left and flew back to the US.
European Family Vacation Conclusion
What an amazing trip our family of six took going through 6 countries in 9 days, not to mention the extra time we spent with our adult children while in Stockholm. Our European family vacation was extremely fast paced allowing us to see and do all the activities that were on our priority list. If we had a few more days, however, there were more activities we wished we could have explored. All in all, the trip was well planned and we had a truly incredible trip!
For more details and a step by step plan, read our article European Family Vacation Planning.
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