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A Garmisch family vacation is one of the best ways to explore and relax in Germany, whether it’s summer or winter. With beautiful forests and lakes, picturesque towns, medieval castles, and plenty of outdoor adventures in every season, Bavaria is a dream family destination that will please the parents and the kids. It is both quaint and accessible, which is ideal for families who are traveling with children.
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Where to Stay
Parents of young children, rejoice. De Leiners Familienhotel is likely the answer to your traveling prayers for your Garmish family vacation. This is a full service family hotel with spacious accommodations, child minding, a pool & a playground. Everyone will get a holiday here and you’ll still be ideally located to explore the region.
If self catering is more your thing, this Loft Airbnb will have you living out your chalet dreams in the historical center of Garmisch Partenkirchen. This 3 bedroom apartment rental is spacious and stylish with a dedicated children’s room and garden access for relaxed evenings overlooking the mountains.
Where to Eat
Café Max is a beautiful little café with a great breakfast and lunch menu. If you’re visiting in the summer, try their lemonade. For a good coffee, Der Laden is a great choice (and they have a kids play corner!) Toni Alm is a typical German restaurant with great views to Zugspitze mountain. They have a kids menu and if you reserve a table outside, the littles will be able to run free on the adjacent green space. The Lodge is known for their schnitzel and biergarten and Eibsee Alm has a playground.
Sometimes the kids need a burger and the parents need a beer; Bungalow 7 is your place. If pizza is calling, try Celentano – Cucina Italina. There’s a play area and child-sized personal pizzas.
What to do
Garmisch Partenkirchen (and many towns in Bavaria) are known for colourful murals decorating buildings. Mural spotting, sketching, playing ‘I spy’ and photographing are simple and free activities to engage kids while you explore the towns. Don’t miss the Friday Farmer’s Market that takes place all year long. Nearby, the village of Mittenwald will charm just about anyone, and visiting the famed Neuschwanstein Castle (inspiration for the Disney castle) will be memorable for all. Pack a day pack and wear comfortable shoes to explore the area on foot and take in the iconic views during your Garmisch family vacation.
Read or watch the classic children’s story “The Never-Ending Story” by Michael Ende before your trip and then visit the Michael Ende Kurpark. Pack a picnic and try to catch one of the cultural performances.
Nature lovers will want to try a family friendly hike that may just take you across the border into Austria because Europe is cool like that. Lake Mittersee would make for a great day trip. Bring the bathing suits for splashing in the mountain lake. Adventure seekers can chase waterfalls with this family canyoning excursion, and believe it or not, tobogganing (on snow) is sometimes an option in the summer.
Wintertime Fun
Garmisch Partenkirchen is beautiful under a blanket of snow. If you plan your Garmisch family vacation during Christmas Market season, you can sip on gluwein while you explore the city. Take a day trip to nearby Innsbruck for a larger Christmas Market experience. Try the guided torchlight tour of Partnach Gorge. The light reflecting off the giant icicles will be magical.
With the area well known for winter sporting, you’ll want to bundle up the kids to give skiing, ice skating and sledding a try. If you’re all feeling adventurous, try night sledding at Lermoos. Book your family in at Eibsee Hotel for a more rural experience and enjoy their abundance of winter activities (special mention to the hotel spa which is always a lovely escape for parents.)
Garmisch Family Vacation | Document Your Trip
If you’d like to document your family on this epic trip, I’d love to plan a photography session for you during your Garmisch family vacation! I’m a destination photographer with a focus on maternity and motherhood, currently living in Germany and traveling to serve my clients in destination all across the world. I’d love to invite you to view some of my work here. If you would like more information about a session with me to document your trip to Bavaria, I’d love to invite you to send a little note my way!
Garmisch Family Vacation: Guest Author
Jay is a former expat, forever traveler who has called 4 continents home and traveled to dozens of countries with her family. Having planned hundreds of trips with a passion for finding authentic, sustainable, and bespoke experiences, Jay offers travel consultations and personalized research through her business, Woven Travel.
