Germany Itinerary: 6 Nights in Munich

Arrive in Munich and check-in at the Hilton Munich hotel, situated in the heart of the city. Take a moment to appreciate the hotel's elegant ambiance and excellent amenities.

Your culinary adventure in Munich begins at Viktualienmarkt, a bustling food market that epitomizes Bavarian culinary culture. Just two subway stops from your hotel. Delight in a leisurely lunch experience as you wander through the market's vibrant stalls, savoring Bavarian snacks, aromatic cheeses, and freshly caught seafood. Vegetarian specialties abound, offering a wide range of options to suit every palate - including the best falafels I've ever tried.

After lunch, explore the historic streets of Munich, discovering architectural gems such as the:

• Marienplatz - Munich’s main square with the obligatory photos in front of the old & new town halls. 5 min walk from Viktualienmarkt. Everything listed below is < 15 min walk away.

• New Town Hall - Gothic looking building famous for its free & famous Glockenspiel show at 11 am, 12 pm & 5 pm.

• St. Peter’s Church - the oldest church in the city, built in the 12th century. Inside, find the martyr skeleton decked out in jewels & walk to the top of the church for splendid views of the city (small cost & not for claustrophobes).

• Old Town Hall - Actually is relatively new, having been rebuilt after WW2 bomb damage.

• Hofbräuhaus - likely the world’s most famous beer hall. Even if you don't drink beer, enjoy the musicians, gift shop & hearty ambiance.

• Max-Joseph-Platz Square - I didn't have time to visit the Residenz, but next time I plan to. It is the largest city palace in Germany!

For dinner, I'd highly recommend Chopan, an upscale Afghani restaurant down the street from the hotel. Or Keko (Turkish), which is a little further away at a 20-minute walk.

After an excellent breakfast at the hotel, take the subway to the English Garden. One of the biggest city parks in the world (even bigger than Central Park). Get your steps in while enjoying a natural high. Be sure to watch the surfers enjoying the natural wave machine. Enjoy the panoramic view from the Monopteros. Visit the Chinese tower.

For lunch, visit Vino e Gusto, which is walking distance from the park.

Walking distance from the hotel is the Deutsches Museum. A technology & science museum. If your kids are into STEM, this is the place to visit. Space, flight, film, photography, communication & more. Especially excellent if you have young children, as they have an outstanding children's museum in the basement.

If you find history interesting, then I'd highly recommend the Munich in the 3rd Reich and WW2 Private Walking tour hosted by Dark History Tour. Taff, the owner, brings history alive, taking us to many historical sites, including where Hitler's first attempted coup occurred. This ~3-hour tour is highly recommended, and the kids in my group, ranging from 9 to 19, were talking about it days later.

Checkout of the Hilton, and head up to Nuremberg (~2 hours by car) for the night. Stay at the Hotel Victoria, a boutique hotel within the old town. Highly recommend!

Nuremberg old town highlights (all walking distance):

• Lawrence Square - enjoy the shops, people watching & fountain of virtue.

• Museum Bridge (Alstadt) - Photo time in front of some beautifully scenic German architecture.

• Main Square - Farmer's (and Christmas) Market sits in the shadow of two different churches. Over 2M visitors annually for the world-famous Christmas market.

• Gingerbread shopping.

• Church of Our Lady tour & enjoy the 12pm clock show (if you are able to make the timing work).

• The Beautiful Fountain - A ~700-year-old fountain that features 40+ famous historical characters including 7 prophets.

• Old Town Hall - 45 min tour of the Medieval dungeons will get your kids' attention!

• Nuremberg Castle - Includes sections that are almost 1000 years old. Free! Great views of the town.

• Platz Am Tiergärtnertor - The main square of the upper part of town surrounded by traditional Nuremberg buildings. A great spot to take a break & enjoy the old town.

• Albrecht Dürer’s House & Museum - Closed on Monday & after 5 pm. Do NOT miss this excellent museum in tribute to the famous artist. Excellent audio tour included.

For dinner, make reservations for Minneci Ristorante, a 10-minute walk from the Victoria Hotel. This Michelin star restaurant is an exceptional Italian tasting menu that is a nice treat for the whole family. Or try Restaurant Albrecht-Durer-Stube for local food.

Before leaving Nuremberg, choose from the following:

• Germanisches Nationalmuseum - a stunning art museum, walking distance from the hotel. The world's oldest globe can be found here. And many painting from Durer. Highly recommend.

• Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds - Outside of old town & going through some refurbishment now.

• Tiergarten Nuernberg - Excellent zoo.

Back in Munich, check out a different part of Munich by staying at the Andaz. Andaz Munich is ideally located near the English Garden & discover a unique view of the Olympic Park from their luxurious spa and Munich’s highest rooftop bar.

Sleep in, enjoy the hotel, visit the Olympic stadium or explore more of the English Garden. You've done a lot already!

For lunch, enjoy Pfistermuhle, a Michelin star restaurant in the heart of the city & walking distance from you. Their lunch meals are surprisingly affordable & the favorite meal of our trip for my entire family. Enjoy!

In the afternoon, visit the famous BMW Museum! Especially if you love cars. Or the Nymphenburg Palace if you love magnificent buildings & gardens.

After dinner, consider taking your kids to see a movie. Watching a movie in Europe (in English) is a relaxing & fun way to end the day for your kids.

A 2 hour road trip from Munich, this is also likely going to be a trip highlight. Fairy tale doesn't begin to describe the experience. The drive to/from is beautifully scenic & easy. And if driving isn't something you are interested in, then you can always take a tour with an operator. Budget a full day for this & if you really really really want to visit the inside of the castle, book your tickets at least 2-3 months out. Even if you don't get tickets, still go! The nearby Hohenschwangau Castle is much easier to get tickets, and is arguably a better tour, with excellent views of the lake & Neuschwanstei Castle.

For dinner, visit nearby Fussen - a charming old town with a couple good options.