Germany is the family destination nobody's Instagram account is telling you about, and that's exactly why it works so well. Your kids get the castle that literally inspired Sleeping Beauty (Neuschwanstein), Europe's highest-rated theme park (Europa-Park beats Disneyland Paris on every review site), a city where they can run wild in one of the world's largest urban parks (Munich's English Garden), and a capital with enough Cold War history to make the drive home from the airport genuinely educational. The trains run on time, the food portions are enormous, and Germans are far warmer to travelling families than the stereotype suggests.
The short answer: budget AU$23,220 all-in (€13,500) for a family of four on a 12-night Germany trip with mid-range hotels, ICE trains between cities, and shoulder-season flights. Munich, Bavaria, Europa-Park, and Berlin — castles, coasters, and culture.
The Trip Outline
This itinerary chains the classic Bavaria experience (castles, mountains) with a world-class theme park and Berlin's cultural gravity. Kids get castles and roller coasters.
Days 1–3: Munich & Bavaria (3 nights) Marienplatz square, English Garden park (one of the world's largest urban parks—kids run wild), day-trip to Schloss Nymphenburg (royal palace with canal boating). Short train rides lead to mountain villages, salt mines, and Alpine meadows.
Days 4–5: Füssen & Neuschwanstein Castle (2 nights) The fairytale castle that inspired Disney's Cinderella. The train ride from Munich is 2 hours through gorgeous Alpine scenery. Visit early morning to beat tour groups, or book a guided family tour. The village of Hohenschwangau is picturesque—rent bikes and explore.
Days 6–7: Europa-Park, Rust (2 nights) Germany's answer to Disneyland and Europe's second-busiest theme park. 15 themed lands, 13+ roller coasters (with family-friendly options for younger kids), and genuinely creative attractions. Book a hotel nearby—the park deserves a full day. Spend Day 6 at the park, Day 7 exploring Strasbourg (France, 30 min drive) or Black Forest towns.
Days 8–12: Berlin (4 nights) Reichstag (book the dome visit in advance—it's free but popular), Museum Island (world-class museums, many with kids' sections), zoo, Mauerpark flea market on Sundays, and the East Side Gallery (remaining Berlin Wall, great for teaching older kids history). Berlin's neighbourhoods are very walkable and family-friendly.
Cost Breakdown
Flights (Sydney to Munich/Berlin return)
- Base return fare for two adults: AU$2,200–$2,600 per person
- Child fares (ages 2–11): AU$1,800–$2,200 per person
- Estimated for family of 4: AU$9,200–$10,400
Booking tip: April–May and September–October offer best value. July–August peak is AU$1,200+ more per adult. Fly into Munich, out of Berlin (one-way routing saves hassle and is sometimes cheaper).
Accommodation (12 nights)
Mid-range hotels and family apartments:
- Munich 3 nights @ €190/night: €570 (AU$980)
- Füssen 2 nights @ €160/night: €320 (AU$550)
- Europa-Park area 2 nights @ €145/night: €290 (AU$499)
- Berlin 4 nights @ €185/night: €740 (AU$1,273)
- Subtotal accommodation: €1,920 (AU$3,302)
Why these prices: 3-star family hotels in city centres, Airbnb apartments for groups. Berlin is cheaper than Munich. Expect breakfast included at many hotels (critical with kids).
Daily Food Budget (12 days, family of 4)
German food culture loves casual eating: biergarten lunches (non-alcoholic for kids), bakeries everywhere, and surprisingly affordable sit-down meals.
- Bakery breakfasts (bread, cheese, cold meats): €10–12 per day
- Lunch (wurst, bread, salad at café or food market): €20–25 per day
- One restaurant dinner per 2 days (family of 4): €50–70
- Ice cream + snacks: €5–10 per day
- Average daily food budget: €50–65 per family
- 12-day total: €600–780 (AU$1,032–$1,342)
Pro tip: Germany's bakeries (Bäckerei) are gold—fresh bread, pastries, and sandwiches for €3–5 per person. Biergartens have excellent kids' menus and tolerant staff.
Inter-City Transport
- Munich airport to city (S-Bahn train, 40 min): €12 per person
- Munich to Füssen (train, 2h): €40–60 per person (off-peak)
- Füssen to Europa-Park (car or combination train+shuttle): €50–80 per person
- Europa-Park to Berlin (flight or 10h+ train): €50–100 per person (flight cheaper)
- Berlin public transport (4 days unlimited card): €35 per person or €7-day card €35
- Subtotal transport: €250–450 (AU$430–$774)
Alternative: German Rail Pass (Bahn Card) offers family discounts (25%+) on all train journeys if you buy the pass. Works out cheaper if taking 4+ regional train trips.
Activities & Attractions
- Neuschwanstein Castle entry + guided tour: €18 per person = €72 family
- Schloss Nymphenburg (Munich): €13 per person = €52 family
- Europa-Park full day: €65–75 per person = €260–300 family (book online for 10% discount)
- Reichstag dome visit (Berlin): Free but book in advance
- Museum Island (Berlin): €15 per person across 5 world-class museums = €60 family (children often free)
- Berlin Zoo: €15 per person = €60 family
- Miscellaneous: €80–120 (observation decks, boat rides, markets)
- Subtotal activities: €580–660 (AU$998–$1,135)
Summary: EUR to AUD Conversion
| Item | EUR | AUD |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (family of 4) | — | $9,200–$10,400 |
| Accommodation | €1,920 | $3,302 |
| Food (12 days) | €690 | $1,187 |
| Inter-city transport | €350 | $602 |
| Activities | €620 | $1,066 |
| TOTAL | €3,580 | $25,557 |
Per person per day (flights included): AU$2,130
Note: The lower estimate of €13,500 assumes budget airline flights, free/discounted museum entries, and European public transport pricing. The figures above reflect realistic 4-person family travel with Europa-Park included.
Bottom Line
Germany punches above its weight for family value: Neuschwanstein is genuinely spellbinding (even jaded pre-teens get it), Europa-Park is world-class and worth the time, and Berlin is endlessly walkable with proper museums (not just tourist traps). German efficiency means trains run on time, attractions are well-organised, and staff handle family groups without stress.
Food is casual and affordable—sausages, bread, and beer gardens are the cultural diet, and families are universally welcome. The main cost lever is how many days you spend at Europa-Park and whether you fly or train between regions (flying Munich–Berlin saves 10+ hours).
Best season: May–June or September–October (Easter holidays in April also work). July–August is crowded at theme parks and castles. Winter adds magical Christmas markets but cold weather for exploring.
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