Last month we took our dream trip – to Europe for almost a full month while our home was under construction with our 2 littles. Here’s the tips, must haves and itinerary!

I’m not going to lie, at first this was just a dream we joked about, feeling like actually doing this with 2 littles was way too much – but the opportunity presented itself since we had to be out of our home for a month anyways due to window replacement and wood rot – and we just said WHY NOT. We also have NEVER taken more than a week off work – even for our honeymoon (both of us with being business owners), so this was a big leap for us! But we prioritized experiences over gifts the last few years and made this happen!

All to say — I did a LOT of research before, and learned a LOT along the way in terms of what was best for traveling with kids overseas (and this could apply to smaller trips within US too!), so that’s what I’m sharing here today!

you can find my amazon travel for Europe +  overall baby/kid lists right here!

For My Travel Must Haves & Tips From Our Europe Trip with a 1 and 3 year old:

Grab this FREE downloadable guide for all my must haves, travel tips, and lessons we learned along the way!

Grab my FREE traveling with kids guide right here for ALL the travel necessities!

The free guide above has everything we packed that you can download to have it all in one place and have everything linked for easy accessibility, but here are just a handful of  things we LOVED having with us for the kids!

 

We had to pack SUPER light, because the biggest rental car in europe was a small SUV, meaning very little trunk space when you have me, my mom, my husband, and 2 kids in carseats, so no room in the sitting portion of the car haha. So we limited ourselves to 2 suitcases for the 4 of us (and then my mom had one), and those + our stroller were the only things that were going to fit. So that’s also why we didn’t bring some of our typical things like pack n plays or such and just made sure each place we stayed could provide them! As you can see, we JUST fit, even given that, me between 2 car seats for our long drives through Italy and up through Switzerland and Germany haha.

Travel Stroller – as you can see, this one above is AMAZING at fitting and collapsing small haha. We did a lot of research and came upon the Zoe Double — and it did NOT disappoint. Like truly only have good things to say about it – easy to pack up, they let us gate check it still so we could have on layovers, fits through single doors, lays down for diaper changes on the go + naps, lots of room below seats for your things, so easy to collapse and open up, and more. Even in italy with cobblestone roads – there were only a few places we couldn’t really bring it – but it was so good for many of the days!

Note on Car Seats – we rented a car the whole time and just rented seats with it – but if you aren’t doing that you may need them for ubers and such. I added all my favorite travel car seats in this GUIDE because for smaller trips we do sometimes bring ours!

 

Tip on Travel Crib/Toddler Bed: we stayed at airbnbs in all locations and verified beforehand they could provide 2 cribs – so we didn’t have to bring any thankfully since we had to pack light for this trip with little car space – but if you do bring your own pack n play, definitely bring a crib mattress topper too to make it more comfortable. Find all my sleep must haves in this guide here.

 

Hotel in Florence above, airbnb in Lake Como set up for Skyla (15mo) when sick with our travel diffuser out too!

DO NOT FORGET THEIR STUFFIES (if they sleep with a teddy or anything else)

 

Diaper Bag + “Mini Diaper Bag”. I ordered this gym bag as my “carry on” for our red eye because I could carry their toys, their diapering things, pjs for them + extra change of clothes, and some things for me. But I also brought this over the shoulder sling bag in checked bag and used this as a “mini diaper bag” with just bare necessities each day we left the airbnb, so I didn’t have to carry a heavy diaper bag. All in this guide here! I also have the itzy ritzy for everyday diaper bag back home and LOVE, have used for 3 years now, and use that one for domestic flights/travel!

 

 

(shop it here)

Toiletry bag… FOR TOYS! This was a genius idea from my local friend, and it worked SO well! Get this toiletry bag (large size), and then fill it with toys, and that will be the toys you bring on your trip! We brought a few books + an ipad with downloaded shows for when all else failed (which was very rare!) outside of this — but for a 3 week trip, basically the only toys we brought fit in there, and they did great with that at 1+3yr old. Brady (3), we just brought a lot of his mini cars he currently loves + road tape + books + waterwow books, + the other things in this guide here...

(shop it here)

 

Stainless Steel Water Bottles – you need to bring these for you and your kids. It’s so hard to drink enough water if you don’t have filled up water bottles on you every day – especially overseas where water isn’t as easy to just come by haha. Yes it can be annoying to carry 3 water bottles, but I’d just throw in stroller, or for hikes I hooked all 3 to my sling bag as you see in Switzerland hiking photo below! (shop ours here)

(usually carry this sling bag on back but couldn’t on this hike with her on back!)

 

SNACKS. A must have, always. On the flight I brought 1.5x the food I thought I’d need (fruit, made some PB&Js, skout organic bars – their fav, jerky, cheerios, etc!). And ALWAYS had food on me when we would go out in Europe too so they didn’t get hangry before meal times.

Germ Protection — sanitizing wipes + bought a ton of little spray bottles of it so we all had one on us + even a highchair cover can be helpful… all good things! Traveling comes with a lot of new germs, and especially when they are 0-3 and their immune systems are building, sickness is very common. Our kids actually still got sick on this trip despite trying our best (there is only so much you can do until they still end up on a floor lol). But I’d still bring this again! (here are the ones we got)

I also always wear a glutathione patch (seen in photo below) on travel days myself alongside my daily phototherapy patch, (or here is a great glutathione supplement version too). Helps with immune system and with detox support (which is crucial with lots of radiation on planes!)

 

With that being said… SICKNESS BAG. We had a daily wellness bag with all our vitamins, and then a sickness bag with must haves bare necessities… and used both a LOT. See this guide here for all we include in our wellness and sick bag!

See my travel wellness staples in this travel guide here, or my full natural mama med cabinet guide HERE.

 

Hanging clothes organizers. We packed 1 week of outfits for each kid and packed each outfit in a hanging bag (see below), and the just did laundry through the 3 week trip! This made it so easy to pack up and take out their clothes each stop along our 3 week european adventure! Layering is great to lower how much clothes you bring if cooler weather like we had in switzerland and germany!

 

(shop it here)

 

One other thing, especially when packing light, is packing SMART SHOES. I only packed 2 pairs of shoes for 3 weeks even though we ranged from weather in 70s in Italy to 50’s in Switzerland and Germany. Ok no I take that back I did bring a pair of tennis shoes for hiking days/working out days – which only got used twice for 2 hikes. But everyday shoes, I only brought 2! These “bone leather” color sandals (wore ALL over europe, with casual and nice outfits! Even good for lots of walking days), and then a pair of white plush sneakers that I also wore with any and all outfits and wore a TON. You don’t need to pack a ton of shoes! We only brought 2 big suitcases for all 4 of us – and felt we brought everything we needed honestly!

(shop both here)

For all my travel tips and lessons we learned along the way this last big overseas trip with 2 littles, click here and download my free guide!

———–

The Main Part of This Post: Our Exact European Itinerary We Did with 2 Littles:

When our first son was 6 months old, we did a mediterranean cruise and that was definitely an entry level version of what we did this time that was a lot more planning and effort on our part haha. So if you’re looking for something more easy/don’t want to drive around to a lot of places like this trip below, check out this post on that first trip we did!

3 Week Europe Itinerary through North Italy, Switzerland and Germany

 

First Stop: Tuscany, Italy – 5 Nights – Fly into Rome and drive to Tuscany Airbnb

We took a redeye from our smaller town to Charlotte NC, and then Charlotte to Rome overnight! We took off from Charlotte at about 7pm our time after an hour delay, and then got into Rome at 10am italy time, which was like 3am our time — oh my! All of us napped in the 2hr car ride to Tuscany (outside of hubby lol, but I don’t feel that bad because he had the easier 3yr old on the plane over and actually got to sleep LOL). I got about an hour nap like this and that’s about it except on and off 10min — sis is a great sleeper at home but does NOT like to sleep on me.

House: We stayed at a BEAUTIFUL villa near Montalcino, that was overlooking an active vineyard + olive trees, and sitting on top of an active winery! Here is the airbnb link: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9360985

 

Day 1: May 10th – Arrival in Rome & Drive to Montalcino

• Morning:
  Arrived in Rome from the US. Picked up our rental car at the airport,  and then began our drive towards Montalcino in Tuscany. The drive is around 2.5-3 hours. Due to kids being tired, we were able to make most of the drive with them napping, but we did make 1 stop when our son got carsick towards the end — you can definitely stop at scenic overlooks or small towns along the way for a stretch and food.
• Afternoon:
  We stopped at their grocery store “COOP” and got groceries, and then arrived at villa in Montalcino, and just took time to check in, relax, and settle in.
• Evening:
  After a long travel day, we just made a meal at the villa!

Day 2: May 11th – Relax then visit Montalcino

• Morning: We were all jetlagged – so we slept in till 11am (even the kids!!) and just enjoyed a slow morning + breakfast, letting the kids play in the yard/vineyard and exploring the property. 
• Afternoon/Evening:
  Explored the charming streets of Montalcino, a medieval town filled with local shops selling olive oil, cheese, and handmade ceramics. Visited Fortezza di Montalcino, a fortress offering panoramic views of the Val d’Orcia region. Walked through Parco dei Mulini, a quiet park perfect for a family walk.
• Headed to restaurant in Montalcino for our first Italian meal…and glass of local wine—perfect for adjusting to the slow, relaxing rhythm of Tuscan life 🙂

first italian pasta – the real deal

 

 

Day 3: May 12th – Local Wine Experience and Explore Pienza

• Morning: The first few days we all didn’t go to bed till 10/11pm or wake up before 10/11am – including the kids! We just rolled with it. And it worked out this first week because most dinner places in Italy didn’t open till 730pm. We would make brunch at the villa every day and let the kids play in the garden, and then go exploring for afternoon/dinner.
• Afternoon: Went to Franco Panceti Winery.  A beautiful wine-tasting experience alongside lovely grounds perfect for a walk with the kids. After, we took a short drive to Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its stunning Renaissance architecture. Grabbed a snack and cappuccino at a local cafe. Explored Piazza Pio II and the Duomo, and just wandered through the town’s charming streets. Don’t forget to sample Pienza’s famous pecorino cheese at the local shops!! We even bought a block.
• Evening: We stumbled upon a local restaurant in Pienza for an early dinner, which overlooked Val d’Orcia and was beautiful.  Enjoyed a farm-to-table experience – more pasta + finally some salad/greens!

Reminder to BRING THE TOY BAG to dinners so you can actually eat!

 

toy bag also helps immensely at wineries haha!

 

 

Day 4: May 13th –  Another day in Montalcino & Evening Private Cooking Class at the House

• Morning:
  Relaxed at the villa again and get a personal tour of the villa’s winery (12pm) – we had no idea there was a whole winery BELOW our home until this day!
• Afternoon:
  We drove back to Montalcino for a laidback lunch. Then stroll through the streets exploring locals shops and cafes.
• Evening:
  Returned to the villa for a private pasta-making class and dinner. (5pm-7pm) – the kids had SO much fun with this, Brady kept asking about every pasta meal we had after this night, “did I make this?”. And our cooking instructor was so good with the kids too! We made regular pasta and ravioli, and then they cooked it, plated it, and served us — oh and cleaned up EVERYTHING before they left too!

Pasta we made!

Sign of a good dinner: a red face

 

 

Day 5: May 14th – Savor the Last Day in the Tuscan Hills

• Morning:
  Another relaxed morning, letting the kids play on the property. 
• Afternoon:
  After brunch, we took a short drive to Castello Banfi to explore the grounds and enjoy a wine tasting.
• Evening:
  Headed to Trattoria II Pozzo for a casual dinner featuring the local specialties

Next Stop: Florence, Italy – 2 Nights

This was a last minute decision! We were going to stay in tuscany for 7 nights and then drive straight to Lake Como, but decided to head out early and snag a good last minute hotel deal in Florence to break up the long drive for the kids and see the city!

Accommodation: Stay near the city at the family-friendly Art Hotel Villa Agape – we mostly stayed in airbnbs, and even though that’s 100% the way to go with kids as a single hotel room is hard for them – it was nice to have breakfast made every morning for once haha!

 

Day 6: May 15 – Soft Landing & Scenic Florence Start

Morning: 

• Depart for Florence after getting up and making breakfast in the Tuscany airbnb. Arrived in Florence (2 hr drive) and checked in to Art Hotel Villa Agape. Took time to relax, freshen up, and enjoy the peaceful gardens on-site. We grabbed lunch at the hotel with the garden’s outdoor seating and space for children to stretch their legs. They had a yummy salad with tuna which tasted nice since I had lived off pasta and pizza the last 5 days haha.

Afternoon/Evening: 

• Took the hotel shuttle into Florence and head down to Ponte Vecchio for a stroll across the iconic bridge, viewing jewelry shops and the Arno River. Crossed the Arno River toward Florence’s central district. Walked through Piazza del Duomo for photos of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and its famous dome. Then went to Piazza della Repubblica—grabbed a drink and treat while the kids enjoyed a ride on the antique carousel.

Evening:

• Found a random restaurant for dinner in the city that was casual and quick, and then returned to Art Hotel Villa Agape by shuttle and went to bed.

barefoot in florence lol (she did have shoes in the stroller I promise)

 

Day 7: May 16 – Landmarks & Local Flavor

Morning: 

• After breakfast (beautiful buffet with lots of healthy options at hotel!), relaxed and let the kids play in the garden + take their nap in a dark room for once so they actually got good sleep, and further explored the property. Lots of pretty gardens and it was nice to have some down time.

Afternoon: 

• Took the shuttle into Florence and explore the city by foot. Found a local trattoria to enjoy a traditional Italian meal. Got gelato at Venchi (my son never really got dessert before this trip and now very much knows what gelato and chocolate are lol), widely regarded as one of the best in Florence!

Evening: 

• Had a casual dinner at the hotel for a relaxed, early evening meal (it was 5pm and it was still their lunch menu LOL – most dinner places don’t open till 7/730!), before heading out in the morning.

Their favorite part of the hotel by far: the red car in front haha

The gardens behind the hotel!

 

Next Stop: Lake Como, Italy – 4 Nights

Accommodation: Stayed at a STUNNING villa overlooking Lake Como, Villa Rosch. 

Our kids got a pretty bad cold during these 4 days (it was coming on in Florence), so we just had to lay low most of these 5 days, and we didn’t even mind because this villa was SO GORGEOUS and relaxing, we barely wanted to leave anyways! I could definitely see myself coming back here – and a boat day would be really fun – but we took this 4 days of the trip to just let the kids rest and heal. And honestly, if they were going to get sick in the month away, this was the place to do it!

 

Day 8: May 17th – Travel to Lake Como

• Morning:
  After breakfast, depart Florence heading to Lezzeno. (4 hr drive) Stop for lunch along the way at a pizzeria near Como.
• Afternoon:
  After a scenic (slightly terrifying narrow-road) drive, checked into our villa overlooking Lake Como and just laid low – they had the whole home stocked with groceries which was soooo nice given our kids were sick so we were just going to stay in.
• Evening:
  Made an easy dinner at home, swam in heated pool, and just took in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and lake!

he loved feeding the fish on property!

 

Day 9: May 18th – Explore Bellagio and Relax

• Morning:
  Took a very short drive to Bellagio, known as the “pearl of the lake.” Walked through its charming streets and grabbed lunch + a glass of vino at Hotel Du Lac.
• Afternoon:
  Headed back to the villa to enjoy the views and let the kids nap + play in the pool.
• Evening:
  Made dinner at the villa to just relax and play — my daughter was already sick but didn’t get hit too hard with it, but my son came down with it this night and he got hit with some pretty high fevers for the next 3 days — so again, we just laid really low.

Poor bud got what his sister had but worse version, this night started 3 days of fevers and I was up most of the night with him, using cool cloths with peppermint essential oil and lemon to bring him back to comfort

 

Day 10: May 19th – Rest day at the Villa

• Morning:
  Sleep-in and let the (sick) kids relax + nap at the villa. 
• Afternoon/Evening:
  Just stayed at the house since this was the peak day of kid’s sickness, and made delicious dinner at the villa with ingredients we got from the grocery store a walk away. Again, this home’s backyard views were AMAZING, so it wasn’t bad to just lay low here!

loves their mary ruth vitamins! use these gummies + vitamin C + zinc + elderberry drops. See all current discount codes and links HERE

 

Day 11: May 20th – Water Views and Explored Menaggio

• Morning:
  Spend the morning just at the house and relaxing, then let the kids nap
• Afternoon:
  Drove to Bellagio after naps and took a peaceful ferry ride to Menaggio (my son had been BEGGING us to “go on a boat ride”, so this was an easy answer since renting a boat for hours wasn’t ideal with littles). We walked through the town’s quiet streets, perfect for kids to roam. Then took the ferry back to Bellagio where we ate at Nando for a seafood and pasta dinner (when we first got seated I thought we made a mistake because it was SO quiet inside with all other tables just couples — which is intimidating with 2 not so quiet littles – but the servers were so nice and the kids actually did really well in such a quiet place lol). Finished the night with gelato!

Next Stop: Grindelwald, Switzerland – 5 Nights

Accommodation: Stayed in a mountain chalet in the heart of Grindelwald – my sister flew in with her husband and 3 kids too – so we rented a big home for us all! They were with us the rest of the trip which was super fun! The house was beautiful, but it didn’t come with ANYTHING, no toiletries, nothing left in kitchen even no salt, and even only 3 trash bags + no cleaners lol. But otherwise, it was the perfect location walkable to the little downtown, and overlooked a beautiful setting. I can imagine this would be STUNNING in winter too, especially because the gondolas are walkable too!

Views from our home!

 

Day 12: May 21st – Travel to Grindelwald

Morning:

• Made a quick breakfast, packed up everything, and then checked out and headed towards Grindelwald, Switzerland (about a 4-hour drive). We were going to stop in Bologna Italy to break up drive, but the kids were doing so good we decided to just keep driving – as any parent knows you don’t stop when the kids are doing well lol.

Afternoon:

• Grabbed a quick bite coming into switzerland – that ended up being like a Swiss fast food place because we waited until we couldn’t wait anymore with the kids – but it was still SO FRESH compared to american fast food haha – the chicken nuggets were – gasp – real chicken tasting and made fresh right then and there. Then we finished the last 30min of drive

Evening:

• Checked into our chalet and grab groceries for the week at the local COOP. Wind down with an easy dinner at the house.

 

Day 13: May 22nd – Relax and Hang with Family Arriving that Day

Morning:

• Relaxed and made breakfast at house, letting kids rest again

Afternoon/Evening:

• My sister + her husband and 3 kids arrived!!! Let all the kids relax, some family nap, and then all spent time together with a dinner in since my sister’s family was jetlagged

 

Day 14: May 23rd – Explore Grindelwald and Day Trip to Lauterbrunnen & Mürren

Morning:

• After breakfast, walked to downtown Grindelwald with 2 of my sister’s 3 kids too (her and my BIL were trying to catch up on sleep!), stopping at the local bakeries and shops.  Had a casual lunch out too.

Afternoon:

• Drove to + took a scenic walk through Lauterbrunnen, then head up to Mürren via funicular for breathtaking views of the Jungfrau region. The village of Mürren is car-free, making it an ideal place for a relaxing stroll and enjoying panoramic vistas. 

Evening: 

• Dinner at Alpenruh, an authentic Swiss cuisine including fondue, rosti, and stroganoff. It was SO YUMMY!! Then took the transport back down to Lauterbrunnen to see Staubbach Falls, before heading back to Grindelwald. They also had RAW MILK in their vending machine there — so cool!

 

Day 15: May 24th – Experience Grindelwald More

Morning:

• After breakfast, head to downtown Grindelwald for some shopping.  Enjoy a relaxing meal at home before heading out for the day to experience First Mountain.

Afternoon:

• Let kids nap, and then took the First Gondola to the first stop on First Mountain. From there, enjoyed a short (yet very steep walk down) to our family photo shoot (3:30pm-530)… My husband pushed the double stroller back up after and I truly don’t know how he did it, it was about 1/2 mile at 90 degree angle. We used this photographer who is more usually based in Lucerne Switzerland, but did an amazing job –> https://www.instagram.com/sara_sarzi_sartori_photography/

Evening:

• Enjoyed dinner at Barry’s on way back from photoshoot, a hearty Swiss meal in a welcoming, family-friendly environment. 

 

yummy Swiss apps before dinner

 

Backdrop where we got family photos done, it was so beautiful!

 

Day 16: May 25th – Hike Männlichen and Relax

Morning:

• For stunning views, we took a cable car ride up to Männlichen. There’s an amazing playground at the top for the kids to enjoy. And then we did the interactive hike down Lieselotte Trail. Then take the cable car back to the terminal. I will say, no one was prepared for how cold it would be going up that high (there was snow on the ground, in May), I was wearing breathable leggings and a long sleeve shirt LOL. So most of my family just took the gondola back down, but me, my husband, our 2 kids, and my BIL + one of his sons/our nephews, did the hike down! Skyla (15mo) was in a back carrier on me, and my husband basically carried our 3yr old down the whole way, so we should have brought a carrier for him haha. But our 8yr old nephew did great with it!

Afternoon:

• Headed back to the chalet for lunch and relaxing afternoon. Jumped in the steam room and sauna that the house had!

Evening:

• Enjoyed a relaxed family meal at home to end the day. Packed up and prepped for the long car trip in the morning. 

 

LAST Stop: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany – 5 Nights

Day 17: May 26th – Chocolate & Charm in Lucerne, then Travel to Bavaria

Accomodations: This most stunning home on airbnb, that I can’t believe was a rental because it’s by far the nicest home I’ve ever been in lol.

Morning:

• Pack-up and depart for Lucerne (1.5 hour drive)

Afternoon:

• Drove past Lucerne’s charming landmarks, such as the Chapel Bridge, Water Tower, and the Lion Monument.  Then headed to the Swiss Museum of Transport for lunch and the Swiss Chocolate Adventure to break up the drive for all the kids. Afterwards, continued on to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (approximately a 3.5 hour drive).

Evening:

• Arrived to the most stunning home in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (we splurged on this one since we had multiple people paying/a larger group, and it was hands down the most beautiful home I’ve ever been in – so surprised it was on airbnb haha!). I’m talking so many rooms, a MOVIE THEATRE room, a wellness area with a salt room + sauna + pool, and the most BEAUTIFUL backyard view of the Bavarian Alps. We unpacked, explored this fun home, and ordered take out at Shaka Burgerhouse to make it easiest on kids who, after sitting for 5hrs in a car were not going to sit again at a restaurant haha.

Backyard – UNEDITED

Wellness room with a pool, salt room and sauna in it.

Salt room!

 

Day 18: May 27th – Explore Garmisch-Partenkirchen

• Morning:
  Relax at the villa and enjoy the amenities like pool + salt room.
• Afternoon:
  Walked to and through the picturesque streets of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The village is known for its traditional Bavarian charm and colorful murals adorning the buildings that tell stories of local history and folklore.
• Evening:
  Savored Bavarian comfort foods like wiener schnitzel and other traditional fare in a cozy atmosphere at a local restaurant, Maronis. (Zum Wildschutz, Bräustüberl, Floberstube,  Gasthof Fraundorfer)

Unlike Italy with smaller portions, This was my schnitzel in Germany the first night lol – so good though!

 

 

Day 19: May 28th – Day Trip to Munich

• Morning:
  Took the train to Munich (1.5 hrs)  – we almost missed it – like my brother in law was legit holding the doors open for us since we had to take an elevator with the stroller over to it lol. Kicked off our (rainy yet still successful) visit at Marienplatz, the city’s central square. We saw the Glockenspiel, a famous clock tower with a mechanical show that happens several times a day. Wandered around the pedestrian-friendly streets filled with shops, cafes, and street performers. Then headed to Hofbräuhaus, Munich’s famous beer hall, for lunch with all the rain. The boys (husband and BIL) enjoyed all the local brews, but there was also a fun atmosphere for kids with live music and hearty Bavarian food. By the time we were done the rain had parted thankfully, so it was better walking around finally.
• Afternoon:
  We headed to Englischer Garten, one of the largest urban parks in the world. My sister’s kids who didn’t have the luxury of being in the stroller like my 2 littles, were at this point DONE with walking lol, but then we found electric scooters to rent and saved the day by letting them (5+9+10yrs old) ride them, extending our walk around Munich for another 2-3 hours haha.
• Evening:
  Train back to home and had a meal at the house to relax after a long day.

 

 

Day 20: May 29th – Neuschwanstein Castle & Dinner in Garmisch

• Morning:
  Drove to the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle, located in the Bavarian Alps. This iconic castle, built by King Ludwig II, inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. We made the hike up to the castle and explore the grounds… however we were 30min later than our ticket time – due to having to make a 45min hike up to it after parking with 5 littles that took longer than expected – and they WOULD NOT BUDGE AND LET US IN. After many failed attempts (germans love their rules lol), we gave up. However outside of the wasted money on the tickets (which was a lot with 10 of us), I don’t think we missed much! Most say the inside tour isn’t great anyways and that the hike up to see the grounds/outside is the best part anyways!
• Afternoon:
  After Neuschwanstein, we returned back to get to our dinner reservations at Gasthaus zur Schranne (5pm). They had classic Bavarian dishes like sausages, schnitzel, and more. I actually got the salmon stuffed with spinach (even though we did get many german apps!), and it was delicious!
• Evening:
  Walked through Garmisch, got some gelato, and enjoyed the local atmosphere after dinner. 

cousins

 

Day 21: May 30th – Day Trip to Austria?

We ended up just staying local this last day, after a big day out the day before and knowing we had a LONG travel day the next day. Plus the house was so gorgeous we wanted a full day to enjoy it too! But if you wanted to do something more than relax this day – A day trip to austria was in our plans initially haha!

• Morning: Took a walk into downtown Garmisch for their farmers market every Friday. Tasted the local foods and picked out items for a dinner at home. It was all so fresh! Then we walked around the little park/gardens area close by for a little before walking back to the house.
• Afternoon:
  Relaxed at the villa for our last day in Europe + did all our laundry so we wouldn’t have it once we got home. Enjoyed the salt room, sauna, pool, and just lounging out back with this stunning view of the Alps!
• Evening:
  Made a relaxed dinner at the villa, and were soooo sad to be heading back home the next day – and leaving my sister + her family! The cousins had so much fun together!!!

And this photo is unedited… look at that backdrop!

Day 22: May 31st – Departure

• Morning:
  Drive to Munich Airport for our flight home (flight was at 9am, we got to the airport at 7am after leaving our house at 530am, and STILL almost missed the flight. Again, Germans don’t mess around, so do not get to the airport late lol). This was such a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to the magical memories of our 3-week trip abroad – our dream trip that came true.

Overall Thoughts:

It was a dream come true trip. Sure there was hard moments when you’re traveling with 2 littles, and you as a parent don’t get much downtime like you would if you weren’t with them… BUT the memories you make outweigh all that, and if we had to do it again, we’d bring the kids again hands down! Even though we had an “extra hard” with them getting pretty sick for a week of it. We honestly don’t really even like going anywhere without them anymore, we love making memories as a family — except short 1-2 night getaways to recharge our marriage 🙂 I’m a homebody and introvert — if I can do this, any mama can haha! And the crazy part? I wasn’t even craving to be back home at the end of it — I wanted to just permanently live over there haha!

ps: GRAB MY TRAVEL GUIDE RIGHT HERE

and find my amazon travel lists right here!