Four countries. Three weeks. Two toddlers. And one unforgettable adventure. From alpine coasters to via ferrata to cliff walks, this itinerary will get your entire family’s adrenaline pumpin’! Yes – even with toddlers in tow. But don’t worry, you’ll still have time to slow down and live like the locals. Wander charming cobblestone streets in Germany, sip wine in Switzerland, or bake an apple strudel in Austria. Whatever you fancy, start your adventure now with the ultimate kid-friendly European alps itinerary.
Table of Contents
- The Route
- Kid-Friendly Munich, Germany: 2 days
- Kid-Friendly Salzburgerland, Austria: 4 days
- Kid-Friendly San Vigilio, Dolomites: 4 days
- Kid-Friendly Zermatt, Switzerland: 4 days
- Kid-Friendly Montreaux, Switzerland: 4 days
- Kid-Friendly Munich, Germany: 3 days
- The Ultimate Kid-Friendly European Alps Itinerary
This alps adventure was by far my favorite family trip to date, and that’s saying somethin’! If you need help planning an amazing trip like this one, contact me – your travel advisor and Europe specialist. I’d love to help!
The Route
Ok, so we flew in and out of Munich for an easy rental car pick up and drop off at the airport, without any added fees. From there, we did a loop through four countries, ending in Munich of course.
Kid-Friendly Munich, Germany: 2 days
Stay in the city center at our favorite hotel and walk 5 minutes to all the action:
- Have a stein in a “Biergarten”, gobble a giant pretzel, listen to a live Bavarian band and watch original folk dance, all at Hofbrauhaus… “when in Rome” right?
- Watch the clock tower show at Marienplatz
- Ride bikes through town (our hotel had free bikes and bike seats for the baby and toddler!)
- Eat some yummy food and samples at Viktuelienmarket
- Visit the Chinese Tower in English Garden
- Let the kids play at the playground in English Garden
- Watch the locals catch waves surfing in the river (or don’t just stand there, rent a wet suit and board like a local)
- Book a popular tour on Viator like the romantic road Rothenburg tour or the Baviarian food and beer tour (contact me first if you’d like a discount, I get them time to time!)
Read more in my blog post, the Best Things to do with Kids in Munich and Best Day Trips from Munich.
Kid-Friendly Salzburgerland, Austria: 4 days
Our drive from Munich to Grossarl: 2 hours, 45 minutes
- On the way, stop at Eagle’s Nest at Berchtesgaden. Drive to the bus area up the mountain, take the bus up further, and then do a short hike to the top, where you can enjoy a beer and snacks
- While near Berchtesgaden, visit the salt mine…I know, sounds boring but it isn’t. I still remember a family visit there from when I was younger. The tour is about an hour. No strollers allowed. They have a mirror lake, magic salt room, train and huge slides inside! And I think they’re now allowing children of all ages, which is new. You can buy online tickets here.
- Then check in at your kid-friendly Austrian hotel later that afternoon and relax, waterslide, whatever…the hotel is your oyster…
- The next day, take the fairly easy hike up the cool staircase waterfall gorge at Liechtensteinklamm
- Meet alpacas, or take them on an alpaca hike!
- Ride the year-round alpine coaster at Kaprun (my favorite adventure from our winter trip – more coming soon on that itinerary!)
- Maybe next time we’ll have to paraglide there!
- The gondola to the top of Salzburg is right by the alpine coaster, head there for beautiful panoramic views and lunch (get there early as the gondola ride is long and stops running early afternoon)
- Take a day trip to Salzburg for the Sound of Music bike tour or Austrian apple strudel cooking class
- Or check out the famous picture-perfect lakeside town, Hallstatt (read my post on day trips from Munich for more info)
- If you still have time left, walk the panoramic sensory trail and explore a mushroom hut, mountain cart into the valley, hike or bike the beautiful green hills, or waterfall rappel (that’s what I want to do next!)
- To top it off, stay at our fave hotel for indoor waterslides, top notch spas, and free kids club with all sorts of play areas
Kid-Friendly San Vigilio, Dolomites: 4 days
Grossarl to San Vigilio drive time: 3 hours
- Fly in the Skyscraper, a giant swing at 2275 meters above sea level on Mount Kronplatz
- Zip line through forested adventure parks
- Go wild with the kids on giant trampolines, sand boxes, bike tracks and more after hiking or taking the gondola to the top (we hiked here straight from our hotel)
- Row a boat on Lago di Braies (or just walk the loop like we did)
- Gondola ride up and mountain bike down any of the picture-perfect stalagmites
- Hike to a local hutte for the best charcuterie board of your life (the best is at Kronplatz)
- Read all about these and more in my blog post, Dare to Adventure with Kids in the Dolomites
- Stay at our favorite Dolomites hotel that has free mini zip lining and via ferrata wall right there! They also have archery, balance beams, a teen club, a cute kids club, and more!
Kid-Friendly Zermatt, Switzerland: 4 days
San Vigilio to Tasch drive time: 7 hours, then train from Tasch to Zermatt: 15 minutes (no cars are allowed in Zermatt)
If that drive sounds too long, you could stop in Riva del Garda, Verona, or Milan to break it up.
- Stroll the charming streets of the car-less village
- Ride the train or gondola up the mountain then…
- Eat the best lasagna ever (I mean it!) at a small, family-owned ‘hutte’ in the middle of nowhere, oh, with a view of the Matterhorn
- Catch some Instagrammable photos at Lake Stellisee (the famed mirror lake!) on your hike of the Five Lakes
- Take a day trip to Randa and do the most challenging suspension bridge hike you’ll ever attempt – but oh so worth it!
You’ll have the best trip ever if you use my full guide to Zermatt, where you’ll find recs for amazing food, hikes, hotels, bnbs, and more
Kid-Friendly Montreaux, Switzerland: 4 days
Tasch, Switzerland to Montreaux, Switzerland drive time: 1 hour 50 minutes
The Montreaux Riviera is one of the most central locations for day trips around Lake Geneva, and not to mention one of the most stunning!
We’ve stayed at this 5-star resort with stunning views over the lake. At the time, it was actually our cheapest hotel of this trip, by far! Contact me for rates and more info.
When you can finally convince yourself to leave the resort, continue with your ultimate kid-friendly European alps itinerary and explore from Montreaux:
- Visit the famed Lavaux vineyards on the Lavaux Express (a cute, kid-friendly train)
- Or walk through the vineyards, tasting wine, on a stroller-accessible tour through Viator
- Day trip to Grindelwald First (read my blog post here for more info), where you can Cliff Walk, fly through the air like an eagle, mountain cart, and so much more!
- Visit the medieval Gruyere for cheese, chocolate, castles and the HR Giger Museum
- Go back in time at Chillon Castle
- Get a sneak peak into classic cinema at the Charlie Chaplin museum – we didn’t go into the museum, but we did happen to eat a yummy lunch here with an impromptu stop on the way back to our hotel Le Mirador (contact me for rates as sometimes I can get discounts and perks)
- Explore more day trips to Lucerne, Lausanne, and more via boat, car or train
- Stroll the flower-lined waterfront in Montreaux and take the kids to the playground
Kid-Friendly Munich, Germany: 3 days
Montreaux to Munich drive time: less than 6 hours
- Now this was a long day but a great way to break up the long drive…we stopped at what’s known as “the Disney castle” but really is called Neuschwanstein Castle (get tickets in advanced as they do sell out)
- Then we were all kids again at Tegelberg right below the castle, where you can alpine coaster, mini zipline, go-kart and more (this park is only open in the warmer months)
- You could also take day trips to Legoland or Peppa Pig Park (both 1 hour and 15 minutes from Munich)
- There is so much to explore in Bavaria… for more ideas, read more in my Best Day Trips from Munich
- Back in Munich, finish what you couldn’t on the first leg because you were too jet-lagged! Read my post for fun things to do with kids in Munich.
The Ultimate Kid-Friendly European Alps Itinerary
Well, I think you have more than enough of an itinerary to get your European alps fill. Get the full lowdown on each of these locations with my other guides: Zermatt, Bavaria, the Dolomites, and Grindelwald. And soon I’ll upload my winter alps itinerary to the…Christmas markets!!!
But let me guess, the flight is the only thing holding you back? I say, just go for it! The sooner, the better to get you and your little one more accustomed to travel. Read my post on how to keep your toddler busy on a long-haul flight, get the right travel gear, and then you’ll be 10x more prepared than I ever was!
