Germany with teens - ancient sites, water parks, castles and water activities

[mummymeister]

I have never been to Germany and not really thought about it or researched it much in the past as a holiday destination as it hasn't ever really been on our bucket list. I am really trying to find a one or two centre location for a holiday with:

*ancient roman or other ancient culture sites/museums to visit

• waterparks for older thrill seeking teens
• castles *ziplines or other active things
• sailing or canoeing

I have had a good look already but feel I am going in circles and for various reason my usual planning senses are out the window! I just want someone to go "here, we did this, you do it too!" we usually stay in apartments minimum 3 bedrooms. I want to have options to discuss over Christmas and at the moment its just a blank page. Thanks

We stayed at Center Parcs Allgau. Close to Skyline Park Allgau (theme park), Cambodnum (Roman archaeological site and museum) and Skywalk Allgau. In easy reach of Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenzollern Castle. Also worth going to see the Breitachklamm gorge.

I know this was not what you asked for, but Berlin has been the best holiday we ever took with our (history mad) teens. Disregard if your teens aren’t as nerdy as mine 😂

Thank you RiceKrispie I will have a look at these. we have 2 weeks so was thinking of maybe moving around a bit.

WereyouHare - will also look at Berlin. its ancient stuff specifically - single figures as my kids describe it!

Nuremberg and the surrounding area (Bavaria)
We’ve done a city break there but then went out into the countryside and stayed in an apartment on a lake. We went to a castle for a falcon show, canoed/ swam in rivers, did zipwires in the forest and went to a huge waterpark AND a salt spa amongst other things
One of our fave places and a short (and cheap )flight from The UK

If you want proper ancient, then you want to go to Neanderthal - it's close to Dusseldorf and accessible by train if you don't want to drive

Hoppinggreen could you message me with the lake you stayed on and any info on the zip wire and waterpark please. would be helpful to get an idea of what they are like. thanks very much.

CMOT - will also have a look at Neanderthal. we will be driving.

I will see what I can remember and get back to you later.
The apartments were great but too small so I wouldn’t recommend them unfortunately.

I would second the Allgäu as a great initial base for all the activities/castles. Another place to consider if you’re touring around would be a few days somewhere near Europapark - a beautiful theme park, which is opening a new water park next summer (I think). It’s also near the French and Swiss borders and the Black Forest, All offering lots of possibilities.

We live near Europapark. Often voted the worlds best theme park.

You could combine it with a couple of nights in the Black Forest. And then move onto Bavaria.

@WereYouHareWhenIWasFox we have just booked a trip to Berlin, any tips?

Europapark is not far from Freiburg, which is lovely.
It’s easier to fly to Nuremberg than Freiburg so you could combine the 2
Sorry I haven’t Pm’d You yet OP I’m waiting to see if DH remembers more details than me ( he’s German so usually organises the German holidays more than I do)

thanks everyone and if you think of any more details or if any of you have a trip report that you can message me that would be fantastic. Also looking at Norway and Sweden so should have a couple of options for a family discussion over Christmas.

Sounds fab OP watching with interest