Germany with a teen

[stuckasastuckthing]

Hi. My DS is studying German at school for GCSE - was thinking of taking him for a few days in Germany to get a bit of practice with the language etc.
Any recommendations for a good city with a teen or fun activity like a theme park?

Cologne is a possibility, there is Phantasia Land nearby, a bus ride away from the nearest tram stop I think.
You can also visit Bonn and Aachen easily

There was recently a thread about a holiday in Germany with a teen learning it at school. It may give you some ideas.

It all depends a bit what you like to do. With a teen I would say Berlin is a good city, but while he will hear German and read it, people will swap to English when talking to him.

Europapark is a good theme park but the German he will hear is quite heavy on the dialect.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/5182591-which-part-of-germany?page=1

Another vote for Cologne.
We did the Christmas market which are great

Can also visit Wuppertal easily from there, with zoo, hanging railway and a football stadium where you might be able to get tickets for a match

Another bid for Cologne here. 4 hours on train from London.

We took our GCSE student to Munich. Admittedly no theme parks, but we did visit Dachau instead.

Thank you so much for the suggestions and link to the other thread!

My teen GD has just been to Berlin with her parents. Boat trip, revolving restaurant, Check Point Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Site of the wall. Don’t think they did the Holocaust Museum.

DH and I went to Cologne for 3 nights in September and went to Phantasialand. It is INCREDIBLE. Honestly the best theme park I’ve ever been to, which includes Islands of Adventure (but don’t go on the Crazy Bats VR ride as it made us feel sick 🤢).

Loved wandering around Cologne. Lots of great vintage shops. Amazing cakes. We did the zoo, too, and a boat tour on the river. Very good public transport. Lindt Chocolate factory/museum was fun.

The zoo is Cologne is good and there are a lot of nice shops.

Munich is a really buzzy place. No theme park as such but a big, permanent funfair.

DH is from Munich so we go to Germany at least once every year, DS15 says its his favourite place!

Cologne is fantastic, such a fun city with tons to see and do, and a great vibe. When my boys are teenagers will be taking them there!

We have just arrived in Cologne for a half term break with 2 teens- will report back in a few days! Lovely train journey over with a lunch stop in Brussels. Younger DD in year 10 learning GCSE German but too embarrassed to speak it in the restaurant this evening 😂