If you’ve been around these parts before, you know that we lived in Germany for two years, and even had our oldest daughter there. Since repatriating, we’ve been back to Germany on a couple of occasions and each time we return, feel a little more homesick than the last time. It’s not our homeland, but Germany made quite the impact on us and we would love the opportunity to live there again! So given our history with the country, I believe that Germany makes the PERFECT country if you’re looking to take your family abroad for the very first time! Here are some reasons why!

1. Flights are easy.

Many major American cities have direct flights to Frankfurt, Munich, or Berlin. If this is your first time traveling internationally with children in tow, a single hop might be more palatable than an itinerary with a layover.

2. The food is family friendly

Some typical German staples - pommes (french fires), Weiner schnitzle (breaded pork cutlet), wurst (sausage), brot (bread), spaetzle (noodles), are incredibly kid and pick-eater friendly! And there is so much more delicious German cuisine for more refined palates. Not to mention the plethora of amazing restaurants pretty much where ever you go. In all the time I spent in Germany, I’ve never EVER had a bad meal in any restaurant! Food is also reasonably priced in many restaurants and the portion sizes are generous!

3. Lots of parks and playgrounds everywhere

In our time there, we found the German culture highly values time in nature. In cities, this manifests with lots and lots of parks. Some are small neighborhood plots, perhaps with a playground, other are large forests that used to act as hunting grounds for nobles. No matter what city you are in, you can be sure to find a nice place to let your kids run around and play.

4. Any time of year is great to visit!

In the spring, summer, and fall, the weather is gorgous! In December, the Christmas Markets are in full swing and the lights and gluhwein make the cold bearable. In winter, you can spend time hiking, skiing, and sledding in the more mountainous regions and enjoy fewer crowds (and lower costs!) in the cities. So really, there is no “bad” time to visit Germany

Snow-dusted trees near the Harz Mountains

5. Most people speak some level of English.

While I always strongly advise learning at least a few words in the local language - hello, good bye, thank you are solid staples to learn - most people, especially those in tourism or younger people, speak English. You can find English menus at most German restaurants, and museums often have displays in German and English. So if you can speak one of those two languages, you’re set!

6. There is a ton of variety of things to do!

From mountain tops to seasides and everything in between, Germany really does have something for everyone. You can relax in a Roman Style bath, explore the Black Forest, visit the home of the Brothers Grimm and see where they collected their stories, see Neuschwanstein - Walt Disney’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland, stroll along the beaches of the North Sea, explore a massive science and technology museum in Munich, or visit hundreds of beautiful castles. There’s actually so many cool and interesting things to do that you might have a hard time narrowing it down in an effort to see the entire country. But for your first trip, I recommend keeping it simple and focusing on one smaller geographic area.

7. Theme Routes

If you’re looking for a more defined itinerary that winds you through some of the most historic places in Germany, you’re in luck! There are lots of routes that you can follow from town to town. There is the Romatische Strasse (The Romantic Road) that winds from Wurzburg to Fussen and takes you though town such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber and ends near Neuschwanstein; the Maerchenstrass (Fairytale Road) that travels from Hanau, the home of the Grimm brothers, to Bremen; and the Burgenstrasse (castle road) that starts in Mannheim (our former home!) and travels, 700+km to Bayreuth and takes you to over 60 castles that dot the German landscape. There are over 80 of these themed routes to choose from and you could easily make a vacation by following one of them from start to finish!

Walking the wall in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

I hope I’ve convinced you to choose Germany as your family’s first international trip! I have a massive soft spot in my heart for the country and try to find any excuse to go back there! Feel free to message us if you have any specific questions too! We love to hear from our readers :)