Germany
& Alsace
7 people · 1 van · 10 days · June 18–28, 2026
Frankfurt Arrival Guide
✈️ Air Canada → Frankfurt Terminal 1 → Stuttgart
Land at Frankfurt Airport — Terminal 1 (Hall C)
Air Canada arrives into Terminal 1. Follow signs for Passport Control / Immigration (Non-EU lane). This can take 20–40 min in summer — be patient and have passports ready.
Baggage Claim & Customs
After passport control, collect your bags on Level 1, then pass through Customs (green "Nothing to declare" lane). You are now in the public arrivals area of Terminal 1.
Follow signs → "Fernbahnhof / Long-Distance Trains"
In the arrivals hall, look for the green 🚆 "Train" / "Fernbahnhof" signs. Take the escalator/elevator and walk through the covered walkway to "The Squaire" building — this is where the long-distance train station is. The walk takes about 10 minutes and is well-signposted in English.
Fernbahnhof — Use your Rail & Fly Tickets
Your Rail & Fly tickets from Air Canada entitle you to take any ICE / IC train to Stuttgart. Follow the instructions in your ticket to activate them. Check the departure boards for the next Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof train — ICE trains run roughly every hour and take ~55 minutes.
Arrive in Ostfildern Ruit 🏡
Welcome to Germany! Total transit time from landing to front door: allow 3–4 hours including immigration, baggage and the train. We'll be waiting with Maultaschen and a cold beer. 🍺
The Itinerary
Welcome to Germany! Shake off the jet lag, enjoy home-cooked Swabian food and explore the Stuttgart region. The city is more than cars — it has gorgeous vineyards, a spectacular zoo and the impressive TV tower. A gentle, warm welcome before the road trip begins. Note: travel cots and a car seat are ready for the kids! 🛏
Activities
⚐ = optional activity
Drive south into the Bavarian Alps. The Allgäu is Germany at its most spectacular — towering peaks, flower-covered meadows and deep gorges. Missen-Wilhams is a quiet gem in the valley, perfect as a base for outdoor adventures. The Hörnerbahn cable car lifts you to 1,400m for stunning views and a hike back down.
Activities
💡 Breitachklamm cash only at the gate! Naturwunder des Jahres 2025 🏆
West to Germany's largest lake — turquoise water, the Alps as a backdrop, and one of the most family-friendly areas in Germany. Gut Hügle is a working farm hotel with animals, space to run and a wonderful atmosphere for the kids. Combine the prehistoric Pfahlbauten with a scenic boat ride to the flower island of Mainau.
Activities
💡 Mainau: book online to save ~€3/adult. Kids under 12 are free — that's a big saving!
Into the dark, dense and magical Black Forest. Route through the Hochburg castle ruins and Freiburg before arriving in the Kinzigtal valley. The Vogtsbauernhof open-air museum brings 600 years of Black Forest farm life to life — kids can participate in craft workshops. Cap the day with the Sommerrodelbahn — a fast summer toboggan run!
Activities
💡 Vogtsbauernhof opens at 9am. Family workshops daily 11–16h in school holidays.
Cross into France — but an Alsace that feels like a fairytale. Half-timbered houses in candy colours, the world's most scenic wine route and food that combines French finesse with German heartiness. Colmar is unmissable: its "Petite Venise" canal district is genuinely one of the most beautiful corners of Europe.
Activities
💡 Try Flammkuchen (Alsatian pizza) and Bredele cookies. Brilliant food for kids too!
The grand finale — Strasbourg is one of Europe's most beautiful and historically layered cities. The Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral is jaw-dropping; the La Petite France quarter with its canals and flower boxes is straight out of a storybook. A perfect last chapter before heading home.
Highlights of the Trip
Voted Germany's "Nature Wonder of the Year 2025" — a dramatic gorge with 90m rock walls, thundering waterfalls and a 1.5h circular walk. Spectacular for all ages. Bring cash — card not accepted at entrance.
Take the Weltcup-Express cable car up to 1,400m above Ofterschwang. Stunning Alpine panorama, then hike down through meadows to a mountain hut for Käsespätzle. One of the best family days in the Alps.
A tropical paradise island in Lake Constance — June means roses, dahlias and full bloom. Kids under 12 enter free. Arrive by boat from Unteruhldingen for the full experience. Don't miss the butterfly house.
UNESCO World Heritage Site — reconstructed Stone and Bronze Age stilt villages right on the lake. Walk along wooden boardwalks above the water, 10,000 years back in time. The new "Entdecker Parcours" is brilliant for kids.
Germany's most visited open-air museum — original Black Forest farmhouses from 5 centuries, crafts demonstrations and a massive adventure playground. The daily craft workshops for kids (11–16h) are a highlight.
Colmar is arguably France's most beautiful small city — pastel-coloured half-timbered houses, flower-draped canals and Alsatian cuisine. Take a boat ride through the Petite Venise canal district and eat Flammkuchen for lunch.
Costs & Split
🏨 Accommodation
Split 50/50 between both families.
🎟 Activity Cost Reference (per person)
Prices: adult / child. Always check websites for current prices before visiting.
Packing List
👕 Clothing
- Layers — Alps can be cool even in June
- Light rain jacket (Schwarzwald = rain!)
- Comfortable walking / hiking shoes
- Sandals / flip-flops for lake days
- Swimwear (Bodensee swim!)
- Sunhat & sunglasses
- Warm fleece for mountain evenings
🧒 For the Kids
- Backpack per child (own snacks & water)
- Reusable water bottles
- Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Small activity book / headphones
- Sturdy hiking sandals or shoes
- Travel cots provided ✓ (no need to bring)
- Car seat provided ✓ (no need to bring)
📋 Documents
- Passports (valid 6+ months beyond Jun)
- Travel insurance documents
- Booking confirmations (printed copies)
- Rail & Fly ticket (Air Canada)
- Emergency contact list
- Health insurance cards (OHIP & EU)
🔌 Tech & Adapters
- European plug adapter — Type F 🇩🇪 (essential!)
- Germany & France use 230V / 50Hz
- Canadian plugs are 2-pin flat — won't fit without adapter
- Power bank for long driving days
- Car phone mount & USB charger
- Camera + extra memory cards
- Offline maps downloaded (Google Maps)
💊 Health & Safety
- First aid kit (basics)
- Tick repellent — essential for Schwarzwald!
- After-bite / antihistamine cream
- Personal medications (+ copies of prescriptions)
- Blister plasters
- Hand sanitizer & wet wipes
🚐 Van Essentials
- Snack bag for drives (nuts, fruit, bars)
- Reusable shopping bags
- Paper towels & cleaning spray
- Small bin bag for the van
- Blanket per person for naps
- Neck pillow for kids on long stretches
- Sunshade for rear windows
- 🎵 Road Trip Playlist — already loaded & ready!
Tips for Canadians in Germany
Road Trip Playlist 🎵
Heink-Air Tours · Official Soundtrack 2026
"Hey I just met you, and this is crazy…
but here's the Allgäu, so call me maybe?" 🏔
More tracks coming soon. Suggestions welcome.