Are you moving to Germany? Will you be stationed or TDY in Grafenwoehr or Vilseck? Then you will want to check out all the things to do in the surrounding area. Luckily we’ve made this comprehensive list!
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While living in Germany, it’s a great time to really explore what’s nearby. Grafenwoehr, and Vilseck, are located in Northern Bavaria, which means they are very close to all kinds of fantastic things to do with your favorite people like your kids and family and sometimes, even your dog.
Bavaria is such a cool place that a couple of cities we’ve listed here have made it onto our list of the Top 5 Cities To Visit in Germany!
They also border the Czech Republic, which is so close that you can easily do day trips into our neighboring country. Many people think about going to Prague, but there are a few smaller cities that are worth a quick trip as well.
If you plan on doing lots of travel while you’re stationed here, check out these books you might be interested in:
- Rick Steve’s – Germany
- Lonely Planet’s – Munich, Bavaria, and the Black Forest
- Fodor’s – Munich and Bavaria
- DK Eyewitness – Munich and the Bavarian Alps
- Rick Steve’s – Prague and the Czech Republic
- Lonely Planet’s – Prague and the Czech Republic
How Far is a “Day” Trip?
Everyone is a little different when it comes to how far you can drive and do in one day. I’m one of those that loves to wake up early to get where I’m going, but many of these places are close enough that you can even start after lunch.
Planning-wise, a little goes a long way. You’ll find that the little villages, as well as larger cities, have plenty to offer. You can wander, find a quirky little museum, eat in a new restaurant, or walk some of the many thousands of trails that Germany maintains. So keeping the agenda loose and adding in little things you find along the way will just make the experience that much richer.
It’s also important to be completely flexible as well. One time I was heading to a city just to sightsee and on the way saw a sign for a medieval festival with jousting. We pulled over right away because we just had to go. We had a fantastic time but never did make it to our original destination. No big deal; we went another time!
With what is going on around the world and travel restrictions, Jim and I encourage you to choose some of these day trips to go on where you won’t have to get too close to other people.
Here are some travel tips to take into consideration during this time:
- If you want to enter a building, like a museum or castle, call ahead to make sure they are still open.
- Take snacks and water with you, so you don’t have to rely on stores being open.
What to Expect in This Article
What we’ve done is listed the places and things you can do that are within a couple hours drive from Graf. Some would say you can go further than we mention in this article, say to Munich. However, we think Munich is better as a weekend trip, so that’s where we have put it, so you can take your time and really enjoy yourselves.
The map shows a radius of 150 kilometers, but as we know that could take anywhere from an hour and a half to much longer, depending on “staus” (traffic jams) or how large the road is or current weather.
These are all places we’ve been, so we’ve put in what we think is important to do, plus a great place to eat lunch. You can always eat cheaper or eat ethnic foods, but since we’re traveling around Germany, we always like to try the local fare and that’s what we recommend you do as well, unless you are social distancing. In that case, a good old picnic works everytime.
The list also links to full articles on the subject, so if one of the places strikes your fancy, click on the “Read More” to start planning your day trip.
On our list we have included three things to do across the border in Czechia, because hey, Czech is so close.
Best Day Trips from Grafenwoehr and Vilseck
Why go? Rothenburg is the most charming and fun walled town to visit. In summer, when the flower boxes are full, you can't get a prettier photo. Then again, in winter with the Christmas market, it's just magical.
Is it a good place to take the kids? Yes, this city is especially fun for kids with its ramparts you can walk, the quirky and fun museums, and some great food.
Drive from Graf: About 2 hours each way. There are some fantastic places to spend the night, but it's definitely doable as a day trip, especially if family is visiting.
Why go? Nuremberg has it all. It's got a great castle, great art, and another fantastic Christmas market. It's so close and so fun. You might find yourself going quite often.
Is it a good place to take the kids? Yes, all kids will enjoy the castle, festivals, and food. For the World War II places, older kids will really get a good look into Nazi Germany. It is quite the history lesson, an interesting one.
Drive from Graf: 1 hour - so close!
Why go? Playmobil is amazing! As a teacher, I couldn't believe all the outdoor thinking activities. You should definitely visit when it's warm enough to wear bathing suits and get wet. The kids will love it. However, when it gets cold, and the outside stuff closes down, you can still visit the big building which is always fun as well.
Is it a good place to take the kids? Yes, a million times yes! I can't wait to take more friends and family to the Playmobil park. I love it and so does everyone I take.
Drive from Graf: About 1 and 1/2 hours. Close enough to go often!
Why go? Regensburg is a quieter city, but it has an amazing cathedral and fantastic Christmas markets.
Is it a good place to take the kids? It's a great place to walk through the old town, and kids will love all the Christmas Markets!
Drive from Graf: Just a tad over 1 hour, well worth going for a walk downtown and having lunch.
Why go? There's nothing better than a boat ride through some gorgeous scenery to end up at an abbey that serves amazing beer!
Is it a good place to take the kids? The kids will love the boat ride and wandering around the monastery. Unfortunately they won't be able to try the beer, but the pretzels are always a hit!
Drive from Graf: 1.5 hours to Kehlheim to catch the boat.
Why go? Often called Rapunzel's castle, Mespelbrunn is a real fairy tale.
Is it a good place to take the kids? Yes, for sure! This is a small site, easily walkable and fun. For the tour, the adults might want to leave the kids outside. It can get a little long on the ears.
Drive from Graf: This is quite a drive for one day- 3 hours, but if you're up to it, it's worth it. You can also combine it with Wurzburg or Frankfurt and make a weekend out of it.
Why go? Wurzburg is a UNESCO world heritage city. The Residence is a breath-taking palace, and when you are done with it, you can visit the castle and go downtown. It's all great! It's also got a great Christmas market.
Is it a good place to take the kids? The castle, Old Town, Roman Bridge, there's so much the kids will like. If they like artsy museums I'd take them to the Residenz as well, but if not...just skip it.
Drive from Graf: 2 hours
Why go? If you like quirky and non-traditional things...you are going to love the Kuchlbauer Tower, its creator - Friedrich Hundertwasser and his art, and some really good beer.
Is it a good place to take the kids? The kids will love the tower, and looking at the quirky art. The beer garden gives them an opportunity for some good food and still be able to run around freely. I think they will enjoy it. We took three small children and they loved it.
Drive from Graf: 1.5 hours
Why go? Flossenburg is a lesson into World War II's history as a concentration camp. Today there is a moving exhibit you can explore on your own. To clear your mind, afterwards you can take a short hike around the old castle ruins as well.
Is it a good place to take the kids? Older kids only, I would say. Smaller kids won't understand it, and there's a lot of learning to do.
Drive from Graf: 40 minutes
Why go? When you go to Moedlareuth, you are really seeing a smaller version of the Berlin wall. Here, one town was split apart for years. Brother on one side of the fence from the other. It's a fascinating place to walk around for an hour or two. Take anyone who is even a teensy bit a history buff.
Is it a good place to take the kids? This is a small town and museum. I think kids would enjoy it.
Drive from Graf: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why go? Talk about quirky! This garden and short hike is a gorgeous way to get outdoors and just have a good afternoon. The rocks and foliage are beautiful, and it's great for taking photos.
Is it a good place to take the kids? Absolutely! This park is a great hike, but there are so many rocks to climb and and little cracks and passageways to explore. They'll want to go back again and again.
Drive from Graf: 45 minutes
Why go? German open air museums are superbly done. Most of them hold demonstrations on weekends showing how things were done in the past; like how to make candles or bread. It's a great way to get the kids outside and moving and enjoying the German countryside.
Is it a good place to take the kids? Yes!
Drive from Graf: The closest one to Graf that I recommend is the Fränkisches Freilandmuseum in Bad Winsheim, about 2 hours away.
Why go? Karlovy Vary is a town that kings and queens have visited. It is famous for its healing waters. We tried them, but even if you don't want to try the mineral waters, it's a gorgeous town with fantastic restaurants and plenty of spas.
Is it a good place to take the kids? I think of Karlovy Vary as more of an escape without the kids. Taking the waters is different. The town is known for its spa hotels, the most famous being the Grandhotel Pupp. Trust me, for this trip, make it a romantic getaway with your loved one or a girl's trip. No kids allowed
Drive from Graf: 1.5 hours
Why go? Pilsen is a great little Czech city with a zoo, some museums, and our favorite the Pilsen Beer Factory. Take the tour!
Is it a good place to take the kids? The kids will love the zoo, but the brewery tour might not be right for them.
Drive from Graf: Just under 2 hours.
Why go? It doesn't take long after arriving in Graf that you start to hear about the beer baths. Our favorite one is in Pilsen, and we've gone plenty of times. We love it!
Is it a good place to take the kids? Again, leave the kids at home. This one is for adults only!
Drive from Graf: Just under 2 hours.
Conclusion
Traveling around Bavaria and Czechia is a blast. There are so many castles, animal parks, outdoor museums, and quaint dorfs and villages, that you can easily keep busy for the next three or more years! Enjoy.
Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.
