One of the better ways to spend a day in Munich, especially with kids. The Deutsches Museum sits on…read morea small island in the Isar and covers pretty much every corner of science and technology, and what makes it stand out is how much of it you can actually touch and interact with: cranks to turn, experiments to run, buttons that do things. It's not just cases full of objects behind glass. Depending on your party and how they like these type of things, plan for at least half a day; the place is enormous and easy to get lost in, which is half the fun. The kids' sections held up well for the younger ones, and the aviation and engineering exhibits kept the adults just as occupied. You can bring in food and some of the areas allow food and drinks so bring your lunch and find a place in the halls to sit if you want to. Buy your ticket online before you go. The walk-up queue when we visited was long enough to lose a meaningful chunk of your day, and there's no reason to stand in it. Depending on which ticket type you get, you may need to stop at the information desk to convert to a paper ticket before entry, which nobody tells you upfront. Some visitors seemed to go straight through; we did not. Either way, sort that out before you walk to the entry gate or you'll end up backtracking.

We spent a full five hours here yesterday and it was amazing. Most of our time went into the…read morechemistry, music, mathematics, and health sections--so much to learn, so little time. We arrived around 11 a.m., which worked out perfectly and gave us enough time to explore most of the exhibits. The cafeteria was extremely crowded with limited seating, probably because it's peak holiday season. The food was fine--typical cafeteria fare. Next time we're in Munich, I'd happily come back to see the exhibits we missed. My teenage kids even said this is the best museum they've ever visited, and they've been to many museums around the world. Definitely a memorable experience for all of us.

This is the smaller of the two main sights on the island of Herrenchiemsee on the Chiemsee. A…read moreformer Augustinian Monastery turned palace and now museum and art gallery, King Ludwig II of Bavaria stayed here while planning the construction of the vast "new" Royal Palace 2km away in the centre of the island. It's close to the landing stage for the ferries, up a short but steep hill. The original mediaeval monastery (founded in the 7th Century) was relocated around the island several times: in 1215 it became an auxiliary diocese under the Bishops of Salzburg, in an unusual arrangement whereby the monastery acted as the cathedral chapter. It was rebuilt on the current site between 1645 and 1730, with the main rooms decorated in the Baroque style. In this form it enjoyed only a short life: the Cathedral-Abbey was secularised in 1803, and its diocese dissolved in 1808. The island was then sold and passed through various owners who, among other things, demolished the cathedral church and sold off the furnishings. King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired Herrenchiemsee in 1873, and had the former monastic buildings converted for his own use. The complex therefore became known as the "Old Palace", while work began on planning the New Herrenchiemsee Palace. Today, only a limited part of the Abbey is open to the public, but this includes Ludwig's surprisingly modest private suite and the main state rooms, including the magnificent Imperial Hall, with a ceiling fresco by Benedikt Albrecht. A whole wing has been dedicated to the paintings of Julius Exter (1863-1939) and other paintings by the so-called "Chiemsee artists) are also on show. There's also an exhibition about the conference held in 1948 to establish the Federal Republic of Germany. Entry is by ticket only; these can be purchased at the Abbey or the ticket office at the landing stage. A combined ticket with the New Palace is available.

NOTE - they end up closing an hour early and will also pressure you to not buy a ticket if there…read moreare only two hours left in the day. That being said, if you're a speed walker/museum goer, you could see the treasury in an hour. If you enjoy art and seeing trinkets, I think this museum is a great place to spend your time. I could spend an hour or 5. It really depends on the person.

We spent our day in Munich, exploring the surroundings and really wanted to go to the palace. This…read moreis a great experience. Expect to spend at least 2 to 3 hours if you're willing to read and listen to the audio historical information. This is well worth the trip. A short walk from our hotel. And you get to go through the English gardens.

Kind of confusing where the ticket office is. Nice big grounds with lots of benches along the way…read moreto sit on. Bus 4134 from the train station goes there and drops you right in front. Can also take Tram 6 but we couldn't figure out where to get it - also we were told it'll involve a bit of walk once you get there. The Spanish hall is the highlight and pretty amazing. The portrait galleries - is extensive and gets a bit monotonous. Not the most distinguished looking building - worth checking out if you have the time.

This is one of Europe's oldest museum in a beautiful old castle. We had a wonderful time touring…read morethe grounds the armoury rooms and the museum. The museum is full of portraits, furniture,glass, and armory. If you have a baby bring a baby carrier because there's many steps and you will not be able to bring the stroller up. There is change tables all around and the gardens is a great place for your kids to run around. There is a small café and an ice cream shop on the grounds.

Visited t his spot our last full day in Germany and took a few trains, a taxi, and a boat to get…read morehere. But it was worth it. I was excited to see this castle on an island based upon Versailles built by the "crazy" king of Bavaria. I've seen some of the other famous castles of his during a trip in 2017 so happy to add another to my list! The palace itself is beautiful and can only be seen through a guided tour - we had missed the last English tour of the day, so we joined a German tour and were given a sheet of paper to follow along through the 12 or so rooms we saw. Photos are not allowed - which I understand but also wish wasn't the case for people who have traveled long and hard to see something and want to try to take some photos for themselves to remember the trip. It was nice to not have cameras out the whole time though and to just look at the ornate details of the room while the guide spoke to us about everything. It was raining and somewhat miserable while we were here but we still found the gardens and palace to be lovely and enjoyed the trip we made for the day to see them.

The island of Herrenchiemsee has two palaces: the Old Palace in the former Augustinian monastery,…read morenow known as the Old Palace and museum; and the incredible "New Palace " of Ludwig II of Bavaria. This review covers the New Palace. It's a must-see on any trip to the region. After Ludwig II bought the island in 1873, he made plans for the construction of the huge "New Palace", on which work began in 1878. This enormous building was modelled on Versailles, though the original plans were to include wings to match the original, but financial problems restricted the plans to the current building. As it is, it's still huge, and Ludwig expended more money on it than Linderhof and Neuschwanstein combined. However, funds ran out in 1885, a year before his untimely death, with only 30 of the 80 main rooms completed. But just those 30 completed interiors are stunning, and you can see pretty quickly how it burned through the funds so fast: room after room of vast mirrors, huge and exquisite chandeliers, luxurious furnishings and acres of gilded stucco. Clearly, no expense was spared. The hall of mirrors is actually longer than that at Versailles and its 52 candelabras and 33 chandeliers hold over 7,000 candles. Outside, the front of the Palace overlooks stunning French-style gardens with large classical fountains. Strangely, Ludwig did not intend to live here: it was to be a museum, an homage to Louis XIV and absolutist monarchy. All the paintings are copies of French originals and depict Louis XIV, not Ludwig. He spent only 10 days here - and even then he slept during the day and had an army of servants light the thousands of candles to illuminate it so he could wander through its rooms. The Palace can only be visited by guided tours, laid in in German and English. They last about 30 minutes and lifts enable full access for wheelchair users. The palace also includes a museum of Ludwig's life, featuring his coronation robes, and a small gift shop and restaurant. It's a 20 minute walk from the main jetty and 15 minutes from the Old Palace.