If you love the fairy-tale atmosphere of Disneyworld’s Fantasyland, come to Germany and see some of the real life places that inspired Walt Disney! Bavaria is a phenomenal destination for families, offering a mix of big city excitement, storybook villages, outdoor adventures, and castles that spark imagination.

The capital city of Munich is one of the safest and one of the cleanest cities in Europe. It’s a lively place that blends modern life with beloved German traditions. Check out futuristic cars at BMW World in the morning, and spend the afternoon in a beer garden where the waitstaff wears traditional dirndls and lederhosen. Watch animated figures dancing in the Glockenspiel at City Hall, then afterwards, climb St. Peter’s Church tower for a panoramic view of the city.

Outside Munich, in the foothills of the Alps, you’ll find pristine mountain lakes to swim in, thrilling alpine coasters to ride, and castles to explore. Take a cable car to the top of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, and eat lunch at the summit restaurant. Afterwards, take a quick stroll across the border into Austria for an apple streudel dessert!

Unlike Disneyworld, you don’t need to sign up for a disability pass to have a sensory-friendly vacation here. Yes, you’ll want to reserve a skip the line ticket at a few places, but most of the best experiences are wide open and ready to be enjoyed.

Ludwig II became king of Bavaria in 1864 when he was only 18 years old. He was fascinated by stories of chivalry, fairy tales, mythology, and loved watching operas that told these stories.

Ludwig spent most of his time designing and building spectacular palaces in remote Alpine areas, expecting each of them to be a perfect setting for one of his preferred fantasies. He spared no expense, hiring master craftsman to create perfect visual effects, and invested in state of the art (for the time) electrical, plumbing and heating systems for comfort and convenience.

Ludwig was very eccentric - he slept all day and stayed awake at night so that he wouldn’t have to deal with real people. He always ate alone, and sometimes set places for pretend guests, characters from his favorite operas or famous people from the past. He neglected his royal duties, and found himself deeply in debt with all his extravagant building projects.

Eventually, his family and closest advisors declared him insane, and took him into protective custody. The very next day, Ludwig drowned in a mountain lake under suspicious circumstances.

Ludwig’s fairy tale palaces are now owned by the state of Bavaria and open to the public.

Neuschwahnstein Castle is the most famous of Ludwig’s masterpieces. When Walt Disney visited, he was so impressed that he chose it as the model for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland. Thanks to King Ludwig’s inspiration, and Disney’s marketing power, Neuschwahnstein is now the number one most visited tourist site in all of Germany!

Finding a family friendly place to eat is never a problem in Bavaria. On a sunny summer afternoon, there’s a party at every Biergarten in Bavaria, and the whole family is invited!

Back in 1812, King Maximilian issued a Royal Decree allowing brewers to sell their beer directly to the public on the property over their brewery cellars, and the Beer Garden was born.

The typical Biergarten is an unpretentious, sensory-friendly outdoor space, furnished with long wooden tables under large chestnut trees, and a gravel floor. Many have open spaces, or even playgrounds, where kids can run around and play while their parents enjoy a cold drink.

Everyone is welcome - people from all walks of life come here to relax over a beer, socialize, and enjoy some fresh air. The long tables are meant to be shared, so feel free to join another group and make some new friends!

Sensory: Oktoberfest attracts over 6 million people in a 2 week period each year, most of whom are there to party in as many beer gardens as possible during their visit. This is NOT a good time to bring a child to central Munich if he/she is sensitive to loud noise, crowds, waiting, or general chaos.

German culture is much more structured, formal and predictable than American culture. Germans like the world to be orderly, clean, and punctual. So - if your autistic child is somewhat rule-bound, or gets upset when he’s asked a question by a stranger, he will be very comfortable in Germany! Here is some of what you can expect:

Direct and Simple Communication. Germans tend to be highly straightforward, preferring clear "yes" or "no" answers over lengthy explanations. Most Germans don’t care for small talk, and won’t strike up conversations with random strangers.

Being Organized and Being On Time. Daily life in Germany is highly efficient. Trains and buses are expected to be on schedule. People show up early or on time for social gatherings and restaurant reservations. Service is efficient and prompt in restaurants and businesses.

Respect for Quiet Time. Operating loud machinery, or generally making enough noise to disturb neighbors is not permitted after 10 PM or any time on Sundays. Supermarkets and other retail stores are also closed on Sunday.

Munich International Airport is about 20 miles north of Munich. You can reach the city by express bus, local train, or taxi.

If you’re able to fly direct to Frankfurt, but not to Munich, consider using the Rail&Fly service from Lufthansa or Condor airlines. This gives you a flexible train ticket that can be used on any train the day of your arrival, and up to 24 hours before your departure. You can wait until 10 minutes before your train leaves to claim the ticket, so you have complete flexibility.

The trains from Frankfurt Airport arrive in Munich central train station in about 3 hours. Your total travel time will be about the same as with a connecting flight, but with fewer transitions and no stress about missing your connection.

If you’re coming from somewhere in Europe, the airport in Memmingen (FMM) is about one hour west of Munich, served mostly by the budget airlines.

All of our readers have different sensory triggers and preferences. If you have any information you’d like to share about visiting Germany, please leave a comment here.