Continuing with our 'Making Memories with Moms' series since 2022, we are back with another trip with our moms this year. This time, our destination was Europe - Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. We kicked off our trip in Germany, and drove around the entire country in 10 days covering a total distance of 2856 kms (1775 miles), and continued our journey in Switzerland by trains. This was a hectic trip but we are so thankful for the opportunity to enjoy all the amazing places and sceneries with our moms, making memories that will last for a long time.
10-Days Road Trip Around Germany, Luxembourg & Liechtenstein
7-8 May 2025: Journey to Munich
9 May 2025: Neuschwanstein Castle, Rothenburg
10 May 2025: Nuremberg, Bamberg, Dresden
11 May 2025: Berlin
12 May 2025: Cologne
13 May 2025: Luxembourg, Trier
14 May 2025: Cochem, Rhine River
15 May 2025: Heidelberg, Gengenbach
16 May 2025: Black Forest
17 May 2025: Liechtenstein, Friedrichshafen
11 May 2025 (Sun): Dresden - Berlin (198.8 km)
Free breakfast at the hotel at 7.15am to start our day. Holiday Inn Express is one of my preferred brands to use our IHG points because they are usually cheaper and comes with free breakfast.
All packed (again) and checked out of Holiday Inn Express Dresden Zentrum at 8.15am.
Filled up the car before hitting the road. We also started cleaning the windscreen each time we are at the gas station coz it gets dirty pretty quickly and I need it clean for photos and videos. :)
Relatively easy day with only 2.5 hours drive from Dresden to Berlin. The moms napping as usual.
We noticed that wagons/hatchbacks are clearly the most popular car type in Germany. Our Ford Focus was also a wagon (the rental car companies consider them compact SUV). I can see the appeal because they have ample trunk space and are small enough to fit into the tight parking garages.
Arrived East Gallery, Berlin Wall at 10.45am and was lucky to find parking on the streets. It was obvious which painting was the most popular one coz everyone crowded to take photos of the Socialist Fraternal Kiss.
There are several locations in the German capital where you can see remaining parts of the Berlin Wall, but the East Side Gallery stands out. The 0.8-mile (1.3km) stretch running parallel to the river Spree is covered in murals created by international artists following the fall of the wall.
Checked into Holiday Inn Express Berlin City Centre at 11.30am. Booked this stay for 17,000 IHG points per room. Parking would have cost €27 but we were lucky to find free parking on the streets and put my excellent parking skill to good use...lol! Popped the champagne we bought in Dresden to celebrate Mother's Day and made a bit of a mess in the hotel room...whoops!
Started our 'walking tour' of Berlin at 1.30pm. Beautiful weather to walk around the city, which was about a 20 min walk from the hotel.
Our first stop was the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. This Holocaust Memorial comprising 2,711 concrete blocks is a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust commited by Nazi Germany.
This Holocaust memorial also includes an information center where original letters, diaries and photographs of the victims of the Nazi regime are on display. Admission is free to the interior, underground museum and there is a small fee of €3 for the audio device.
Next stop...Bradenburg Gate - Berlin's most famous landmark. Since the reunification of Germany, it has stood as a symbol of unity and peace.
Beautiful tulips around Bradenburg Gate.
Reichstag - the seat of the German parliament, the ‘Bundestag’.
Mom is not a fan of the sun...umbrella + hat + jacket to block the sun...lol!
Stumbled upon a peaceful protest at Bradenburg gate and then was caught in the middle of a bunch of cyclists. Not sure what they were all about but there were lots of police around. Somehow we seem to have the 'luck' of running into all these random things when we travel.
Wrapped up our sightseeing of Berlin at 4.30pm and had early dinner to celebrate Mother's Day at Bavaria Berlin.
Back to the hotel at 7pm and enjoyed some complimentary drinks to celebrate Mother's Day. Hubby passed out in the room already after the beers at dinner...lol!
Next stop...Cologne!
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