A 4-day family road trip from Berlin to Paris via Lower Saxony, Cologne, Reims and Versailles
Estimated cost
€1,620estimated total
Stays
€540
Fuel
€245
Food
€455
Other
€380
Estimates generated at planning time — your actual costs may vary.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
355 km4h 22mDepart 08:30
Start
Berlin, Germany
Drive 235 km in ~2h 30min via A115 and A2 from Berlin
236 km2h 44m
1
Attraction
Autostadt
Wolfsburg, Germany
11:00–13:302h 30m here€60
Family-friendly car museum park
Hands-on exhibits suit kids and design fans; use P1/P2 lots for easier SUV parking.
Drive 8 km in ~15min via L321 from Autostadt
9 km11m
2
Food
Mahlzeit - Ceramic Studio Hotel Restaurant
Weyhausen, Germany
13:45–14:451h here€70
Regional brewery restaurant
Good local plates after the museum; order schnitzel or seasonal asparagus if available.
Drive 82 km in ~1h via A2 to Hanover
105 km1h 11m
3
Attraction
Herrenhäuser Gärten
Hannover, Germany
15:45–17:452h here€32
Baroque gardens and fountains
Great architecture and family photos; late afternoon light is best in the Great Garden.
Drive 5 km in ~15min via city roads from Herrenhäuser Gärten
6 km16m
4
Overnight
Novotel Hannover
Hannover, Germany
18:00–19:001h here€145
Comfortable family hotel
Reliable family rooms near the Eilenriede; confirm garage height for the SUV.
Day 2
385 km4h 59mDepart 08:30
Check out of Novotel Hannover and drive 110 km in ~1h 45min via A2 and B1 to Externsteine
114 km1h 45m
5
Activity
Externsteine
Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany
10:15–12:452h 30m here€20
Sandstone rocks and forest walk
Short adventure hike with dramatic photo angles; arrive early for easier parking.
Drive 67 km in ~53 min via B239 and A33 from Externsteine
67 km53m
6
Food
Brauhaus Joh. Albrecht
Bielefeld, Germany
13:45–14:451h here€75
Brewpub with local dishes
Hearty local lunch breaks the A2 run; kids usually find simple mains here.
Drive 195 km in ~2h 15min via A2 and A1 to Cologne
203 km2h 17m
7
Attraction
Cologne Cathedral
Köln, Germany
17:00–19:002h here€32
Gothic cathedral icon
Major history and architecture anchor; use nearby garage, not old-town street parking.
Drive 2 km in ~15min through central Cologne from the cathedral
1 km4m
8
Overnight
Hotel Motel One Köln-Neumarkt
Köln, Germany
19:15–20:151h here€155
Central modern hotel
Central base for evening strolls as a couple; reserve parking due to weekend demand.
Day 3
463 km5h 37mDepart 08:15
Check out of Motel One Köln-Neumarkt and drive 165 km in ~2h 30min via A1 and A48 to Trier
187 km2h 16m
9
Attraction
Porta Nigra
Trier, Germany
10:45–12:452h here€32
Ancient Roman city gate
Roman history adds variety for kids; nearby garages beat narrow old-town streets.
Walk 1 km in ~15min from Porta Nigra through Trier old town
1 km4m
10
Food
Weinstube Kesselstatt
Trier, Germany
13:00–14:001h here€80
Moselle wine tavern food
Local cuisine in a historic setting; try flammkuchen and grape juice for kids.
Drive 250 km in ~3h 15min via A1 and A4, crossing Luxembourg/France
273 km3h 10m
11
Attraction
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
Reims, France
17:15–19:152h here€20
French coronation cathedral
Superb Gothic photography and history; exterior glows beautifully in evening sun.
Drive 1 km in ~15min through central Reims from the cathedral
2 km7m
12
Overnight
Best Western Premier Hotel De La Paix
Reims, France
19:30–20:301h here€170
Central Reims hotel
Comfortable central stay for a couple night; book secure parking for the SUV.
Day 4
199 km2h 52mDepart 08:30
Check out of Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Paix and drive 150 km in ~2h 15min via A4 and A86 to Versailles
169 km1h 56m
13
Attraction
Palace of Versailles
Versailles, France
10:45–13:453h here€105
Royal palace and gardens
Architecture, gardens and family space; book timed palace tickets well ahead.
Drive 2 km in ~10min inside the Versailles estate area
3 km11m
14
Food
La Flottille
Versailles, France
13:55–14:551h here€95
Lakeside French brasserie
Relaxed garden lunch near boats; reserve terrace seats if weather is good.
Walk 300 m in ~5min from La Flottille to the Grand Canal
0 km1m
15
Activity
Grand Canal of Versailles
Versailles, France
15:00–16:301h 30m here€79
Rowboats and garden walk
Water activity fits summer and kids; bring sun hats and check wind before rowing.
Drive 24 km in ~1h 15min via N12 and D910 into Paris traffic from Versailles
23 km32m
16
Attraction
Eiffel Tower
Paris, France
17:45–19:151h 30m here
Classic Paris landmark
Final photo landmark for the family; park outside the core or use hotel garage first.
Finish
Paris, France
Before you go
Local tips
- 1Book Versailles timed-entry tickets before June weekends sell out; choose a morning slot.
- 2Fuel up in Germany or Luxembourg before entering France, where motorway fuel is usually pricier.
- 3For Cologne, reserve hotel parking and avoid driving into the cathedral area at peak evening traffic.
- 4Photograph Reims Cathedral after 18:00 for warmer light and fewer group-tour crowds.
- 5Use French motorway toll lanes marked CB/card; keep a payment card handy before Reims and Paris.
- 6Plan Paris arrival after rush hour if possible; périphérique traffic can add 30–60 minutes.
Good to know
- 1French A4 tolls apply between the border/Reims/Paris; expect roughly €25–35 depending on entry point.
- 2Cologne has a low-emission zone; ensure the SUV has a valid German Umweltplakette.
- 3Crossing Germany, Luxembourg and France is Schengen, but carry passports/IDs, license, registration and insurance.
- 4June weekends can be busy at Autostadt, Cologne Cathedral and Versailles; parking may fill by late morning.
- 5Paris and central old towns have tight garages and narrow lanes; verify SUV height before booking.
- 6Summer storms can make Externsteine rocks slippery; avoid climbing wet steps with children.
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