pittsburgh

2 adults + 2 young kids (2 year old girl and almost 5 year old boy).

We fly in/out of Munich. Are planning to use trains for transportation between cities. Keeping length of the train rides reasonable for the kids is also important. (What reasonable is, no one may actually know .

We figure we should spend 3 full days in Munich either at the beginning or end of the trip.
2 full days in Salzburg.
2 full days in either Innsbruck, or Mittenwald or Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Other 3 days would be partial days travelling between the cities.

The questions:
1) Is this a reasonable plan or are there better recommended options with Munich as a base?
2) Any preference between Innsbruck, Mittenwald or Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Thanks.

swandav2000

Hi pittsburgh,

I've lived in Garmisch since 2008, but before I moved here, I spent 2 months in Mittenwald, so I hope my comments are useful --

I would put the time in Munich at the end of the trip so that you'll be closer to the airport. Upon arrival, it's pretty simple to just get on a train and get to your ultimate destination -- I just chalk up arrival day as a travel day.

I would probably do the order as: Garmisch/Mittenwald, then Salzburg, then Munich.

I would not recommend Innsbruck because it's a city. You're already spending 3 full days in Munich and 2 full days in Salzburg, so I think it would be best to balance those days out with some time in a smaller place where you are closer to the countryside.

When is your trip? That might be relevant to whether we recommend Garmisch or Mittenwald for your family.

Mittenwald is smaller but prettier imo, and it's much easier to get out into the mountains. There are two small lakes just outside of town and of course the Karwendel mountain range. You can leave your rooms in the center of town and be in the countryside in about 10 minutes of walking.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is larger, of course, and offers a bit more diversity. Partenkirchen was founded by the Romans, and you can almost feel that difference, as Garmisch was founded by Germanic-tribal farmers. Each area has its own pedestrian zone, though the Garmisch pedestrian zone has more shops, cafes, restaurants, and activity vibe. And more English-speaking tourists.

Garmisch has a good bus system in town, though you can walk from one end of Partenkirchen to the other end of Garmisch in a little over an hour, walking quickly. If you have a hotel room in the center of town, you can be on a hiking/walking trail in about 15 or 20 minutes by walking, or maybe 30 minutes by bus, including wait time at the bus stop.

Garmisch is better located for some day-trips, such as to Oberammergau, Füssen, and Linderhof. Mittenwald is better located for day-trips to Innsbruck or Seefeld in Tirol.

Have fun as you plan!

s

pittsburgh

Late August.

swandav2000

Forgot to say that Garmisch is better located to ascend the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain. After a trip up the Zugspitze, it's a good idea to walk around the Eibsee (about 90 minutes), which lies at the Eibsee stop of the cogwheel train up the mountain. The Zugspitze cable car is now closed while they erect a new cable car, slated to open this Dec.

Also, many folks enjoy walking up Garmisch's Partnachklamm, though I personally think it's over-hyped. Mittenwald also has a gorge, the Leutasch gorge, but it was closed the one time I wanted to hike it.

s

swandav2000

Ok, for late August, I think I'd pick Mittenwald. There would be fewer tourists there, and more flowers (!) spilling from windows everywhere. If having fewer restaurants & shops would not be a problem, then I'd head to Mittenwald.

s

Dukey1

My only question: are you planning to visit any of the Ludwig "builds" such as Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, etc.?

pittsburgh

Undecided on the castles. Depends how easy they are to reach by train/bus -- we don't plan on getting a car.

Macross

Garmisch to Murnau, then Oberammergau by train. Well worth a visit.

https://www.grainau.de/en/leisure_an...talklamm-gorge

Swandav, have you done this hike? I like the other gorge but it wasn't till the third time I found out you could hike above it and there was a beer garden.
Your children will love the cog train going up the Zugspitze. Make sure it is a clear day though.

PalenQ

About trains... In Bavaria you can use the bargain Bavarian Lander Card pass for unlimited travel on regional trains for a whole day for you all for about 30-35 euros - even extends to Salzburg in Austria. Buy it at any station.

See www.bahn.de/en for discounted fares for faster trains and those to Innsbruck or other destinations outside of Bavaria.

For lots on trains check www.bahn.de/en - official site of German Railways; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetrave.com and www.ricksteves.com.

swandav is a local and expert on the region -take her comments seriously for sure.

swandav2000

Hi again pittsburgh,

It's pretty easy to hit Füssen & Linderhof from Garmisch, as I noted above. You can plug them into the DB train scheduler to see the exact schedules, using

"Hohenschwangau Neuschwanstein Castles, Schwangau" for the Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau castles above Füssen

and

"Linderhof Schloß, Ettal" for the Linderhof castle.

There is a direct bus from Garmisch to the Neuschwanstein/Hohenschwangau castles that leaves at 09.40, but the return requires a change. Many people like the combination of bus & train through Reutte (goes through a valley), but I far prefer the bus & bus that goes via Oberammergau (sweet green, rolling hills). Füssen is also a super charming little town. Even though it's smaller than Garmisch in population, it has a larger and more interesting old town, with streets radiating off in different directions. It also has a river that runs at the edge of town, a large lake outside of town, and another castle in town. It's really worthwhile to spend a few hours exploring the town itself.

Going to/from the Linderhof castle requires a change, usually at the Ettal Monastery, which is worth seeing itself, so it's a good spot to change.

Some people are put off by the thought of changing busses, but it's awfully easy -- plus you have the advantage of being able to talk to the driver when you board (which you can't, of course, on a train). The driver always tells me the cheapest ticket to buy when I ask, because sometimes I will be hiking part of the route or the return.

For Macross -- No, I haven't done the Hollental hike. I'm not enamored of hiking gorges ... I really prefer to have wide open fields around me with a mountain backdrop. Just a personal preference. There are a lot of hikes I still haven't gotten to right here in Garmisch ... and I'd like to do the hike up to Elmau and then over to Mittenwald.

Have fun!

s

swandav2000

Oh, also, the Bavaria Ticket may not be the cheapest ticket to buy for train/bus travel. There is also the Werdenfels Ticket, which is valid in a narrow field from the Munich airport to Garmisch and to Mittenwald -- it is a little cheaper than the Bavaria Ticket, and it has no restrictions on time, as the Bavaria Ticket does.

One note, though. While the Bavaria Ticket is valid on town busses in many cities in Bavaria (München, Augsburg), it is NOT valid on busses in Garmisch. However, your hosts will give you a guest card that will make the town busses free for you.

Thanks for the kind words, Pal!

s

PalenQ

Cheers swandav- Interlaken rocks! Your above posts shows what I said!

pittsburgh

Thanks for the great feedback so far.
The issue we quickly are running into is hotel availability in both Salzburg and Mittenwald.
For Salzburg, we are now booked at the Crowne Plaza -- The Pitter (on a refundable reservation in case anything better shows up).
For Mittenwald, the only place I see so far that has the dates we want available and can accommodate the 4 of us is the Alpenhotel Rieger. Had any experience with them? For those same dates, it looks like all of the well reviewed hotels in Garmisch are available.

swandav2000

Hi again,

No, sorry, no experience with that hotel -- I spent 5 weeks in Mittenwald before I moved to Garmisch, but I stayed in an apartment.

Hope you get some good input soon!

Suzann

Macross

Stay in Garmisch, more to do at night and great places to eat.

PalenQ

I loved our stay in Garmisch-P - nice cozy family-run guesthouse - great rail and bus links.

pittsburgh

Update on plans:
- Arrive in Munich. train to Salzburg.
- Salzburg -- Reservation currently @ the Crowne Plaza. Not the greatest of hotel choices but location doesn't look bad and pickings are slim right now for mid-August.
- Train Salzburg--> Garmisch. Whenever I search online for the train route, it takes me through Munich unless I forcible say go through Innsbruck. I assume the route through Innsbruck is more interesting than going back through Munich?
- Garmisch: Reservation @ Hotel Zugspitze
- Munich -- Have not decided yet where to stay. Like the idea of staying in the center of town. But also looks like a number of hotels are out by the train station. Any particular preference?

Also still need to price out the train tickets and see if a pass is better or the indiviudal tickets per trip.

PalenQ

- Train Salzburg--> Garmisch. Whenever I search online for the train route, it takes me through Munich unless I forcible say go through Innsbruck. I assume the route through Innsbruck is more interesting than going back through Munich?>

Well via Munich is the quickest maybe but not by much -but there are two routes Salzburg-Innsbruck =the inland route that takes 4:15 but goes thru a string of lovely Alpine valleys and via Zell am See

or the so-called Korridor Zugs - Austrian trains that go thru mainly Germany take about 2 h 30 or so then 1 h 30 or so Innsbruck to Garmisch= 4 hours plus change time in Innsbruck - say 4.5 hrs all told.

Salzburg via Munich to Garmisch about 3.5-4 hrs -so quicker but not by much but the Korridor Zug route though scenic skirts the Alps to really.

The inland Sazlburg-Innsbruck route takes about 4.25 hours then 1:30 to Garmisch- so about 2 hours longer than other routes but much much prettier. Break your journey in gorgeous Zell-am-Zee -on a very pretty lake for lunch.

Now Salzburg-Munich-Garmisch can all be done by Bavaria Card -35 euros total but then you'd spend about an hour longer as you could not take the faster Salz-Munich trains but regional ones.

See www.bahn.de/en for all these variables- schedules. (For a great way to learn all the neat features of www.bahn.de/en -which may not be apparent to novice user check home page of www.budgeteuropetravel.com as they have on it a special box giving several such useful tips.

swandav2000

Hi again,

Wow, excellent hotel for Garmisch. The Zugspitze is very well located, just steps from the pedestrian zone and not far from the train station. You could walk to the hotel from the train in about 10 minutes. Some internet acquaintances of mine have told me it is their favorite hotel in all of Europe, and others have said that it's the nicest hotel in Garmisch.

As for Munich -- no, there's nothing wrong with a hotel near the train station. But it's not a very charming or picturesque area. There are lots of immigrants right there, and lots of cheap/dime shops, fast-food joints, and casinos. You'll also see some grown men & women just ... hanging out. I spent 5 nights last July at the 2-star Hotel Eder (attending a language course), and I felt fine, but it just isn't a pretty area.

I think a better area (you spent so much money to visit Munich ... it would be nice to be in a pretty/picturesque area, no?) would be either Marienplatz or the Viktualienmarkt (huge open-air food market). I spend another 5 nights at the 3-star Hotel Blauer Bock, and felt totally spoiled. It's a charming hotel in a charming area, just across the street from the Viktualienmarkt, and it's just about a 7-minute walk from Marienplatz.

Your trip is shaping up very nicely! Have fun!

s

pittsburgh

Good feedback. Blauer Block is on our short list so good to hear a thumbs up.