alisonmary

I am planning a holiday with another couple for next year. My husband and I went to Germany a couple of years ago and really enjoyed. Our friends have never been before, so I am trying to incorporate new places to see , while going back to some others.

This is where we have been:
Berlin
Quedlinburg
Dresden
Bamberg
Rothenburg de Taub
Fussen
Munich
A town on the Mosel River

Time is not an issue, we can do 3-4 weeks.

My plan is to fly into Berlin, go to Dresden, then Quedlinburg ( my Favorite), then over to Hamburg, through Bremenn on to Kassel, and from here I am stumped.

Our end goal is the Black Forest and Baden Baden area. I am considering swinging though France to Strasbourg and Colmar on our way south. Again stopping somewhere along the mosel and taking in some wineries.

Can anyone mention any wondeful towns not to miss somewhere along this route.? Or any hotels that you might suggest? I love small, quaint hotels, generally in the center of town. In the range of $100 - $250.00.

I know this is alot to cover but any suggestions would be helpful!
Thank you,
Alison

Does a

Cowboy1968

You did not write if you will have a car, but if you plan to rent one, you can follow the Fairytale Road from Bremen via Kassel to Frankfurt. Aside from its northernmost leg between Bremen and the Weser mountains (which is flat agricultural terrain), the Road not only connects very scenic towns like Hameln (Hamelin), Hannoversch Münden or Alsfeld but also goes through a very scenic landscape, esp. where it follows the River Weser.
All these towns offer have historic town centers with half-timber houses (or sandstone Weser Renaissance buildings) and cobblestone car-free town centers with many hotels in your budget in the very center, often in historic buildings.
On the upper end of your range you'd also find hotels in fairytale castles (like Sababurg) or Weser Renaissance manors (like Schwöbber Golf Resort near Hameln).

Taking the opportunity to go thru Alsace/Lorraine before you end in the Black Forest region sounds like a good plan.

When I plotted the line of your itinerary on a map (which goes a bit zig-zag), you would find other gems along the routes:

Between Dresden and Quedlinburg: Meissen, Mühlhausen
Between Quedlinburg and Hamburg: Braunschweig, Wolfsburg (ONLY when you are interested in touring a giant auto making plant), Celle, Lüneburg - which are all lined up along the B4 federal highway which you could take instead of A7 motorway.
Between Hamburg and Bremen: Worpswede, a cute village with many thatched houses - an artists' "colony" since the 19th century.

quokka

From Kassel towards the Mosel valley, first continute south to my dear old Marburg, stop there: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/f86bd/9a93/

Then follow the picturesque Lahn valley downstream until you reach the Rhine just south of Koblenz. The Lahn valley is hardly known among international tourists but full of hidden gems, like the old town of Wetzlar, the spooky castle ruin of Runkel, the baroque palace and town of Weilburg, Dietkirchen abbey, Limburg's cathedral and old town, the belle epoque spa of Bad Ems. All this can be done by train easily (and of course by car). Both Kassel to Marburg and Marburg to Koblenz are scenic routes through the typical landscapes of central Germany through rolling hills, forests and fields, past little towns and villages, along small rivers.

Ingo

In Dresden Hotel Martha would be perfect. Quiet location in the Inner Neustadt district, charming, definitely in your price range: http://www.hotel-martha-dresden.de/

I highly recommend to explore the region around Dresden a bit more. There are lots of picturesque small towns in the area: Meissen, Freiberg, Bautzen e.g. All of them easily to reach by public transportation (and by car, of course.)

For a break from towns I suggest you do a day trip to the National Park Saxon Switzerland south of Dresden: Bastei is the (crowded) *must* viewpoint, fortress Königstein the *must* castle (with stunning views, too.) All sorts of hikes are doable, from easy, just an hour or two, to challening day hikes that are close to climbs. Or bike along the Elbe river valley. Or do a paddle steamer trip.

Between Dresden and Quedlinburg have a look at Torgau also. They have an excellent National Exhibit this year on Luther and the Electors (Reformation). The town itself is a gem, too.

Or check out the Garden Realm Wörlitz and maybe have a look at Bauhaus in Dessau.

Aramis

I am a huge fan of Quedlinburg so don't think I am dissing it when I suggest you also visit or stay in Wernigerode or Goslar on your way to Hamburg. The three of them present one of the most interesting trios of German towns that you can find within 40 kms of the same highway. With Wernigerode in the middle you could use it as a base and do day trips to Quedlinburg and Goslar.

On the way to Quedlinburg, consider Naumburg if only just to see the Naumburger Dom. I am getting goosebumps just writing this. It is one of the most spectacular and unique churches I have ever visited.

From Bremen to Kassel, you could shade a little east and visit the Weser River Valley; Lemgo, Detmold, and Hoxter, or, more directly, visit Gottingen and Hannoversch Munden. You could also do te Wernigerode, Quedlinburg, Goslar, stop here, on your way from Bremen instead of on the way to Hamburg.

After Kassel, Marburg is worth a visit before the Rhine. I am not a Rhine fan so I won't make any recommendations there except to see the Mosel instead.

alisonmary

Thank you all so much for your help. Yes. we will have a car, so all of these ideas may work!!! I have so fun planning these trips and now with so many new places to see it should be
wonderful!

This won't be finalized for some time, so any other suggestions are alwaays appreciated!