kerokero

Glad that I found this site. I am currently doing research if traveling around in Germany via public transport is possible before I book my air tickets for the mid November trip. Thinking of having 12 days in Germany. We won't be driving.

Saw these recommended itineraries in fodors,
Thinking of this trip Berlin - Dresden - Prague
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/i...and-prague-46/

Or this Munich to Frankfurt
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/i...-frankfurt-30/

How can I include a day trip or 2 days to blackforest area? Any castles can be seen from the above 2 trip plans?

Pardon my ignorance. Thinking of bringing my boy there as he just started learning German language this year.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks

sparkchaser

By any chance, would it be possible to change your trip to the last week of November and the first week of December? If yes, you can hit Christmas markets in any of the German towns/cities in whatever itinerary you end up with.

Germany has a most excellent and quite affordable public transit system. Provided you do not plan an hour by hour itinerary, you can easily see any place you want using public transit.

You didn't mention what your interests are but personally, I would choose a tweaked version of the Munich to Frankfurt:

- Fly into Munich and spend 3 nights there
- Train to Nuremberg in the early morning of Day 4 and spend a full day exploring Nuremberg and spend the night there. If you are into WWII history, spend two full days here as the Nazi Documentation Center and the Nuremberg Trials Memorial will both eat up the better part of a day. You will definitely want to see the Burg (castle).
- Train to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Leave Nuremberg early in the morning and be sure to stop by the Rotheburg city museum -- for some reason the tourists overlook it which is sad because they have an amazing collection of items.
- Train to Bamberg and spend a day there exploring the old city and drinking the excellent beer. There is a castle/fortress to see here. Spend the night there.
- If you're into Wagner, head to Bayreuth on this day and return to Nuremberg at the end of the day (heading to Würzburg the following day). If you're not into Wagner, head to Würzburg instead.
- 1-2 days in Würzburg then head to Heidelberg
- IMHO, there's nothing too spectacular to see in Frankfurt so spend the remaining days in Heidelberg which is a beautiful city but get to the Frankfurt Airport the night before your plane departs. Stay at the Hilton Garden inside the airport.

Train tickets go on sale 90/91 days before departure. http://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/index.shtml

swandav2000

Hi kerokero,

Yes, it's easy and fun to use public transport in Germany -- I gave away my car when I moved here in 2008, and I get around perfectly well!

I like the itinerary sparkchaser gave you, but I might substitute Augsburg for Nürnberg -- but then I just like smaller places than large cities. I love Augsberg and don't know why it doesn't get more attention on travel boards.

Anyway, there are many, many castles in Germany, everywhere in Germany. You should decide on your itinerary, then see what castles are nearby. For instance, there are something like 5 or 6 near/around Munich.

Here's a wiki page on castles in Germany -- a place to start your research when you're ready to add them to your plan:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...les_in_Germany

The Black Forest area is pretty far from either of the itineraries you mention. But if you have sufficient time, of course you can add anything. For instance, you could do: Munich/Augsberg/Ulm/Freiburg/Heidelburg/Frankfurt.

Have fun as you plan!

s

happytourist

We're actually doing something like that in October as part of a larger European trip. We'll be meeting friends in Germany for:

1. Two nights at St. Goar (day boat trip on the Rhine)
2. Four nights in Bamberg (day trips to Coburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber)
3. Four nights in Munich (day trips to Salzburg and Eagle's Nest).

We looked into staying in Nuremberg or Wurzburg instead of Bamberg but Bamberg just worked better for us. The other couple are Brits and want to see Coburg because of the Queen Victoria connection.

In the past, we've stayed overnight in Rothenburg. If you can do it, you'll really enjoy the town after the tourists leave and you can take the Night Watchman tour.

BTW, all travel will be by train. Look for the Super Saver fares on DB railroad. They offer special tickets that are cheaper after 9am and for travel within a single land, as well as a great "happy weekend" ticket.

kerokero

Cool!!
Thanks sparkchaser, swandav2000 and happytouirst for the valuable inputs.
I like the propose d itinerary too. I shall go and do more research on what I can see in the respective places. My family will do a slow pace trip to explore each the town.
With the upcoming of Christmas market, I think I shall travel on the last week of nov and into the first week of dec.

Can check also at each place, how do I travel to the various places of interest via buses or subway?

Think maybe 4 nights in Munich, 3 nights in Numberg or Augberg then 3 in Bamberg then 1 night in Frankfurt.

What's there to offer in Freiburg and Heidelburg? I preferred not to change my hotel daily as check in and out is sorta waste of time.

Gary_Mc

We have traveled to Bavaria, Germany, for Christmas Markets 4 times in recent years and certainly enjoyed it. Hopefully, you will as well.

Heidelberg and Freiburg are both very nice but off your route a bit, especially Freiburg.

I might suggest one other stop for your consideration that is on your route: Regensburg with its Romantic Era Christmas Market at the Thurn & Taxis Palace. It has been our favorite combination of city and market.

http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-...5028020_t5NQGm

http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-...5030947_4WtqMc

Munich and Nuremberg main Christkindlmarkts are two of the most famous markets and are overwhelmed with crowds at times (especially evenings). Visit the markets for goods in the afternoon. I might prefer Augsburg in the Christmas season to either.

Bamberg's Christmas market was not impressive but the city made up for it.

Travel pace is an individual preference. We like short train rides and two nights per town. Some folks hate to change hotels that often.

sparkchaser

<i>Bamberg's Christmas market was not impressive...</i>

Perhaps but they have Glühbier. Bamberg is one of my fav Christmas markets because it's not insane like Nuremberg's.

Gary_Mc

Sparkchaser, we had Glühbier in Schwabbing (Munich). Not sure I would make a detour for it. Bamberg is great in any season. Gary

Ingo

What happened to the Berlin - Dresden - Prague itinerary?

sparkchaser

<i>Can check also at each place, how do I travel to the various places of interest via buses or subway?</i>

Very easily. Use the Deutsche Bahn site I linked above. It includes trains, subways (U-bahn), streetcars/trams (Strassenbahn), buses, and even ferries. It also has maps to show you the locations of stops.

texasbookworm

Much good advice above; here's another idea:

I disagree that there's not much to see in Frankfurt. It's not "preserved" like Bamberg, having had to be reconstructed as has much of Germany. But lots there.

And as a hub for train travel, it can't be beat.

Maybe look at basing yourself only 2 places--Munich and Frankfurt (with maybe a stop in between?) and take day trips from them.


From Frankfurt the Rhine Valley is so accessible. I know the boat travel is not as frequent during fall/winter so you'd want to check that out for specifics, but there are several castles along the Rhine that make a great day trip from Frankfurt. If you click on my screen name and look at my trip reports, you will see 2 about my stays in and travel from Frankfurt.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...kfurt-area.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-frankfurt.cfm

I went to, for example, by myself via train, these nearby--Mainz, the Rhine Valley, Heidelberg, Worms, Budingen, Marburg, Weisbaden and more.

With a car, my hubby took me to Trier (my favorite spot in Germany), Bamberg, Wurzburg, Triberg, Freiberg, Burg Eltz, Wartburg, and more.

I also went to Nurnberg but without a car I didn't make it out of the city center to see some of the things mentioned above.

Germany has a wonderful train system, but remember that you lose a lot of time every time you change hotels and travel; consider having just a couple bases and do day trips.

And Frankfurt has some great museums along the river your son might like, too. And there's a great walking tour Frankfurt on Foot to have an overview of the city and its history.

Whatever you pick will be great; driving is not hard, either, really (well, I say that from watching DH, not from doing it) and will get you places you can't by train, other public transport and foot, BUT you can see lots without a car, too.

I used the German Rail Pass--yes, it is more than point to point, but you don't have to make tight plans, you just show up and get on (for most part--a tiny amount of exceptions). I also used, when it ran out, some regional passes. I found all DB staff quite helpful, and their website is pretty user friendly, too.

Oh, and I'd put Dachau as a day trip on agenda from Munich; just went there (my second time) with high school students and it is ---important.