Help! Trying to plan 4 day excursion from Cologne, Germany
Sep 17th, 2005, 10:27 PM
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Help! Trying to plan 4 day excursion from Cologne, Germany
We will be in Cologne Germany for buisness and have 4 days after to spend in Europe. Any suggestions... We will have to return to Frankfurt for our return to U.S.
Sep 18th, 2005, 01:35 AM
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In Cologne, there is a cute chocolate factory right on the river that is open to the public. They give you the history of cocoa and you can see the chocolate candies being made. The highlight is the melted chocolate fountain. The tour ends at the gift shop where you can buy an assortment of European chocolates. Mmm... Also, you can visit the Koln cathedral (very similar to the Norte Dame), sample the local beer, eat potato pancake with applesauce from the street vendor, buy the famous cologne. Are you intending to travel outside of Cologne? The train ride from Cologne to Frankfurt will take you along the river where you can see many castles including the Loralei.
Sep 18th, 2005, 02:32 AM
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Depends how far and wide you like to travel. Having lived there in '03, I would consider a quick trip to the Rhine and Mosel river valleys, perhaps stay in Cochem on the Mosel.
You can take a day trip on a tour boat going up the Rhine, say, from Bacharach, and return the same day by rail, which runs right along the river. There are castles to see along the rivers. One that gets good reviews is Burg Eltz on the Mosel.
OR, you could go see Wuerzburg, then make it to Rothenburg (with LOTS of other tourists). If you go to R'burg, make sure to stay overnight as the town is neat after the busloads of tourists are gone. There are some cute towns on the way from Wburg to Rburg (Weikersheim, I think?) to see if you are going by car.
If you go to Rburg, make sure to take in the "Night Watchman's tour", every evening, 8pm (i think), an hour's stroll, in English, full of interesting history. They meet at the town square at 8pm. Make sure you check the times with someone. I think the guy has a website too.
Email if you need further ideas.
EK
You can take a day trip on a tour boat going up the Rhine, say, from Bacharach, and return the same day by rail, which runs right along the river. There are castles to see along the rivers. One that gets good reviews is Burg Eltz on the Mosel.
OR, you could go see Wuerzburg, then make it to Rothenburg (with LOTS of other tourists). If you go to R'burg, make sure to stay overnight as the town is neat after the busloads of tourists are gone. There are some cute towns on the way from Wburg to Rburg (Weikersheim, I think?) to see if you are going by car.
If you go to Rburg, make sure to take in the "Night Watchman's tour", every evening, 8pm (i think), an hour's stroll, in English, full of interesting history. They meet at the town square at 8pm. Make sure you check the times with someone. I think the guy has a website too.
Email if you need further ideas.
EK
Sep 18th, 2005, 03:03 AM
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Agree w/Ekelly; I would get on a car and head out to explore the beautiful Rhine-Mossel Rivers area. It is a very fortunate opportunity to see this gorgeous region, specially the Oberwesel central Rhine river valley. Strongly recommend a stay at the Castle Hotel Auf Schoenburg about 50 miles from the Frankfurt airport. Check http://hotel-schoenburg.com/
Sep 18th, 2005, 03:13 AM
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Don't know if you are aware or not but there is not necessarily any reason you cannot spend your last night IN Cologne if you wish to. Train from there directly to the Frankfort airport takes only 57 minutes.
You might consider going over to Aachen to see the cathedral there as well as the charming town surrounding it.
You might consider going over to Aachen to see the cathedral there as well as the charming town surrounding it.
Sep 18th, 2005, 03:59 AM
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Will you have a car or will you be relying on public transportation? What would you like to do--sightsee? Shop? Try a German spa? Do you want to stay in Germany or make a quick trip to Amsterdam or Paris?
I know I am in the minority here, but my husband and I do not like the Rhine area. We find other parts of Germany much more scenic and interesting--we did a boat tour of the Rhine and thought it was the dullest thing we ever did in Germany. Perhaps the weather was a factor (it was grey and rainy).
I know I am in the minority here, but my husband and I do not like the Rhine area. We find other parts of Germany much more scenic and interesting--we did a boat tour of the Rhine and thought it was the dullest thing we ever did in Germany. Perhaps the weather was a factor (it was grey and rainy).
