sk2214

My fiance and I will be travelling with his parents to Germany this fall. I need some help with a few itinerary catches we have. Also, please know we will be doing this all by train or bus car rental is not an option. We will be here the last weekend in September

Friday, Day 1: Arrive in Munich late afternoon

Sat, Day 2: Tour Munich, possible bike tour

Sun, Day 3: Dachau in the morning...tour Munich and Oktoberfest at night

Mon, Day 4: Depart Munich for Salzburg.

Tue, Day 5: Tour Salzburg, Sound of Music Tour with the rest of the tourists!

Wed Day 6: Train up to Rothenburg and spend night to partake in watchmans tour

Th Day 7: Train to Rhine Valley

F Day 8: Tour Rhine Valley

S Day 9: Depart via Frankfurt

Ok! So here is my question...we want to fit in Ludwigs Castle and I would love to do the Luge. Should we do this on our way to Salzburg or on the way to Rothenburg?

tomboy

1. Have you looked at a map? Ludwig's Castle is not between Munich and Salzburg, nor between Salzburg and Rothenburg
2. Have you looked at a train schedule? There doesn't seem to be time to even go to Ludwig's Castle.
3. Where does one luge? Garmisch? (You could always luge in Michigan, at the training course)
4. Will you be able to see the Rhine from the train window (I mean the scenic parts of it, not the industrial parts)

sk2214

hmmmm...thank you for your superior questions. Wow!

Ok, so if anyone would like to truly help me with this, that would be fantastic. I'm in the middle part of planning (hotels are set etc). and trying to find the best way to fit some things in, specifically Ludwigs castle. if it must be done in a day trip from Munich, then it seems like that is my only option.

nytraveler

I don;t know why you're jumping on tomboy. How can you put together an itinerary without first knowing the travel means and times betwen places? If you dont start with a map (and in your case a train schedule) you may be trying to do all sorts of things that are impossible.

This part definitely has to come before picking out specific sights or hotels.

valtor

.
In day 4 you can visit, in your way from Munchen to Salzburg, one of Ludwig's castles: Herrenchimsee. It is on a small island.

As you already booked your hotels and as you have a very limited time, I think that you can not see any other castle.

dfr4848

Which "Ludwig's Castle" do you mean? He built 3: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee. If you mean Neuschwanstein, which is the largest and the one which invaribly ends up on the travel posters, you'd have to do that on a day trip out of Munich. Very doable by bus. Linderhof is not that far away and could be included as well. Both are west and south of Munich. Herrenchiemsee, as valtor noted, is on an island about 50 miles east of Munich and you could do that on your way from Munich to Salzburg.

sk2214

nytraveler, I don’t think I was jumping on Tomboy. I thought his responses were a little condescending. Of course I have looked at a map and have the bones of my trip planned including transportation. I never said I didn’t have any of those things done….I just didn’t list them all.

If anyone would like the information on what looks like a very fun luge ride near Neuschwanstein I’d be happy to share.

I was looking for some friendly advice on whether or not I could fit in Neuschwanstein and what other travelers’ thoughts were on the best time to fit it in.

Viajero2

sk-- you may have thought that you were looking for "some friendly advice on whether or not I could fit in Neuschwanstein....", but the reality is that your original post didn't say that. Unfortunately, there isn't a really friendly way to say that your post doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense.... I actually thought tomboy's replies can save you some unmet expectations.

Word of warning; train travel during Oktoberfest is very, very, very crowded. Any plan to train travel hop in/hop out/hop in again needs to be made with the clear expectation that it may be an exercise in futility.

hausfrau

sk2214,
Have you visited any castles before? Neuschwanstein gets a lot of press but I honestly believe it is overrated. Yes it is in a beautiful setting, but you'd be spending an entire day to get a 30-minute tour. By contrast, Salzburg has an incredible fortress with a good audio tour, fascinating history, and awesome views. If you have time for a stop, there are also many great castles along the Rhine, which were actually used as castles.

Bob_KY

sk - it sounds like a nice trip. I think I would skip Ludwig's castle since you don't have a car, I think train connections are difficult or non-existent there. Be sure to try to fit a short Rhine cruise in on your Rhine day. The best stretch is from Rudesheim in the south to St. Goar or Boppard in the north. KD Rhine Cruises offers regular service, almost like a train. There is a nice ruined castle above St. Goar.
(As an aside, I don't know why people who respond to questions here feel the need to tell the questioner to do research - this is a free board where people come for advice, if you don't want to respond, don't).

sk2214

I've been to Versailles in France. my travel companions really want to see it so I was trying to fit it in. We are staying in Oberwesel at the Schoenburg
castle for our last 2 days. We thought it would be a great place to just relax and take a river cruise at the end of our trip.

bavariaben

(Sun, Day 3: Dachau in the morning... tour Munich and Oktoberfest at night)

sk2214 - You might consider skipping Dachau on Day 3 and doing the Oktoberfest on Saturday. Instead take one of Mike's Bus Tours to Neuschwanstein. It takes the entire day but I'd be willing to bet it is a fun day. You say you will be there the last weekend of September. Mike has an off season trip on October 1 (Sunday - Day 3?) that might fit your schedule. Read about it at this website - http://www.mikesbiketours.com/neusch...in_castle.html
Ben

sk2214

Thanks for the good thoughts

SuzieC

As far as Grande palaces go (maybe not a working castle but then none of Ludwigs were anyway...) I can suggest, Nyphenburg (I know, I know, I have not spelled that correctly...) was a nice visit in a part of Munich...also the Residenz in Munich.
I wish I had gotten to visit the castle in Nurenberg ... but I had a bout of traveler's revenge and chose not to go touring! C'est la vie.