kwick58

My husband and I are flying into Prague to hook up with friends on Sept 9. Spending several days in Prague and then the 4 of us are flying into Frankfurt on 9/13. We have 5 days to spend touring the area. Will be flying out of Frankfurt on 9/17 or 9/18. This is our first time in Europe and would love some advice from seasoned travelers as to what we should see and do while in Germany. We do not have accommodations in Germany yet. We actually hoped to be able to drive from place to place and stop for the night along the way. Would not be opposed to going outside of Germany if there is something we should definitely see and is doable in our time frame. Any itinerary help would be much appreciated! You guys rock!

texasbookworm

There are so many things you should "definitely see and do"; what do you like? Walking? History? Shopping?

One idea, for your first trip, would be to just base yourself in Frankfurt since you fly in and out of there. (and you really don't have 5 days as you have only part of 9/13 and maybe, probably, none of 9/17. There's the checking in/checking out/ travel to airport early, etc. to eat up half days every time you move cities almost.)

First, Frankfurt is I think underrated as a destination itself; there's a great walking tour--Frankfurt on Foot--that will give you an overview of the history and the city--about 4 hours. Second, there are many places you can get to via train from Frankfurt. I'd suggest Mainz, Worms, Heidelberg as possible day trips. Also the Rhine is easily accessible, as a day trip, using train, feet, and boat.

By the time you messed around with renting a car and returning a car and figuring out driving in a foreign country (although Germany's pretty simple all in all), it may be best to just base yourself and do day trips. Then don't have to do the checking in and out of rooms that takes time and energy too. Just suggestion. And if you really are going in and out of Frankfurt, you'd just barely be able to drive like a day trip length one day and have to return almost the next.

wintersp

I would take the ferry and stop at one of the villages along, spend the night and return (by ferry or by train). And I would do this from Mainz, after spending a day and/or night in Mainz.
There is a castle along the way where you can stay overnght. I have to look it up.

Fussgaenger

what wintersp is trying to get at here does NOT involve getting on a ferry at Frankfurt.

In fact, I think he/she is suggesting you take a train over to the Rhine River and board not a ferry but a day cruise boat headed north through the Middle Rhine Valley, which is famous for its 40 castles in 40 miles of river. And I think that's a swell idea too.

But don't come back so soon. The Rhine and the neighboring Mosel River Valleys are real highlights. You could easily spend 3-4 days just in this area.

Rhine villages:
http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.d...php?id=274&L=3
Mosel towns and villages:
http://www.mosel-reisefuehrer.de/ind...ights-englisch


Start this adventure along the Rhine in Bingen or Rüdesheim - not Mainz, where the river is pretty dull. Take the train from FRA to Rüdesheim or Bingen and board a KD boat there:

https://www.k-d.com/en/kd-scheduled-cruises/
Scene near Bingen:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ngen_Rhein.jpg

You get a 20% discount on the cruise fare if you arrive at the KD dock with a valid train ticket. Then ride the boat through the most scenic part of the valley to Boppard and check in there for 3 nights or so. That way you can do day trips and not worry about where you will lay your heads at night. Boppard has lots of hotels and restaurants - really a nice town.

Boppard riverfront:
http://www.pizza-toni-boppard.de/upl...r/IMG_0131.JPG
Boppard cafes on the main square:
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/9532687.jpg
Boppard old town:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2769/4...c5c8b305_o.jpg

After you check in, go to the station and catch a train 15 minutes to Oberwesel. There's a BIG wine fest on there that Sunday. A big parade between 15:00 and 16:30 and music starting at 17:00. Wine and food stands are there all afternoon and evening. A fun time.
Oberwesel wine fest:
http://www.oberwesel.de/uploads/pics/P1060485.JPG
Oberwesel:
http://s1.germany.travel/media/conte...T_1024x768.jpg

Catch a train back to boppard whenever you're ready.

Over the next couple of days just hop on a train to see some towns and castles on the Rhine and the Mosel. Boppard is an ideal base for visiting both rivers.

Bacharach: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...arach_BW_9.JPG

St. Goar and Rheinfels Castle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxFF80wORNQ

Cochem (Mosel River):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ade_Cochem.jpg

Marksburg Castle:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ubach_2012.jpg

Ride bikes if you like:
http://www.gastlandschaften.de/filea...a52eb71b8e.jpg

mokka4

I might consider basing myself in Mainz and making daytrips. Frankfurt itself IMHO is worth 2 full days--more if you love all manner of museums. Mainz is lovely to explore (the Marc Chagall
church windows, Gutenberg Museum). And I second the suggestion to visit one small town along the Rhein--I am partial to the wine-making village of Bacharach, though others are sure to suggest St.Goar, Bingen or Bacharach. You could take a short boat cruise in one direction and train back to cut down time.

Fussgaenger

If you have time after your stay in Boppard, visit Mainz and Frankfurt. Both are very close to FRA and send direct trains there (10-25 minutes.) I agree with t'bookworm about the car. You don't want a car in those cities and you don't need a car on the Rhine or Mosel at all - there are like 20-25 trains that travel up and down both sides of the Rhine every day - and about that many to Cochem too. And you can't take your car on the cruise boat.

mokka4

Sorry, that third village should be Boppard, as Fuessg. notes! And yes, the Weinfeste are wonderful to experience!

Mainhattengirl

The one problem you might run across is right at the end of your trip as the International Car Show (IAA)is being held in Frankfurt from 17-27 Sept. You will have a really difficult time finding an affordable hotel from the 16th on. Even the smaller towns around Frankfurt like Mainz, Wiesbaden, Darmstadt, are going to either be booked solid or be very expensive. Check on www.hrs.com or with the city websites, as they often have blocks of hotel rooms that will be cheaper.

Fussgaenger

If the IAA is a problem in Frankfurt or Mainz you could just stay on in Boppard. At this point rates look quite normal - $150 - $160 total for a 2-night stay on 9/16 at the Sonnenhof or the Römerhof (double room.) Between 5:19 and 7:19 am there are 5 direct morning trains from Boppard to FRA on 9/18. Those same trains stop in Bingen. If you overnight in Bingen at the NH Bingen you'll pay about the same and be only 40-50 minutes from FRA. From either Boppard or Bingen it is easy to day trip into Mainz and back if you have a day for more sightseeing.