Munich-Salzburg-Italian Lakes question
Sep 22nd, 2004, 11:38 AM
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Munich-Salzburg-Italian Lakes question
Two people planning 12 nights in Europe next May. Is it logistically logical to spend time in these three areas? I envision four nights in Munich, three nights in Salzburg, five nights in Italy. Is it easy or difficult to drive from one to the other?
Sep 22nd, 2004, 02:49 PM
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I am not sure you can really fill up 3 days in Salzburg, but that depends on what you want to see and do. Three full days in Munich should give you time to see the major highlights but, again, it depends on what interests you.
For example, do you have an interest in the culture of Greece from the 200 BC times? If so, I recommend the Glyptotek, which occupies two buildings.
The Alte Pinakotek (to mix languages) is worth the effort and time if you are an art fan. I cannot say I was turned on by the museum of modern stuff. There was one modern sculpture there however that was perfectly matched to its name. The sculpture, using the term in the most general meaning, was twisted car fenders and bumpers welded together. The name, fittingly enough, was Horse Pucky. I kid you not.
The Residenz is interesting, but after a while I get tired of the ornate riches of the ruling class and think of all the poor people the rulers robbed to make life luxurious for a handful.
The Deutsches Museum is interesting, up to a point, but most of the more modern pieces are elsewhere.
There is a whole host of smaller museums that you can explore if that is your interest. The symphony and opera is very good, but the opera is often sold out because of heavy subscription sales.
The English Gardens are pretty, and you can walk for many kilometers exploring them.
If you take the time to go to some of Krazy King Ludwig's overpriced castles like Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee, you can spend a couple more days.
If you are driving, I think taking in Herrenchiemsee on the way to Salzburg would be a good diversion.
In terms of your drive to Italy, one suggestion for a great mountain drive is the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse.
Some find it an overpriced toll road, but I thought it was superb for the views. Hopefully it will be open in May. It all depends on the snowpack.
If you are there in late May your chances of it being open are much better.
Unfortunately the best web sites about the Grossglockner are in German. If you are really interested, I can spin some of it over to English.
My German is fair for reading.
The drive south from Salzburg is fine, but after you leave the autobahn your speed will slow.
Heiligenblut is a picture perfect little town in which to spend the night.
We used a guest house run by the Kramser family. It was fine for the price and it gave us a peek into typical family life in a small Austrian town. Little Johannes is a big boy now, but when we were there he was an audacious four year old who never met a stranger. For some reason he took a liking to my wife, who speaks two words of German: Danke and Nein. He would come running up to her, jump in her lap with a thud, whisper some delicate secret, giggle, and run off. One morning after he pulled that act, we heard him singing away at the top of his voice. My wife went to see what all the singing was about and discovered that Johannes had peeled off all his clothes and was sitting on the potty. Evidently the whispered secret was his forthcoming trip to his singing destination. You don't get amusement like that in a regular hotel.
The name of the place is/was Landhaus Christoph. The web site is in English.
For example, do you have an interest in the culture of Greece from the 200 BC times? If so, I recommend the Glyptotek, which occupies two buildings.
The Alte Pinakotek (to mix languages) is worth the effort and time if you are an art fan. I cannot say I was turned on by the museum of modern stuff. There was one modern sculpture there however that was perfectly matched to its name. The sculpture, using the term in the most general meaning, was twisted car fenders and bumpers welded together. The name, fittingly enough, was Horse Pucky. I kid you not.
The Residenz is interesting, but after a while I get tired of the ornate riches of the ruling class and think of all the poor people the rulers robbed to make life luxurious for a handful.
The Deutsches Museum is interesting, up to a point, but most of the more modern pieces are elsewhere.
There is a whole host of smaller museums that you can explore if that is your interest. The symphony and opera is very good, but the opera is often sold out because of heavy subscription sales.
The English Gardens are pretty, and you can walk for many kilometers exploring them.
If you take the time to go to some of Krazy King Ludwig's overpriced castles like Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee, you can spend a couple more days.
If you are driving, I think taking in Herrenchiemsee on the way to Salzburg would be a good diversion.
In terms of your drive to Italy, one suggestion for a great mountain drive is the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse.
Some find it an overpriced toll road, but I thought it was superb for the views. Hopefully it will be open in May. It all depends on the snowpack.
If you are there in late May your chances of it being open are much better.
Unfortunately the best web sites about the Grossglockner are in German. If you are really interested, I can spin some of it over to English.
My German is fair for reading.
The drive south from Salzburg is fine, but after you leave the autobahn your speed will slow.
Heiligenblut is a picture perfect little town in which to spend the night.
We used a guest house run by the Kramser family. It was fine for the price and it gave us a peek into typical family life in a small Austrian town. Little Johannes is a big boy now, but when we were there he was an audacious four year old who never met a stranger. For some reason he took a liking to my wife, who speaks two words of German: Danke and Nein. He would come running up to her, jump in her lap with a thud, whisper some delicate secret, giggle, and run off. One morning after he pulled that act, we heard him singing away at the top of his voice. My wife went to see what all the singing was about and discovered that Johannes had peeled off all his clothes and was sitting on the potty. Evidently the whispered secret was his forthcoming trip to his singing destination. You don't get amusement like that in a regular hotel.
The name of the place is/was Landhaus Christoph. The web site is in English.
Sep 22nd, 2004, 03:38 PM
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Wonderful information. Bob, you are priceless, as is your post.
We may need to rethink the Italy part of the trip and work on Germany and Austria. Then again, maybe just Italy. So many places, so little time.
We may need to rethink the Italy part of the trip and work on Germany and Austria. Then again, maybe just Italy. So many places, so little time.
Sep 22nd, 2004, 04:45 PM
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I think you have to go with what you like to do. Years ago, after tramping around Europe for 11 weeks, I reached the conclusion that there was no way I was going to see it all.
In those days I did not know what I was doing. I was young, naive, and having fun just going. Then, one day at the end of 7 weeks, I came to a rude awakening that by not being prepared that I wasted the time I was in Paris.
After that trip, more than 40 years went by before I returned to the "continent." Finally, after I retired, I had the time and the money to start going back. Since then, I have focused first on seeing my friends and secondly on seeing the places I like.
I have enjoyed my visits to Austria, Bavaria, northern Italy, Switzerland, the UK, and so on. But, I have tried to focus on what I want to do rather than following some stylized guide.
Just remember the lesson I learned:
There is no substitute for planning and there is no substitute for enjoying it your way.
One friend of mine was planning a trip and someone told him to see place X.
He asked why. The response was "Because knowledgeable people go there." His response, "I have no interest in that. It's my money, my trip, and I will go where I think I will enjoy what I do."
When people ask about "must sees", I don't know how to answer because some of the destinations and attractions that I read about don't interest me at all.
So my suggestion is do it your way after you inform yourself so that you know what it is you are striving to achieve. If you don't like what you do, it is not a fun trip.
In those days I did not know what I was doing. I was young, naive, and having fun just going. Then, one day at the end of 7 weeks, I came to a rude awakening that by not being prepared that I wasted the time I was in Paris.
After that trip, more than 40 years went by before I returned to the "continent." Finally, after I retired, I had the time and the money to start going back. Since then, I have focused first on seeing my friends and secondly on seeing the places I like.
I have enjoyed my visits to Austria, Bavaria, northern Italy, Switzerland, the UK, and so on. But, I have tried to focus on what I want to do rather than following some stylized guide.
Just remember the lesson I learned:
There is no substitute for planning and there is no substitute for enjoying it your way.
One friend of mine was planning a trip and someone told him to see place X.
He asked why. The response was "Because knowledgeable people go there." His response, "I have no interest in that. It's my money, my trip, and I will go where I think I will enjoy what I do."
When people ask about "must sees", I don't know how to answer because some of the destinations and attractions that I read about don't interest me at all.
So my suggestion is do it your way after you inform yourself so that you know what it is you are striving to achieve. If you don't like what you do, it is not a fun trip.
Sep 22nd, 2004, 06:38 PM
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Very doable--I have done that loop twice. I would start and end in Munich to avoid a car drop charge. We like to hit Salzburg on the way down and the castles of Bavaria on the way back. If you do Lago Como, see the road thru the Engadine valley via St. Moritz and Landeck--ending near Fussen:
Salzburg--2
Castelrotto/Dolomites--2
Lago Como[or Garda]--3
Fussen/Oberammergau--2
End in Munich--2
Nice trip--14 days is better.
Salzburg--2
Castelrotto/Dolomites--2
Lago Como[or Garda]--3
Fussen/Oberammergau--2
End in Munich--2
Nice trip--14 days is better.
Sep 25th, 2004, 05:14 PM
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Bobthenavigator -- I knew I would find someone who has taken this journey. I am concerned about driving in snow -- what months did you travel? Any more advice you could offer on this plan would be appreciated.
I wish we could take more time. Both of my travel companions (it may be three of us now) are limited on time away from work, and it takes a lot of travel time from California.
The three of us get along well, and mostly enjoy doing the same things. We like a mix of local color, museums/sightseeing, shopping, sitting at an outdoor cafe, walking a lot.
My focus is on photograph as I am now selling my travel photos. I look for things like a table with chairs at a cafe, or a large pot of flowers. Not so much scenery, but of things that make one think of a place.
Bob-brown -- thanks, too, for your advice. I agree wholeheartedly that one must do what one likes. I've missed many a "must-see" in favor of walking around an historic area. Two trips to London, and I've yet to go to Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London. One of these days, perhaps, but priorities are priorities.
Also, I'm the planner for us three ladies. I do research (mostly on this board) for months. On the last trip I brought with me a list of recommended restaurants in Paris from fellow-Fodorites, and after dining at two on the list, my friend would not eat at a restaurant not on the recommended list.
I wish we could take more time. Both of my travel companions (it may be three of us now) are limited on time away from work, and it takes a lot of travel time from California.
The three of us get along well, and mostly enjoy doing the same things. We like a mix of local color, museums/sightseeing, shopping, sitting at an outdoor cafe, walking a lot.
My focus is on photograph as I am now selling my travel photos. I look for things like a table with chairs at a cafe, or a large pot of flowers. Not so much scenery, but of things that make one think of a place.
Bob-brown -- thanks, too, for your advice. I agree wholeheartedly that one must do what one likes. I've missed many a "must-see" in favor of walking around an historic area. Two trips to London, and I've yet to go to Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London. One of these days, perhaps, but priorities are priorities.
Also, I'm the planner for us three ladies. I do research (mostly on this board) for months. On the last trip I brought with me a list of recommended restaurants in Paris from fellow-Fodorites, and after dining at two on the list, my friend would not eat at a restaurant not on the recommended list.
Sep 25th, 2004, 06:15 PM
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May should be fine, except for the higher elevations, but you will not be there. All of these places are in valleys--the only pass is just before St. Moritz--and it is not bad. You decide which Lake---Garda will be much less driving, but stay at the north end in Riva or Malcesine. Job #1 is to get a GOOD MAP.
