Kay2

I'll be in Regensburg in June and then I want to take about a week of holiday somewhere to walk in alpine meadows, see some snow capped peaks, and visit a few scenic towns, possibly crafts or folk music and dance. I will then fly onward from MUC. I am a 60-yr old female traveling solo.

First--am I missing some place beautiful near Regensburg that I should see before I leave the area (besides the town itself, which I have planned)? I see some parkland toward the north and routes for glassmaking, but nothing that in my mind beats out the Alps to the south. But my guidebook has little information on the area and it is unfamiliar to me, so I could be missing something.

A few years ago, I had a couple of days, so I went to Mittenwald and had a pleasant time taking the chair lift for a hike, listening to the local band concert, and enjoying the small town. I'd sort of like that on a larger scale.

This trip I have more time--up to one week. First I thought of Berchesgarten. I have never been there and it sounds beautiful with the Königssee. But then, I wondered how many days I could fill there--lake, Eagles Nest, a couple of hiking trails? Is a visit to Chiemsee from there a good idea? I've been to Salzburg and the lakes beyond and don't want to return there.

Then I switched to the idea of staying in more of a transport hub with hikes nearby, larger town than I might want, but more options for more days--that is how I came up with G-P. Will it be overwhelming with tourists and traffic? Perhaps a place on the edge of town near a bus stop or away from the center? My thoughts are: 2 days of trails in the area, 1 day to top of a mountain, 1 day to Oberammergau + abbey?, Where else? Füssen? Seefeld? I wouldn't mind seeing the castles from a view, but I don't want to tour Neuschwanstein or Lindau this trip. I might stop back in Mittenwald to see the violin museum. Somehow I missed it last time.

I think this may be one of those decisions where I can't go wrong, but I always appreciate tips.

flpab

http://europeforvisitors.com/germany...tnachklamm.htm

Walk the gorge but then continue and walk above it. Nice little beer garden to stop at on that route. If you can stay in town so you can walk to the kurpark and places to eat.

http://www.gapa.de/Garmisch-Partenki...l-Ende-Kurpark

Take the train easily enough to Mittenwald. We love doing that. You can get the train to Murnau and then take it to Oberammergau also or use the bus.

Adelaidean

I loved Berchtesgaden and Mittenwald, and would be happy for a base in either, as both have lovely walks, restaurants, public transport.
We have another 5 night stay coming up in Mittenwald in July, easily filled. Previously we've walked the Leutaschklamm, the lakes, gone up the cablecar, went to GP for Zugspitze summit, walks on Alpspitze, walk around lake by Zugspitze, this time we are adding Partnachklamm and possibly hire bikes to ride to Krun.
We have used the bus /train between Fuessen and Mittenwald, beautiful relaxing journey, after walking the Reitweg trail from Tegelberg to Neuschwanstein, a really lovely walking trail. We didn't tour the castles, just wanted to enjoy the setting and this is a great way to do it.
So, my vote is:
Mittenwald and surrounds first, then Fuessen for a night or 2, then return to Munich.

swandav2000

Hi Kay2,

I live in Garmisch (I'm 61 years old, too!), and I agree that it's a great hub for you.

In June, it will be relatively quiet, and it might still be chilly. The only event in town is the Richard Strauss Festival (11-17 June), but that doesn't really draw the crowds. We do get crowds for the Festwochen (July & August), BMW days (first week of July), and the AlpenTestival (5-7 August). In June, Garmisch will be mostly full of families and hikers.

For your trip to the mountaintop, you can choose from Kreuzeck or Alpspitze, and at the Alpspitze, you can see the amazing AlpspiX platform built out over the edge of the mountain:

http://zugspitze.de/en/summer/mounta...lassic/alpspix

You can also hike between the two mountains -- take the cable car up to the Kreuzeck, hike to Alpspitze, and take the cable car down again. The hike is about 1h, if I recall right.

If you want to ascend the Zugspitze, this is what I usually recommend for the day: At the Garmisch train station, go downstairs and follow the tunnel to the Zugsptitzbahn, and take the train up to the Zugspitzplatt (Zugspitze glacier), 90 minutes. Enjoy the views from the glacier, have a bite to eat if you want, then take the cable car up to the summit (10 or 15 minutes). At the summit, have a meal or just take in the views and enjoy the sun terrace. Then take the cable car all the way down to the Eibsee (15 minutes), enjoying the stunning views over the lake. Walk around the Eibsee (90 minutes), then have cake and coffee at the lakeside restaurant. Take the Eibsee bus (runs about once an hour, and the trip takes 20 minutes) to the Marienplatz in Garmisch. Walk through town on the pedestrian path and then onward back to the train station.

I found Füssen to be more enjoyable than Seefeld. In addition to the famous castles outside of Füssen, there is a castle in town, a river down the side of town, and a large lake just outside of town. And even though it is smaller than Garmisch, its pedestrian center is larger and more interesting. Oh, and there is another lake up at Hohenschwangau. I think it would be well worth some time.

Definitely don't miss the violin-making museum in Mittenwald; it gives a good idea of how cottage industries developed in the region. I know of a good 2h (flat) walk from Krün to Mittenwald if you want to incorporate that with your day in Mittenwald.

Otherwise, your plan for excursions & activities looks good!

Have fun as you plan!

s

Kay2

Thanks for the help. I have settled on G-P as my base. Now I will look for lodging Sunday-Saturday. Probably an apartment with access to a clothes washer. On long trips the practical becomes important.
I'm going to plan out my options for the days and then decide as the weather and my mood dictates. I will want to have several potential hikes as you have suggested mapped out.

I was checking train schedules for my return to MUC and see that construction is planned. I am a little confused that the wording says the route between two stops is closed, but it gives me the routing with just no stop at that station. So I am interpreting as just that--the train will go through to HBf, but not stop at Pasing. (Wording below). I will also check out the Flixbus. It would mean 2 hours on a bus, but no train transfer to S-bahn.

RE 4870: München-Pasing->München Hbf Gl.27-36: Construction work. The train is cancelled between München-Pasing and München Hbf.

swandav2000

Hi again,

You have to move to a substitute bus when there are rail works. So you have to get up, grab your luggage, get off the train, board the bus with your luggage, and settle in for the remainder of the trip. It can be a hassle if you don't pack light, and it will take a longer time. (One thing to look for, that I LOVE, is the additional white van they use for the bicycles on the train.)

The Flixbus/Meinfernbus can be cheaper, yes, and faster because they don't stop at all of the intermediate stops. However, I find it pretty uncomfortable. It is like airplane seating -- narrow seat, no leg room, and generally very crowded. (Not at all like the space and open air and walking you get on a train.) I took it one time just before a long international flight, and it made the flight seem two hours longer because it was so similar. If you take the bus, I hope you have a few days in Munich to enjoy it before you take your flight home.

And just to be honest, I'll tell you that I took it just yesterday to get to Innsbruck to catch a train into Italy. The train from Garmisch left 50 minutes earlier or too late to catch my onward train, so taking the Flixbus meant I could stay in bed an extra hour. Since I didn't have to step onto a flight, the discomfort wasn't a big deal.

Have fun!

s

Kay2

Thanks,
I do travel with only as much luggage as I can handle on my own--a rolling 21" and backpack (the large daypack variety) that I can either put on my back or top of the roller, but sometimes minimizing number of transfers can be relaxing.

But the Flixbus doesn't sound very comfortable for 2 hours.
I go to MUC to take a 2hr flight to Spain. I've been to Munich a few times, so I'm not spending any time in the city this trip.
I'll check the train schedules as to whether I should move to Munich the night before my flight using the train before weekend construction--I think my flight is at 12 noon, so I had planned to take the train up from GP that morning. I'll look at the schedule more closely. Need to decide to know number of nights to book at GP apartment.

traveller1959

The Flixbus is an ordinary bus. You have free WiFi on board, electric outlets at your seat, they serve coffee and there is a tiny toilet in the bus. You will certainly survive two hours in a bus.

It is very popular among students and senior citizens because it is the cheapest way to travel and comfortable enough.

Kay2

I can survive 2 hours in a bus. I've traveled around most of New Zealand by bus, taken some long distance buses in the UK, Australia, the US, Finland, Italy... However, I do find that 2 hours is long enough.

sla019

>First--am I missing some place beautiful near Regensburg that I should see before I leave the area (besides the town itself, which I have planned)?<

You could take a bus to Kelheim and from there go by boat to Kloster Weltenburg. The boat goes through the Danube gorge.
Weltenburg abbey has a fine baroque Asam curch, has one of the oldest breweries in the world and a marvellous beer garden. If you want to do some hiking, you could walk back to Kelheim by crossing the Danube on an old fashioned cable ferry, climbing on the rocks above the gorge and walking back along the river.
You will have fun!

The abbey: http://kloster-weltenburg.de/

The boat: http://www.schiffahrt-kelheim.de/

The cable ferry: http://www.tourismus-landkreis-kelhe...urg-Stausacker

sla019

... and finally, the beer garden:

http://www.klosterschenke-weltenburg.de/