Iregeo

DH and are traveling to Germany in September to stay with friends just outside of Munich. I have already penciled out 2-3 days exploring Munich, a day to see Dachau, and a road trip to Prague (2 nights) via Cesky Krumlov (1 night), taking in Regensburg on the drive back to Munich.

Here are my questions:

1. Can we take in both Neuschwanstein and the Zugspitze in the same day, or will that be too rushed? Also, will driving between these destinations be scenic, giving us a flavor for the uniqueness of the area?

2. Can you recommend a day's driving tour of the Romantische Strasse, with suggested stops? What do you consider the "must sees" here? We might consider seeing this area in two days, with one overnight, so we are less rushed. Please provide your suggestions for this option too.

Many thanks.

logos999

1: Very easy, and I'd go via Lermoos / Ehrwald. Scenic and a feeling of freedom, not too many tourists, nice valley with pittoresque churches and towns.

2: The romantic truck road is full of trucks because all the German Autobahns have a cosiderable amount of toll for trucks.
Not so "romantic" as a road. Others can give suggestions. It's just a pity those old town squares have to suffer this.

logos999

http://www.zugspitzbahn.at/zugspitzbahn/en/
Every 20min between 8.40am and 4.40pm.

Far easier to reach the top from the Austian side in Ehrwald compared to Garmisch. Some find the Eibsee scenic and chose the Garmisch side of the monatain for that reason. I don't see their point. You can see the whole area from the top, the border between Austria and Germany is just there. Skiing in Ehrwald is better and less crowded too!

pja1

Hi,

If you are going to see Neuschwanstein, why not stay a night or 2 in the area. We like staying in the old town of Fuessen (10 min. from the Neuschwanstein). If you did this, drive over and see Linderhof while in the area. The interior is much more elaborate and "over the top" than Neuschwanstein's, in my opinion. Also, consider touring Hohenschwangau castle also, as it's "next door" to Neuschwanstein and is where Ludwig grew up. An alternative to the Zugspitze is theTegelbergbahn cable car about a mile from Neuschwanstein. There's also a luge ride (Sommerrodelbahn) there.

I agree that the Zugspitze is easier (and a little less expensive) from Ehrwald, Austria. If you do stay in the area, the drive to Ehrwald is less than an hour.

Romantic Road... nothing "romantic" about it. Just an ordinary 2 lane road connecting a few very nice old towns. We liked Rothenburg ob der Tauber best. I wouldn't drive the "RR" to get to it though. I'd take the highway for most of the trip.

Paul

Iregeo

Thank you both for your input. Very helpful information.

pja1, is the Tegelbergbahn another mountain peak? What's the difference between that and Zugspitze?

Iregeo

Forgot to ask, what are some of the highlights of the various towns along the Romantic Road? If you had just one day, which would you visit, and why?

Thanks again.

logos999

Rothenburg, because of the city wall and the things they've told me in elementary school about Bavarian history and the late middle age. The "Stadtluft macht frei" story (city air liberates you), sticks in everybodies mind. That "freed from slavery" stuff, as real or not as it may have been.

treplow

The Romantic Highway really isn't a day trip from Munich. To see a couple of worthwhile places along this otherwise ordinary road, you should plan to spend a night in either Dinkelsbuehl or Rothenburg ob der Tauber. (There are other Rothenburgs in Germany, thus the o.T.

A nice "loop" is to take the A-9 autobahn north from Munich. Get off at Exit 61 and take the B-13 federal road as far as fEichstaett. From there drive the (unnumbered) road through the Altmuehltal Naturpark as far as Treuchtlingen, and then head west to Noerdlingen (on the Romatische Strasse), Dinkelsbuehl and Rothenburg. Overnight there. Return going south on the Autobahn A-7 as far as the Autobahn A-6, head west on the A-6 to Nuernberg and from there South on the A-9 to Munich.

You don't need a whole day for Dachau. Best way is to take the suburban S-Bahn from Munich center to Dachau.

Deutsche Alpenstrasse: That's another one of those regular highways, some stretches of which are very scenic. These stretches are designated Deutsche Alpenstrasse.

A nice day trip is from Munich on the Autobahn A-8 east as far as the Siegsdorf exit. From there, take the B-305 to Inzell; shortly after I. the B-305 merges with the B-306, the Alpenstrasse leading to Berchtesgaden. THis is a very scenic road.

You can either return the way you came, or take the road from B'gdn to Bad Reichenhall, and from there follow the signs north to the Autobahn A-8. I'm sure your Munich friends know all about this trip, and some variations of it.

Iregeo

Thanks logos, treplow. Not quite sure, but I hope to have the time to overnight somewhere along the Romantic Road.

pja1

Hi,

The Tegelberg is another mountain peak. Not as high (or impressive) as being at the top of the Zugspitze, but certainly worthwhile.

Paul

Vttraveler

If you take the "loop" from Munich over to the Romantic Road suggested by treplow, consider stopping en route in Eichstätt, a small episcopal city with beautiful Baroque architecture.

treplow

I should have mentioned to stop in Eichstaett. Incidenally, if you take my suggested route and want to avoid going through Nuernberg on your way back, there is a nifty backroad route from the Lichtenau exit of the A-8 to Windsbach, Abenberg, Roth to the Allersberg entrance on the A-9 south to Munich.