Side Trip from Munich – Please Advise

Old Oct 17th, 2013, 12:13 PM
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Side Trip from Munich – Please Advise

Hello,

I will be visiting Munich next month for a week long business trip. I am also staying an extra three full days and then flying back out of Munich. I am considering a side trip for a night or two. This will be my third time in Munich. I have also traveled to Salzburg, Vienna, Hallstatt , Rothenberg ODT, Nuremburg, and Fussen on earlier trips. I would like to visit some other places and I plan to travel by train. I am interested in going somewhere that has a different feel from Munich. I am also interested in somewhere scenic to walk around, unique/historic architecture and experiencing local culture. I am considering Bamberg (breweries), Regensburg, Innsbruck or Prague. I am also open to other suggestions. I am looking for inexpensive, but nice, B&B or hotels. Please advise.

Thanks in advance!
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 12:18 PM
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In any decent sized town or city in Germany the tourist office is the place to inquire about a room. That's what we did in Würzburg, Bamberg, Erfurt etc. They'll ask yo9u what you are willing to pay and will find an appropriate room. English is generally spoken.
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 12:55 PM
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I've been to Bamberg and Prague, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend highly.

Bamberg, of course, is closer so you have less travel time. And YES, the fabulous Rauchbier is a big draw - that's why we went The town is quite nice as well - lots of half-timbered buildings, picturesque spot on the river, interesting churches, etc. When there we stayed at the Barock Hotel Am Dom, which we really liked.

http://www.barockhotel.de/

Prague is an excellent city, but does take a little bit longer to get to - not terrible though. If you take the DB bus, it is about 4.5 hours, direct from Munich Hauptbahnhof to the Prague main train station. You can fly too, but when you consider travel to and from airports and time at the airports, the bus is faster.

In Prague, we stayed at the Hotel Tri Bubnu (3 Drums), which is just around the corner from the Old Town Square and about a block from a metro stop. The location is convenient and we liked the hotel a lot.

http://www.utribubnu.cz/hotel-u-tri-bubnu-17.html
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 06:39 PM
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Bamberg (about 2:00 hours direct) is really great, as is Regensburg (about 1:20 direct). Both offer what you are looking for but are quite different from each other. I suggest you goggle ach and surf around for a bit to help decide which one fits you better for a 2 day trip.

Prague, for my liking is a little far to travel to for a 2 day return trip.
Innsbruck's appeal is kind of "meh". It seems caught somewhere between the mid size historical city appeal of Bamberg and Regensburg and the big city vibe of Munich, etc... An okay place to see if passing through, but challenging to recommend as a stand alone target destination.
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 07:12 PM
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We have visited both Bamberg and Regensburg. I think both meet your criteria. We liked Regensburg a bit more but it was just the feel of the place for us. We like our meals and the beer at both the Kneitinger Brewery and Regensburger Weißbräuhaus. We stayed at the Weidenhof Hotel a couple times. It is middle class with a decent breakfast. Gary
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 09:42 PM
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Of the places you list, I've been to Innsbruck and Prague. I loved both, if for very different reasons.

I found Innsbruck to be an incredibly charming and scenic Alpine "town" with a very walkable and assessable old town core. As I recall, I spent about 24 hours there, during which I made time to go to the top of Hafelekar. Depending on your interests, I think one could enjoy Innsbruck's highlights in a day trip or savor a bit more of its flavor in a stay of a night or two.

I adored Prague, with its incomparable architecture and decidedly Bohemian air. Note, however, that I saw it years ago (June 1995, I think). I was aware that there were mobs of tourists about, but was so enamored of the city that I barely noticed them -- which struck me as noteworthy, since I emphatically dislike crowds. Unfortunately, I hear the crowds have gotten worse since then. The other thing I would say about Prague is that it really deserves 3 or 4 days IMO (depending, of course, on your interests).

Another option you might consider is Heidelberg. It has a wonderfully evocative ruined castle on a hill above a well-preserved Old Town along the Neckar River and is surrounded by wooded walks (including the lovely Philosophenweg).

Hope that helps!
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 10:10 PM
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I suggest Bamberg. Lots of beer to drink and if some reason you get bored, you can head into the Fränkisches Schweiz and do either a brewery hike or a Schnapps hike.



In any decent sized town or city in Germany the tourist office is the place to inquire about a room.

Personally, I would never willingly do this. What happens if you pop into town where some event is going on and every place but the worst ones are sold out?

Booking.com is what I use for finding places in Germany.
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 10:55 PM
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Personally, I would never willingly do this. What happens if you pop into town where some event is going on and every place but the worst ones are sold out?


It happened, specifically in Würzburg and Bamberg where we had to stay outside the towns for the first night; no big deal since we had a car. We got a hotel room in Leipzig even though it was its big Goth weekend. In no instance were the rooms less than acceptable.
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Old Oct 18th, 2013, 05:38 AM
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Thank you for all of the suggestions so far!

I checked Google maps, and it looks like Prague is only a 3 to 4 hour drive from Munich if I get a rental car. It also looks like Regensburg is on the way. Bamberg is a little out of the way if I am driving to Prague, but not too much. It appears that it would only add around 45 minutes driving time. I could stay one night in Prague and a night in either Bamberg or Regensburg if I get a rental car. Then, I could stay my last night back in Munich. I have a morning flight the next day. What do you think?

If I decide to take public transportation, the bus to Prague looks like it will arrive at least an hour sooner than taking the train. Do you know the cost difference? Would I take a train or bus to Bamberg or Regensburg from Munich?

Thanks again
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Old Oct 18th, 2013, 09:32 AM
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You can check train - public transportation schedules here.

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

You can use the Bayern-Ticket (Single is 22€) to travel by regional train to either Bamberg (3+ hrs with 1 transfer) or Regensburg (1+ hrs). The transfer to Bamberg is at Nürnberg, which is also might be a nice couple hour stop. The train station is right at the edge of the old town. There are lockers in the station to store your luggage if you want to do this.

Regards, Gary
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Old Oct 22nd, 2013, 10:25 AM
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I am planning to take the bus that travels from Munich to Prague on the DB website below (29 Euro each way). I will also need a return trip. Can anyone tell me if I should purchase these online before I go to Europe, or wait until I get to Europe and purchase them at the DB train station? How far in advance should I purchase them?
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Thanks!
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Old Oct 22nd, 2013, 11:32 AM
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That 29 Euro fare is a Sparpreis. You better get it now because they sell out fast and you will be left with full-fare tickets.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2013, 11:56 AM
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I vote for Innsbruck (my favourite holiday town) and Regensburg that is delightful. I was also in Bamberg some 30 years ago or so, so my memory is fading. Never been to Augsburg that on the paper looks as an ideal day trip from Munich so I cannot advise, but I would be considering it myself.
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