Iregeo

Hi all. DH turns the big 5-0 this year, and we've decided to spend 10 or 11 nights in Germany to celebrate. We have very close friends who live in Munich, and we intend to stay with them through much of our trip, exploring the city and its environs by day trips. We would like to take a 3 or 4 night side trip, likely in the middle, but at the end with an open jaw ticket home may also be an option. We will be travelling this year during late summer/early fall, and will be there during Oktoberfest. (Great...and I just quit drinking...) We will have a car.

About us: we are late 40's/early 50's (where has the time gone?) and fairly well travelled, both domestically and abroad. We love to learn about different cultures, and we enjoy architecture, history, castles, music, adventure, beautiful scenery, exploring on foot, hiking, great food, and, like it or not, DH will accompany me to an art museum or two. We are not big vacation shoppers.

From preliminary research, I have on my Munich list to spend a bit of time at Oktoberfest, see the Alte Pinakothek, the Palace, and take an old town walking tour. What are your other Munich recommendations?

Outside of Munich, we are interested in visitng the Romantic Road, Neuschwanstein, the Ottobueren, Dachau and the Duetch Alpenstrasse. What other day trips can you recommend?

For our 3-4 night getaway, we are considering Dresden and the Sachsische Schweiz, or Vienna and/or Prague. Pros? Cons? Ideas?

Please, help me focus. I will love to hear all of your ideas.

Many thanks.

treplow

From Munich, without car, you can do Dachau, it'as just a short sub-urban (S-Bahn) train ride. You might also want to take the trains to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and up to the top of the Zugspitze. Except for the Zugspitze, all local trains in Bavaria qualify for the Bayernkarta/Bavarian day ticket for EUR 28 for the 2 of you.

Neuschwanstein is another day trip, by car or train. I, personally, like Linderhof and Herrnchiemsee better. You can visit Herrnchiemsee either by train (Prien and boat) or stop at the boat landing on you way back from Berchtesgaden.

Consider a car day trip to Berchtesgaden, via the Alpenstrasse. Be advised, though, the Alpenstrasse sections (it's not contiguous) are regular Bundestrassen (Federal highways)that lead through scenic areas and have some parking spots for "oooh & aaaah" and photo ops. The same is also true of the Romantic Road. It connects some pretty towns, not much in between those.

I like Dresden, Vienna and Prague. But all are perhaps a bit further than you would want to drive for a 3-4 day outing and have some time left for sightseeing.

How about opting for an open-jaw return out of Frankfurt, and cover Ottobeuren, Rothenburg on your way there and spend a few days in Salzburg, perhaps to rest after the Oktoberfest? Take day trips from Salzburg there to Berchtesgaden (in lieu of trip from Munich), Hallstatt, the rest of the lake district (Salzkammergut),Zell am See/Grossglockner. You could even take a day trip to Cesky Krumlov, going via Linz, Freistadt in Austria. Probably a bit of a long day, but CK is pretty, as is most of the drive.

I'm sure you will get lots of more good advise.

CarolJean

Another day trip out of Munich would be to Prien with a boat trip to Herreninsel and Fraueninsel. Your friends can, no doubt, tell you all about this gem (or just research it here.) If you decide to go to Salzburg, it is on the way there. Have a great trip!

Aramis

It will make a big difference to the advice you get if the 3-4 day trip is in the middle or adjacent to an open jaw return and if you will be driving or taking the train/flying.

I agree with treplow that Dresden, Prague, and Vienna are quite a distance to travel if you have to get back to Munich again. It can be done, of course, but it will take up the better part of day and that day could be spent doing something if you keep moving in one direction.

3-4 days out with an easy return to Munich could be places like Salzburg (Halstatt, Salzkammergut), Nuernberg (Wurzburg, Bamberg), Rothenburg (Dinkelsbuehl, Nordlingen - the Romantic Road destinations) , or even Lindau or Meersburg on the Bodensee.

If you are oign with the open jaw plan, then anything will work really. It brings Vienna and Prague back into play and each of those should easily occupy 3 days alone.

In essence, if you plan to return to Munich to fly out it might be better to just go somewhere 2-3 hours away. Perhaps one of the places you planned to daytrip to can turn into your 3 night respite and a base for further day-trips. That would translate into something different than the big city feel you are going to get from Munich.

If, however, you plan to fly open jaw, any major European capital can be turned into a 3 day adventure.

Iregeo

Thanks for all your input. Aramis, your point is very well taken. Will digest your ideas and information, talk with DH, and come back for more!

saige

There's no mention in your post of the Deutsches Museum. It's a world class museum that you must see if you have any interest at all in museums. I'd compare it to the US Smithsonian. In fact, you might want to plan a full day there at a minimum. There is also a wonderful zoo and park in Munchen that your friends will love to show you.

I highly recommend the trip to Dachau.

For your getaway, Vienna, hands down. It's just heartbreakingly beautiful. Think classical music, Sacher torte, Lipzinger stallions, the boys choir...You'll love Vienna.

Echnaton

Other destinations for daytrips from München are Nürnberg (Old Town, Castle) and Würzburg (with a gorgeous baroque palace). Both are easy to reach by train and can be combined on one daytrip.

You have a wealth of options for your open-jaw return flight. I would recommend flying out of Berlin. Berlin will make a good contrast to München, and on the way from München to Berlin, there are many UNESCO World Heritage sites which are worth to visit.

gruezi

My vote:

Munich inclg Dachau, Neuschwanstein.

Berlin for 4 days and home...

Happy 50th to your husband. Germany is a great country to visit with friendly folk and tons of history and scenery.

gruezi

Iregeo

Drinking in all of your suggestions. There are so many fantastic options, it's hard to choose. Still researching, still confused, but the more I read, the more excited I get!

Iregeo

Thank you, treplow, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze have been added to our day trip list. Looks breathtaking!

And thank you saige, I've added the Deutsches Museum to our Munich must see list.

CarolJean, the day trip you have suggested is also very appealing, and I think we will have time to meander in that direction.

gruezi, I never even thought about Berlin for our getaway. I will read about it in my Michelin Green Guide, but can you tell me briefly how it differs from Munich?

DH is fairly intent on taking our getaway in the middle of our trip and returning to our friends in Munich. They've known each other since high school and he wants to maximize our time with them.

From my overnight research, I have sort of narrowed the getaway to 2 or 3 nights in Prague (DH seems to prefer this over Vienna for this trip) and 1 in Cesky Krumlov, OR staying closer and meandering through some of the areas mentioned above by aramis. Having difficulty narrowing down which of those towns to focus on. Will do more reading.

Will enjoy anyone's advice on narrowing and refining these tentative plans.

Many thanks.

Aramis

It's 5-6 hours to Prague by train, and about 4 if you are going to drive.

Adding Cesky Krumlov to the mix as a stop over turns the driving into about 6.5 hours.

You should consider Cesky Krumlov virtually inaccessible by train from Munich. The best time you can make is almost 8 hours with 3 changes.

Are you going to drive for your 3 day break?

msnovtue

Just FYI, there are several palaces in and very near Munich--which did you plan on visiting? The two best known are the Residenz and Schloss Nymphenburg. I personally would recommend Nymphenburg over the Residenz, if you have to choose. The Residenz is huge, and takes nearly a whole day to see; unfortunately, it also suffered a lot of damage in WWII. That said, it still might be worth a visit to see the Schatzenkammer, or state treasury. (http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/engl...ts/mu_schk.htm)

Nyphenburg is also home to a museum containing many of the royal carriges & such, in addition to the palace itself. (http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/engl...ts/ny_schl.htm)

Iregeo

Yes, Aramis, I think we are going to drive for part of our 3 - 4 day side trip. We haven't made any firm decisions, or completely worked out the route, but I don't think a 4 hour drive to Prague is unreasonable. We also plan on spending a night in Cesky Krumlov. Perhaps we'll do that first(3 hours from Munich, isn't it?)and travel on to Prague the following day.

msnovtue, thanks for your recommendations. Honestly, just started my research, and will look at both of the palaces you mention.

Aramis

Munich - CK 3.5 hours

CK - Prague 3 hours

Prague - Munich 4 hours

The fastest route back from Prague would take you through Regensburg on the way back - a nice place to break up the return trip

Iregeo

Thank you for mentioning Regensburg. I read about it in my Michelin Green Guide and it sure looks interesting. Now, I need a good map! I'm currently eyeing and estimating distances from the green guide maps. Not very scientific!

It is our first visit to this area. There is so much of interest to see. The good news is that since our friends live there now, we will likely make return trips and see the country a bit at a time.

Vttraveler

A few other places you could consider for day trips from Munich include Landshut, Augsburg, Ulm, Eichstätt.

Near Regensburg, the boat trip on the Danube to Weltenburg Abbey is fun.

We lived in Eichstätt for several years and really enjoyed exploring southern Germany. As you say, there is so much to see that it makes sense to relax a little and plan on return trips.

gruezi

Just my take but...

Berlin is a great big city in the north of DE with modern architecture and tons of history, art, culture.

Munich is a great big town in Bavaria with tons of charm, Florentine inspired architecture and some great art and a bit of history. Big on charm.

Berlin - needs a bit of time to see this city as there is so much. We crammed a ton into 4 very busy days.

Munich - can get a good feel in one long weekend.

Berlin is IMO a great contrast to Munich. Sort of another side of Germany. But, in so many ways a picture of all the German history of the last 70 years. If you like history at all, you should not miss it. (I am not a history buff but took my daughter who is, and I was a convert.)

I will be going to Hamburg in May and many people say this is the other great city in Germany. I will try to report back on it here for you...

gruezi

saige

Prague is a great option. There are some good trip reports and lots of information posted here if you do a search for Prague.

Berlin is a great contrast to Munich as gruezi said. There is a lot to see and do there including a wonderful zoo and gardens. It's a busy modern city filled with history, art and architecture. If you go, transportation is easy and affordable with a seamless subway system, train, buses and bicycles for rent. I'd recommend the boat tour if you have time. I especially enjoyed the Pergamonmuseum and the Egyptian museums. You will also be close to Postdam and Sanssouci.

I miss Germany! Have a wonderful trip.