Fodor's To Europe!
Southern Germany: Munich to Frankfurt
Back to European itinerary browser »
Fly into: Munich
Fly out of: Frankfurt
Total Duration: 14 days
This trip focuses on the best of Germany's southern region. From the bustling beer gardens of Munich to the financial buzz of Frankfurt, along the way you'll see the old-fashioned pomp of Augsburg, the scholarly focus of Heidelberg, and the perfectly preserved streets of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
- Art and Culture
- Food and Wine
- Museums
- History
- Nightlife
This Trip's Top Experiences:
Days 1-4
Elena Kouptsova -Vasic /shutterstock
1 Munich
Bavaria's Traditional Capital
- It's not just about Oktoberfest—this town loves its suds year round, from sipping in a beer garden to the craziness of the Hofbräuhaus
- The walk up may be long—86 steps—but the view from the top of the 14th-century Frauenkirche can't be beat
- Work off all the beer and sausages with a bike ride or a stroll among the Englischer Garten's lakes and parks
Days 5-6
manfredxy/shutterstock
2 Augsburg
Bavaria's Third Largest City
- Augsburg's Cathedral, the Dom St. Maria, dates to the 9th century
- The Fuggerei is the world's oldest social housing project, dating to 1516; the rent is still "one Rhenish guilder," too
- Die Ecke is one of the region's best restaurants, particularly renowned for its wine list
Days 7-8
Rothenburg Tourismus Service/German National Tourism Board
3 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Picturesque beyond belief
- Explore the town's medieval streets
- The Doll and Toy Museum's collection features more than 1,000 specimens
- Rothenburg's Town Hall dates all the way back to 1240
Days 9-11
Andrew Cowin/German National Tourism Board
4 Heidelberg
Germany's Preeminent University Town
- Heidelberg's castle is a hodgepodge of styles from the 16th and 17th centuries that somehow fit together; it's also home to the German Apothecary Museum
- The Alte Brücke, spanning the Neckar River, was part of Heidelberg's original fortifications
- As a university town, Heidelberg is one of Germany's most famous. You can visit the site of the old university buildings (from the 1700s) near University Square
Days 12-14
Petronilo G. Dangoy Jr./shutterstock
5 Frankfurt
Germany's Business Capital
- Check out the city's South Bank, chock full of restaurants and bars
- Goethe's house has been carefully restored to its original specifications here
- Kids will dig the dinos at Frankfurt's Natural History Museum
Browse More Itineraries
