I am looking for some general information to try and build a ten day trip during the last half of September. I will be based in Bochum for about four days at the beginning of my trip. I am staying with the family of one of my exchange students that I hosted several years ago. We will be using railpasses and plan to do most of our travel that way. I am looking for daytrips from that area...including Koln, Short Rhine Day Cruise etc. We also want to stay in Berlin with possible day trips from there or a couple of days there then moving on to Dresden and places beyond.

At this point, we have not booked airfare but will most likely do an open jaw trip depending on our route.

We don't want to have to move to a different hotel/BB every day once leaving the Bochum area but don't mind a couple more bases in which to do daytrips from. Berlin and Dresden are a must but undecided whether to try and include Munich or wait until another time due to crowded conditions due to Oktoberfest.

We are interested in scenic/outdoor spots, opera or symphony, cathedrals, art museums, quaint spots/smaller towns.

I know this is a pretty broad topic but I need to start somewhere. Thanks in advance for the itinerary advice.

apseals-

Regarding opera, definitely check it out in Berlin. There are 2 main opera companies in Berlin and last fall I made the mistake of going to the one in W Berlin (Deutsche Oper Berlin)instead of the one in E Berlin (Staatsoper Unter den Linden). Obviously both are great but Staatsoper Unter den Linden is supposed to be better.
Obviously, the Berlin Philharmonic is also world famous and should not be miss. Go to Berlin's tourist website and it has links for these places:

http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/index.html.en

If you go to Munich, you should also consider going to the Bavarian State Opera. The interior was breathtaking.

http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de/...n&dom=dom1

yk...have also heard that the Opera House in Dresden is not to be missed. Have been to Berlin before and the dates did not coordinate with the opera so we went to the ballet instead. I am just starting to piece together a few things and appreciate the info that you passed along. I am not sure Munich is in the cards this trip but you never know.

Thanks!

apseals - the Semper Oper in Dresden is an absolute must if you are at all interested in opera. The website is
"www.semperoper.de" The Sept. performances are not posted yet, but check it again in a few months. Have a wonderful trip - Dresden is indeed a pearl!

Hopefully, Ingo will see this eventually and give you the definitive info about Dresden. In the meantime, check out his extensive Dresden pages on Virtual Tourist: http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/1091e/

You wouldn't believe it but one of the best opera houses in Germany is in Bochum's neighbouring city of Essen!
The orchestra seems to be fantastic while the building is not as grand as the Semperoper (modern building, Aalto was the architect).

One suggestion for a daytrip from Bochum would be Muenster (on this forum often spelled Munster) that's been talked about quite a bit. Quaint, historical, nice shops.

For modern art and cathedral come to Cologne. The Museum Ludwig right next to the Cathedral is worth it. And don't miss the Roman Germanic museum. It might be worth it to stay one night in Cologne to start your river Rhine cruise from there the next morning. Or from Bonn.

You could even fly to Dresden or Berlin from the Cologne/ Bonn airport for less using the low cost carrier Germanwings.de or hlx.com

But I'm very sure that your former exchange student and his/her family will come up with valuable suggestions as well.

Hi,

Hopefully auntgrapes will see this thread - she may tell you about our shared once-in-a-lifetime experience in the opera in Dec.

My advice is to skip Munich for this time and visit it on a separate trip later. Ten days are not much, and with your plans you have only six days for Berlin and Dresden - enough for a first impression, but definitely not enough to see the neighbouring small towns and beautiful scenery in the vicinity.

I'll send you an email to your VT account with detailed infos on Dresden.

Ingo

PS: for all those who plan to visit Dresden this year: many pieces of the Green Vault jewellery collection will be presented in the Royal Palace, opening on 18 Sept. They couldn't afford to close it till 2006, too many complaints

Ingo, Kascha912 and others:
Thanks for the info. I think that Ingo is right. Go to Munich another time and concentrate on the two/three areas with day trips.

I have been the Bochum area twice before along with the Rhine and Koln but the people traveling with me have not so I want them to see the highlights as well. I have been to Berlin for about four days in Oct. of 2001. Again, they have not.

At this point, I think that if we stay in the Bochum area for about 4 nights then train to Berlin/Dresden and divide the rest of the time between the two with day trips from Dresden that might be nice. My other former exchange student lives in Dresden but for less than one year and is not up to speed with what to see etc. He concentrates on his studies...his says

Flying into Frankfurt/Dusseldorf and out of Berlin might be the best or the opposite depending on the dates for events that I would like to be able to see ie the opera in Dresden if possible.

Ingo, I am headed to church but will check my VT email when I return. I appreciate your help.

Keep the suggestions coming and have a great Sunday.