38 nights in May/June 2026 - currently on a solo trip visiting Germany, Prague, Wrocław and north Italy.


The purpose of my travels is to revisit each of my parents’ childhood home towns in Saxony, Germany and reunite with my cousins.

My cousins (in Germany) and I (in Australia) arranged a reunion trip for my father and his sister in 2018, and I’m grateful we did as this was the last time they saw each other
3 slow weeks in Bavaria


I followed that up with a trip with my mother in 2019 joined by another cousin,
Slowly does it...our trip to north Italy

We all lost a parent in the past year and decided we needed to catch up, plus I have enjoyed some family trips to north Italy and love this region.

When I last visited Saxony, we based in Chemnitz, and daytripped visiting the Bastei bridge, Königstein Fortress, Dresden (museums including the Green Vault, Semper Opera house tour), Meissen, St Moritzburg, Fichtelberg, Annaberg Buchholz, Bad Schlema and then Karlovy Vary.


This is a striking and varied region with dramatic geological formations - the Sandstone Mountains, gorges, forests, rivers, vibrant cities, charming villages, castles, fortresses, mining history, reformation history, composers, writers.

Could have a much longer visit to Saxony.

I added Prague, Wrocław and Quedlinburg as they were logical for my itinerary and on my very long ‘places to see’ list.

In north Italy I have previously stayed in Malcesine, Verona, Trento, Vipiteno and Bressanone, plus val Gardena, val Pusteria and val Badia (and further south Milan, Cinque Terre, Volterra, Florence, Bergamo).

I decided to base in the Trentino region again for the latter part of trip.

Rovereto looked interesting, nice to wander and well located for day tripping.

This trip evolved around family availability so changed routing a few times, factoring in public holidays, weekends, their work commitments (normally I plan a loop route without backtracking), and wasn’t the most efficient itinerary, but it met my needs.


So the itinerary is

Entry / exit via Munich -


Regensburg 3N

Prague 4N

Wrocław 4 N

Stadt Wehlen 6N

Quedlinburg 3N

Leipzig 5N

Rovereto 12N

Freising 1N

38N


Lots of train travel, so will have time to write TR as I go.

Travel day:

Up at 4 am

Adelaide to Singapore flight = 7 hours

Singapore = 9 hours layover

Singapore to Munich flight = 13 hours

Munich to Regensburg train = 1.5 hours



Layover Singapore - decided against a transit hotel room, and opted to go exit airport and head into city (last time went to the Botanic Gardens)

Note : Up to 3 days prior can apply online for an SG Arrival Card ICA provides an e-pass for a transit visit
https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/fvipa

It is an easy exit from airport (scan passport, it takes seconds) to MRT station, contactless ticket system - scan your digital wallet and you enter the station, train to Bugis station, just by the Parkview (Art Deco) building (Atlas bar is apparently incredible), to the Arab quarter, Sultan Mosque is a 5 min walk - historic Arab Street, Kampong Glam, some pedestrianized streets with lots of eateries and stores, touting is illegal so no hassling, traditional shophouses, impressive murals, a Malay cultural festival was underway with food stalls, music, then returned and walked to terminal 2 to view the Jewel waterfall.








Shophouses








Lots of restaurants


Great mural




Jewel at Changi airport






Walked nearly 10 km today



Then a midnight flight to Munich of 13 hours

So about 30 hours of travel.

Day 1: train to Regensburg (visit Amberg)



Landed in Munich at 7 am, with a surprisingly quick EES (the EU Entry/Exit System) registration (facial and fingerprint scan), passport control and bag collection and onward train at 8:16 am with travel to Regensburg taking 1.5 hours (2 platforms underground at airport, 1 for the direct hourly regional train to Regensburg, no need to change in the city, bought €34 Bavaria ticket as it was same price as point to point and could use for whole day)

It was all so efficient I arrived at my Regensburg hotel at 10 am.

Regensburg 3 N Hotel Das Regensburg @ Jesuitenplatz 1 (booked single room via hotel website €339 for 3 N - was upgraded to a larger room)

Close to train station, quiet square, modern rooms, great breakfasts, an outdoor terrace. Excellent hotel.



Regensburg is a city in eastern Bavaria, commonly visited as part of ‘river cruise’ trade as it lies on the Danube, population 170,000

Well preserved historic architecture, doesn’t feel like a ‘big’ city, lovely setting on river, 900 year old stone bridge, huge Gothic cathedral.

Chose Regensburg as an easy direct train from Munich, (then a direct train ride to Prague), a compact medieval old town, a not overwhelming jet lag recovery first stop.. touristy enough that lots of dining options on Sundays and Mondays.

10 am is far too early to check in, so left bags at the hotel and hopped on a train to Amberg 40 min away (used the same €34 Bavaria ticket as it’s an all day ticket)

Individual tickets for the day would have been Munich to Regensburg to Amberg to Regensburg €34 + €23 + €23 = €80, compared to Bavaria day ticket €34



Amberg is an enchanting small medieval town, with the pretty river Vils running through it, the fortified bridge ‘Stadtbrille’, intact town walls and gates (the huge Nabburger Gate), stunning historic architecture and gardens, the Gothic church St Martin’s (built around 1500), a wonderful market square, it was a perfect half day visit.

Had an outdoor lunch under an umbrella and shady trees and potted plants, such a pleasant atmosphere.

Good beer, and a Bavarian meal of potato dumplings, pork, mushrooms, salad €23.

There were many families with young children, and the market square was busy, but mostly heard German spoken.

It felt like a town where there were more local tourists visiting on this sunny Sunday, than international travellers.


City gate


Walk around the walls


Walk around the walls


The fortified bridge


Fortified bridge


So nice and quiet




Colourful riverside buildings


Charming squares


Lots of nice alleys to explore


Lunch was calling..


Lunch spot








Lunch

More Amberg…



Gentle amble through the walled town
















Tiny red house














The market square


Old town hall




Walls from inside town


Housing later built into the walls


Garage and tiny house built at internal wall

Continued ..Returning to Regensburg mid afternoon for hotel checkin, then a bit of a wander this warm Sunday afternoon.

Bustling city centre, with many charming winding streets, there were lots of tourists on the historic stone bridge and groups of young Gen Y and Z’s on the riverside eating pizza, chatting, playing cards.

Small bars and eateries looked busy. Cyclists seemed very patient trying to weave their way through the crowds.

The massive Gothic St Peter’s cathedral is under restoration, so just photographed a part of it, has intact stained glass from the 13 and 14C.

Needed a bit of quiet, so sought out somewhere to dine that offered a courtyard garden, and enjoyed a very good roasted eggplant and crispy chickpeas dish and an Aperol Spritz €20.

Walked over 12 km today

Count me in for the journey! A very promising start ... Amberg looks fantastic, have never been there. Wow! Beautiful pictures of Regensburg also - too bad the cathedral is under scaffolding mostly.

Along for the (train) ride!!! Love the photos of Amberg - never heard of it

Adelaidean, what an interesting trip ! Following your TR closely.

Hi Adelaidean, deep in the heart of Bayern! I went to university with someone who came from Amberg - he was very proud and had a photo album full of postcards from there. He did return to live in Germany but not to Bayern, I believe he is in Lüneburg nowdays. Polar opposite!

Following along - loved the colourful photos of Singapore. Good idea to travel via there, much safer. I am looking forward to the Quedlinburg part. I visited Quedlinburg in 2000 and it was still being restored, so it must be fabulous now. Can't wait!

Lavandula

Thanks for joining me!


Day 2: Regensburg (bus to Kallmünz)



Fabulous hotel breakfast - I love a healthy muesli, fresh fruit, sourdough bread and cheese, boiled egg, start to the day.

Bought ready made lunch rolls and pastries from a nearby bakery, and took a bus to the village of Kallmünz 40 minutes away.

I like to find small places to visit, to balance out the hectic side of travel.

The bus route passes through farmland and villages.

(Was meeting an old friend there, she has met me on several trips now. She lives in the middle Franconia region of Bavaria, so I have had previous trips visiting the smaller towns of the area, Gössweinstein, Forchheim, Pottenstein, Bayreuth, Bamberg, Coburg.. )

Kallmünz is a picturesque little village with castle ruins overlooking the river, colourful house facades, it was quiet and so nice to wander.

It is on a popular cycling route, people were canoeing the river, some hiking trails with the rocky hills and forest.
Gorgeous area.

Nice riverside dining, coffee and cake and cocktails were on our to do list..



Historic stone bridge, and castle ruins


Charming houses




it’s on a popular cycling route






We had our picnic lunch here


Quiet little place on a weekday


Colourful houses














A busy cafe, tucked away in the back street on the river


















Kids chasing each other round the block on their bikes


Villages on the bus route. Canola in flower.




Returned to Regensburg on a 6 pm bus, then wandered the city - great ambience with outdoor dining, interesting window shopping (hat maker, old wares and furniture), moody lighting - we dined at a German beer garden, the Bischofhof am Dom, as it has a nice courtyard and no traffic.



Back in Regensburg


Hat maker store






Lovely architecture


Perfect evening for strolling




Spargel season (asparagus)


Perfect evening for outdoor dining










Walked over 9 km today.

Wow, Adelaidean, you definitely manage to find small, charming towns and villages wherever you go. One thing I appreciate about Germany, though, is that many of the smaller places are accessible by train.

I'm so glad I saw this! I look forward to following you on this trip. Super images!

What a lovely place that Kallmünz is! Brilliant pictures again. Love this season for culinary reasons also - Spargel and strawberries! Yummy!

What a fantastic start to your trip!
Fabulous photos of such beautiful places and great to be able to travel using public transport.
We are still pondering our next adventure in Europe, having been a bit rattled by all the chaos of late.
Looking forward to following on from here and delighted to read that you are able to re visit family and friends.
Thank you for sharing all of this.

Loving reading this but I don't know how you kept going for so long after those long flights. I would have fallen flat on my face with so little sleep!

Day 3: Regensburg



Another long slow breakfast… great bread and lovely fruit, 3 types of hommous, wonderful cheese…




and we spent a slow day wandering the sights of Regensburg.


The cathedral

The cathedral


The cathedral


The cathedral


The cathedral


The cathedral


The cathedral


The cathedral


The cathedral


Lovely streets


Gorgeous facades










Gracious squares






I had the schmankelbrot, great bread








The bridge














My friend returned home that evening.



Can’t resist a final photo of tulips…






Walked 8 km today.

Farewell to lovely Regensburg






time to move on..
Day 4: Regensburg to Prague



Prebooked train to Prague (4 hour ride)

The Prague (Praha) train station is Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Hlavni Nadrazi is Czech for main station), often abbreviated to Praha hl.n

Booked this ticket on Czech site as it is significantly cheaper for same than on Deutschebahn - as per advice on ‘Man in Seat 61’ site when I purchased the prices were :

1 st class on Czech railways is 1198czk or AUD $80 on DBB it is €122 (or AUD $201)

2nd class on Czech railways is 419czk or AUD $29 on DBB it is €36 (or AUD $60)



30 min walk from station to hotel in Mala Strana.

Anyone that’s been to Prague will understand the challenge of rolling your bag on cobblestones through crowded narrow alleys, and the Charles Bridge midafternoon.

I travel light, so its not too bad.

My check in bag was 7.8 kg, it’s so worth minimising luggage.

Had a goats cheese and pear galette at a nearby creperie as the dining room looked so appealing, and a light dinner served me well.

Then on for a wander, followed by the sunset cruise (50 min booked on Get Your Guide €18)










































It was threatening rain and fairly grey, so no sunset colours on the cruise; but moody skies and thunder after the cruise, and an epic thunderstorm / lightning show from the Charles Bridge, fantastic.



Cruise


Cruise


Cruise


Cruise


Cruise


Cruise


Walking back to hotel


Walking back to hotel


Walked 8 km today

The lightning … dramatic skies and incredible light..



Lightning


Amazing pink skies




Lightning!








So moody and atmospheric - I couldn’t post the video…

Whoa! Fantastic light! You are so lucky ;-)

Reminds me that I must return to Prague. It's been too long ...

It's wonderful to see these charming places. It's been several years since we've been but your photography brings it all back. So lovely!