I'm from Nurnberg Germany but haven't been there since 25yrs.
I finally decided to book a flight before it's to late.
My husband and I are both in our sixties.
I booked a flight to Frankurt 1. Mistake since we want to go to Munich. 2nd Mistake we booked for September and that's when the Oktoberfest is so it will be hard to find rooms in convenient location.
We want to visit Nurnberg 1week, Munich 1week, Regensburg and Straubing maybe together 3days then on to Franfurt back to Texas. It will be from the 5th of September to the 20th.
Since none of us want to drive is it possible to do everything by Train.
I keep thinking we should hit Munich first due to the Octoberfest not having started yet. Or would that be to inconvenient in regard of taking train back and forth.
Also the train system is totally confusing me.
All the help I can get is appreciate it.

"Also the train system is totally confusing me"
May be because between all the places you mention, there is at least 1 train per hour, with no need to prebook.
As to accommodation, just book in advance through a booking engine like www.booking.com or www.hrs.de

BTW: it's not a mistake to book a flight to FRA if you want to go to Nuremberg. A direct train from Frankfurt airport to Nuremberg takes just 2 1/2 hrs and runs from 5.30am until 10pm. Where is the problem?

To relieve you from some of your worries:
I just looked for a hotel which I need around September 10th and I still found some at normal, i.e. non-Oktoberfest - prices.
And nothing is simpler than the German train system. www.bahn.de/p_en/view/index.shtml gives you the schedules. For longer distances (such as Frankfurt - München) it might be cheaper to buy tickes in advance.
For shorter distances (such as München - Regensburg) use the regional trains. They're a little bit slower, but a lot cheaper with the so-called Bayern-Ticket, allowing you travelling through Bavaria at EUR 28 for the two of you. The Bahn website will show you for which trains these tickets are valid. They're no need to buy them in advance.

I agree that actually you haven't made a mistake at all.

As you are flying out of Frankfurt, make that your last stop, not your first. On arrival, hi-tail it to Munich, then work your way back to Frankfurt.

1 week Munich

3 days Regensburg/Straubing

1 week Nuremberg [in that order I think]

4 days Frankfurt. [there's a great TR here somewhere by someone who spent a whole fortnight there and loved it - I'll try to find it]

mmm - sadly I can't find it. The old search function here doesn't exist any more so you can't make such detailed searches as you used to be able to.

But there is a Fodor's guide to Frankfurt and quite a few threads which refer to things to do there.

If doing a lot of longer inter-city trains check on the German Railpass - Twin Pass for two traveling together on one pass a bit cheaper than two solo passes. Can hop on any train anytime just about - also valid on city S-Bahns. If doing lots of trains may be cheaper than even the discounted tickets available.

For lots of great info on German trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. 1st class is much more convenient if hopping on trains at will as there are usually empty seats in 1st class but not always so in 2nd class. www.bahn.de/en is the official site of the German Railways - check fares vs the pass or book discounted tickets on that site.

We want to visit Nurnberg 1week, Munich 1week, Regensburg and Straubing maybe together 3days then on to Franfurt back to Texas. It will be from the 5th of September to the 20th.>

Atually you can use the bargain Bavarian Lander Ticket for regional trains to those cities or any ones in Bavaria - regional trains I believe take no reservations and are just a bit slower than the fast trains you cannot take with the pass (only valid on Regional trains and city transports like U-Bahn; S-Bahn, buses, trams, etc.

buy that ticket at any train station in vending machines or at the ticket window.

Thank you so much for all your replies.
Booking our flight was spur of the moment.
Then when I started thinking that I really don't have any more family living in Germany that I was able to rely on
I became overwhelmed.
It's not like we don't travel but mostly with organized tours.
Is Lander ticket and bavarian ticket the same.
Once we arrive in Frankfurt can I buy my ticket there? I wanted to travel on the ICE train for the experience.
While in Munich I had thought to explore the city on our own and then see if we can book a few day tours that is if they still have those.
Nuremberg the same, I would love to see Rothenburg but someone said it's complicated by Train better rent a car that leaves us out.
We would love to stay our last few days in Franfurt and maybe take a river cruise.
If you can think of anything for us to do in Frankfurt and the other places I mentioned above please let us know.
Thanks again I'm so glad I found fodors.

Land = State e.g. Bavaria [or Bayern in german]

Länder = plural of Land

so a Bavarian Länder ticket as referred to by Pal is a ticket that is valid for the whole of Bavaria and would take you from Nuremberg to Rothenburg.

the bahn.de timetable does show that on most journeys between Nuremberg and Rothenburg [ob der Tauber to make sure you get the right one] you need to change twice, but there are also some services which involve just one train and a bus that might be easier.

Once you've been there a few days you may feel more confident. Also, many tour companies operate in the big tourist centres - you might find that there is an organised trip that you can take to Rothenburg either from Munich or Nuremberg.

as for the ICE train, you will get your wish as they operate from Frankfurt to Munich and from Nuremberg to Frankfurt with no need to change train. if you book in advance you should be able to get a saving on the price - for example on 20.6.16 the 9am train from Nuremberg to Munich is showing tickets at €53 but if you take the 9.29 train it's €19!

I'm sure that as you become more familiar with the train website [just try putting different trips in and see what happens] it'll become easier; ditto looking at what's available for you to do in each place.

I just googled : "organised tours in Munich" and got a long list of options, including this one:

http://www.muenchen.de/int/en/sights...ius-tours.html

Also look at the TA page for things to do in Munich:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attrac...a_Bavaria.html

and Frankfurt:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attrac...urt_Hesse.html

[scroll down and you'll see it includes trips on the Rhine]

I always buy my train tickets after landing at FRA, at one of the (numerous) DB ticket offices between the arrival zone of the airport and the train station.
Laendertickets: https://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/offers...erticket_LZ001

>the bahn.de timetable does show that on most journeys between Nuremberg and Rothenburg [ob der Tauber to make sure you get the right one] you need to change twice, but there are also some services which involve just one train and a bus that might be easier.<

Going by train to Rothenburg always implies two transfers, viz. Ansbach and Steinach. But don't worry, the Ansbach station is small, the Steinach one is tiny. In Ansbach take the train with destination Würzburg, in Steinach just go to track 5, where the little Rothenburg shuttle will wait for trains arriving from Ansbach and Würzburg. There are a few connections per day via train and bus (mostly with one transfer at Dombühl), but travel time is much longer. BTW, buy a VGN »Tagesticket Plus« for the trip (available both from DB and VGN ticket machines). It is cheaper (E. 18.70) than the Bayern Ticket (28 for two) and not subject to the 9am restriction on weekdays.

see, Marlene - it's getting easier by the minute!


Fodors will get you there!

September 5 to september 20....2 weeks, not 3!

Well-spotted chosebine - but the basic plan is still good.

The Bavarian Lander Ticket also comes in first class at not much more and IME regional trains can at times get very crowded - these are commuter trains often and rush hours can be hectic - but in first class there should always be room.