5 days in Germany/Austria: Helps!!

Old May 18th, 2000, 10:46 AM
  #1  
carol
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5 days in Germany/Austria: Helps!!

The FODOR site has always been incredibly helpful in planning all of my trips, so here I go again. I have 5 FULL days available to me. Will be landing in Frankfurt. Want to hit the following areas: The Rhein, Munich, some of the romantic road and Austria, ending back at Munich to fly home. With that in mind, I need help making the best of the time We will be traveling by train only. I have, so my questions are:

1. Is Heidelburg worth a visit?
2. How much time should I plan on for the
Rhine...should I do the whole thing or
just the 1-1/2 hour cruise that everyone
says is so great?
3. Was thinking of spending a night in Rothenburg...is that a good idea? Any idea of how long the train ride is from Frankfurt to Rothenburg?

4. Any idea of how long the train ride would be from Rothenburg to Garmisch, and would this be worth a stop???

5. How many days would I need for Salzburg?
I was also thinking of a visit to Haffstad ( I know I spelled that one wrong!!)

6. Any ideas on what Rail Pass would be the best for me to buy?
Any "don't miss it" worth mentioning???

Thanks!!!!!
 
Old May 18th, 2000, 11:08 AM
  #2  
Russ
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Minimize your hotel locations to save time. Stay two days on the Rhine (it's worth more) in Bacharach, St. Goar, or Boppard, 3 in Munich. About 2.5 hours from Frankfurt to Rothenburg -- see Rothenburg on way to Munich or way back. Leave Salzburg open as a "maybe" day trip depending on what you do in Munich -- there are fast train connections to Salzburg. Forget the other places -- Heidelberg isn't worth an extra train trip, and you don't have time for Garmisch, IMHO. You can get a German Rail Pass and take a trip on a whim that way, but it won't be much cheaper than point-to-point for this limited itinerary.
 
Old May 18th, 2000, 12:11 PM
  #3  
Art
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From my point of view Salzberg is a MUST. Its one of the most beautiful towns in Europe. It's worth a full day at least. Depending on your interests, 3 Days in Munich might be more than I would do with such limited time. The Rhein has a lot of interesting areas but with such a short trip I would take the cruise. Some of the romatic road and Rotenberg. At least one of Ludwigs castles (Newswanstein and Linderhof are the best 2 of the 3). Oberamergau is extremely interesting with various of Grimms fairy tales painted on the houses in the village and the incredible wood working/carving.
Have a great trip.
 
Old May 18th, 2000, 12:32 PM
  #4  
kk
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Carol, you will never get us all to agree on the questions you ask. I would insist you go to Heidelberg to see the castle, for example. I loved it. (I almost skipped it because it was so cliched, but it was fabulous.) The Rhine I would give 24 hours, tops. Salzburg, I would devote three days...or perhaps my whole life. Rottenberg, 24 hours or less.
The trouble is with planning a trip, no matter how much you read and how much great advice you get, you're never really going to know until you get there...what gem is going to hit you. Five days is not a lot. Do you want to rush from thing to thing, or plan to come back another time and therefore pick just a few spots. It is so hard to decide. But what fun doing the research and making up your mind! Have fun.
 
Old May 18th, 2000, 02:00 PM
  #5  
Lee
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Carol: Not trying to throw a wrench in the works or undermine anyone's advice, but the trip you are talking about is the one we did last summer, but in 10 days, not five.

I lived in Frankfurt for nearly three years and I have been to all of these places more than once.

Here's what I suggest:

Arrive in Frankfurt (airport is just south of the city) and head immediately to your destination on the Rhine (train from flughafen). This is what we did and we stayed just 5km from Rudesheim at the Hotel Cafe' Post in Assmanshausen (only we drove it). It is located right along the river and it is a good value. Two days can get you around some on both sides between Rudesheim and Koblenz.

The castle at Heidelburg is a good place to visit, but I would take the train to Rothenburg via Rudesheim and the Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. It is a touristy, but a charming medieval town that is one of my favorites. Spend the day and if possible, one night to take the Nightwatchman's Tour.

I would continue down to Fussen and see Neuschwanstein Castle at Schwangau , leaving there along the Romantic Road toward Munich, but stopping in Steingaden to see the Weiskirche, Oberammergau, Ettal to see the basilica, Linderhof Castle and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Spend a night in this beautiful area. Innsbruck is just 65km south of Garmisch. I'm not certain of the exact train routes as I always preferred to drive it.

You can then head up to Munich as you prepare to depart. Salzburg is beautiful, but it's three hours east of Munich (by autobahn) and I can't see you getting it in with the amount of time you have available.

Good luck and have a great trip.
 
Old May 18th, 2000, 02:01 PM
  #6  
Skdimore
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If you only have 5 days, I would: (1) do the hour and a half cruise on the Rhine, spend an hour or so in Bacharach and head out to Rothenburg; (2) spend the night in Rothenburg -- I only had a day trip there and felt very rushed; (3) spend the rest of the time in Munich with a long day trip to Salzburg. Have fun.
 
Old May 20th, 2000, 06:14 PM
  #7  
steve
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I likd Skidmore's itinerary the best, but any way you look at it, 5 days is way too short a time to do the area justice, but you will get a nice overview
 

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