Can someone please help devise an itinerary? We will have Euro passes. Hope to go in March. Austria (Salzburg), Germany (Munich), Italy (Rome and Venice) are on our wish list but of course know we can't cram everything in . Will most likely fly in to Munich and fly back home from Munich. My husband loves castles. Would love to get to Rome to see the vatican. But again, don't want to cram everything in. Any ideas? or if there is anything you think of that we might not want to miss out on.

IMO, with only seven nights, you could do Salzburg and Munich -OR- Rome and Venice, but not all four cities. Are you using other days for a separate portion of the trip, or are you really only taking a one-week journey? (You have to allow for the fact that travel between cities can eat up the majority of a day, not to mention the jet lag the first day or two after a long flight.) If you are able to double your time-frame, I think it would be more feasible and enjoyable.

I don't think you need "Euro passes". You have to decide where you're going first to evaluate the cost savings, if any. Often regular 2nd class point-to-point train tickets are better priced and all that's needed for such a short trip.

I also would pick Salzburg/Munich OR Rome/Venice. Two cities in only 7 nights is still a very fast paced trip.

In March I would tend to do Italy since the weather will be better. If you get a long winter it could still be quite cold in Munich and Salzburg. And I MHO 2 cities is plenty for only 7 days - more than that is a tour of train stations and airports.

In 7 nites you can do Munich, Salzburg, and the Bavaria castles but that may be tight. Or, do Rome and Venice--not both.

And whichever option you choose -- I'd fly open jaw into one city and home from another to save you the cost/inconvenience of backtracking to your arrival city. You don't have enough time fly in/out of the same city (unless you are only visiting that city/region)

Often regular 2nd class point-to-point train tickets are better priced and all that's needed for such a short trip>

Yes but Eurailpasses, if over 25, are first-class so comparing 2nd class fares to first class, which in my four decades of incessant European rail travel is far far more relaxed than the much more crowded IME 2nd class -if this is a trip of a lifetime don't pinch pennies -

anyway so compare first class pass to first class fares and then a Eurail Select Pass for 5 days valid in Austria, Germany and Italy may stack up - or it may not but do not rule it out without checking.

Anyways some Wunderbar sites for planning the train part i always highlight these great sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; wwwseat61.com; www.ricksteves.com. For schedules all over Europe i always use the fantastic www.bahn.de -German Railways web site -easiest i have seen to use.

Hi,

I think Munich and Salzburg should be easy in 7 days. Having 4 nights in Munich and 3 nights in Salzburg is a good amount of time for any trip. With 3 full days in Munich, maybe use 1 of them to go to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau as a day trip.

Paul

Another vote for either Munich and Salzburg OR Venice and Rome, but not both.

There are excellent day trips from both Munich and Salzburg and lots of castles to enjoy. More than enough to keep you on the go for one week.

I just hate it when the OP never returns.
So, Megan, tell us your plan.

"<i>I just hate it when the OP never returns.</i>"

Ah - give her a chance. She only posted yesterday and it IS a holiday weekend after all.

She may not realize she's got all these folks hanging around waiting for her

(OR - it is just <i>possible</i> she forgot how to get back here )

Ditto everyone else. The only way your husband is going to see castles is if you do Munich/Salzburg. On the other hand, March is not the best time to see that area, though it can be done (I've only been to Salzburg in February. It was cold and dark but still a lovely city and the fortress is great.) There is way, way more to see in Rome than the Vatican so you could EASILY spend a week in Rome and Venice. And with everything to do there your husband might forget about the castles. ;-)

Will most likely fly in to Munich and fly back home from Munich. My husband loves castles.>

For castles do a day trip from Munich to Fuessen, home to Mad Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle, perhaps the world's most famous castle and neighboring Hohenschwangau Castle, an authentic medieval castle - easy to due by train, railpasses valid to Fuessen then taxi or mini-bus the few miles to the castles outside of town.

And between Munich and Salzburg is Mad King Ludwig's Herrnchiemsee, on an island in the middle of a lake. Not really a castle, more like a palace. But reachable by public transportation as well as car.