My mother and I are doing a 7-night trip to Germany and Austria (just Salzburg) next May...so really far away, but I'm in planning mode!

We fly into Munich and out of Frankfurt, so this is waht I'm tentatively thinking and am stuck on a few places and need opinons - honesty welcome!

Saturday morning: land in Munich pretty early. Go to hotel, recover from jetlag (a given with us). Spend afternoon walking around, eat dinner at Hofbrauhaus.

Sunday: Marienplatz, book dinner reservations at The Ratskeller. Walk to Odiensplatz...OR go to English Gardens.

Monday: early train to Salzburg. Sound of Music tour (I grew up addicted to this movie so this is a must, even though I know it's cheesy and a tourist trap.) Mozart's birthplace, possibly salt mines if Mom is up for it/we have time. Stay overnight in Salzburg. Would love to find a classical concert that night.

Tuesday: train to Fuessen (assuming there's one from Salzburg - Fuessen. need to check on that). Drop luggage at hotel and head to castle(s?). Stay in Fuessen overnight.

here's where I get stuck.

Weds: train to Rothenburg....or Nuremburg...or? What would you recommend?

Thursday: spend day in ____? (see above) Take late train to Heidelberg.

Friday: Heidelberg

Saturday morning: early train to Frankfurt. Fly home.

thanks in advance!!

I would leave that night open - you may need an additional night where you are, or by then the idea of yet another one-nighter might not appeal. There's more to see in that region than what you list, and you'll quite likely come across some ideas in talking to others or from pamphlets at the reception or whatever. That one night is your flexibility night.

Sunday: From Marienplatz to Odeonsplatz is a 15 minutes walk, at the most.

Rather than the English Garden (which is very nice), why not take the tram to Nymphenburg and walk in the gardens of the Schloss Nymphenburg (royal palace) there , with a nice afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and pastry) stop there, or - while still in the Odeonsplatz area - at the Theatiner Kaffee in the courtyard behind the Theatinerkirche, the church just before you get to the Odeansplatz.

I suggest taking the tram, to Nymphenburg, because this way you see at bit more of Munich.

For Salzburg, if you leave after 9AM, you and your mother can ride on the same Bayernkarte for under EUR 30. 2nd class only (which is no problem), no set reservation (which you don't need unless you are travelling before a holiday)and only Regio-type trains (no EC, IC ICE), which makes no difference on this short ride.

I won't kill your fun by commenting on wehat I think about the Sound of Music tour!

I would skip the Salt Mine. There's enough to see in Salzburg!

As for Fuessen: I would turn the entire pre-Fuessen itinerary a bit around. On, Saturday morning, take the train from the MUC airport to Salzburg. Take the shuttle (S-Bahn) from the airport to the Munich main station (Hauptbahnhof=Hbf.) so that you have lots of time to cchange trains. The whole trip to Salzburg takes only 2 1/2 hrs. and it gives you more time in S. and avoids dobling back and forth to Munich

After Salzburg, make your Munich visit. The only way you can get from S. to Fuessen is through Munich.

Then take the train from Munich to Fuessen.

After Fuessen, take the train to Rothenburg, o.T. (there are several Rothenburgs in Germany, so make sure it's the Rothenburg ob der Tauber), which requires that you go again and probably change trains in Munich.

After Rothenburg take the train to either Wuerzburg or Bamberg. There are many people who prefer the one or the other. I like Wzbg, because of its beautiful castle, the Residenz palace in the center of town, its general university town atmosphere and its many good reaturants that serve the excellent local wine.

I would skip Heidelberg. Either Wzbg or Bamber are more interesting and less touristy. Instead, if you still have the time and energy, take the train to Mainz, stay there for two nights. On the first day, take a Rhein river boat downriver to one of the picturesque wine towns, and return to Mainz by train. On the next morning, take the short train ride to the FRA airport.

For all your trtain connections and schedules, check www.bahn de.

thank you! this is an enormous help! I didn't think about going to Salzburg straight from the Munich airport but that makes a lot of sense.

I think I finally have this trip nailed down and just have a few questions for you Germany experts!

I know it doesn't seem to make sense for us to do things in this order (munich -> Salzburg -> Fussen, etc.) but that first day will be tough with jet lag and my mother's pretty adament about not getting on a train or driving anywhere that day. So!

Sat: arrive Munich. I'm so confused about the hotels after reading all the posts on here, but think Platzl Hotel looks best for location purposes. Anyone had a bad experience there?

Sun: Munich.
Mike's Bike Tour and general exploring

Mon: Rent car, drive to Salzburg
shop/walk around
Mozart dinner concert
Stay at Auersperg or Elefant??

Tues: Sound of Music Tour in the a.m.
Drive to Fussen, stay at Hotel Muller

Weds: Tour Neuschwanstein or Linderhof? Or both?
Drive to Heidelberg (2.5 - 3 hours, correct?), return rental car
Stay at Hollander Hof Hotel(?)

Thurs/Friday: Heidelberg
River tour, shopping, castle tour

Saturday: hotel shuttle (if we stay at the Marriott on Friday night for this sole reason) to Frankfurt Airport

thoughts? Advice? I'm getting so excited!