I have really relied on the advice on this board to plan our trip to Germany this summer for the World Cup. I am down to planning our last four days and would appreciate your input. After a whirlwind tour of Hamburg, Berlin and Munich for WC matches, I have four days/four nights to make our way from Munich to Frankfurt. We will be traveling by car. I was considering the following:

Sunday: Drive to Oberammergau, G-P, Zutspitze – overnight at Hotel Muller in Hohenschwangau.

Monday: Early morning tours of Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau; Romantic Road to Rothenburg in time for night watchman’s tour – overnight at Romantik Hotel Markusturm

Tuesday: Rothenberg – overnight?

Wednesday: ?

Thursday: FRA flight departs 08:00

Should we try to squeeze in Heidelberg or Baden-Baden on Tuesday night and Wednesday? Or should we just slow down, take two days in Bavaria and two days in Rothenberg? Any other suggestions?

I am doing what you are doing this summer, but backwards. We are staying in Rothenburg two nights. I don't really know if that is necessary, though. Cochem on the Mosel is beautiful, really beautiful. I would pick the Mosel region over Baden-Baden..

I don't know why, but many people seem to miss visiting Linderhof, the most personal of King Ludwig's residences. It's an extraordinary place, complete with an underground grotto where the king would float around on a sort-of-gondola while listening to the music of Richard Wagner. There's also the amazing Peacock Pavilion, plus beautiful grounds. Don't miss it.

I agree with Underhill that in terms of overall decoration, Linderhof far surpasses Neuschwanstein and is second only to the Ludwig palace at Herrenchiemsee in terms of decoration.

With that free day I would try to spend it somewhere along the Rhine itself. I love Rothenburg but I honestly think a full day and one night are plenty.

It really is amazing to me that with the Fodorite "hatred" of all things "touristy" that Rothenburg never gets criticized. It is charming, don't get me wrong, but unfortunately it may be mobbed as well.

Enjoy your trip whatever you finally decide.

I would skip Baden-Baden. You may spend the last day in the Frankfurt area, close to the airport. You may visit Kloster Eberbach (monastery where "The Name of the Rose" was filmed, excellent winery, tastings) in Oestrich-Winkel and Rüdesheim. You may make a boat trip on the Rhein or drive some miles north and visit some villages and castles and go back on the other bank. You may also see Heidelberg in the morning and the Rhein in the afternoon.