advice for upcoming trip to Germany
 

I will be travelling to Germany in late May to catch a cruise out of Berlin. I will be travelling with my healthy parents in their 70's and a teenage son. I have several questions:

1. If I fly into Frankfurt on a Sunday, spend the night, what type of train should I take into Berlin the next day, Monday? Is it possible to connect directly from the train station in Berlin to a train taking me to the cruise port city of Rostock? Any ideas?

2. After the cruise, I will have 5 days which I plan to spend doing some sightseeing in Berlin and then fly out of Munich.

a. Other than Dacchau and the Neuschwanstein-Castle, any other must- sees in Munich?

b. Would it be possible to plan a circular train trip from Munich to Austria to Switzerland back to Munich in 2-3 days? Would that be enough time ?

thanks

1. You can catch a train from Frankfurt Hbf to Rostock with a change in Hamburg, which I would do if you aren't staying in Berlin on the Monday. It's a long journey (around 7hrs).

If you are staying in Berlin, then yes it is possible to take a train from Berlin Hbf to Rostock (around 2.5hrs on the Regional Express train).

Have a look at www.deutschebahn.com/de/start.html for routes, times, etc.

2. 5 days to sightsee in Berlin is perfect - however as this is 5 days to see Berlin AND Munich, then I'd suggest 3 full days in Berlin and 2 in Munich. But you'll also need at least 6hrs for the train Berlin-Munich, so that's a day taken from those 5 days.

a. If you only have 2 days in Munich, then Dachau will take half a day and Neuschwanstein will take a day trip (usually combined with Linderhof, etc). You can wander around Marienplatz in the centre of town, visit Viktualienmarkt and a few other things, but you won't have time for a comprehensive visit.

b. You could plan one, but you wouldn't see much more than the view from many train windows. Would recommend it.

Given that you have 5 days in total to sightsee after your cruise, I'd be inclined to suggest choosing EITHER Berlin or Munich and surrounds. As you are flying out of Munich, it seems logical to go with Munich this time around. You have plenty of sightseeing options in Munich, Bavaria and Austria, all within 2hrs of Munich.

Munich, do three nights and take some day trips on the train to the alps in Bavaria, Garmisch is the best bet, leave after 9 am for cheaper tickets and do some of the sights there for sure.

http://www.bavaria.by/garmisch-parte...avaria-germany

A trip to Regensburg would be nice also.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1155
Munich is a beautiful city and you can always do the Marienplatz, beer houses with your son in tow and the BMW/Olympic tour.

IF you are willing to gamble that you indeed will be in Frankfurt on that Monday (My trip in Dec. 2011 was delayed a day), then get your ticket in advance on bahn.de. Get it 92 days in advance and it will be very inexpensive. Also be sure to reserve seats (another 4 euro or so each)

Question 2b - NO

b. Would it be possible to plan a circular train trip from Munich to Austria to Switzerland back to Munich in 2-3 days? Would that be enough time ?>

Not unless you want to be on train all the time. Five days are not nearly enough even for Berlin and Munich - so much to see and do in those places and if you want to taste a wee bit of Austria Salzburg is just a short train ride from Munich.

You can also take overnight trains from Berlin to Munich, saving travel time and the cost of a hotel to boot.

For lots of great info on German trains check out these IMO Wunderbar sources: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuroetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. If you want full flexibility to hop any train any time in Germany - good for when landing and you want to head right to the train station in the airport and hop that train to Hamburg madamtrashheap (great screen name!) mentions - then look at the German Railpass which allows you to just show up at any trains with very few exceptions and hop on - full fares are really expensive and a couple of full-fare tickets can be more expensive than the pass.

That said if you want to lock yourself into non-changeble non-refundable tickets that being sold in limited numbers must be booked far in advance to guarantee - so if going that route leave plenty of fudge factor time into when the plane lands or is scheduled to land and Frankfurt Airport is notorious for congestion - leave lots of time in case plane is land, baggage slow coming out and also to walk the 15 minutes or so to the airport train station, etc. The pass would also take you without extra charge to Salzburg, Austria

a. Other than Dacchau and the Neuschwanstein-Castle, any other must- sees in Munich?>

Dachau is an easy short S-Bahn train ride to Munich's suburbs but getting to Fuessen takes over two hours or about each way - I think Salzburg, Austria - well under 2 hours by the fastest train would all in all be a much more significant and rewarding site if you must chose.

The castle is not that big a deal. Linderhof had great grounds but the house tour was very short. I would rather do scenic things.
The Wankbahn cable car ride and hike or go to the top of the Zugspitze.

I would not pick Neuschwanstein over a trip to Salzburg. Yes, the outside of the castle is iconic but the interior is, IMO, pretty dull. The interior of Linderhof is more interesting.

If you had more time you could take a trip toward Salzburg but de-train in Prien and take the nearby ferry over to Herrenchiemsee which is the largest and most elaborately decorated palace of all the four "Ludwig builds." However, it would be hard to do that AND Salzburg in only one day.

Herrenchiemsee is I agree the finest of Ludwig's creations - meant to to imitate Versailles this is the Bavarian Versailles, one of two Versailles at least in Germany, along with Sans Souci in Potsdam, near Berlin.

And yes Prien is on the main rail line Munich-Salzburg but be sure the train you take stops there if you plan to get off - many high-speed trains just blow thru this secondary station.

Why are you not flying to Berlin?

Ah - AisleSeat, I was just wondering that myself. It's only about an hour and probably comparable in price to taking the train.

Have you already booked your flights? It seems odd to be flying into Frankfurt and out of Munich for a cruise that goes from Berlin. It would be so much less hassle and afford you more time to enjoy if you just flew in and out of Berlin, especially since you don't seem all that excited about things in the Frankfurt/Munich areas.

The cruise departs from Rostock which is 3 hours from Berlin - flying into Hamburg would be the more logical choice, at least an option to consider.

I would not pick Neuschwanstein over a trip to Salzburg. Yes, the outside of the castle is iconic but the interior is, IMO, pretty dull.>

Ah beauty or things of interest are indeed in the eye of the beholder! To me there was a surprise at every turn and in every room inside Neuschwanstein - not your average castle and what some may see as tacky I see as neat.

Me too PalenQ !

Nymphenburg and Amalienburg on the same grounds might satisfy the need to see palaces, they are are only a streetcar ride from the center of Munich.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4284860977/

Me too PalenQ !>

Well the jury is out on Neuschwanstein - seems either they love it or do not and I respect Dukey's take on many things from his long history of posts - those expecting a traditional castle interior and furnishings will be sorely disappointed - others liking novel and yeh rather tacky things will be enthralled - literally a surprise at every turn.

Since your time is limited, you seem to waste a lot of it getting to Rostock.
As others said, try to get a flight to Berlin or to Munich, since you can fly from Munich to Rostock (but not from Frankfurt).
Or try to avoid the night in Frankfurt and continue to Berlin on your arrival day, either by train or plane.
Also, I'd decide for either Berlin or Munich.

You can also take overnight trains between Berlin and Munich, saving a day of travel time and perhaps fitting both cities in.

As for Berlin or Munich - city wise it is Berlin hands down for a sheer variety of things to see but as a base it is Munich with so so many thrilling day trips easily done into Bavaria and places like Salzburg or Innsbruck.