My husband and I will be traveling to Germany in late August. Our trip is 12 days, with 10 full days and nights in the country. We fly in and out of Munich. I would like some advice on our tentative itinerary.

We plan to spend some time in Munich, with two possible day trips, one to Fussen to see the castles, and one to Salzburg. For anyone who has done these, are they very overwhelming as day trips? We like the idea of not having to keep moving our stuff around from place to place, and expect to find the down time on the trains to be relaxing.

Then we will take a train to Dresden and probably spend two days, with a half-day hiking trip to Saxon Switzerland national park.

Then travel up to Berlin for a few days, and a night train back to Munich. I haven't researched Berlin much yet, but I'm not sure if it warrants three or four days. My husband is a bit of a beer connoisseur and I'm wondering if any extra time should be spend in Munich instead of Berlin. Although I'm sure Berlin has beer as well ;-)

I am considering purchasing a 5 day German rail pass from the db website. I played with the point to point tickets and while it seems like it is possible to get some of the legs for very cheap, I don't want to be locked into dates and times at this point. Can anyone recommend if the the 2nd class twinsaver pass would be a good value for our trip (I think it's about $420 US).

This is my husbands first trip to Europe and my first trip to Germany so I want to make it go as smoothly as possible! Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Considering what you and your (beer drinking ) husband are interested in , I think your itinerary ist OK, sort of.

Your Munich plans are fine, as is your idea of going to Salzburg for the day. I'm not a fan of the Fuessen castles. Before Disney, they were not on the "must do" list (I grew up near there). Neuschwanstein was built after the White House in DC, it was never finished and the interiors are sparse.

I suggest you head to Prien (on the Munich Salzburg line) and take the bus or steam train to Gstad (4km). Take the boat there to the Herreninsel and visit King Ludwig's own Versailles palace. It has a great location, the walk there is very plesant, and you don't need to buy tickets in advance to get in.

The train ride is about 1 hour from Munich, much less than to Fuessen, and in parts quite scenic

I think you should choose between Berlin and Dresden. The time you have alllowed does neither justice, and the train ride from Berlin to Munich takes almost a day, through not particuylarly interesting countryside, especially,if you ride the ICE, which runs much in ditches. I personally would pick Dresden, and spend more time visiting the sights at the Bastei and the castle Koenigstein. Unlike Neuschqantein, this is real, not faux castle, with an interetsting history and great views of the Saechsische Shweiz. You can do part of your travel by boat, and part (return or outbound) by train.

Personally I think it a bit too crowded. As much as I love Saxony, I would leave that for next time. Split your time equally between Munich and Berlin. (Sorry Ingo and Treplow)

Berlin is such a happening, vibrant city. Munich is everything you want in a German city. You might consider spending a night in a Franconian city such as Bamberg, Coburg, or Nurnberg as you make your way to Berlin.

I'd agree with Treplow's assessment of Neuschwanstein; not worth the trip. And if it's your first time in Germany, then I must say I'm struggling a bit with the big-city overload you have planned. These were some of the most devastated cities in the war and some of the most heavily rebuilt. I think it would be wise to also see and stay in some places that were spared, that retain a decent number of old-world structures, and that have more local than international flavor.

Berlin is probably tops for glitz and history. You might daytrip to Potsdam and to Sachsenhausen concentration camp from there. I think that covers about half your time.

I would opt out of Munich, as nice as it is, on the grounds that in many ways, it's another big modern city.

Dresden is truly unique. A couple of days there are probably well spent if you've already determined that it interests you.

So I'd suggest Berlin (5 nights), Dresden (2) and I would do as Dutch suggests - see Franconia - but spend 3 nights there. Bamberg is really lovely. Think of the hubby - he needs to try the Rauchbier there at one of the brewery-restaurants. Rothenburg is touristy but just an incredible sight, so well-preserved and colorful. Nuremberg was heavily damaged but retains a lovely old town and like the other towns here is see-able in a day's time. If you stay in Nuremberg all 3 nights, it is easy to travel to the other cities by train.

And this area has a reputation for very good wine as well as the thickest network of breweries of any beer brewing region in the world! You can pick a few out from maps on this page:

http://map.bierland-oberfranken.de/?tpl=163

If the flights are already booked to Munich, it would be hard to skip.

Anywhere you go in Germany you will find good beer. Your husband will be in heaven.

Thanks for all of the advice. So I knew that we were trying to take on too much, but it is so hard to narrow things down when everything sounds so good.

I will definitely consider forgetting a trip to the castles. The scenery just looked beautiful in pictures. Will we get somewhat similar scenery in Salzburg? Is Salzburg generally considered worth the trip?

Munich is a must, as is Berlin. We've heard too many things from friends about how we could pretty much spend all our time in Berlin and still not run out of things to do.

From what I've found out about Dresden so far it seems like a place that we would enjoy, and I like the idea of using it as a stopping point between Munich and Berlin. But I understand that this make the trip very heavy on the big cities. I will spend some time looking into the smaller towns that have been recommended.

Thanks for all the advice and I would appreciate anything else anyone has to add.

If your husband is a real beer lover, then try to include Bamberg in your trip. It's a UNESCO World Heritage city.

While Neuschwanstein is not an ancient castle, it's history is fascinating, at least it is to anyone interested in the turbulent changes that took place in Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Plus, after a while visits to the very old castles, while generally worthwhile, all start to look the same--big, cold, stone rooms; dusty armor; etc. Neuschwanstein, while much more recently built, is a fantastic confection born of Ludwig's, shall we say, unique mind and world view. The interior, while never totally completed, has some very interesting (even bordering on bizarre) rooms that include some of the finest 19th century craftsmanship around.

Hi Sor,

>I will definitely consider forgetting a trip to the castles.<

I wouldn't. It would be a very nice daytrip from Munich. Buy your tickets in advance:
http://www.hohenschwangau.de/548.0.html

Salzberg is definately worth the trip, so think about spending more time there.

And the scenery is beautiful.

You can fly into Munich and take a train (or shuttle) to Salzburg and spend 2-3 nights. Then hop on TUIfly for a cheap flight to Berlin avoiding a long leg by train. Spend 4 nights and make one a daytrip to Dresden.

Take the train (or airberlin on a cheap fare) back to Munich and wind up your trip there.

Or just visit Munich and Berlin with daytrips from both. Frankly, I enjoy Salzburg too much for a daytrip. Mittenwald and Garmisch make for daytrips from Munich that are easy and fun.

If you're into beer, then you must go to Bamberg.

3-4 days in Berlin will barely scratch the surface, I'd definitely stay there longer.

I agree that you should skip Fussen - do Salzburg if you want a day trip from Munich.

Beer connoisseur = time in Munich + Bamberg, the home of Rauchbier and several other fine fine brews. Sure, Berlin HAS beer, but it's signature brew involved the addition of colours - whoopee.

You could base yourself in Nurnberg leaving Bamberg, Rothenburg, and Wurzburg as easy day trips.

Berlin is absolutely worth at least 3 days. You will be amazed at what you can't get too in that time if you do some research first.

Given your penchant for not moving much, I suggest;

Munich 3/4 nights
Nuernberg 2/3 nights
Berlin 3/4 nights (including counting the overnight train back to Munich)

I spoke with my husband about the Nurnberg/Bamberg area and he said that he doesn't even like smoked beer! Based on some other factors though, I think that we will skip this area for this particular trip.

After checking out available flights, what we're now thinking is to skip Dresden, spend a couple of days in Salzburg instead of just a day trip, and fly from Munich to Berlin. This is probably a better use of our time. Between Dresen and Salzburg, would the consensus be Salzburg, especially considering that we're also visiting Munich & Berlin?

Thanks so much to everyone for their help.

When has you DH had smoked beer? It doesn;t travel well, at all, so unless he has been to Bamberg, he hasn't had the holy grail.

Bamberg has several other fine breweries, and is a pure treasure, in any event.

Dresden and Salzburg are very different In fact each of the four cities noted are markedly different from each other.

Dresden is only about 2 hours from Berlin - you could certainly make it a day trip, or spend an overnight.