It's only a few weeks away and I feel like we have a lot planned and will be on the move a lot, but it's so hard to cut things out! Feedback very, very welcome and appreciated!


Day 1:
Fly into Munich, arrive lunchtime. Check into Marriott (only hotel available due to BAUMA and having to use loads of my Marriott points). Nothing planned - leisurely walk around, dinner.

Day 2:
Munich: Mike's Bike Tour (possibly). English Gardens, Hofbrauhaus, etc.

Day 3:
Morning: Pick up rental car in Munich, drive to Salzburg. Check into Hotel Auersperg.
Anywhere we should plan to stop on the way?
Explore Salzburg - Mozart House, etc.

Day 4:
Sound of Music Tour 9am - 1pm(non-negotiable for two SOM nuts, so no comments please.)
Drive to Fussen - stop at Linderhof on the way. Check into Hotel Sonne.
**should we also try to stop at
Oberammergau this day or just skip it?

Day 5:
9:30am Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau tours
Afternoon - drive to Rothenberg (4 hours). Check into Hotel Klosterstüble
Depending on how tired we are, possibly do the Night Watchman's Tour if up for it. Guessing we won't be.

Day 6:
Rothenberg. Any suggested must see's/do's?
Early evening, drive to Heidelberg (45 minutes), drop-off rental car, check into Hotel Hollander Hof.

Day 7:
Heidelberg. No plans.

Day 8:
Shuttle to Frankfurt airport for early a.m. flight

thoughts? are we insane?

I wouldn't miss Dachau if I was going to Munich.. but I don't see how you can fit it in.
Also, don't skip the Night Watchman's Tour.
It's a lot of driving around... sorta like a blitz tour. If you're fine with that, then you'll have a great time!

I think you will love Salzburg. I also think you will be sad to leave.

Sounds like a fun trip! I did the SOM tour w/ my Mom and Aunt and we loved it. You don't get to see any of the interiors, but it was still fun. Our tour guide was hilarious!
I just moved to Heidelburg a few months ago and it is a really pretty town. Hope you like it! Where is the airport shuttle you are catching? We go somewhere every four day weekend and usually leave the car at the airport or hire a car service. Now I'm curious about the shuttle, any info you can share?

How nice that you live in Heidelberg!

I'm fairly certain our hotel has a shuttle - now I'm wondering if I have it mixed up with another hotel we were considering. I'm going to have to look into that! How much does the car service cost when you use it?

Hi, ncygirl,

In Heidelburg, you have the castle of course, with its gardens and massive wine barrel, and the cable car up to the top of the hills above. WE drove right up to the top, then walked down, - not recommended if you've got dodgy knees.

the town is interesting and the pubs and cafes fun. great beers and cakes.

regards, ann

When you are in Munich you might want to go to the Bavaria evening show at the Hoffbrau Haus at 7pm (reservations recommended)it is pretty cheesy but fun. Then later have dinner at the Augustiner a couple of blocks toward the train station from Marienplatz in the Fussganger zone.

A great restaurant in Salzburg is the St Peter Shrifts Keller (near the SOM Grave Yard) They have been serving up dinner there since about 8 or 900 ad. In that time they have gotten the recipies honed down to a fine art.

I just got back from a trip to Cologne/Bonn and Salzburg and Vienna.
Salzburg was my favorite part of the trip! It is so charming, calm, and beautiful! Driving into Salzburg and seeing the Alps is an exhilarating feeling.

I followed a lot of Rick Steves' recommendations and was very happy. I did a one hour mini van tour from Panorama tour--good way to get my bearings on the city and I returned to most of the places on my own. Hike up to the Fortress (there is also a funicular.) The views from the top are outstanding. I also went to the 2nd floor museum.

When you go to leave the fortress, there will be a fork...turn left and take the Monschberg trail. (It is paved.) Stay on the high road and it will take you to some gorgeous sites with incredible views. For lunch, stop at the Stadalm cafe. (This hike is in Rick Steves' book.)
At Stadalm, you can eat outside with wonderful view of the city. Also, if you enjoy beer, you should not miss Augustiner Braustubl, just a little walk from the old city. The best beer of my trip! You can also eat dinner there--just pick up food at a counter and bring it to your seat. There is a non-smoking room inside if that is important to you. The outside had limited seating when I visited last week.

I went inside the Motzart residence museum instead of the birthhouse. The audioguide is good--it's amazing to be in the rooms where he practiced and performed.

Skip the Baroque Museum in Mirabell Gardens. Have a great time!

Be sure to visit the Easter egg shops on Getreidegasse, the busy and colorful shopping street. I think they have a Hotel Sacher in Salzburg. The Sachertorte is something that everyone should try. I loved the Hotel Sacher Classic Coffee--delicious!

This sounds like a great trip but a lot of moving around. Such fun!

When driving to Salzburg I would recommend getting off of the autobaun and taking the scenic route through Berchesgarten. It is truely beautiful and, although it takes longer due to numerous photo opportunities, it is a stunning drive and one of the highlights of our trip last year. We stopped in Berchesgarten for lunch and a bit of shopping and arrived in Salzburg later in the day but very happy.

I would take the time to go to Oberammergau if I were you. It is a beautiful little town and, again, wonderful photo opportunities. It won't take long to see it and get a feel for the town and I think you will regret it if you don't stop.

I agree on the comment about Dachau - it is a very moving and memorable experience but it just doesn't look like you will have the time.

Just a negative note on the terrible Hofbrauhaus, where you get a lot of mediocre food. Smoky, loud, bad music and annoying ambiance, in the top 10 worst restaurants in Europe, no the whole world. It's hard to imagine any discerning local with even one flickering tastebud dining there.

Of course the "discerning local with even one flickering tastebud" isn't going to the Hofbrauhaus - LOL. I think just about every tourist who goes there knows that it is kitchy and over the top - not representative of Germany cuisine or culture. But it is a heck of a lot of fun and something I think should be experienced, if only for long enough to drink a liter of beer.

DH and I went to Hofbrauhaus for dinner and quite enjoyed our meal. Sure, it wasn't a gourmet meal by any means, but the food was good, the apfelstruedel even better, the beer terrific, and the ambience warm and inviting. We had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to go back.

We loved the Klosterstuble in Rothenburg and I'm glad to see you are staying there! The breakfast is great, and the hotel restaurant is really good as well. I would try to catch the Night Watchman's tour if you can. You'll be tired but it will be worth it. Very entertaining and you will learn a lot of history about the town.

I would also recommend a stop in Berchtesgaden. Its only about 20 minutes from Salzburg and a wonderful little town surrounded by breathtaking scenery. We spent a week in an apartment near Berchtesgaden in 2005 and it was one of our favorite vacations.

I too recommend Stiftskeller St. Peters restaurant in Salzburg. The food is great and the history of the place makes it fun.

Have fun!
Tracy